We have a lot to be thankful for, don't we? All of my experiences have taught me just that -- how much we have to be thankful for.

We live in a land of opportunity. We live in the country the rest of the world dreams of coming to. A country where jobs are available, and so are clean water and electricity. The bright side of opportunity is that we can do almost anything we set our mind to. We live in a land where everyone can go to school. Where the libraries and playgrounds are open to all children. Where we have the opportunity to pursue higher education, pursue a career, family.

We can try to start our own business, choose our investments, save for the home of our dreams, or go on that vacation we've always dreamed of. It's humbling how much of our life in the U.S. is just what we make it. 

We live in a land of safety. Rarely do we worry about checkpoints, about security threats, about being searched before entering a building. Rarely do we worry that an outbreak of violence will kill our children.

We live where our children can play outside in the yard, or they can run over to their friends' house. We can go for a jog after work. Walk the dog and talk to the neighbors. We live in such safety that we can take walks with our spouse on a cool evening, chatting about the day's work.

We live in a land of wealth. Where every family has a car, every family has their own place to live. And every house has heating and air-conditioning, electricity and water. Where lawns are lush and green -- and with enough work, gardens and flowers can be grown. Food is plentiful. Entertainment and ways to relax are available for everyone. Restaurants and shopping and movies and music. Kings of ages past could only dream of so much. 

We live in a land of freedom. There are almost no arranged marriages. No one told us what we had to study, or what kind of job we had to take. We have the freedom to decide our own life, where we will live, how we will work. We live in a country where we have the freedom to drive where we choose, when we choose. A country where we can even choose our career, our spouse, where we live, where we work, where we shop, who our leaders will be, and we have the freedom to change all of that again if we choose. 

We live in a land of heroes. How can we not admire the police officer who answers the call when something suspicious is going on at night. How can we not be indebted to the medical staff that save the lives of our loved ones in emergencies. To the firefighters that save our families and our possessions. To our teachers who educate our children. To the mechanic that keeps our car running safely, or the drivers that keep supplies delivered on time. It's a comfort to know that the business people we deal with in the U.S. will treat us fairly. We are grateful that our neighbors watch over the place while we are away. That's what makes our country so great, isn't it. We the people. 

I thank you for supporting our work here in Iraq. My job is to help provide electricity, clean water, hospitals and roads for the ordinary people. It's not easy work, given the conditions, but we are making a difference. Perhaps a family member of yours is deployed here to help with security. All of our work continues because of your support. And our work here will end when you choose it to. From those of us with the Army Corps of Engineers, and from the thousands of Iraqis whose lives you have improved so far, Thank you and God bless you.

-- Jeff Tidyman is a civil engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers working in Iraq.