Thankful & Grateful

The Valencia County News-Bulletin asked our social media followers to tell us what they were thankful for during this holiday season. This is just what some wrote.

Jennifer Vallejos Winsor: I am thankful for my sister, Carrie. She is my best friend. I am also thankful for my mom Jackie and my grandma Carrie Adams. She just turned 91 in October and I cherish the time I get to spend with all of them.

Charlie Martinez: I am thankful for my children and that my youngest child survived through heart surgery at 2 months old to remove heart tumors he was born with. He’s now 4 and hasn’t had complications.

April Marquez: I am thankful that we get another year with my daughter (8 years old), who is on home hospice.

Chrysta Masterman: I am thankful to be cancer free this Thanksgiving. I am a breast cancer survivor, who is so grateful to be here with my family.

Clint Masterman: I’m thankful to be able to pray. To know the works God provides for my family and friends through faith, as hard as it may be to hold close, you see the outcome of what he can do. He has done so much for me and mine. Plus so many I personally know.

Jennifer Vigil: I’m thankful for waking up everyday! I went into heart failure in February. I almost didn’t make it. I was given three years to live and I’m spending everyday with my family! I’m trying to make my time whatever I have left .. happy!

Michael Garcia: I’m thankful for my mom, for her hard work and to the village of family who helped raise me. Their support is what’s allowed me to travel the world and pursue my dreams.

Barbara Mora: I’m thankful for my two daughters that have been there for me through all my accidents and health struggles. If not for them I don’t know what I’d do. They’ve made sacrifices for me and I appreciate them.

Dave Layman: I’m thankful for a healthy and safe family, a career I love that makes a positive difference for others, and being able to spend time doing what I enjoy because life is too short to always complain, worry, and argue.

Michelle Brieno: I’m thankful that I’m able to raise my kids in an environment that shows where our food comes from. It’s not easy and is financially hard, but the most important thing is my kids see that in a life of an animal, you raise it till you kill it. In this process, you should show respect.

Angela Peralta: I am thankful for my family and friends who are the stability in my life. They provide me with love, support and encouragement. I’m also grateful for the freedom to worship and practice my faith without fear or persecution. It’s a blessing to live in a country where we have the freedom to express our beliefs and values.

Malinda Bernal: Thankful that God brought me from the dead to live clean and sober for (five) years.

Jessica Medina: I am thankful beyond words that my mother survived her brain aneurysm and stroke. Her strength, her will to hold on, and the grace that carried her through have reminded me how fragile and precious life is.

I am equally grateful for my father and brother, who stood firm when everything felt uncertain. They held our family together with quiet strength and love, becoming the anchor we all needed.

I am simply thankful — for survival, for family, and for the love that kept us standing.

Antone Pazer: They are finally smoothing out our streets in Belen. Plus the expansion the Los Lunas bridge. Smoothing driving.

Mark Griego: I’m thankful that no one was killed during the Cotton Fire.

Valerie Thibodeau: I am thankful God opened my eyes and gave me a chance at another day.

Sarah Lee: I am so grateful that the Lord has blessed me with the most amazing husband and daughters. I am extra grateful that next Thanksgiving I will be a grandma.

Sue Carrasco: I am thankful for my husband, my family, my friends, my church family at United Methodist in Rio Communities, and most of all God’s love and blessings.

Kevin Woznick: My daughter, sons, grandkids as well as being alive to see another Thanksgiving.

Ash-by Albright: I am thankful for my husband and my cats as well as my friends and family. It’s been a rough couple of years after being diagnosed with MS and with all the medical going on in my life, I am extremely grateful for the love and support that they surround me with.

Jessica LeeAnn Baca: I am thankful for my healthy children and God’s grace over our lives.

Pat N Anna: I’m thankful for the selfless act of life because of someone so special my son got a new heart.

Sheri Devlin Ulibarri: I am thankful for my successful business in helping the residents in my community and surrounding communities find benefits that they are not aware of.

Dorothy Chavez-Flores: I am thankful for my husband’s love and care that he has given me during this difficult recovery. He has been my everything he always has however not being able to anything for myself he has stepped in to do it all. God bless this man of mine!

Candy Baca: Sept. 5, 2023, I got that phone call no wife ever wants to get. My husband was in a motor vehicle accident on (NM) 314. All I knew at the time was he had two broken legs. But it was so much worse. But my husband survived. I am so thankful that he lived and although we still have a long road ahead of us he is here with me.

Lilly Miller: I’m thankful for my husband. He’s done so much for us the past few years and he’s kept his head held high. I know he struggles but he stays strong through it all. He’s been my rock throughout everything especially with how my health has been. I wouldn’t know what to do if I didn’t have him. I am glad God put him in my life.

Loretta Portillo: I’m grateful to myself that I had the strength to eliminate toxic people and a toxic religion from my life.

Margaret Nicole: I am beyond thankful for my family Delora, Aaron and sissy Marie for welcoming me home to Belen this year after being away for college at ENMU for (five) years! Belen has grown beautifully and the authentic food definitely was a warm welcoming!

Danielle Parmentier: Thankful to be able to see the fall leaves change color another year. Thankful for those I love who love me, including pets.

Barbie De La Cruz: I am thankful for so much. First I am thankful for my husband’s hard work. Without him we wouldn’t be able to do the things we do for our family. I’m thankful that my 91-year-old mom is living with us. That I’m able to take care of her and make even more sweet memories. I’m thankful for my daughter that also helps me out and comes and gives my mom showers because I can’t do that job. I am thankful for my son that is trying so hard to stay on the straight and narrow after a lot of obstacles he’s had in his life ...”

Aura Jaramillo: Honestly, a life to live and navigate. Learn from my mistakes and make peace.

Rebecca Rodriguez Pacheco: I’m thankful for the family and friends I still got around me. I’ve lost so many in the past years my baby girl to leukemia at (five). My dad to COPD a heart valve disease and other health issues and so on. Just glad to have the people I do around me ...”

Liz Gurule: I’m thankful God died on the cross for me.