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On The Cover: Being Thankfuln today’s world, where negative news often dominates our screens and social media feeds, practicinggratitude might seem difficult, but it is a crucial component of a happier and more fulfilling life. Embracing thankfulness can significantly boost motivation, productivity, self-worth, and achievement, while reducing feelings of anxiety, depression,Even the mere act of our hearts beating is a reminder of the gift of life.By pausing to reflect, we allow ourselves to see the abundance we often take for granted. Letting gratitude guide our attitude transforms our perspective, compelling us to look up and embrace a more positive outlook.This Thanksgiving, let’s make a conscious effort to lead with gratitude and recognize the myriad of blessings that enrich our lives daily. Happy Thanksgiving!y Sally KalosBItrauma, and stress.Appreciating the small, everydaythings—like waking up in the morning and enjoying a cup of coffee—can make a big difference. Each day is a gift, and there is profound beauty in recognizing and being grateful for the simple pleasures. Life’s basic blessings, such as clean water, food, shelter, fuel, electricity, and the companionship of pets and loved ones, are all around us.Thankful SubmissionsThankful For Strong Family SupportTo The Love Of My LifeSubmitted By Liberty Keil RobertsonI’for the strong support of family. This past summer, I had the unique opportunity to co-author a book with my seventy- year-old grandmother. Our collaboration resulted in the publication of HOOFBEATS & HEARTBEATS: Stories about horses that will capture your heart and imagination.The writing process not only deepened our already unshakable bond, but provided me with invaluable insights into writing, storytelling, and the incorporation of faith into fictional stories. It’s been satisfying to demonstrate to the world how effortlessly the generational gap can be bridged. It feels like a rare occurrence these days to see such a blending of wisdom and youth. This writing journey with my new creative partner isn’t ending anytime soon. We areSubmitted By Amanda Landm Liberty Keil Robertson, a sixteen-year-old junior at Reagan High School, and I’m thankfulWhere to even begin with how thankful I am for my husband. He is my rock, my escape roomscheduled for a signing event at The Twig Book Shop where we hope to share our book and our personal story.teammate, my late night pizza delivery man, and so much more. Everyday that I get to spend with him is a gift! He has a heart of gold and the most contagious smile. Patrick, I appreciate every moment, every hug, every laugh I get to spend with you. I am so excited to see where life takes us. Thank you for choosing me and our family everyday! You are so loved!Thankful For The Chance To Home Schoola field trip to the Natural Bridge Caverns with our Homeschool Co-op group. The experience was enchanting; the caverns were spectacular. Our tour guide, Kyle, was entertaining, engaging, and highly informed. It’s a tremendous blessing to learn alongside my kindergartener and third grader, something I am deeply thankful for at this stage of life.What Am I Thankful For?Submitted By Clara GradyIam immensely grateful for my sons and the chance to homeschool them.Today, we had the opportunity to takeThankful For Having My Wife To CelebrateSubmitted By Robert MasonThanksgivingI’m thankful for having my wife to celebrate Thanksgiving this year. My wife, Lynda, was diagnosed on March 1, 2024, with an extremely rare form of leukemia called Mast Cell Leukemia. She was told by her oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, that only 50 people in the world have it and it’s incurable. Mentally she stayed strong and I was a total wreck. I watched each day as the cancer slowly started to suck the life out of her. It began with the steady weight loss, fatigue and bone pain. The mast cells were throughout her entire body, brain, organs, bones and skin. Her spleen was 2 1/2 times its normal size. Soon the day came when she couldn’t get out of bed without help. At that point all hope was lost until we got a phone call from MD Anderson stating she had been accepted into a clinical trial to test a new medication. We drove back to MD Anderson wondering if this medication could be her “miracle”. After 2 weeks of taking the medication her mast cells started to decrease. Each week they decreased a little more until lastSubmitted By Mercy Valdez (Age 7, 2nd grade)6www.stoneoakhighlights.comNovember 2024month when they fell into the normal range. Prior to starting the trial medication on May 21, 2024, her doctor said she had only 2-3 weeks to live. So yes, I’m extremely thankful that she is still here today.wouldn’t be living.I am thankful for my mom and dadbecause they give me comfort and good health! I’m thankful for food and water because I also wouldn’t live. I’m thankful for my teachers because they make me smart.I’m thankful for my house that I live in. I’m thankful for the community because they make things easier by helping others. I’m thankful for my great grandma who died because she is old. I got my middle name from her and she was very kind. And I am thankful for the world because it’s super beautiful!I’m thankful for all the plants and the fresh air God has given us because I