25 things I'm thankful for...

Our pastor assigned us to make this list this week. My ideas started out small and got bigger.

1. David doesn't mind doing most of the grocery shopping or dishwasher-loading.
2. Jackie has the girls on a schedule (now if I could just stick with it on weekends and holidays).
3. Gabriel loves to help--especially with Eva.
4. Carmen is generous with massages, notes and cards.
5. Paloma cracks us up constantly.
   
6. The kids can't wait for Eva to awake in the mornings so they can play with her.
7. Eva loves bath or shower time! I love to hear her laugh out loud.
   
8. All of the kids love to read, and we will never run out of reading material, even if confined to the house.
9. My commute to work is under 5 miles, and my car still runs well, looks okay when I get the junk out of it, and best of all, is paid for.
10. I don't have to worry about the kids while I'm at work.
11. I finally have some friends in my neighborhood, thanks to the kids being in school.
    
12. I have friends at work, some I see daily.
13. My photography and computer skills are now used just for fun and hobbies.
    
14. I have friends through this blog that allows me to appreciate life more fully.
    
15. I am able to pump milk for Eva when I cannot breastfeed.
16. We're all healthy.
    
17. God provides all we need, and because we were born here at this time in history, we enjoy the luxuries of electricity, running water, and highways.
    
18. Our pastors at church are fantastic, and we are happy to be a part of our community of faith and especially our Sunday school class.
    
19. Our house may be a mess, but at least we can afford our mortgage and we're out from under the credit card debt for the first time since we've been married. (Dare I add a sprinkler system is coming soon?)
    
20. We don't have to "worry 'bout a thiiiing". This one made me realize I needed to make a Thanksgiving playlist.
21. Which leads me to: Music, art, literature, color, KERA, iPhones, iMovie, iTunes, iPhoto, Blogger, and my camera.
22. My mom still thinks it's worth all the trouble to feed us every Sunday lunch which is what makes it possible to see my whole family virtually every week.
23. I finally know that Charlie is happy & healthy.
    
24. I have great in-laws who love and support us.
25. America, and all of the people who work and fight for our country... maybe now we can regain our place in the world, leading for the better and setting a good example.