SANDPOINT — Family, friends, and good food.

While Thanksgiving celebrations may be smaller with fewer people gathered around the dinner table, or take virtually via Zoom or FaceTime — and elbow bumps may replace hugs for the moment — loved ones are never far from our thoughts and there is still much for which to be thankful.

There is still food for a holiday feast, laughter and family stories are still being told and football games and holiday classics are still being played on the TV screens as families gather close. And, while the specifics may vary from family to family, from home to home, the spirit of Thanksgiving — the gratitude and thankfulness for all our blessings and all they entail — carries from one area to the next, from one family to another, filling the country.

For students at Sandpoint Waldorf School, the list of what they are grateful for is as varied as the students themselves. Some find the spirit of the holiday in their families and friends, others through the love of the family pet. Favorite foods? Again, they make a frequent appearance on the students’ list of things for which they are grateful. For some, the list reflects their love of a particular sport or team, some a favorite memory, and for others, it is their friends and classmates that top the list.

Others aren’t as specific in their Thanksgiving hopes, offering an all-encompassing wish such for kindness and all the good the world has to offer. They are grateful for a warm home, for nature, for the support in dealing with the pandemic.

The simple counting of blessings is a reminder of all that is right with the world despite the current craziness.

So, below, the students of Sandpoint Waldorf School share what the many things for which they are thankful. We are happy to share them, once again, with you.

Thimbleberry Kindergarten

Benji — "I am grateful for the berries, the leaves, the towns, everybody in the world."

Ajah — "I am grateful for my mommy and that I’m going to have a mommy-and-me day."

Viola — "I am grateful for my teacher, my life, my friends, nature, my mommy and daddy, my big brother."

Izabel — "I am grateful for food."

Ajax — "I am grateful for God."

Saylor — "I am grateful for food."

Whit — "I am grateful for school."

Skade — "I am grateful for school."

Shiloh — "I am grateful for my kittens, my puppies, my mom and dad."

Charlotte — "I am grateful for Santa Claus, Christmas snow, all my friends, Miss Elissa, my mom and dad, my mom and dad’s hugs, the seasons, and popcorn day."

Isadora — "I am grateful for my dog and my friends."

Kate — "I am grateful for my family."

Aylah — "I am grateful for me, my sister, my mom and dad, my dog, our cats, my friends, Miss Elissa, and Miss Hannah."

Ophee — "I am grateful for leaves, my teacher, and my school."

Wesley — "I am grateful for everything in the world except for bad guys."

Huckleberry Kindergarten

Mr. Ryan (teacher) — "I am thankful to be the Huckleberry Kindergarten teacher, cookies and pie."

Fergus — "I am thankful that Mr. Ryan is my teacher."

Savannah — "I am thankful that I am a Huckleberry, and that I am surrounded by friends, my pets and three parents."

Kinsley — "I am thankful that I am a Huckleberry, that Mr. Ryan is my teacher, and for my dog and cat."

Bjorn — "I am thankful that I have two little lambs and a lot of little fuzzy ones and friends."

Silas — "I am thankful for school and my cousins."

Kennick — "I am thankful for lunch and Costco apple pie."

McKinley — "I am thankful for my pets and my family."

Elise — "I am thankful for the school and for my mom and dad."

Malia — "I am thankful for my bunnies."

Skylar — "I am thankful for Henry, my horse."

Arthur — "I am thankful for Oso, Cosimo, Bahloo, Mom, Dad and Maryah."

Ms. Sharon (teacher) — "I am thankful that I get to teach all the Huckleberries."

Grade 1

North — "I am grateful for my parents."

Gia — "I am grateful for my home, my parents, a warm house and my good, cute dog."

Daphne — "I am grateful that my dad was once a Waldorf teacher."

Benjamin — "I am grateful for animals, plants, and especially snakes and monkeys. Also, the water, and Earth. I’m also grateful for friends and family."

Matilda "I am grateful for my mommy and my daddy and my sister, Lila, and Pepper, my dog."

James — "I am grateful for my food and my family."

Kubrick — "I am grateful for my home, such a good family, my dogs, my chickens and my school. I am grateful that we moved here. I am also grateful for friends and family."

Aslan — "I am grateful for my parents, baby brother and Halloween! And candy corn and my great great friends. I am also grateful for my school."

Dalton — "I am grateful for the Earth and my family. I’m also grateful for the skate park."

Mila — "I am grateful for the world."

Kai — "I am grateful for dancing!"

Griffin — "I am grateful for skateboarding."

Adelaide — "I am grateful for my chickens and life!"

John — "I am grateful for my sister and my mom and my dad and his brother, Mike."

Brock — "I am grateful for my mom and my daddy."

Hannah — "I am grateful for my teacher and all my friends and my family."

Shaw — "I am grateful for my brother and my mom and dad."

Annabelle — "I am grateful for my mom, dad, brother and cat."

Grade 2

Sawyer — "I am thankful for my dog."

Rowan — "I am thankful for my family."

Kachemak — "I am thankful for my stuff, my mom and dad, and that I have a good life."

Lars — "I am thankful for my family."

Autumn — "I am thankful for lots of things; my family, house, teachers and nature."

Kyra — "I am thankful that we have lots of food."

Libby — "I am thankful that I have good teachers that can teach me a lot."

Xina — "I am thankful that I got to pick out my own kitten for my pet. His name is Stripe."

Erin — "I am thankful for my dog and my family."

Bella — "I am thankful for my friends and my family."

Georgia — "I am thankful for my house, my family, and all the things I have."

Addie — "I am thankful for myself and you."

Grade 3

Rowan — "I am grateful for the food we get to eat on Thanksgiving and that I get to spend time with my family and friends."

Winslow — "I am grateful for chickens, and my family, cousins, aunts and uncles."

Evelyn — "I am grateful for all the people and animals. I am grateful that I know how to ride horses, surf, ski, and snowboard. I am also thankful for my family."

Makayla — "I am thankful for my family, friends, and Mother Nature who grows the food."

Elsa — "I am thankful for my friends, brother, family, grandparents, my school and my dog."

Marin — "I am thankful for farmers, my family, cat, my friends, my teacher, animals, food, and for Thanksgiving buns."

Grey — "I am thankful for my dog, family, food and buns."

Daniel — "I am thankful for the sun, food, my family, and friends."

Julian — "I am thankful for food."

Rhys — "I am thankful for my family and chips."

Ms. Tarsio (teacher) — "I am thankful for the beautiful place in which I live, the wonderful faculty and families of Sandpoint Waldorf School and each of the delightful children I get to teach."

Grade 4

Madelina — "I am grateful for animals and my family and my guinea pig, my dog, my chicken, my turkey, my fishes and my horse."

Cadyn — "I am grateful for our dogs, cat, bird and family."

Emi — "I am grateful for friends, family, and the fruitful nature. I am also grateful for food and water."

Annabelle — "I am grateful for Roblox, YouTube, my cute kitties (one plays fetch), my teacher Miss Stansberry, my classmates, family, and friends."

Madilyn — "I am grateful for a school to go to, my family, my bunny and cat, my house, food, friends, my sister, and being here."

Emery — "I am grateful for sweet dogs, kind family and friends, sweet food, fruitful plants, my soft cat, cozy bed, and my home."

Fate — "I am grateful for my loving family. I am grateful for my comfy clothes, yummy food and for refreshing water."

Deacon — "I am grateful for my lizard, he is spiky and cuddly and he loves me."

Marlon — "I am grateful for a brother to play with, parents to learn from, food so I won’t starve, and a cuddly bed to sleep and grow in."

Ellie — "I am grateful for my caring and loving family, my soft and furry pet, my helpful friends, and my amazing teacher."

Eden — "I am grateful for my great mom and dad and my pets (I love them so much!), and for all of the great things I get to do."

Athena — "I am grateful for my family and friends. I am grateful for my animals."

Lila — "I am grateful for my family and my friends, my very cute dog, Pepper, and for my food and water."

Baden — "I am grateful for skiing and having pets, and having a house to live in with my family. I am also grateful I have friends."

Sage — "I am grateful for the changing of seasons and getting to go skiing. I am grateful for my family and soft black cats."

Cora — "I am grateful for my family and friends and my fluffy pets."

Grade 5

Mason — "I’m grateful for cake!"

Nathan — "I am grateful for oxygen, which helps us breathe. I am grateful for the earth, which puts ground beneath our feet. I am grateful for school, which helps us learn. I am grateful for numbers, which let us do math."

Maryah — "I am grateful for all horses but especially my horse, Tillie! I am grateful for my family and friends! I am grateful for my teacher and class."

Jameson — "I am grateful for snow falling from the sky. I am grateful for the sun in the sky. I am grateful for water."

Cairn — "I am grateful for the earth and what it gives us to live off of. I am thankful for my parents and how they support me in my doings. I show gratitude towards other people too, and what they do for others."

Brookelyn — "I am grateful for warm water, food, the earth, and my family. I am grateful for the earth and me."

Zoe — "I am grateful for the earth, which nourishes us daily and provides for all beings. I am grateful for the waters, which provide an influence to all, teaching the living how to accept all and to stay in the center while letting life unfurl around you. I am grateful for my loving family, who I can always trust."

Opal — "I am grateful for the sun shining overhead. I am grateful for the earth below my feet. I am grateful for the water surrounding my home. I am grateful for my class, my friends and family. I am grateful for Ms. McGowan for teaching me all the knowledge."

Maverick — "I am very grateful for a home that is comfortable to me. I am grateful for being healthy and well. I am grateful for going to school."

Sierra — "I am so very grateful for the earth because it gives everything. I am also grateful for my parents, my brother, and the sparkling snow. The earth is every one’s home."

Liam — "I am grateful for humans. I am grateful for trees, I am grateful for food. I am grateful for a house to live in. I am grateful for skiing and biking."

Hanna — "I am grateful for all animals in the world. I am grateful for life and humans. I am grateful for the earth, water and for food. I am grateful for my teacher Ms. McGowan."

Jacob — "I am grateful for the trees that make the oxygen that we breathe. I am grateful for the animals. I am grateful for the rocks."

Sage — "I am grateful for my family and my friends and nature and I am also grateful for my teacher Ms. McGowan."

Cody — "I am grateful for my teacher Ms. McGowan."

Maggie — "I’m thankful for a roof over our heads. I’m thankful to be able to go to an educational and kind school. I’m also thankful for healthy food and having food on our table every morning and evening."

Tala — "I am really grateful for my parents because they have been with me since I was born and I am grateful for that. I am also grateful for my siblings, my brother, Rowan, my sisters Sage and Bristo."

Grade 6

Trace — "I am thankful that my parents have enough money to provide for me. I’m grateful for my dogs and my friends and the Earth I’m standing on. I am grateful that my parents and family are all good people. Most of all, I am thankful for my teacher and this school."

Owen — "I am grateful for my friends; Baylee, Jonas, Vaughn, Trace and Phin. I am very privileged I have a roof to live under and more than enough food. I am grateful for my mom who cooks us dinner every night and my dad that works his tail off so we can pay for our home, electricity and running water."

Josie — "I am grateful for my family and friends, especially in the state the world is in with the virus going around. I’m grateful for my friends and family to lean on and help me through the virus."

Phineas — "I am grateful for all of my nice friends in California and Idaho, my healthy family, money, my good food, and a warm bed to sleep in my house. I’m also grateful for my cat that I found that I had to return. Really, I’m grateful for everything."

Baylee — "I am grateful for my family, my friends, everything I own, the gift of life, the roof over my head, the person reading this, everyone around me and God himself."

Hanna — "I am grateful for snow because I can go skiing with my awesome aunt, Krissy."

Polina — "I am grateful for my dog, my family, my friends, good food, a warm house, nature, animals, and horseback riding."

Jonas — "I am grateful for family, friends and nordic skiing."

Avery — "I am thankful for my family, friends, food and water, a roof over my head, and living in Sandpoint. Every year I mostly write the same thing, but this year I am thankful for so much more than I can write."

Grade 7

Brent — "I am grateful for my dog and my friends. I’m also grateful for my parents, my hobbies, my neighbors and milkshakes."

Avery — "1) I’m grateful for my teacher because he takes time out of his day to teach us, 2) I’m thankful for my grandpa, he gets up in the morning to take me to school, 3) Also, I’m thankful for the break the school is giving us for Thanksgiving, and 4) I’m thankful for my mom, she takes me home from school almost every day."

Brady — "1) I’m thankful for parents, 2) I’m thankful for food, 3) I’m thankful for houses, 4) I’m thankful for electricity, 5) I’m thankful for life, 6) I’m thankful for basketball, 7) I’m thankful for Netflix and Pop-Tarts, 8) I’m thankful for internet, 9) I’m thankful for cars, 10) I’m thankful for TV, 11) I’m thankful for summer break, 12) I’m thankful for lakes and boats, 13) I’m thankful for airplanes, 14) I’m thankful for my mom’s cooking skills, 15) I’m thankful for my brother being good at basketball, and 16) I’m thankful for Christmas."

Cami — "I am thankful for my family and friends, for my best friend Madi, and for my animals. I am also thankful for the thankful food and Thanksgiving break."

Charlie — "I am thankful for the opportunities I’ve been given in life. I am thankful for my awesome friends and family. I am also thankful for the untouched wilderness."

Cruz — "I am thankful for my friends and family. I am thankful for sports. I am thankful for chocolate. I am thankful for my pets. I am thankful for my teachers. I am thankful for Thanksgiving break. I am thankful for pumpkin pie."

Clarity — "I am thankful for my health and life. I am thankful for my family and friends. I am thankful for my experiences (good and bad), I am thankful for the roof over my head, I am thankful for my body who allows me to lift weights and run. I am thankful for my dog. I am thankful for my education. I am thankful for Thanksgiving break. And I am thankful for the calming things in life that make you think!"

Hana — "I am most thankful for close friends and family and the wonders of life. I am also grateful for health and prosperity. I appreciate my teachers for taking their time to teach us even though we are quite the handful (no offense, classmates). I am also thankful for Thanksgiving break :)"

Hazel — "I am grateful Thanksgiving break is coming and there will be early release after that."

Jasper — "I am grateful for 1) my teacher, 2) break from school, 3) pumpkin pie, 4) mashed potatoes, 5) turkey, 6) the number ‘13’, 7) mechanical pencils, 8) the early release that we will have at school, 9) the internet, 10) drawing, 11) soccer, 12) good erasers, 13) pencil lead, 14) eating utensils, 15) friends, 16) warm hats, 17) mountain biking, 18) skiing, 19) the fam, and 20) Christmas."

Madisen — "I am thankful for the gathering of family during the holidays because there is no excuse not to spend time with your family and friends. And I’m thankful for potatoes. I’m very VERY thankful for my eleven turtles, two dogs, three fish and two guinea pigs."

Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.