What are you grateful for this holiday season?

[Jenni Prokopy]

In tomorrow's Goodie Bag newsletter, I have a simple wish: That each of you (me too!) can focus on gratitude this holiday season. So, tell us: What are you grateful for? What makes you happy even when times are tough? I'll start:
- my little friend Gabriel, whose 3-yr-old behavior makes me laugh hysterically
- my niece Vivi, who is as vivacious as her name (and her parents)
- my awesome support community, my family of choice, my friends
- my best friend Natalie, who always knows the right thing to do or say
- YOU!
..........xoxo Jenni

[Talia J]

I'm grateful that i am in a much better place than i was for Thanksgiving. i'm grateful for the relative health of my children. i'm grateful to be happy and present for the first time in years. i'm grateful for this community of support and knowledge that is always here when needed and wanted.
Happy Solstice tonight

Talia

[Lorie Singer]

This year I am thankful for having a job. Last Christmas I was a couple of weeks away from loosing my job and desperately trying to find a new one. Thankfully they renewed my contract for a month at a time until I found something permanent, but it was a long scary Christmas not knowing what was going to happen.

I am always thankful for a great hubby and two amazing kids who do a great job of taking care of me when I should be taking care of them.

Lorie
@legsinger
http://legslens.blogspot.com/

[lime_119]

I'm thankful that I decided to have a smaller less stressful Christmas this year. :) I'm really looking forward to it. Also having awesome friends that let me know when I've been too much of a hermit.

[Helen]

This is such a lovely thing to think about!

I am grateful for:

• My other half, who is an absolute star. He carries me up the stairs when I can’t make it, will run home from town and come back in the car to pick me up if I’ve run out of “spoons” and understands that sometimes I just can’t do any more, often before I do. He comes to the doctors with me when I am too foggy to understand what is said to me, and understands how frustrating it all is, and doesn’t make me feel guilty for feeling down and having a little cry about it all sometimes. He is brilliant, and I’m so lucky to have found someone like him.
• Our two pusscats, who seem to know when I feel rough and give me extra snuggles and loving when I’m on my own at home feeling down. They are so funny to watch – it’s impossible not to smile with them purring at you!
• My relative health – I could be suffering a lot more than I am, and for that, I am extremely grateful.
• My work – sometimes it is stupid, annoying and frustrating, but they let me work from home on bad days rather than calling in sick, and my colleagues are good to me when they think about it- yesterday one gave me his wheat bag all microwaved and hot without me even saying I was cold as I’d apparently gone blue!
• My family’s health – lots of health problems all round this year (including spinal surgery) that everyone has recovered really well from – So, *so* grateful for that!
• The town where I live – it’s so pretty and lovely here, and so much nicer than where I grew up!

[Brittney]

--Greatful that my mother is on the right track at the moment and has a great new team doctor/therapist/psychatrist working with her.
--my nephew, who makes me smile even when I'm feeling bad. I can be having a horrible day and think--I get to see Danny on Saturday and my world gets a little better.
--My sister, who is becoming my best friend. I think that is they way it should be between sisters.
--Being able to run again!

Brittney

[Annie Martin]

Wonderful topic Jenni :)

I'm having a tough time this Christmas, but there are still things to be grateful for:

--> My other half, who is absolutely fantastic and supports my struggle, even if by only something as simple as actually believing it is as hard as it is.
--> Having a wonderful family who I will get to see on Christmas Day even though I have to work Christmas Eve.
--> The people I have found on this website who give me extra pick-me-ups when I need them.
--> My beautiful Christmas tree which also helps bring a smile to my face.

Hope everyone has wonderful holidays,

xoxo,
Annie

[Dotti]

I'm grateful that I'm able to spend holiday season with my children and grandchildren who live 800 miles from me. I'm grateful that I can still enjoy life despite the chronic pain and fatigue. Grateful to know I'm not alone in this battle. Merry Christmas!!!

Dotti

[Maureen Hayes]

I'm grateful for so much!
The healthy parts of me!
That I still have my mom with me!
For my kitties who make everyday and adventure and provide love and much needed comic relief!
For all my on-line friends and their support!
For chocolate, which in MHO is proof that there is a God!!
For Jenni and the forum!

[Tricia Carter]

I am grateful for having Jesus in my heart, for Jesus's Birthday, having my parents making me, even though I have alot of problems. For having a wonderful husband and that he helps me all the time. Being able to share what the Lord has done to me and be able to share with other people.

[Melanie Amyot]

Oh my! Where do I start???

I'm grateful for so many reasons! Let's see:

-I'm still able to work and that my practice is growing.
- I found the courage to speak up. I realised silence leads me nowhere.
-I discovered the joy of running even if I can't do it for an undetermined period at the moment
-I'm healthy despite MS.
-I made new friends who are very dear to me
-I have a wonderful family who support me
-I discovered a new face of my boyfriend (the supporting one), I hope it'll last!
-I work hard to find balance and joy...and it pays off!

Happy holidays to all of you Babes! You deserve all the best!

[Nicola Jane Rippon]

So much to be grateful for this year!
The love & support of my parents and my friends, in particular Colin & Carol!
The companionship of my kitties who lay on my lap despite my coughing and restlessness!
My garden!
Lovely music!
Good food!
The enormous network of people I am lucky enough to be able to rely on, should I need to - just knowing they are at the end of the phone is often help enough!
And you Babes - having people to understand, listen to my occasional (but too frequent) vents. People who are all dealing with their own struggles (pretty much every one of them much worse than any of mine)
For Christmas itself - a new start, a new hope, every year a chance to have the slate wiped clean.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Much Love to you all!

[kitrona]

I'm grateful for my wonderful husband, who just today went out in the snow and cold to pick up meds for me and my older son, and who supports me better than anyone could who doesn't have to go through this stuff. :)

I'm grateful for my two boys, and their laughter as they play together despite the 9 year age difference. :)

I'm grateful for delicious coffee :P

I'm grateful for this board, because it's amazing being able to talk to people who get it without long explanations. :)

I'm grateful for me, because even with my issues, I'm here and I get to experience all the amazingness of being alive. :)