BUCYRUS — This Thanksgiving, local residents are reflecting on the many things they are most grateful for in their lives.
Morgan Stevens of Bucyrus has had a rough year after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in August but she has not allowed that to stop her from being thankful for many things in her life.
“I’m thankful to God for allowing me to wake up each day. I’m thankful for my family and most of all I’m thankful for my son,” said Stevens, the mother three-year-old Wyatt.
Connie Welborn, also of Bucyrus, said she has many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
“A few years back on Thanksgiving Day, my son in-law went to work after our family’s Thanksgiving dinner and suffered a brain aneurysm at work,” Welborn said. We got the call at 7:30 that night. He was life-flighted to Riverside Hospital in Columbus. What a nightmare. He was in intensive care for three weeks.”
She is grateful that he recovered.
“I am grateful for my daughter that she is healthy. I am blessed with my wonderful grandchildren and my other daughters as well,” Welborn added. “I am truly blessed to have three wonderful sisters who helped each other and were supportive to each other in the care of my dad and mom at the end of life.”
She is also thankful for her wonderful husband who has been on this roller coaster ride with her.
“We all are here for a short time enjoy each other and live life to the fullest,” Welborn said.
Bucyrus resident Karen Murr is thankful for God, her family and friends while Dorene Osborne Cole is grateful for the love and support of her family and friends during a very difficult year.
Teresa Spears Hensley is also thankful for her family and friends.
“And for the men and women who have fought and still fight for our freedom. I’m thankful that I’m able to watch my grandkids grow up. But most of all, I thank God for giving us the air to breathe and live in such a beautiful world…except for winter time,” Hensley said.
Here are the thoughts of others giving thanks during this Thanksgiving holiday:
Greg Leonhardt: I am thankful for honest local reporters.
Bob Davis: Hot streaming pumpkin pie with a chunky layer of pretty as snow white vanilla bean ice cream!!!!!!!! Mmmmmmmmmmmm, so thankful.
Jeanette Lautzenheiser Liles: My grandchildren and God for helping me take care of our three. The Beck’s for their help and being there for the two youngest. The love and support of family and friends. God for helping me take care of our three.
Robert Mackling: My job, home, pets, life and family.
Patty Robinett: I’m so thankful for life itself. They told me I would not live over six months in 1980 and I’m so happy to be able to watch my grandkids grow.
Ruthanne Emmer: My son Aiden, 10 years old, told me yesterday his favorite part of the holidays is his family.
Kathleen Fritz: I am thankful for my family, wonderful friends and all that God has given me.
Ted Powell: Still above ground.
Norma Fegley Burke: I am, of course, thankful for my wonderful family and friends but also so grateful that even in our diversity we have that commonality that is so wonderful. We see that when a car accident draws the efforts of strangers to possibly risk their lives.
Travis Sand: Family.
Edna Myers Cress: I am thankful for my family. We’re all getting older and not able to do all the things we used to. So now we do different things for our family and community. We have to make sure things will be okay for the next generation coming (grandkids).
Donnetta Logan: I’m thankful for my family I still have and for the new family I have.
Susie Lynn Perry: I’m thankful for my family and for God giving me another day. And I’m thankful for my kids.
Tonya Raifsnider: I’m very thankful for family, my children and three beautiful granddaughters. Even living in pain every day, I feel truly blessed and grateful for all that I have through God’s grace.
George Teynor: Being cancer-free for 19 years and getting off my death bed. Thank you, Cleveland Clinic and God, for the experimental procedure that saved my life. Nothing like having them telling you that you have a three percent chance to live till morning with a morphine drip at your side. Believing in oneself will conquer any problems in life, or in my case, life over death.
Shelli Hines: I am thankful that after my back surgery I can walk. I am thankful I have great kids that have good Jobs and are great parents. I am thankful for my sister, we hang out and do different things. She is always there for me. I am so thankful my parents are still alive and can live on their own.
Fred Fritz: My family and friends. Thank God that I’m still here to share it with them.
Dawn Pollock: I’m thankful for my family, those living and those who have passed. I’m also thankful for hardships. It has taught me to love differently, to accept and embrace change, and to be a better person.
Debra Lewis: My health and old and new friends.
Laina Vanbuskirk: I’m thankful for everything in my life. My job, my family my old and new friends. My beautiful little home, my new bosses and the nice weather.
Mary Wendelken: I’m thankful for the memories of better times at Thanksgiving and the hope of better times to come. I’m thankful for those I love and thankful to be a TBI survivor.
Chris Malone-Short: I am thankful for the doctors at Ross Heart OSU for the care they gave when my mom had her Aorta valve replaced a month ago which extended her life.
Sonya Bloomfield Young: I am thankful that God woke me up this morning for my daughter and the family he chose for me. And for my amazing friends who have become my family! And for the men and women who have fought for our freedom
Tina Shell: I am thankful that even though my dad passed away one month ago, he still sends my sister and I signs every day that he is still with us. He loved Thanksgiving! It was a day that we could all spend together. That was his favorite part, even though it was probably a tie with the stuffing! We will miss him this year and every year to follow, but he is here with us.
Amy May: I am thankful I get to spend the holidays with my Dad and Mom.
April Rodgers Payne: I’m most thankful that I have four healthy sons, a wonderful husband and we both have jobs to be able to spoil the four sons.
Jeanette Williamson Parker I am very thankful for my children. Without them, l do not think l would have survived my 2 “stress strokes” a couple years ago. I am also very thankful for my extended family who have stepped up to help care for Rossie. They know who they are and why. He may be autistic but he still knows who loves him.
Chris Copper: I am so thankful to live in our community. They’ve been so many lives change by the good work that happens with Crawford County good people coming together for the good of the cross. I moved to Bucyrus when I was 17 years old and a pivotal time and wife. I was welcomed with open arms and the impact the community has made all my life turned me towards A career of philanthropy and helping other people. Our community changes lives!
Janet Pratt: Holidays with family and still holding on to my recovery over three years and counting!!!
Paula Durbin of Galion: I am most thankful that I am still here on this earth as I was not supposed to live to the ripe old age I am. I am somewhat amazed I am still alive. I thank God every morning. I am also thankful for my family and friends I have accumulated over the last 50 plus years.
Cheryl Dunford: I’m thankful for the most amazing parents and family and how close we’ve always been.
Grant Nickelson: I’m thankful for not only family who I love unconditionally, but a community that always seems to be connected by local events that are reported by great people like you Kim, who keep us informed. I’m also thankful for the town of Bucyrus that I grew up in, learned my faith in, work in, made lifelong friends in, and raised my own children in. There’s truly no place like home, and for that, I’m thankful.
Becky Lutz: I’m thankful I got to spend 34 years with my Grandpa Richard Cory, as he taught me the importance of serving your community. Also, thankful for my Husband and my 7-year-old twin boys.