This year, the British foiled a terrorist plan to blow up U.S.-bound international flights, and we're thankful for that. The resulting devastation would have snuffed out thousands of lives, not to mention the fact that it would have dealt a crippling blow to the airline and travel industries.

We're also thankful that recovery efforts in New Orleans are picking up, mainly as a result of the dedication of both catastrophe and restoration experts who are laboring tirelessly throughout the Gulf region. Nearly half of the former population of New Orleans have permanently relocated to other cities, citing lack of housing and employment opportunities, but those who have remained are putting up a valiant fight to reclaim their beloved Crescent City. These brave, determined “restoration armies” deserve to be at the very top of our Thanksgiving prayer list.

And finally, we're thankful that Dr. William Gray was way off the mark this year. At the beginning of the hurricane season, the hurricane expert from Colorado State University predicted there would be 17 tropical storms in 2006 with nine turning into hurricanes packing sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or more. We actually experienced four tropical storms in the Atlantic (Alberto, Beryl, Chris, and Debby) and five hurricanes (Ernesto, Florence, Gordon, Helene, and Isaac). Cuba and Bermuda suffered the brunt of two of them, but the U.S. mainland was virtually spared this year as compared to last year.