Since  last Thanksgiving so much has occurred within my own life. I have  struggled and yet remain. I have faced death again, but am still alive. I  have seen the wondrous beauty of a new life as my second grandchild,  Alaina Dee, came into the world this past September.

Many  followed my saga of discovery and recovery, which I am still going  through, when my body warred with itself. Weight loss that led to lung  surgery and loss of my right lung to a non-specific bacterial infection.  At times this past spring I was unsure if I would rise to face another  day. Yet thanks to some great medical providers, I have come through the  ordeal. Some walked the journey as medically necessitated dental work  led to a new set of teeth and hopefully stopped the infection from  spreading to my left lung as well.

I  am not sure what tomorrow may bring, but I know I can face it with the  strength and help of my loved ones: Iohn, my Mom - Sharon, my sons -  Dave and Kev, my daughters-in-law - Anna and Hailey, my granddaughters -  Dylan and Alaina, and, of course, my babies, Frankie and Gizmo.

While time may be running out, on this Thanksgiving Eve I can truly say I am thankful for life and so much more.

Recapping what I blogged Inside My Mind last year, what I entered back then still holds true today. I also shared these sentiments with the CNN iReport community and will do so again.

For  this I am thankful, that although the darkness of depression has  encircled me most of my life, at the last moment as I sank beneath the  billows and pressures of life there has always been a hand to reach  through the tide and pull me back, resuscitate me on the peaceful shore  of hope.

For this I am thankful, both of my parents are still  alive. Though they haven't been together for over 30 years, they are  still around to scold, to hold, to love, to disagree, to agree.

For this I am thankful, two sons who have grown into men who understand  the importance of family, honor, hard work, duty and above all love. I  am humbled by the men who once were my little boys.

For this I  am thankful, two daughters-in-law who support, love and cherish my sons  and allow the "Old Man" to communicate and visit.

For this I am  thankful, two beautiful granddaughters who have a sparkle in their eyes  and believe that nothing is impossible if they try. My granddaughters  give me hope that the future of this world is bright.

For this I  am thankful, my life partner, Iohn, who is there to lean on when the  storms rage and the waves of despair, pain and madness try to snuff out  the light. Iohn is there through the most difficult of times when my  condition makes it all but impossible to cope. Yet, Iohn doesn't give  up.

For this I am thankful, Frankie, our long-haired Chihuahua,  and Gizmo, our new short-haired Chihuahua and Jack Russel terrior mix,  who know just when to snuggle up to "Daddy", when the pain is so severe  or the attacks have me crashing to the ground.

For this I am  thankful, that I still live in a country where no matter how poor, how  rich, how in-between, there is always hope and there is freedom. A  nation where we may complain or praise. We may say what's on our mind  without looking over our shoulder, fearful we may just disappear into  the night.

For this I am thankful, the right to go to the  ballot box and cast my decision on whom I believe is the right person to  be a leader in the community, the state, the nation.

Yes,  looking with only our mortal eyes it would seem to be that the volcanic  eruptions of economic tumult are hurling lava of despair, lost hope,  setting off sinkholes of depression and gloom. Yet, when we stop and  look through the windows of the soul, we can see that we will overcome.  We will adapt. We will move ever upward.

For this I am  thankful, the valleys of life. For without the valleys how would we ever  have the strength, the supplies we need to climb the mountain. At the  top of the mountain thanks to the valley we traverse, we can gaze upon  the promised land and see "our flag is still there".

Yes, as another Thanksgiving Day is upon is there is always something for which to be thankful.

From the Cornfield, I wish one and all a "Happy Thanksgiving" and a  wish for hope, peace and the ability to see the good outweighs the bad.