I am RICH BEYOND MY WILDEST DREAMS!

When I woke up at 4:30am this morning (I didn't need to-just couldn't sleep!), I was stressing over lack of means for Christmas for my children and grandchild, Alana, as well as other issues. O-o-o-o-oh, I SO wanted to sleep in - at least until 8:00am! This was not a great way to start Thanksgiving! I needed to re-arrange my thought processes and focus on what I do have! Here is my list:

I'm thankful to have three wonderful children, two who are now young adults and on there own. I know there are many out there that want but cannot have children.

I'm thankful for my granddaughter, Alana, who I have the priveledge (and challenge) to raise her full-time - a second chance to correct the mistakes I made the first time around and joy of being able to see her much more often than many other grandparents!

I'm thankful I have a challenging career that I truly enjoy and the opportunity to meet so many different people with different values, views, opinions, talents. What an enriching experience!

I'm thankful for being given a true strength to overcome such things as Encephalo-Meningitis (at 7), cancer (early 30's), almost loosing my home (early 30's), being told there was a great possibility that I could've contracted HIV (was and have been tested-CLEAN!)...falling into poverty level many times (and climbing back out unscathed). I'm lucky! I'm alive, healthy and so much stronger from overcoming these trials. I know more will come throughout the rest of my life (hey, I'm only "29.95 plus shipping and handling" and lots of it in age!) - ALIVE AND KICKING!!

I'm thankful I could share a Thanksgiving meal with family. We've got great charities throughout the nation but still, many families are left unfed!

I'm thankful my 17-year-old Siberian Husky, Nicki, is STILL with me! Who would've guessed that!

I'm thankful I had the opportunity to take my granddaughter, Alana, to DisneyWorld and see family while I was there, that i hadn't seen in 2-12 years!

I'm thankful I found out about ActiveRain! I've met so many knowledgeable and inspiring people, here, and have learned so much!

I was researching some programs tonight and somehow stumbled into this:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-galhgKDvNg

What a reinforcement.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving, everyone, and THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU!!