Giving thanks

Abe Porter, of Nikiski, said he is thankful for many things in addition to his family. “Awesome job… great coworkers… mustaches,” he said. Porter’s twin brother also just moved back to the area after ten years of them being apart. “He keeps me in line, so it’s probably a good thing for me,” Porter joked. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

Marie Anderson, of North Kenai, is grateful to have her husband here with her this year after he suffered a heart attack and a stroke last year. “He lost his short-term memory, but he’s getting it back,” she said. “He’s even driving now. Another thing I’m thankful for is God, for helping me go through this.” (Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

Nicole Harmon, of Soldotna, is thankful for the many recoveries she’s made since being involved in a car accident in 2003, after which doctors told her she would never walk again. “I’m not in a wheel chair anymore,” she said. “I died three times, came back to talk about a traumatic brain injury, went back to high school and graduated.” (Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

Dan Smith, of Kenai, is grateful for the safe community he lives in, along with the Kenai Fire Department and his family. “They’re always there for you, and I have a lot of them around here,” he said. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

Richard Ross, of Kenai, is thankful for the challenges he’s experienced because of the people they have led him to get to know. “I’ve been through a lot, so I’m thankful for all the, honestly I’m thankful for all the pain and suffering I’ve gone through because it led me to where I am and to all the relationships that I have now.” (Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

I’m thankful that I have my friends and family to help me with my life, said Kenai Middle School student Pierce Felix-Hughes. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Middle School secretary Megan Smith said she is “thankful for my family and our health.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

I’m thankful for my family so I’ll be in the world, said Kenai Middle School student Kordell Flecha. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

I’m thankful for life, said Kenai Middle School student Kaylee Jones. “Because if we weren’t alive we’d be dead.”

Kenai Middle School student James Sparks is thankful for football. “Playing and watching it,” he said. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsla Clarion)

I’m thankful for water and food because those specific material provide life and keep our body moving and give us energy,” said Kenai Middle School student Alex Martin.

I’m thankful for my friends, said Kenai Middle School student Lauren Avery. “So I won’t be alone.” (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Middle School student Taylor Andrew is thankful for her family and her two dogs. “Their names are Allie and Thor and they’re English Mastiffs. They drool a lot, but they’re really fun to play with,” Andrew said. (Photo by Ben Boettger, Peninsula Clarion)

Alek Angleton, 8, “I’m thankful that people invented houses, so in the winter I don’t get cold and (I have) somewhere to eat.”

Kenai Middle School after-school coach Ted Navarre said he is thankful for newspapers. “We get to have information that’s good and bad, and we get a chance to stand up against what’s bad, and to applaud the good that happens in our community, and in our world,” Navarre said. (Photo by Ben Boettger/Peninsula Clarion)

Abe Porter, of Nikiski, said he is thankful for many things in addition to his family. “Awesome job… great coworkers… mustaches,” he said. Porter’s twin brother also just moved back to the area after ten years of them being apart. “He keeps me in line, so it’s probably a good thing for me,” Porter joked. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

Dan Smith, of Kenai, is grateful for the safe community he lives in, along with the Kenai Fire Department and his family. “They’re always there for you, and I have a lot of them around here,” he said. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

Nicole Harmon, of Soldotna, is thankful for the many recoveries she’s made since being involved in a car accident in 2003, after which doctors told her she would never walk again. “I’m not in a wheel chair anymore,” she said. “I died three times, came back to talk about a traumatic brain injury, went back to high school and graduated.” (Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

Marie Anderson, of North Kenai, is grateful to have her husband here with her this year after he suffered a heart attack and a stroke last year. “He lost his short-term memory, but he’s getting it back,” she said. “He’s even driving now. Another thing I’m thankful for is God, for helping me go through this.” (Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

Richard Ross, of Kenai, is thankful for the challenges he’s experienced because of the people they have led him to get to know. “I’ve been through a lot, so I’m thankful for all the… honestly I’m thankful for all the pain and suffering I’ve gone through because it led me to where I am and to all the relationships that I have now.” (Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

McKinley Sorhus of Kenai, 17, said she is thankful for her family and pumpkin pie.

Kyaran Matturrow of Kenai, 14, a fan of the Supernatural TV series, said she is thankful for Netflix as well as more conventional things. “I’m thankful for my friends, my family and Netflix.”

Courtney Stroh of Kenai, 19, said she is thankful for her college track team members and coaches. “I’ve been injured several times, and I could not have made it through without all their support and encouragement.”

Cara Graves, 8, “I am thankful for God. And I think I am thankful for the world, because that’s what makes people happy.”

Ayla Tallent, 11, “I am thankful for the things that we do and the things that we can have out of school. Some kids don’t have schools or families and can’t do those fun things because they don’t have enough money.”