With our eighth birthday and Thanksgiving on our minds, in SixContest #40 we asked you to tell us what you’re grateful for in just Six Words. Your stories celebrated the things that truly matter—loved ones—and the triumphs we must cherish, even through hardships. We’re thankful for your hundreds of submissions! Here’s our Top Six:

6. “Thankful my infant daughter survived cancer!” —JoanTerra

5. “Five generations in one house, outstanding.” —fun-nuggets

4. “We all lived through son’s teens.” —UUBikerChick

3. “Fortunately richer in love than money.” —PoeticPisces

2. “Mastectomy and divorce. I’m thankfully de-boobed.” —enginethatcould

 And the top entry for this contest:

1. “Autism will never touch his heart.” —JohnBigJohn

Although this contest is over, don’t let that stop you from sharing your Six-Word Memoirs of gratitude around your Thanksgiving table—it’s a great way to connect! Congrats to JohnBigJohn, and thanks to everyone who joined in the fun! Whether in our SixContests, on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or at sixwordmemoirs.com—keep on Sixing!