Like so many others across the United States, they worked late into the night Wednesday readying turkeys, casseroles and other dishes to go into the oven.

Like so many others across the United States, they awakened early Thursday morning to set the timers and add a last minute dash of this and pinch of that before putting those turkeys, casseroles and other dishes into the oven.

And like so many others across the United States, they did it all in preparation for that moment on Thanksgiving Day when they'd sit down with their family and give thanks for the blessings in their lives.

For family is exactly what the residents at the Women's Addiction Recovery Manor on McKinley Street have become over the weeks and months that they've been together.

A relationship forged through love and shared experiences, the women interviewed by The Gleaner on Thanksgiving Day spoke with joy and humility about the gifts in their lives -- gifts for which they are profoundly grateful.

For 40-year-old Susan F., Thanksgiving 2008 is different from Thanksgiving '07 because, "now I know what having a sense of family is. Because when I was out there in my addiction, I didn't even care about family. And just being able to give to others now because when I was out there, I didn't care about anybody else. And today I do care."

Susan said it's very "emotional" to be able to experience the holidays without the influence of drugs and alcohol.

"I've cried more this week than anything and it's just because of sharing in the joy. I can actually laugh now and know what I'm laughing about and it really be something I'm laughing about instead of it being a drugged-out (reaction)," she said.

Twenty-eight-year-old Jenna D. said that for the first time in a long time, she's spending the holidays "sober and around sober people."

"It's different. It's rewarding. WARM has become like my family and it's nice to have a sober family," she said. "This year I can be truly thankful for my sobriety and my new family at WARM."

Chelia H., 29, brought her own unique offering to Thanksgiving dinner.

A traditional Thanksgiving dish in her family, Chelia volunteered to make corn pudding for the roughly 50 women who would be celebrating Thanksgiving together at WARM.

All of the food was donated by First United Methodist Church. But the cooking was left to the residents of WARM.

"This year I'm with another family," Chelia said. "I'm enjoying myself, cooking for the girls and just having a fun time doing it," she said.

"WARM has changed my life," Chelia said. "This time last year, I never would have thought about volunteering for anything."

Her Thanksgiving wish is that when the women sit down to eat, that they all get the feeling of "home."

Cynthia C., 43, has been a resident at WARM since September.

She said this Thanksgiving compared to Thanksgiving 2007, "I'm not drinking and drugging this year. And I'm not alone. I'm here with women who love each other and appreciate the sobriety... I'm happy all over again. I'm starting a whole new life. It's a happy feeling."

So what's at the top of her "most thankful for" list?

"God," she said. "The WARM center and the support from my family here in Henderson. All the ladies here. They are like my second family."

But this time next year, Cynthia said, "I'd like to give back what I've learned."

Jillian C., 27, doesn't cook. But she was willing to pitch in wherever she was needed.

"I was pretty much the runner. If they had something for me to do, I'd do it. Like dishes, and peeling potatoes," she said.

She said this Thanksgiving, she is grateful for the opportunity to work in the kitchen at WARM.

"I've had a good time. Everybody is caring and everybody has done a great job," she said.

Charlene M. was the master chef behind the six turkeys roasted beautifully for WARM's Thanksgiving feast.

Experienced in cooking for large numbers, the 47-year-old said she wasn't worried about the responsibility of cooking six turkeys.

"Once you've cooked the first one, you're fine," she said.

"I love being here... I knew it was the perfect place for me at this time in my life," she said.

Charlene said this Thanksgiving is different because of the "peace" that she feels in her life.

"I'm among friends, true friends. It's a blessing for me to be here and I thank the Lord," she said.

Audrey P., 40, made her specialty -- sweet potato casserole.

"Usually, at home every year, I do the majority of the cooking," she said.

She said this year, she feels very humble.

"It seems like I'm more grateful," she said. "I feel like a totally different person. I never dreamed I'd be clean this long."

Audrey said the No. 1 thing she's thankful for this Thanksgiving is "God's grace and mercy."

Cindy H., 25, said this year she's participating more in the holiday activities compared to Thanksgiving '07.

"I was real lonely. I think I got drunk at the end of the night after the kids went to bed... it was lonely. I didn't like it," she said.

But this year, she said she was up late, not because of her addiction, but due to the work that goes into cooking dinner for roughly 50 people.

"We had a blast in here last night making this stuff," she said.

A year from now, Cindy said, she sees herself hopefully, "with my babies. In our own place."

The main difference between this Thanksgiving and last Thanksgiving, Susan said, is "this year, we're living. All of those other years, we were just existing."