Today I am grateful for....

Grateful that DM is still in reasonably good health - she's 87 & I'm off to visit (she's in Yorkshire, I'm in Devon)

Looking forward to Christmas Lunch with DD & DGS - seeing him open all those presents, he's 6 & looking forward to next May when my DD is due with another DGC.


Miss my DH - last Christmas of his life he was in a Nursing home, that was 3 years ago - he would have loved Christmas with DGS

Glad I moved last year to be nearer DD & her family - my 2nd Christmas here - near enough to visit (about 20 mins) but not too close

With a chronic illness, I am grateful today that I feel a bit better than yesterday. I am not well enough to travel myself so I am soooo excited because I have just heard that my daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren in Australia are planning to come over to stay in Summer. I could go on for pages counting my blessings - that I live in a safe country, can afford to own a computer, am loved by my grandchildren and the sun is shining are just a few for example.

Thankful that OH and I have good health, also DSs and their families. Thankful for our family, DB and his family, DSis and hers. Thankful that we are financially secure; thankful that next month we can look forward to lighter days with Spring on the horizon. So much to be thankful for.

to anyone not so fortunate, and hope that the New Year brings you peace and resolution.

Dear Grannyactivist,

I am so grateful to you for starting this wonderful thread. As I get older I have been thinking about the things that are important at this stage in life, and absolutely top of the list is 'count your blessings'. My own wonderful mother who died 16 years ago was very disabled by the end and never stopped thinking about all that was good in life, even when she could hardly do anything for herself any more. She had been active and very independent. What an example.

We are all so lucky to live in a safe and peaceful country; you only have to think about people in Syria and other parts of the world to realise what we all have.

Some lovely heartwarming reminders here for people in the middle of difficult circumstances that even after the most trying times there can still be much to be thankful for. Thanks for sharing.

When my children were younger we had a tradition that after school they would tell me two good things and one not so good thing about their day. Now they are adults and often, when we get together after a period of time, we still fall into this balance of talking about what is going on in their lives. It is good to count our blessings, but equally important to be able to share when there are problems, so I'm glad Victoria08 has been bold enough to tell us that she's having a tough time.

Victoria08 here are some and a , which may not make everything right in your world, but may help you feel a little brighter today. If you really think that you're suffering from depression then a trip to the doctor is called for so you can get the help you need. Come back and tell us how you're getting on.

My daughter is pregnant after five miscarriages. I rang this morning and she said she was at the hospital. My heart was thumping. "What's wrong" I asked. "Oh nothing" she replied, "I'm here for a routine appointment". Phew ....

We live in a 'safe' country, we own our house, we can afford to be warm, we can eat well, we have comparatively good health, as do our family, we have a lot to be grateful for!

Grateful for my lovely family, whatever strange little quirks we have, my warm house, full fridge, big bookcase loaded with fantastic stuff to read,gentle dog, kind neighbours - that;'s enough for one grateful person.

That my heart ache is getting a tiny bit better, found my partner of 15 years with another woman a month ago, I threw him out but the heartbreak is awful.

I am so grateful for the love of a wonderful husband and 4 adult children, their partners and their little ones, even if they all live far away and we see them less often than we would like.
I am grateful to have had great opportunities in life, had a profession I loved, made loyal, life-long friends.
I am grateful to have had far better health so far than my own parents and grandparents, to live in a country where I feel safe and to be able to enjoy this stage of life. So, so much.

Victoria08 I hope you are feeling better, and if not, that you see your GP. Everyone deserves to share a portion of the goodwill and wellbeing characteristic of this season. Let us know how you get one.

inishowen what wonderful news. So much to look forward to.
Tessa101 What a sod! Be happier without him!

I hope that whatever black clouds may lie ahead for us all, there will be the occasional rainbow and lots of reasons to smile! And some squeezy hugs from little arms that call us granny....or whatever name they use for you!

Thank you Rinouchka means a lot.

Fingers crossed inishowen I sincerely hope she can look forward to her 2017 baby ?

tubbygran.... Hugs +

A pulse and a pension☺

I am very grateful that my type 2 diabetes has been picked up and that I have been able to get my blood sugars down a bit by watching my diet and walking more. Still a way to go but I am in the right direction.

Today. DH has advanced bowel cancer and is undergoing palliative chemotherapy. Today he was well and together we face the future.
And yesterday, our 38th wedding anniversary.

Reading some of these posts has really put my minor issues into perspective. Wishing you all happier days ahead.

Every day I do the 'life accounts' and think about what is on the plus side and what I have to be grateful for. Considering I had a shaky start to life when my mother left my father, we moved constantly and I attended more schools than there are school years, I feel blessed now.

I am thankful for my home and dear family, my lovely village, nature, living in a rich and civilised country, the NHS, books, my health, not having to teach any more (though I loved the early years before state education went mad), that my children have good jobs and are useful and happy and for all the general benefits and blessings of being alive.

In particular, I am grateful my DH turned out not to have prostate cancer and that my
bowel cancer test was clear.

So grateful for my darling husband to still be with me and still fighting his Mesothelioma, so grateful for my lovely daughter, son in law and little four year old granddaughter, son daughter in law and grandson, afternoon tea and visiting father Christmas with four year old, sitting in front of wood burner reading todays papers, so grateful to just being happy today. I have already been a widow before so know what's to come so I'm so grateful for everyday with people I love.

Mine eyes smell onions.
I am grateful too for my safe and civilised country and yesterday seeing my DGS 3and4 at the cathedral yesterday full of happy healthy children learning about St Nicholas and celebrating giving rather than receiving. They and their lovely mums and dads made me feel the country's future is in safe hands.
No one here lives like this

I am grateful for a renewed relationship with my daughter, it's the best it's ever been. I'm thankful she has managed to stay away from the awful abusive man that resulted in her daughter living with me.
I'm grateful my mum has battled through a terrible year of ill health.
& I'm grateful for the wonderful friends I have who have seen me through some dark times ? ?

OH was out on his musical capers and not cluttering up the kitchen. I was in the kitchen trying out some recipes etc and he is usually hovering about making yet more cups of tea and generally getting in the way and stroppy because I am also using the table.
I have been occupied! It's half past three now! Sunset is at 3:53pm today, it will soon be dark. Where has the time gone? 0nly 17more days until the shortest day.

I am sorry. I did not mean to be quite so flippant on this thread. I know I am feeling ratty about other stuff going on.

I can relate to that Nellie as I really enjoy having the house to myself.

I am grateful for my first grandchild, born January of this year. I never could have imagined the love I would feel for him, and it's quite difficult to explain to people; I love him as much as I love my children, but differently. It's a unique feeling, and it has completely transformed the way I feel about getting older.I'm a grandma now, and I celebrate this amazing period of my life. I wouldn't put the clock back!