Thanks, Bahku...and Happy Thanksgiving to you and everyone else who may read this thread.
Congrats on your pending marriage, Bahku. It took me about 7 years of actively looking for a wife and an ex-fiance' before I met my wife of 12 years. I am thankful that our marriage lasted for the roughly 11 years I was in the Navy. Many of my shipmates' marriages didn't.
One key to our marriage..Faith and prayer. It kept us committed to one another. Even during the rough spots (Yes there are and will be rough spots in a committed relationship), we remained faithful to one another and committed.
I am thankful to God for Blessing me with my wife and two young boys - 11 and 6. The oldest one is a Celtics Fan (Gotta raise them right 
). The youngest one is still deciding. Once he comes onboard I'll let him out of the doghouse....Literally--Just Joking People he does in fact sleep in the house..
Again Happy Thanksgiving to you and everyone else who reads this thread.
Thanks so much ... it's the (gulp) third and final time for me, and hopefully I've learned a thing or two, as I was far too young the first two times. But you're right, Faith is a key, and one element missing in my previous attempts. My fiance' is filipina, and very centered that way, so we've made that the core of our relationship from the start, (along with friendship), and I believe it will make all the difference.
I have 3 adult children, two of which I raised alone, (my daughter Alyssa from 2 months old, my son Brandon was 2), but I wouldn't change it for the world ... it was the toughest yet happiest and most rewarding period of my life. Rose and I want to have at least two, so it's very exciting for me to be at the "beginning" again, and looking forward to
sharing the duties of child-rearing this time.
I met Rose when I was least expecting another serious relationship, and every moment since then has been a blessing ... she is much younger than I am, but wise far beyond her years, (a result of necessity and having to take care of herself and siblings from the age of 15), and she has taught me so much about myself and trusting others, things I had given up on ever learning.
So this Thanksgiving is a particularly special one for me, for many reasons, but mostly for the simple ones: love, faith, friendship, wisdom, and another chance to share life's toughest times and greatest joys. Funny how life works sometimes ... just when I had given up on finding my "soul-mate", was the time she came along.
God bless you and yours, GF ... and thanks for the kind words.
