Happy Thanksgiving and New Year!

I love the fact that Thanksgiving often falls on the weekend of the first Sunday in Advent, making the holiday a very appropriate way to end the year. Coincidence? I don't think so. However, because Mario had to work on Thursday, we celebrated Thanksgiving on Saturday with friends of ours in Saltillo. In a nutshell, here are some of the things I find myself grateful for over the course of this past year:

• My wonderful husband who, on a daily basis, reminds me of how blessed I am to be with him (not verbally--he's rather humble). But, in particular, how he went above and beyond the call of duty in the month of February when Clara was teeny-tiny and I was still a bit under the weather. One of my favorite moments of having a baby was watching him be an excellent father.
  

• My daughter, for just being absolutely delightful and changing my life in a number of positive ways.

• My parents who, like Mario, been fascinating to watch as they assumed the role of grandparents. They're very good at it!
  

• My brother, sister-in-law, and niece--it was wonderful to be around when they officially formed themselves as a family, and am in awe of their strength as they front various challenges.
  

• Mario's family and all our other friends who are scattered hither and yon . . . knowing that y'all were out there helped so much in getting through this lonely year of being new in town!

• Facebook, Blogspot, and our internet connection that normally works well, for which I am better able to keep in touch with everyone mentioned above (and I met my new friend in Saltillo through Blogspot, with whom we shared Thanksgiving)!
  

• The opportunity to be a stay-at-home mom--I know so many of my friends (including my husband) who would love to have this opportunity but can't for one reason or another, so I don't take a minute of it for granted.
  

• The inside of our house--while all of you were enjoying turkey on Thursday, Clara and I were locked outside on our patio for 3 hours. In the end, I had to climb onto the roof, haul the ladder up with me, and let it down onto our driveway in order to walk in through my front door and open up the back door. Clearly, this was a terrifying experience for me, as I'm afraid of heights, but it was nice to know that, when called upon, I can rise to the challenge and be a Super Mom.

• New friends: Sheila, Herme and Katya; my Bible study ladies, especially Panchita, Rosario, and Dona Antonia; plus Gloria and Rosario. God does provide!

It's been a wonderful year, which provided so many more reasons to be thankful. May you all have a blessed 2010!