As adoptive families, Thanksgiving becomes more than a day of eating turkey and pumpkin pie. We are extra blessed to have those very special children who have made our lives better and brighter. Our children are blessed to have a forever family, to have the needs of their bodies, minds, and spirits met by loving parents. We asked some of our readers, both kids and adults to share their Thanksgiving thoughts with us.

Olivia Diane Mihong Raney says she is thankful for Claire who came home in November 2001. Claire Marie XiaoYu Raney shows her thankfulness for her big sister with her smile and hugs.

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Kaitlin Lian Wang Saxton says she is thankful that she'll have two brothers. Hunter Mackenzie Quynh Saxton says he's thankful Jesus is giving him a brother he'll call Ben (everyone else can call him Ethan).

Michele Tucker, age 8—I am thankful for my family. It would be horrible not to have a family that loves you."

Joni McPherson, age 11, adopted 1997, Hubei Province—I am thankful for my clothes, especially my church clothes. I'm thankful for my house because that's where I live. I'm also thankful for my pets because I can play with them. I am most thankful for friends because I have someone to play with. I'm thankful for books because when I have nothing to do (which isn't often) I like to read. I'm thankful for school because I learn there and my teacher is the best teacher. I'm thankful for my family and church. Second to last, I'm thankful for my Game Boy because I sometimes play it. Last of all, I'm grateful for Thanksgiving because it is a holiday to be thankful for.

Tori Qualls—I am thankful for my family and my salvation.

Matthew McPherson, age 11, adopted 2000, Xinjiang Province—I am thankful for clothes to wear and my favorite clothes are church clothes. I am thankful for my friends, and my favorites friends are Jordan, Sam, Lane, Wade, and Sarah. I am thankful for books and schools. My favorite books are math books and art books. I am thankful for all our animals and my favorites are the fish, bird and rabbit. I'm thankful for everything we have.

Melody Barker Age 9, Vietnam—Thank-you Mom for adopted me. Being in America is the BEST thing ever."

Sam Barker, age 10, I am thankful for my family, my dog, my friends, my bone marrow transplant this year which saved my life, being adopted, and coming to America.

Kristi June Coffey (Dang Jun), 8 years old— I am thankful I can get adopted. I am thankful I can have a new family. I am thankful for my mom and dad. I am thankful for my sisters and brothers. I am glad I can someday go back to China to see  my friends.

I like going to school and I am thankful I can learn English. In  China I talked sloppy and slow, but then I came to America and have an expander to help me talk better. I have a speech teacher who helps me make sounds correctly. I am glad I came to America because  I can learn to speak well.

From the Schwartz children—the youngest three were adopted from Russia

EMILY(11): I am so happy to have my family, I am so lucky they came to Russia and brought me and my brothers home. I love God for giving me such a wonderful mommy and daddy. And I love God for my brothers, sister, dog and cat too.

MATTHEW(10): I am thankful that I play baseball because I am good at it. I will be thankful too when I get to be a professional ball player. I am thankful when I don't have homework. Oh yeah, I am thankful to God for my family but I wish I didn't have to share my bedroom with Logan.

LOGAN(9): “I am thankful for my family, for the food I have to eat, for my life. I am thankful that I don't always get caught when I do stuff I shouldn't do and I am thankful that it annoys Matthew that we share our room, annoying him is fun!”