[VivaLasViejas]

OK, so I put up one of these threads every November However, knowing that half of my family won't be here for the holidays has got me a little down (me, not looking forward to the holidays? who'da thunk it?), and I think focusing on all the blessings this year has brought would be worthwhile.

First of all, I'm thankful for the return of my health. I was reading back over some of my posts from a year ago, and only now do I realize how vital it was to leave my hospital job. I'm not sure I'd even be here if I hadn't; I spent far too much time battling illness after injury after insult, and sooner or later some vital organ just might have given out on me. This year, I've had a mild case of flu, and my cellulitis has flared up a couple of times, but that's IT......I've missed a grand total of two days of work all year. Compare that to 2005, when I was out for more than six WEEKS all told.

And speaking of work..........I am unbelievably thankful for my job, which has given me a whole new lease on life and taught me so much about the kind of nurse I really am. I love my residents, my boss, and my co-workers, and I plan to stay as long as they want and need me.

I'm thankful for the blessings of family, even though my youngest daughter, her husband, and my sister will be far away during the holidays. I'm especially thankful for my husband of 26 years, the love and loyalty of my children, and my precious grandson and grandsons-to-be........I never knew I could love a child so much who wasn't my very own!

I'm thankful for having lived almost half a century; I love the sudden bursts of insight and wisdom that come sometimes when I'm talking with someone who needs my help in some way. Oftentimes, I don't even know I have such an insight until it comes out of my mouth, and all the while I'm thinking "Holy crow, where did THAT come from??".

I'm thankful the election went the way it did. As the saying goes, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely"; and while I have some reservations about the coming months and years, I'm very happy to see my country say "ENOUGH!" to Bush and his agenda.

And if all that weren't enough, I'm thankful for this website and all my friends here. I've learned a great deal, not only about nursing, but about people in general, and the kind of person I want to be in particular. I'm glad I have the opportunity to be a moderator, as I've learned how to curb some of my excesses (to an extent, anyway ) and how to be diplomatic in situations where I once might have blown a discussion wide open. I'll never stop being opinionated, but the world doesn't have to hear what I think about everything.

So.........as Thanksgiving Day 2006 draws near, let's count our blessings and share them here. What are YOU most thankful for, and why?

Happy Thanksgiving!

[Gompers]

Great idea!

What I'm thankful for...

Well, first off, I'm thankful that my husband and I are celebrating our first wedding anniversary today! We've been together for over ten years, and I can't believe how fast the first year of marriage has flown by! The top of the wedding cake has finally come out of the freezer and we'll nibble at it when we get home from dinner tonight.

Of course I'm very thankful for my pregnancy. It was a wonderful surprise, especially since I have some fertility issues and was told a spontaneous pregnancy was unlikely. We were shocked to find ourselves expecting so soon, but are very very excited about it!

I'm thankful that the pregnancy is going well after a few scary months there. All those doctor's office visits, ultrasounds, labs, medications - all worth it!!! I can't believe there's less than 8 weeks to go!

I'm thankful that we own a cute little condo five minutes away from BOTH of our parents. It's nice being first-time homeowners but still having the support of our families when we need them.

I'm thankful that we both get along with our families and that they get along with each other. Sounds simple, but it really does make a difference. I'm especially close to my parents and can't imagine not having them in my life.

I'm thankful that I have a small, but very special handful of friends. Some of them have been in my life since I was a toddler. It means so much to me that I have remained close to these people throughout my life. I may not have a million people I can hang out with on any given night...but I do have some friends that I could call at 4am with a problem and they'd do anything in their power to help me.

I'm thankful that I have an education and a career that I absolutely love. The people I work with are so special, it's like one HUGE family. Especially my coworkers on night shift - it's such a supportive atmosphere, such a team mentality. I'm very very lucky. Plus NICU nursing was my dream job and it has fulfilled me in ways that I can't even put into words. It's just awesome.

And of course, I'm thankful for Allnurses.com!!!

[Beary-nice]

I can't believe tis that time of the season...

I am thankful for my family who puts up with me in good times and in crab...and that they put up with all of my weird hours and school committments.

I am thankful for my brother's safety while he is on mission in the Middle East.

I am thankful that I have a job that also puts up with my schooling.

I am very thankful that I live in a country where I can be free and have my religion.

I am thankful for my reasonably good health, these days, that can be hard to come by.

I am thankful for all of my friends at All Nurses.com who put up with my childish antics and fiendish ways...they are definately my friends!

Happy Thanksgiving All!!!!

[DDRN4me]

Marla, thanks to you for starting this thread!!!
God has been so good to me !!!
I am thankful for my wonderful family... from my 97 yr old nana to my 6 mo old nephew!!!
I am soooo thankful that my fsil has come home safely from Iraq ; and that he and dd can plan thier future together.
I am thankful that oldest dd has found a young man who loves and appreciates her for the wonderful person that she is
I am thankful that dh and I will celebrate 25 years of marriage this coming April; and that God ensures his safety as he travels the world for work.

... for my friends far and near, and all of the folks i take care of who keep me in perspective.

for all of you here who listen to my complaints and rants and joys....
and for my pets that give me unconditional love and joy..

[Tweety]

Nice post Marla. You've always been such a positive inspiration to so many people. Hugs.

[Marie_LPN]

Thankful for the past year, for everything it's given me: a wonderful, loving supportive husband/best friend, 2 drooling dogs, the house of my dreams, a job that i love.

[VivaLasViejas]

Originally Posted by Tweety

Nice post Marla. You've always been such a positive inspiration to so many people. Hugs.

And I'm also thankful for kind words such as these...........they keep me going when times aren't so good.

[cheerfuldoer]

Great thread Marla!

I'm thankful to know what being thankful means.

I'm thankful to still be alive after all life has challenged me with.

I'm thankful for GOOD memories that far outweigh the bad ones.

I'm thankful to have loved and been loved.

I'm thankful for family, friends, and every pet I've ever had that loved me for me...no matter what I was going through.

And above all else and all others..........I'm eternally grateful to God for thinking I deserved a life at all. I am thankful that in spite of my sin He loves me as I am, yet because of His love for me won't leave me soaking in the stink of it all.

I'm thankful to be a member of Allnurses where so much love has entered my life via this internet website -- some of you I've had the pleasure of meeting in person, or getting to know more up close and personal via the telephone. Some "manmade gadgets" ARE worth their weight in gold.

[Grace Oz]

We don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in Australia. But I want to wish you all a HAPPY THANKSGIVING anyway!
And...... After we've returned from lunch, I'll try and post the things I'm thankful for! :-)

[Grace Oz]

Well, we're back from lunch. We decided to eat out, not something we often do so it was a real treat.
I decided, as well as numerous other things I'm thankful for, I decided that I'm thankful for my teeth! As we munched our meal today, it occurred to me how much more difficult it would be to enjoy food without our teeth. They really are an essential component to living life well. So I decided I'd give thanks for being blessed with a full set of chompers which work! lol