It was a busy day full of meetings, but strangely, it felt productive. That isn’t always the case, especially with meetings! However, for a moment, it felt like most of us were on the same team working towards the same goals. That’s been rare lately at work, so I was thankful for it today, even if it doesn’t last.

Today I worked late to cover for an instructor who was out of the country. I’m grateful to be able to get out of my office and back into the classroom sometimes.

For some reason, my posts haven’t been publishing correctly. I got a bit behind so hadn’t realized. The order is now all mixed up but that’s actually kind of how I feel. After a long day of traveling with a headache, I was exhausted today. I ended up taking the day off work. I’m thankful to have the time to take. Sometimes a day of rest is necessary, even if it’s mostly a mental rest.

I cannot believe January is over. I’m thankful for getting through the cold month.

I’m grateful today for dinner with friends that included a new restaurant, different drinks, laughter and secrets.

Why does the weekend never last long enough? Although I wasn’t thrilled with getting up early and heading back to work this morning, I had class observations to look forward to. I had a couple of classes to watch today and it’s been enjoyable to see the talents of our faculty on display. With all the difficulties at work over the last few years, I’m thankful to see that our teachers still care in the classroom. There’s still good work being done.

Patrick bought a huge gas smoker yesterday which meant delicious brisket today. I teased him about needing such a large smoker–we could fill it with enough meat to feed our neighborhood. It’s ridiculous. But I love that he has a passion for cooking and I’m grateful for his skill that allows us to try a lot of food variety.

Today I’m thankful for having nothing to do but hang out with my daughter and run errands. It’s nice to have a weekend free of all demands.

I hate airports. And plane delays. And crowded planes. And most especially rainy weather that causes headaches. But I’m grateful to be back home safely. We had a wonderful time visiting family and I’m happy we went.

We went to visit Patrick’s sister and brother-in-law and new niece. She’s four months old and adorable, of course. I’m thankful we finally met her, and that they are all doing well. I was feeling bad that we had taken so long to travel to see her, but it was actually a good time. She was awake more and interactive, so it was a lot of fun.