“Who is one person you are thankful for, and why?”

My Dad.  He helped guide and shape me into the person i am today.  My dad’s faith and character that I developed because of him will be with me the rest of my life.
- Jeff M., Chehalis

This is tough because I count each friend and family member a blessing. There is a reason these people are in my life and I appreciate each and every one of them.

But the one person is my Mom. She had me at seventeen years old. Throughout my life, at every stage, she has been there for me. She taught me to appreciate the good things along with the bad and she would also say, “where there is a will there is a way” during times of frustration or need. If we were frustrated with a playmate she would tell us, “not everybody is the same and we needed to understand the other person. I work as an artist today because she always taught us to create something out of what we already had rather than buy something new. I remember how she taught us to make paper dolls out of scraps of paper and let us sew using discarded fabric and we were taught how to  forage for seasonal items in the northwest like fish, clams and berries and  homemade food from “scratch” from just a few items in the pantry. Good manners were not optional. In a nutshell, we learned to grow as individuals through the use of creativity and clever sayings that would linger in the back in our minds forever and how to appreciate the many  people that would be in our lives.
- Mary Lou L., Washington

A 94-year-old lady who I met in a hospital bed while I was passing through on my way to visit someone else. I only had one conversation with her. She told me stories of her life. She was a preemie born at home with no doctor – a living miracle.

She talked about wars, the Great Depression, the loss of a husband and 2 children.

Although hospitalized with many issues, she was looking forward to going back to her home, where she takes care of herself and lives next to a daughter and her family. She told me that any day you’re breathing is a GOOD DAY!
- Julie R., Longview

NEXT QUESTION OF THE MONTH:
What is one Christmas gift you have always wanted, but never think you’ll get? Why?

SEND ANSWERS TO:
editor@valleybugler.com or mail to:
705 Vandercook Way, Longview WA
(Include your name and city of residence.)