I'm so thankful that my sister and brother-in-law can still smile and that their faith in God has not been shaken. Richard has the biggest heart of any man I've ever known. The home he lost was open to numerous individuals to help them get on their feet.

For years Richard and Vicki (my sister) have fed and clothed the homeless in El Cajon. They lost everything but are still giving. I thank God for the heart of Jesus in them and the outpouring of love and compassion in Harbison Canyon where they live. I thank God for the love of our pastor in Crest and his love for the community.

I'm thankful for a woman named Joan Weller, whom I have never met. I read about Joan and her husband, Arthur, in a Union-Tribune story about people losing everything in the Valley Center fire.

The article said the Wellers, both 79, "didn't seem too worried" after having been evacuated from their home, and it quoted Joan as saying, if they lost everything "that will solve all our problems about leaving things to people, so that's not all bad."

What a lovely outlook on material possessions. At 53, I've decided I want to be just like Joan when I grow up.

Our home is one of five still standing in the Amber Ridge development of Scripps Ranch that had comprised over 100 households. How did we make it? The grace of God reached out from next door, from guardian angels in Laguna Beach, and from heroic firefighters.

Our next-door neighbor, Betsy Evatt, did not give up banging on our door until we were awake to acknowledge the evacuation. Shannon Huhn, another neighbor's sister, and her friends, Kris Spiteleri and Alice Wilson, arrived from Laguna Beach to help our neighbor move out her belongings. The trio ended up being defenders of our home as they furiously hosed down the house and removed any would-be fuel for the fire. Apparently some retired firefighters also arrived in the area and joined in taking a stand to save our home.

Although all of our extended family is on the East Coast, our family has now grown: Betsy, Shannon, Kris, Alice, the firefighters, the Joiners who opened up their home to us during this ordeal, and our neighbors who lost their homes. Home is where the heart is – and our hearts are filled with gratitude for the support of family, friends, co-workers and the community, near and far.

My wife, son and I had to evacuate our Tierrasanta house on account of the recent fires. We called the El Cordova Hotel in Coronado in hopes that there would be a vacancy. The receptionist answered the phone and said, "El Cordova Hotel. This is Elizabeth, may I help you?" When I asked her if there were vacancies, she replied, "Yes we do have rooms available. Have you been evacuated from your house by any chance?" "Why yes," I said, "we just evacuated our house in Tierrasanta." She responded, "Well we want you to know that the night is on us. There will be no charge for your stay tonight." ... When we arrived, the hotel general manager, Stacia Buffington, treated us with the empathy and compassion of a hospice nurse. She sympathetically listened to our story, and offered everything possible for our comfort and convenience. She explained that the owner of the El Cordova Hotel had instructed her to provide free lodging for those dislodged by the fire.

And then to top things off, we were extended another kindness from them. The announcement that Tierrasanta could return to their homes was not given until Monday afternoon. As soon as we heard the good news, we of course decided to go home. We checked out of the hotel about 4 p.m., prepared to pay for the second day of our stay, as the offer was for one night. But they would have nothing of it. ... It is just this kind of human kindness that the story of the original Thanksgiving was about. We, too, are thankful this Thanksgiving season for the kindness shown us by the owner, manager and staff of the El Cordova Hotel.

For this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for my house. These horrible fires San Diego has experienced recently have really made me realize and appreciate what I have. Now, I really appreciate being able to come home and lay down on my own couch, or go into my room and listen to music. I will continue to pray for all those who have lost their homes due to the tragic fires.

I give my thanks and blessings to all the firefighters who put their lives on the line battling these monstrous wild fires. Thanks to all the counties who came to us in our hour of need. Bless the family of the firefighter who paid the highest price of all, the life of their loved one.

My family lost our home to a fire – not the Cedar or Paradise fire, but to an electrical fire back on March 3 of this year.

We, too, lost everything.

While watching the recent devastation around San Diego and neighboring communities, memories surfaced for myself, my husband and our three kids. The memories were not, however, of our devastating loss. They instead were filled with the memory of the tons of clothes, food, gift certificates and outpouring of love we received from people we did not even know and from our family, friends, neighbors, sports teams and schools.

I wish I could reach out to each and every fire victim and let them know there is hope. ... "Stuff" can be replaced. Clearly, there are treasured and special items I miss, such as pictures and art created by my children. I really and truly do not miss most items, however. I still feel the loss, yet, I mostly remember the overwhelming support we received during this devastating time. For this, I am so very thankful.

FAMILY
On Halloween two years ago, my daughter was terrorized at knifepoint and sexually assaulted by a man now charged with crimes against women in at least four other states.

This Thanksgiving, foremost, I am grateful for her life, that she has survived and will fulfill her life's promise. I am grateful to her mom and to my son who did so much to support her and to the law enforcement community for capturing and removing this predator from our streets.

I am forever grateful for her impact on my life. She and thousands of other victims with the courage to stand up to their assailants are my heroes.

I am very thankful to my sister-in-law who donated a kidney to my husband (her brother) last January. She was nervous and scared but knew that hers was the best match. She has given my husband his life back, not to mention me and my children.

The last five years have been a drain on our business, our family, even our friendships. So to say I'm grateful is a huge understatement. I've always cared for my sister-in-law, and have known she was a good, kind person. But this selfless act of love and dedication to her brother has shown me how special she really is.

This Thanksgiving she is my hero. Thank you Adrienne.

Each year on Thanksgiving morning my husband, our 13-year-old daughter and I make a list of what we each are most thankful for, and we share what we have written later in the day, before joining the rest of the family for dinner. The notes are then saved in a special scrapbook for future memories.

This November, I am thinking about how blessed I am

to have not only a lovely daughter who this past year has grown into a wonderful, loving mother herself, but also a younger daughter who was born to us when I was 46 years of age and whose heart of gold has given me 13 years of joy.

I am also thankful for my husband who is always there for his family and for his community as well. He works for SDG&E and has worked day and night to help others who have suddenly become less fortunate than us due to the fires.

More than anything else, I am so thankful to be part of this special family.

COUNTRY
My family gives thanks for the men and women still over in Iraq being taunted, shot at, and living in uncomfortable conditions. We have not forgotten them and what they are doing for us and their country.

My cell phone display screen reads "be thankful." Television segments express thanks to our troops, and our daily prayer includes giving thanks.

But the sincerest thanks I gave was to my son, and his battalion, as they returned home from the war this past August. He truly shared what being thankful meant in many of his letters.

The details of this war and following the media proved difficult for me as the seven months dragged on. Two or three months later, my son's letters arrived asking for items we overlook in our busy daily lives, like nonperishables, beef jerky, canned goods, Chapstick, sunscreen, socks and most importantly, expressing all the things he misses about home.

The media shared what our troops are experiencing over in Iraq, but they could never describe the emotions as I clutched my son and wept on his shoulder, expressing my love for him. Or the sincerity I felt as I approached young soldiers extending my arms expressing my gratitude, welcome home and job well done.

You see, we all shouldn't complain about how hot it is, or how this food isn't served hot, how many daily showers we take, or that our car has stalled inconveniently on us. This year, I look at life differently and honor each day with thanks for what my family and I have today. Although those young soldiers I embraced were complete strangers, I will never forget the expressions and emotions we shared.

On Thanksgiving this year, I will honor those that gave the ultimate sacrifice, our troops that are at war and the sacrifices their families are giving so that we all can give thanks.

Our troops serving our nation deserve a very heartfelt and grateful thank you. But I wish to also thank those military families that support our troops.

There are spouses at home, checking homework and tucking the children in at night, dealing with home and car repairs, paying the bills, and keeping the home front running as smoothly as possible. They write e-mails and letters, supporting their sailors, soldiers and airmen, encouraging them and reassuring them that everything is fine at home.

There are many parents, aunts, uncles and other family members who write letters and send goody boxes.

The military families are often blessed with friends and neighbors in the community who help out with such kindness when an extra hand or an encouraging word is needed. Knowing that everything is going OK at home allows our military personnel to concentrate on the duties at hand.

Most of all, I thank the servicemen and servicewomen who give the ultimate sacrifice for our country and their brave families they leave behind. Being a military family is tough but, with all this support, many make it through the rough times. Thank you.

I am thankful for the life that I have since I moved to the United States.

I have had many chances to study English free of charge. All the teachers are kind and patient to teach their students. Therefore, I am interested in studying.

I am thankful for my boss that has given me a part-time job so I can continue my studies.

ACTS OF KINDNESS
I was in a head-on car collision in September near SR56 and Carmel Valley Road. First, thanks to the people who raised the bar on car safety requirements, because I'd be dead without my air bag and seat belt.

Many people stopped to help: Some called 911 or directed traffic; others came to help both drivers. I want to thank all of those unnamed people, but especially the man and woman who stuck by me until paramedics arrived. He tried to get my car door open and helped locate my wallet, glasses and keys to take with me in the ambulance. The woman managed to calm down my pain, fear and panic with her soothing voice immediately after the accident. She also offered to call anyone I wanted on her cell phone.

I had to be cut out of my car, but there was a gap at the top of my door where she could hand her phone in to me. She convinced me to call my sister in Denver, who stayed on the phone with me until the ambulance arrived. I didn't know the extent of my injuries at the time, and it made a huge difference to be able to talk with my family – not knowing if I would be able to talk with them later.

Thank you so much for caring enough to stop and help a total stranger.

AND OTHER THINGS
I'm thankful for wonderful, exciting school. I give thanks for school because I learn things I didn't know before.

Over the summer when school gets closer, my heart pounds because I'm excited. If we didn't have school, I wouldn't be smart.

I would love school, too, if I were you.

I am thankful for the three-run walk-off home run I hit at the YMCA. I am a member of the Mets team in the Encinitas Little League Fall Ball. I have been playing baseball for five years, and this is the first over-the-fence home run I hit. It was incredible!