WE HAVE SO MUCH TO BE GRATEFUL FOR-HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL

[Janelle2002 3,865]

So hard. I lost my grandfather the week before thanksgiving two years ago. He was a second father, my best friend. I was in canada and he passed on after going into a coma after severe head trauma. My mom pushed not to come until after he had passed. I regret that decision. In October this year my mother in law passed away suddenly before we had a chance to marry. I came as soon as I could intending to only stay a week. Well here I am still here and now married.

To sum it up I feel your pain.

Thanks Transborderwife. Even though I get angry sometimes, I still like VJ. It helps to know someone else knows how you feel and you can talk to them.

Living across borders is no easy task. That's for sure. We are forced into separate lives, we are separated from emotional support, it truly sucks.

I hope we survive this journey. I'm so emotionally torn up I might be past a point of no return by the time we are together. I'm so angry, depressed and screwed up.

[Torete 121]

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Most of us here in America have so much to be grateful for. In fact, I had no idea how thankful I should have been until I traveled to the Philippines. I have been there four times now and I realize how fortunate we are. You can watch all the commercials on TV but until you see the hunger and desparation when visiting a third world country you simply cannot fathom it. There really are people in the world that go to bed with an empty stomach. My wife and her family were one example. She tells me of many times she and her family of 6 had only 2 cups of rice to share for a day. Nothing else. No Kentuckey fried chicken, no Happy Meals. They would walk down to the harbor and scrape salt off the rocks to sprinkle on their rice so it felt like they were eating something more than just rice. My wife is now here with me in Hawaii and she inspires me to be thankful. She works very hard so we can send money to her family so they eat every day. Two of her siblings are now attending college.

I have to say this about the Philippines. The people there are so happy, they appreciate every moment, every happy time, every bit of food. They are the friendliest, most welcoming and sharing people I have ever met. You can't go anywhere in the Philippines without people offering you a smile. You hear laughter and see smiles everywhere.

So I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. Thank you God for the abundance. Thank you God for my beautiful, loving, caring Filipina wife. I am so blessed and grateful. I am truly thankful. Thank you God.

David

Well said sir!! So very much to be thankful for if one sits still and thinks about it. Too many too busy shopping and forgetting what to be thankful for. To those who've felt the sting of the loss of a family member close to this holiday and others, my family and I keep you in our prayers.

The spirit of thankfulness begins within each of us.

Edited November 28, 2014 by Torete

[Pooky 3,844]

Very sorry about your loss. But don't torture yourself. Same thing happened to me earlier this year when my mother passed away - also from cancer. I spoke to her one day on skype and she looked very, very weak. I booked a flight immediately to head over only 4 days later. Turned out that she only had two more days to live after that call. I got there 2 days too late. Her condition deteriorated so rapidly towards the end it was unbelievable. I would have loved to have seen her one last time, hug her one last time and tell that that I love her one last time. I know she was trying to hang on until I made it there but she couldn't. The cancer was stronger. It's a horrible disease.

Cancer is simply evil.

I was lucky, because my father had blader cancer and was in hospice care toward the end. The last time we visited him there, the doctor told us he had two weeks. He said he wanted to go home and I was able to fly the wife to the UK a week later. She was with us when he still recognised where he was and who was there and she was there at the end. It meant the world to her, so I can imagine how you and Janelle must feel, to be denied the chance.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Thank you. I wish I could have gotten there sooner. I feel like a very bad wife.

Sorry for your and your husband's loss Janelle. You are far from a bad wife, you're just caught up in a bad situation. Never feel guilty for loving and caring for someone enough to want to travel so far to see them one last time.

Peace be with you and your family during this tragic grieving period.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Sorry for your and your husband's loss Janelle. You are far from a bad wife, you're just caught up in a bad situation. Never feel guilty for loving and caring for someone enough to want to travel so far to see them one last time.

Peace be with you and your family during this tragic grieving period.

Thank you DavenRoxy. I just keep thinking if my husband had a Sri Lankan wife he would have someone there to help him with his parents and now his father. I feel like im selfish because i should let him go and maybe he could be happy if he had a Sri Lankan wife. I know i'm stupid but this is what i keep thinking. He tells me i am being silly but i just keep thinking this. It is my fault i can't move back to Sri Lanka.

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

America no longer takes the time to say thanks or gives time to do so to many people who are now forced to make their way to work rather than having dessert after the turkey dinner. Is it just me or is anyone else annoyed that stores now open on Thanksgiving Day? Midnight on Black Friday isn't good enough anymore. Has to be 5pm on Thanksgiving Day now. What the hell is wrong with this country? What's next? Shopping on Christmas and Easter? smh

Happy Thanksgiving. Yeah, right!

Quite a cynical post old chap. But I agree with you. I refuse to leave my house either Thursday or Friday during this holiday. Spent it quietly at home, just my small family and some good food. Thankful for all the blessings I have and for the roof over my head. Things that many people don't have today.

Best wishes to you and yours.

Edited November 29, 2014 by DavenRoxy

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Quite a cynical post old chap. But I agree with you. I refuse to leave my house either Thursday or Friday during this holiday. Spent it quietly at home, just my small family and some good food. Thankful for all the blessings I have and for the roof over my head. Things that many people don't have today.

Best wishes to you and yours.

I am doing online shopping. I will not leave this place. I did go to a friends yesterday though.

[TBoneTX 46,276]

Sorry to all of you who have related your stories of loss. May you be comforted among all who mourn.

[Janelle2002 3,865]

Sorry to all of you who have related your stories of loss. May you be comforted among all who mourn.

That's a quote from the bible. I wasn't sure if you were a reader or not. Finally, I know something about the mysterious TBoneTX