22 Thanks and the rest almost didn't happen

In the beginning of November I wanted to do this thing on Facebook where you post what your thankful for everyday until the end of November.  On day 22 this is what I wrote...

Thankful #22 - Where do I begin....About 12 hours ago our car died in the middle of the freeway in San Bernardino. After a failed attempt in fixing it ourselves we took it to a near by shop. Four hours and a couple Benjamin's later, we are back on the road to spend much needed time with the familia! So here are my many thankful thoughts for today...1.safety getting pulled off to the side of the road when the car stalled. 2.Emergency free freeway service tow guy who towed us to a safe place. 3. Harbor Freight and Auto Zone 1/2 mile away! 4. The sweet comfort of the Spirit! 5. Brent's knowledge of cars. 6. Internet on our phones. 7. McDonalds across the street. 8. Being able to walk to everyplace we needed to be. 9. A beautiful daughter who didn't complain once! 10. The spirit instructing me before it ever happened to bring Emma's bike in and happening to notice her scooter and grabbing her helmet and scooter, she rode it everywhere we went almost. 11. Again the Spirit's calming instructions! 12. A husband who will listen to said instructions! 13. Cool grease monkeys! Grease monkeys who hooked up our car with a chain to the back of their truck and towed us to their shop for free so we didn't have to pay for a tow. 14. HONEST GREASE MONKEY'S! 15. Prayer! 16. Prayer from my parents and brother Curtis and sister Heather! 17. Harbor Freight and Pep Boys for taking back items we couldn't use for 100% of the original cost! 18. Laughter amidst the madness! 19. Cold water! I know, kind of a silly thing to be thankful for but was so wonderful! 20. An early finish and an honest price from the grease monkeys. 21. Quality family time that could only have happened because of the events that transpired. 22. A working car so we can spend the holiday with our loved ones! Today was epic and I'm so thankful for everything I was able to take out of today. Now pray the rest of our trip goes without mention!:)

Well it did almost!  We had to mention the fun parts of the reason we were going to Lav Vegas for Thanksgiving right?!

Emma's Christmas present that my mom let us set up in her house to tie because we had no room at ours and she has the quilting frames!  Emma thought it was for some one else.  She picked out the fabric and everything!

My Mommy!  Man was I ever glad to see that smile when we got in!

Breakfast at my brother Curtis' the morning of Thanksgiving!  What a great time we had!

This is the reason we purchased Nerf guns for Christmas!  Craig and Gavin had so much fun playing with Curtis' that it made me want some too!

Jenna and Emma, the best of cousins.  Saw a plaque once that said, "Grandma's house....It's where cousins become best friends!"  Love it!  So true.  I wish we didn't live so far away some Emma and Jenna could spend more time together.  Oh ya and this picture, they were trying so hard to be serious!

Curtis and Gavin!  My big brother is such a kid!

Craig and the gun!  I LOVE this picture.  How cute are my little nieces and nephews?

Speaking of nieces....Caitlyn is rockin!  Somebody teach me how to super impose a pair of drum sticks into her hands.  She's gonna hate me for posting this!

 

I love that my brother (not the one in this picture, that's Trevor) Curtis has a red head, a tow head, and a brunette! 

Lovin the smiles!  Cheese dog all the way!

 These two pictures were just priceless.  Gavin loves his daddy something fierce.  That boy is just the sweetest lover in the world.  I can always get hugs and I love you's from him.  Wrap him up and put him in the car!  I'll take that one home!

Back to grandma's for some turkey!  This year we had a lesson on pomegranates.  I learned there are pomegranates for juicing and pomegranates for eating.  The ones that look like they are disgusting and gross are the ones for eating and the ones that look all bright and shiny and yummy are not for eating but juicing!  Either way, I LOVE ME SOME PUMMER SALAD AT THANKSGIVING!!!

Haha made ya smile! You can't see this but Brent's wearing his Turkey leg shirt from Disneyland...on Turkey day!

I guess the garage is now Grandpa and Emma's territory.  Enter at your own risk kind of a thing.  That's what Emma's fist was all about anyway!  I got that picture at a really funny angle or something and it makes Emma look like she's Elastigirl!

Well we got home without a hitch but I wasn't very keen on driving since it was me that was driving when it all happened.  As we went back through San Bernardino I saw the exit where I pulled over and then realized how blessed we were to have broken down there and not further down where there is virtually no buildings around.  The Lord really watches out for us doesn't He!

Oh ya I have to put this in too because it was kinda funny but kinda frightening as well.  Across the street from where the tow truck dropped us was the Family Court building and it felt like we were in the armpit of California.  I don't think I've ever been around so many people who smelled of "Mary Jane" EVER nor have I been around so many people who randomly talk to themselves while aimlessly walking down the street!  HOLY MOLY!