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document.write('<h2>What Thanksgiving Is All About</h2><P><strong><em>by Annette Sutherby</em></strong></P><P>Thanksgiving is the holi');
document.write('day that kicks off the holiday season. And we all know the day after Thanksgiving is the busiest shopping day out of the');
document.write(' whole year. But sometimes we get so wrapped up with the new holiday season approaching, we forget about what Thanksgivi');
document.write('ng really means.</P><h3>It\'s More Than Just the Turkey</h3><P>Yeah, we all know that we get together with family and e');
document.write('at turkey. But do we really think about all the things in our lives that we have to be thankful for? With Thanksgiving b');
document.write('eing right around the corner, I am reminded of everything in my life that I have to be thankful for.</P><P>I believe th');
document.write('at I have been very blessed in my lifetime. When I was growing up, I was surrounded by my family, who cared about me ver');
document.write('y much. They were there for me whenever I needed them the most, and they still are to this day. I thank God every day fo');
document.write('r them.</P><h3>I\'m Thankful for the Good Things</h3><P>This Thanksgiving is especially different for me because it\'s t');
document.write('he first Thanksgiving I am going to have with my new stepfamily. Instead of the usual 6-11 people that we normally have ');
document.write('over for dinner, this year there are going to be almost 20 people there!<br>I am also extremely thankful for my friends');
document.write(', who have always been there for me no matter what. No matter how silly or complicated things may have gotten, they have');
document.write(' stuck by me through it all. I thank God everyday to have such great friends. I feel very fortunate and blessed to have ');
document.write('them in my life.</P><h3>I\'m Thankful for the Bad Things</h3><P>When I think about everything that I am thankful for, I');
document.write(' am reminded of not just the good things that have happened in my life, but the bad things as well. Without those bad th');
document.write('ings happening, I wouldn\'t have grown into the person I am today.</P><P>I am thankful for the day that I skipped school');
document.write(' my junior year and got caught. Yes, it was an extremely dumb thing to do. And yes, I did get in trouble with both schoo');
document.write('l and my mother for it. But it made me start to wake-up and realize what I was doing.</P><P>Getting caught skipping sch');
document.write('ool made me realize three things:</P><ol>  <li>I shouldn\'t even try to get away with anything because my mom will alwa');
document.write('ys find out about it;</li>  <li>The person I skipped school with was a bigger influence on me than what I had originall');
document.write('y thought; and</li>  <li>It\'s better to tell the truth the first time around than to lie about what happened (especiall');
document.write('y when the other person already knows what the truth is).</li></ol><P>I am also thankful that I waited to get my drive');
document.write('r\'s license until after I turned 17. In the year plus that I went without having my license I realized that I needed to ');
document.write('grow up a lot and take responsibility for my actions. Besides, I ended up starting my new job and I got my car the day a');
document.write('fter I got my license. That definitely was a blessing in disguise.</P><h3>I\'m Just Thankful</h3><P>I am thankful for e');
document.write('verything that has happened to me in my life whether it has been good or bad. These events have shaped me into who I am ');
document.write('today.</P><P>I will always be thankful for whatever curve balls life may throw at me. I know they happen for a reason a');
document.write('nd that I will grow and learn from them. And no matter what happens, I try to stay focused on -- and close to -- the peo');
document.write('ple around me. They are the ones who care about me and love me the most, and I know that I will be forever thankful for ');
document.write('having them in my life.</P><P>And that\'s what Thanksgiving is all about.</P><hr><h3>Life Applications:</h3><P>What ar');
document.write('e some good times for which you are thankful?<br>What are some bad times for which you are thankful?<br>Who are the peop');
document.write('le for who you are thankful?<br>(Now say a prayer of thanksgiving for all these wonderful blessings!)</P><hr><P>Copyrig');
document.write('ht 2002-2009 <strong><em>by <font color="#000000">Annette Sutherby</font></em></strong><A HREF="http://www.ParishWebmast');
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