Thank-you notes for all kinds of gifts

Best friends, an employer, mothers, birth moms and a mother-in-law. These are just a few of the people our readers thanked when given the opportunity on our Web site. Here are a few of the thank-you notes. Go to share.triangle.com to read more. And while you're there, maybe there's someone you want to thank.

The gift of life

I shudder to think I almost missed being a mom. But when I think about who I am grateful for it is not my children, but the birth mothers who so unselfishly gave them up. My sons are now grown men, and hardly a day goes by that I don't think about the trust placed in me when those babies were placed in my arms. These two brave women gave them life and I will forever be in their debt. Almost three years ago I was able to meet my younger son's birth mom. I knew in my heart I always would. She is lovely and it is so apparent the love she has for our son. She has told me repeatedly how grateful she is that I have been so accepting of her presence in our son's life now, but it is I who am thankful for her decision to give up this baby, to give up being a mom, so that I could. Recently we stood together as our son was married. And even though I have never met my oldest son's birth mother, I am no less grateful to her. On this Thanksgiving Day, my wish is that birth mothers everywhere who have given up a child have peace in their hearts for their selfless act of love. - Mary Anne Watson of Wake Forest to Tammy Haroz of Virginia Beach

The gift of friendship

I am thankful for my best friends, Sam and AJ. I have known them ever since preschool. They have always been my best pals and always will be. I like it when we go to each other's houses and have sleepovers. They are so special in my life that we act as if we are brothers. We always go trick-or-treating together at my house and eat spaghetti and meatballs (our favorite food) before going out in our costumes to have a great time together! Ever since preschool Sam and I have been in almost every class together. AJ is two years behind us. We were split up this year when we went to sixth grade in different schools. I was disappointed that we could not continue being in classes together.

I still see them a lot. We have sleepovers every now and then and stay up late watching TV. Sam and AJ also go to different places with me. We like Pilot Mountain a lot and my parents take all of us there every fall. I feel very thankful and lucky to have them as friends. Sometimes I think that we really are brothers because we have done so much together. - TJ Brown of Hillsborough to Sam and AJ, Carrboro

The gift of song

Our mother has a beautiful voice. God gave her that talent and she has used it for his glory for over 80 years! Her first performance was at age 5 in the church Christmas pageant and she's been "singing for him" ever since. As a child, I remember when our minister would call my mom and ask her to sing a solo for the funeral of someone whose family had no access to a musician. My mother always said "yes" and would use her voice to celebrate a life and comfort the family. She did not need to know the person's name, only the need ... and she was willing to serve with a song in her heart. When I think about the power of example that parents have on children, I am thankful for the influence of my mother's choice to share her gift of music selflessly ... to give back to the Creator with the voice that he gave to her. - Louise Wells to Louise Wilkerson, both of Raleigh

The privilege of work

Last spring I was losing my job. The C-store I worked at was changing management. The people I was employed by didn't have a choice ... times were tough. They did everything they could to keep me until the end. Thank you, Mr. Kim and Mr. Oh. I miss you.

Blessings come in so many ways. When the store switched hands, the new owner kept me. I didn't miss one day of work when so many I knew were losing their jobs. Whether it was helping revamp the store or pressure-washing the outside, I was here. Not only did this man make me feel important and worthy, his wife and children did too. They always had a smile and a kind word to say. They do special things for me and my family beyond an employee/employer relationship. If more people were as generous and kind as this family and their extended family, I feel the world would be a better place.

This year I am thankful for the Farrells and their kindness to me. - Beth Glenn of Chapel Hill to the Farrell family of Chapel Hill

The queen of our lives

My mother, Mrs. Maebelle Archible, has truly been the queen of our lives. Mel, as we affectionately call her, is the mother of 10 children. Born the only child, whose mother died when she was 6 months, she never had the joy of having a mother. She has made Thanksgiving Day very special for all of her children. My dad (deceased 1989) would always buy the biggest turkey the store had. Mel would need someone to be there to put the turkey in the oven and someone there to take the turkey out. She has taught us about having faith, loving each other and being the best we could be. We honored her this year at the Raleigh Convention Center on Sept. 5 with her 80th birthday celebration. We could never, ever thank, honor or give her what she gave to us. She has truly been a gift and a rock to her 10 children. We have lost one brother, Alfred. Whenever we make a circle, it is truly a circle of love. We could never thank her enough for being our mother, being our queen. Truly one of the most beautiful flowers to grace this earth. - Bobbie A. Jones to Maebelle J. Archible, both of Raleigh

One of my greatest teachers

"Don't ever let 'anythang' or anybody make you what you ain't. And laugh at yourself even when sometimes it ain't funny." - Aunt Lottie

These are words you said to me many years ago. I have passed them on to students for many years as a teacher and a counselor. With all my degrees, none of them have provided me with your "down-to-earth" education. For knowledge comes from books. But wisdom comes from living and loving and knowing how to laugh. Your wisdom and strengths are bountiful! At this Thanksgiving season your family and friends thank God that you are with us. We love you! - Jennifer E. Flowers of Angier to Lottie Godwin Pollard of Coats

The time we had together

As I write this, Jan, my wife of 26 years, is confined to a hospital bed in our den awaiting her death. Who would have thought when she was diagnosed with Stage I/II lymphoma around Thanksgiving of 2007 that we would find ourselves in this awful place two years later. Some may wonder if my thankful list is a bit small this year.

To the contrary, I find my reasons to be thankful so much greater now than in years past. I have found that when pushed to physical and emotional extremes that Jan and I have become acutely aware of what is around us and how we have been helped by so many. My family has been completely overwhelmed with the love, emotional generosity and support of others during Jan's illness. How can I not be thankful for all they have done for us?

First and foremost, I am thankful for my wife and the time we have shared with one another. From the youthful exuberance and inexperience of our earlier years together, to those today filled with sadness and bittersweet joy, I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to share these years with her. The memories that we have created together will be with me forever and I am thankful that I will have these memories of our life together long after she is gone. - C. Edward Sharp Jr. of Apex, to his wife, Jan, and many others.

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