Moments 734: Year End Reflections

Time does fly, doesn't it?

My apologies for the long delay between posts, but my oh MY has it been an interesting few week and with all the emotion happening, I really have not had much energy to bring myself around to a blog post.

Forgive me?

But now, as I find myself on the eve of 2014 departing "the now", I felt the stirring to share a moment with my blog.  Perhaps the clouds are lifting and I'm more able to see the adventure ahead of me.

As 2014 comes to a close it’s hard not to sit here and reflect upon its trials and triumphs.  It feels as though there have been more trials than triumphs, but I fear I may be a bit biased based on the most recent shift in path that I've undertaken.

But, let's start at the beginning.  Perhaps together we'll find out what the year was all about.

Looking back over the year (which is something I always like to do), it's been a whirlwind.  

Moving EQ to Toronto - exciting, filled with love and adventure, but also challenging at times as we had much "new" to settle into.

Jamaica - what a beautiful family trip we had March. 

Immigration & Visas & Work:  Challenging and exciting and (who knew!) expensive!

Remembering Grandma & Grandpa:  The end of a family chapter.  This past year we buried my Dad's father....he's the last of that generation.  What a trying touching moment when my Dad shared with me, with tears in his eyes, that he is now the patriarch of the family.  I remember giving him one of the biggest hugs I've ever given him....and held it a bit longer than he wanted me to.  And I told him, if anyone, he was the best in the family to hold that title.  

Volleyball:  So much volleyball this past year!  How can I not love that?  

Fires, Car Damage & Border issues...oh my!  Yes, there were many big, disappointing, and heart breaking moments this past summer.  All growth opportunities....right?

iFly Toronto

New friends:  There have been a plethora of new friends who have come our way in this past year.  This is truly amazing.  I love the new energy and new perspectives offered.  I can't wait to get to know our new friends ever more in the coming year. 

So many CONCERTS this past year!  Elton John, Christina Perri, Lady Gaga, Nine Inch Nails, KISS & Def Leppard , One Republic, Steve Miller & Journey, PTX, Jason Mraz, ALMOST Anberlin (if they were not caught in Buffalo in the snow storm!

Competitions afar:  What an exciting weekend in Cali to celebrate the best of the best.  Here's looking to 2015 to bring that excitement to Canada.
                                                   


Cruising through Eastern Europe:  In a word:  WOW.  What an amazing adventure.  I highly recommend the trip.

Right.  I lost my job.  That was pretty painful, for a myriad of reasons.  Completely unexpected, but hey, I guess 13 years doesn't warrant a real conversation about one's career path.  (Angry?  Yup.  Still.  I'm sure it will pass.  On the bright side, I am looking forward to getting my degree done and the career adventures that await me!)

School:  As of January 12th I will be a "poor" full time student again.  It's been 21 years since the last time I was a full student.  How crazy, right?  But with only 7 courses left to finish my degree (FINALLY) it is exciting as well.  Six courses this coming semester and one next fall.  I cannot wait to celebrate that big finale!

Wedding Dresses, Invitations and planning: Yes that has been an exciting piece of our puzzle this past year.  How incredible it has been to be dreaming of our coming wedding day and building the dress I'll wear.  Next week, I'll be meeting with the dress makers to see who will make the darn thing!

Back to baking & cooking:  With all the time I've had on my hands in the past couple of weeks (post work, and pre-school), I've had a chance to enjoy a couple of days in the kitchen.  I love food and cooking, so it was a treat indeed.

Yes - a flurry of things. 

But you know what? In spite of some of the most challenging obstacles that have come my (our) way, it has been a year of growth. A a year filled with love and support. A year of laughter and positive energy, even in the darkest moments.  For this, I am grateful.  Why?

Because in this moment of reflection, I am reminded how very surrounded by such beautiful souls.  It's a moment to be grateful to all of my dearest friends, near and far. A moment to appreciate how loved I am by family and a moment knowing that EQ and I not only survived all the trials, but we were triumphant in them.

In this moment, as I ponder my year and look ahead to what is to come in 2015, I am ever grateful.

Happy New Year to all my readers! May 2015 be gentle, may it be filled with love and beauty every day for you!

Moments D711: Unexpected Compliments

Sometimes friends can really, truly surprise you.  Today was one of those days for me.

After another long day of peering at a mega-spreadsheet, it was finally complete and ready to share with the executive team.  A moment to celebrate given all the energy that has been poured into it over the past weeks (months?).  My way of celebrating was to take a well earned break and walk away from my desk for once.

Being near the end of the work day and Friday, I wandered into Arizona's office.  The rest of the team had ventured out to have a department lunch with our co-worker who was laid off back in February.  As much as I would have liked to join in on the festivities, the timing wouldn't allow it.  I wanted to find out how she was doing and catch up with Arizona as I really hadn't had much time all week to pause.  After briefly sharing how lunch was, it wasn't long before we were sharing stories of working out, aching muscles and results from the workouts.  It was within this conversation that Arizona dropped a pretty big (unexpected!) compliment my way.

An instant flush of heat hit me.  I was embarrassed, I was grateful, I was surprised by her words.  At first, we squabbled a bit about her compliment (okay, I did, and she firmly held her ground!).  In the end, there was nothing I could do but say thank you while scratching my head.  (After all, in my mind, all I could hear was "really?")

Sometimes the strangest things surface from your friends.

Sometimes it's impossible to argue against their logic.

Sometimes it's just good to take a compliment, even if your friend misses the point of the conversation being about sharing a personal frustration.  Her point:  I may be personally frustrated, but others tend to be more so.  Arizona reminded me to be grateful that I'm not in the "more so" category.

Okay girlfriend.  Message received.

Moments being shocked at a compliment.

Moments reminding you why you love your friends.

Moments D693: Organized

First and foremost:  HAPPY St. Paddy's Day!!!

What on earth is that a picture of?  Well, that's my dream book.  Two years ago, I had a fabulous (if I do say so myself) St. Patrick's Day/Housewarming party - I had my guests sign the book with wishes.   I like to remind myself of those incredible sentiments, this photo is one quick way to those warm fuzzy thoughts.

But today's moment isn't about St. Patrick's Day.  No, sadly, I actually forgot that it was a day to celebrate green!  I will do so tomorrow.  Better late than never, right?

No, today's moment was arriving back into the office after a week away in Jamaica.  This is what I arrived to:

Incredible, right?  That's not how I left my desk.  When I left, my desk was completely bare!

This beauty, was Chica's doing.  An amazing help in keeping things moving forward while I was away.  It was super easy to dive in and sort through the priorities for the week.  How extremely productive.  Perfect!  I loved it!  I started my day with the biggest smile!

Moments being thankful for having someone to share an overflowing workload while on vacation.

Moments really truly appreciating just how helpful she can be!

Moments D673: More random hugs

Well, it happened again today.  What can I say.  It's been a rough start to the week and my energy isn't what it typically is.

Mid-day, my co-worker walked up to my desk, took one look at my harried face, walked behind me and then enveloped me into a hug.  Then he told me to stand up.

And he gave me a bigger hug.

Just what I needed actually.  It certainly made the rest of the day go by a little easier.

I have really wonderful, caring co-workers.  For that I am thankful.

Moments appreciating a random, needed hug.

Moments appreciating your co-workers.

Moments D658: KD - also known as MAC n CHEESE

Tonight was another night in the books.  After tonight, I have only one more night to cram three chapters worth of tax knowledge into my tired brain.  I pushed hard and I persevered through some challenging twists and turns.

But I didn't do it alone.

No.  Tonight EQ sat with me and quietly read.  His presence and calm energy was very welcomed. But the best part, the part that is my moment today was that he made me my favourite "I-am-studying" dinner.  K-D.

Of course, I came to learn that K-D has no meaning to EQ.  Kraft Dinner is what we Canadians know it as.  But to those south of the border, it's known, not by the brand, but by what it is "Mac n Cheese".

No matter what we called it, I called it damn good! 

Not only was it done up special (with a touch of love!), EQ took the time to spice it up a bit.  The attention did not go unnoticed and I had to Instagram it before I even took a bite!

Yes, that's right.  Bread with oil & balsamic as a side with a coriander garnished K-D plate.!

It was heavenly!

Moment appreciating the simple dinners.

Moments being surprised that it wasn't so simple after all!

Moments D618: Expectations, opportunity and thanks

This morning I woke early, on my typical daily schedule.  I was wide awake at 4:45 am PST (7:45 am EST)  - a normal rising time for me.  That's not supposed to happen on New Year's Day.  Isn't everyone supposed to sleep in and enjoy a lazy morning in bed instead?  Apparently that wasn't meant to be for me.

I also didn't want to wake EQ as he had to work today.  He wasn't due to rise for a couple of hours, so I decided to inhale the quiet of the morning and start the New Year with the sunrise on my own.

Just after 6am, I ventured out into the brisk quiet morning.  My plan, go for a walk, watch the sunrise and spend some time in with the sun before heading back home.  I brought the novel I was reading with me ("The Sister's Brothers - I recommend!) to help pass the time.

The briskness surprised me and I was happy to have bundled up before I left.  The first thing I noticed when I started on my morning adventure was that the howling coyotes in the distance.  What an eerie, beautiful song they sang.

As started my walk the sky slowly started it's shift in colour.  Most interesting was to listen to the still morning as the coyotes quieted and the roosters took over singing as the sky began to brighten.  A changing of the guard if you will.

I didn't expect to start my day with the sun breaking the horizon.  I didn't certainly didn't expect to start my year walking alone in the briskness of dawn.    What I realized in those early moments of my walk, was that sometimes expectations cause inflexibility or kill one's creativity.  In the worst scenarios, expectations can also cause you to miss a new opportunity thrown at you unexpectedly.

As I continued my walk, I pondered this conundrum.  Life is filled with expectations.  We all have them.  Expectations of family, of friends, of other people in our circles (or just outside our circle), with our jobs and our co-workers, and how we as individuals present ourselves to the world.

I walked swiftly to keep warm and toiled with this concept, rolling it around in my mind.  One really cannot live without expectations, after all that's like living without goal.  So the key then, in my opinion, was to find a way to keep balance with expectations so that they don't cause inflexibility.  Brilliant.  Not mind blowing, considering balance is the key to a lot of things.  The bigger point is to find the trick is to sort out how to keep that balance.

Talk about deep thoughts so early in the day, this the first of 2014.  I couldn't help but think back to a year ago today where I had also found myself waking to expectations that had been blown of the water.  I remember feeling crushed and uncertain of the path ahead of me.  And yet as that first day of 2013 progressed, I felt more confident in my path forward, challenging as it was.

I quickly found myself overwhelmed with ghosts.  So much has transpired since that moment.  And today is the start of another year and I could feel that I was yet again at a crossroad of expectations.  My mind heavy with thought, I paused to enjoy the calm of two horses playing with one another.

I needed that pause.  In that moment, the warmth of the sun began to break through the chill of the morning. With that moment came the realization just how much I had learned in a year.  My personal growth has deepened and I owe much, if not all of that growth, to the people I have surrounded myself with.    And that was my moment today.  Feeling grateful.  Being excited by the future and what I will be sharing with them moving forward.

So, if you'll bear with me, I'm going to take some time to thank them.  Yes, today's blog is a novel.  For those to expecting a solution to my original thought - you can stop reading here.  I never did figure out a solution to keep the balance between expectations and being flexible.  I guess I have something to chew on for days to come!  What can I say, I was completely distracted by the amazing circle I have around me and I took rest of my time alone, at the beginning of the year, to pause and appreciate them.

In the end, it's been a hell of a day, and a hell of a start to 2014 and I want, nay I need to share a little love and thank my friends for the opportunities they've given me to grow this past year.

Arizona.  What a strong, beautiful woman you are. Our friendship is relatively new, but it is a deep friendship.  You have offered me many new perspectives in the ever changing world I find myself in.  Thank you for sharing with me.

Archie & Comic Guy.  My besties. A couple that has been in my life for a very long time.  First I love them as individuals for they have unique perspectives that I love from each of them.  Second, I love them as a couple.  I truly don't know where I'd be without the two of you.  Thank you for always picking me up when I falter, for kicking my ass (not so gently) and for helping me navigate some tricky waters in the past year.

BFF.  Through thick and thin we've been.  Tears, music, anger, joy, milestones and then some.  What an incredible colourful journey it's been my dear friend.  Thank you for recognizing the value of our friendship, for fighting daemons (of your own and mine) to keep our friendship strong.  I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from mistakes made in 2013 for I know it means our friendship will grow ever deeper and more meaningful.

Bunny & Bear. Long time friends.  I've worked with, schooled with, and spent many interesting evenings with Bear.  When he married Bunny, it was a most special day to watch them unit.  They are an incredible couple with two amazing young lads.  Thank you both for sharing your individual brightness with me as well as that of your beautiful family.  I know, without a doubt that you always have my back.

Cherry.  A work colleague come friend.  Thank you for commiserating with me as we processed through similar life milestones this past year. I look forward to a continued friendship with your and your new beau.

Chica.  A fellow co-worker that I adore.  You are proof that even someone old like me can learn from a young thing like you.  (Not that I'm ageist at all!) Thank of for your endless positive energy and for reminding me that life is too short.  I love your perspective on life and appreciate that positive, self-respecting version of the world around you.  I will continue to try and incorporate more of that into my world.

Co-workers.  Thank you for making every work day easier to get out of bed for.  You are an amazing hard working, inspiringly creative crew.  I'm thankful every day.

Hawk.   Thank you for for the biggest learning opportunity of all this past year.  We have shared and lost much together over this past year.  My hope is that you find deep happiness in the years to come.

Heini. A friend with nearly 2 decades of history.  Over the years we have battled many daemons together.  What I have always loved was that you offer your insightful opinions without judgement.  You have always listened, understood, respected and supported me even when the path chosen was one you didn't agree with.  The truest, deepest mark of a best friend.  Thank you for loving me and supporting me through many of life's trials.  I have learned a lot from our friendship.

MooCow.  A new friend, adopted from EQ's circle. An amazing huge heart, ready to help out at a moments notice.  Such a wonderful energy to be a part of.  Thank you for accepting me into your world.

Mr. B.  A co-worker that I call friend.  He's nearly my father's age, but I don't see him as a father figure.  I see him for his brilliance and experience.  A true mentor and friend to me (even if he does get me in trouble sometimes!).  Thank you for all the insights you share with me.  I am a sponge to your words.

My Family:  One big thank you to envelope each of you with a hug filled with love. There are many entries in my daily blog that speak to just how important you are to me.  I am so very fortunate to have such an amazing family. 

My team mates. Baseball, volleyball, boot camp and tough mudders.  Thank you all for keeping me moving, growing and learning as an athlete.  It feels great knowing that even being nearly 40 I still have some moves to share back.

SILIS & Sunshine-Unicorns&Rainbows.  A couple from EQ's circle who have graciously accepted me into their world.  They have brought many a smile to me over this past year.  Thank you for welcoming me in your home just last night for an amazing meal and to celebrate the turn of the year.  I'm sure we'll see many more celebrations in the years to come.

To all of my new sky diving friends:  What an incredible bunch you are!  So diverse, so welcoming, so filled with life.  Thank you for sharing a sliver of your world with me.

Tree & Baldr.  New friends also from EQ's circle.  New friends that, at once, I felt at home with.   Thank you for the acceptance and love you have shared with me already.  Like long lost souls that have finally had an opportunity to reunite.  I'm excited about the possibilities in the years to come for our blooming friendship.

To everyone else in my world that I haven't specifically called out, thank you for crossing my path and for sharing a piece of you with me.  Each moment shared is an opportunity for me to learn and grow.

And last, but certainly not least, my dear sweet love - EQ.  Never has someone been allowed so deep into my being.  Thank you for turning your twinkling eyes my way.  How you ever found me I will never know, but I am grateful every day that you did.  You make it easy (okay, easier!) to share the deepest parts of me.  Thank you for your patience, for your love and for building a strong foundation for our future together.

And there you have it.  My little novella that will bore most.  For me, it's a perfect way to start 2014, with reflection of the past and the excitement of the future ahead of me.

Moments where one's mind goes in many directions, only to circle back to that which is most important.

Moments enjoying the promise of a new day, and the opportunity to dig ever deeper thanks to those in your life.

Moments D539: No Turkey Thanksgiving Part Two

I spent today with four of the most magical people I know.  Today was about spending time with my Aunt, Uncle and their two beautiful girls who call me "Aunt".

Huh?

Well - that's because my aunt is actually more of a big sister to me.  Being only 8 years older than I, she and I have spent many, many hours together and ridden through many life changes (hers and mine!) in the near 40 years that I've been on this planet.  

Today, after a 7 day stretch at work, she and her family were insistent upon having a low key day.  (Who could blame them!) My Aunt made me a deal:  The only way I was allowed to come over was if I was okay with couch surfing, TV-watching, drinking and puttering.  Duh!  OF COURSE, I was in!

In the end, I helped with some yard work (strangely enough, that was a task of tying back grasses that actually came from the flower pots present at my outdoor wedding 10 years ago.  Amazing to see just how beautifully they have grown!)  and I helped fold laundry.  Comfortable and casual.  

As we sat outside drinking in the warm fall sun and sipping our Jack & cranberry, we caught up.  As time slipped by, we shared stories of the past (nearly) two months.  Much has changed in both "families" (me a very small family!).  As always, insights and opinions were shared both ways.  It was a beautiful afternoon and one that I will not soon forget.

For dinner, we met up with my Mom and Dad for a VERY laid back Thanksgiving dinner.  The seven of us piled into a van (driven by {gasp} the eldest non-niece!) and made our way to Swiss Chalet.    There we had one of the best "No Turkey Thanksgiving dinners" ever together as a family.  

So, while this year's Thanksgiving was anything but traditional in terms of the food eaten, one thing remained a constant - I was very thankful for the most awesome family that I have in my life.   I promise to never take them for granted.  

Moments enjoying a lazy day with your "sister" and her beautiful family.

Moments being thankful and realizing just how fortunate I am.

Moments D492: Swirling energies

As the long weekend nears, it's hard not to see summer coming to an end.  The days are shorter, school is about to start and work is heavy planning and setting up our fall and Christmas campaigns.  A dear friend of mine is suffering in pain and fighting fears.  Another feels as though her best isn't good enough. Another readies herself for a solo trip to the Caribbean.  There is worry, but there is love.  There is fear, but there is light.  Yes, there is a lot of energy swirling about me and it's been challenging to keep up with it all and stay centred.

Today, however, I fought through the swirling energies and stayed focused on the tasks at hand.  Work was productive.  After work went exactly as planned as well.  Some days, that's enough to be thankful for.  With all the energies swirling about, it's a moment to pause and appreciate the fact that, in the end, my day went exactly as planned.

Moments sheltering oneself from the swirling energies.

Moments realizing that one's plans for the day worked out.

Moments D257: Grandma's Body wash

Yup. That’s right. You read correctly. I know it sounds odd, but bear with me.

Two years ago in November my Grandmother passed away. The Christmas prior, she gave me a bag full of goodies. One of those goodies was a perfumed body wash from Yves Rocher - Ming Shu. (Also included was body lotion and the perfume itself.)

Now, I don’t particularly like the smell of the perfume which is part of the reason that I still have the body wash. Every now and then I like to use it. This morning was one of those days. I’m not sure what inspired me to grab that particular bottle this morning, but what followed was a bit of an epiphany.

As I squeezed the bottle, I realized that I had had this bottle for over three years. And as that thought crossed my mind, I considered why. Why was it that I held onto this bottle? I didn’t like the perfume. I certainly didn’t need more body wash. I wasn’t even particularly close with my Grandma, so there really isn’t any sentimental value to it being in my possession.

And as those thoughts crossed my mind, I sent a silent prayer to Grandma wishing her well and asking her to watch over my family. I reminded her that my Mom loved her (even though they weren’t close either) and we all hoped she was in a much better place. And then, the moment passed. I was back into my normal morning routine.

For me, it reminded me that life is short. That every day needs to be respected and considered a new canvas to paint upon. We build our days. Our days build our weeks and our weeks fill up months and years. EACH day and more importantly, each step matters.

And so, today I’m reminded, by my Grandmother’s three year old body wash, that time is short, love is endless, and sharing light is my ultimate goal. I will keep that bottle for some time to come. I think it will serve as a good reminder now of just how important it is to greet every day with a fresh eye.

Moments to thank our ancestors.

Moments to be reminded of the importance of today.

Moments D240: The World has not Ended

This is no laughing matter! Today was supposed to be the end of the world as we know it. After all the Mayan calendar ends today. It was to mark the end of civilization. (Who said we were so damned civilized in the first place?) In the end, it’s just another Winter Solstice coming to pass.

I thought I should dedicate today’s blog to the world not ending. Why not right? It’s the talk of the day and it has forced many upon the earth to stop and reflect. This really isn’t a bad thing!

Of course I too took a moment to reflect and ponder my path. Had the world ended today, how would I feel? (Besides being dead of course!)

Overall, I think I’d be pretty content. I’ve managed to do quite well for myself. I’ve survived dark moments and been present for some of the best soul filling moments. I’ve learned and grown much over my years on the earth and I know I haven’t lost that passion or drive for life.

I’ve decided that I am pretty happy that I’m still here. I kinda like my life. I like knowing that I’ll have an opportunity to continue to grow, learn and love. I like knowing that my bucket list is still something I can work on. I like knowing I still have time to explore this beautiful world around us.

And so, as the clock/calendar is reset for another 5125 years I look forward to new experiences and adventures. I am thankful to all the beautiful people in my life. I am also thankful to those that challenge me too. We all need darkness to appreciate the light. As we head back into longer days, I send out light and love to all - may we all dig a little deeper!

Moments to be thankful.

Moments to reflect.

Moments D167: Sharing love and energy

Today was a day of professional success for me which in and of itself is a wonderful moment, but it feels somewhat selfish for me to share that moment on a day when two friends of mine struggle with family health issues. Both serious. Both with family members (a father and a mother-in-law) who have been admitted into the ICU over the long weekend. Both situations make me stop and consider my own life and how fortunate I am that my father survived his ordeal last year at this time. They both remind me to be thankful for another year of time with my father. He is a beautiful soul and has taught me much over the years. I am so grateful that he survived.

Instead, today’s moment is about sharing my love and energy with these two individuals, and, hopefully by extension, their families.

My friend’s friend’s father (for I have only recently had her come into my circle) has ALS (more commonly known at Lou Gehrig’s disease). In May, he found the strength to travel to Bahamas to see his daughter wed. I’ve seen the video. You can see the pride and joy in his eyes. This coming weekend his daughters and their friends run the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in his honour and to raise funds for the ALS Society of Canada. His condition has deteriorated quickly since last week. This family is in their darkest hours as they sit and wait.

I sent this new friend of mine a brief note via email. I never knew if or when she’d receive it, but I had hoped it would give her a breath of light in her time of darkness. She replied late today thanking me. I can only hope that my simple words have offered some solace; some moment of pause in the pain.

My other friend is a dear long term friend. (So long we are like family really!) Her mother-in-law was also admitted over the long weekend. A terrible case of gall stones and pancreatitis. As old as she is, she’s started to recover, even though she was on life support only a day ago. With every update, it seems MIL is improving steadily. A different outcome, sure, but no less painful for the family as they waited through the dark days of the weekend. Again I sent a message filled with love and energy to my dear friend - I also sent some love to her husband (a gent I know well!). I know she will absorb it and share it doubly with her husband and his Mother. I can know that this sharing of love and energy will help to penetrate the darkness they are in. I know they will amplify all of the energy they are receiving from many around them and put it too good use. It’s all I can do to stop and think of them as often as I can and send them a bit more.

So today’s moment: Share your love and energy. Why wait for something tragic to happen. There is much darkness around us every day. How easy is it to breathe light into it?

Moments outside yourself.

Moments of love, light and energy.

Moments D166: Nephews

Today’s moment is a quick, cute moment to be shared that warms my heart as I write the words.

This past weekend was Canadian Thanksgiving, and first and foremost, I am thankful for all of the beautiful people that surround me. I have an amazing family, incredible friends, and brilliant co-workers. I am fortunate and I am thankful.

After arriving at my brother’s place today and saying hello to the adults in the living room, my Mom & I made our way downstairs to the playroom where the kids were. As we started down the stairs I yelled out “HERE COMES TROUBLE!!!” and my 8 year old nephew yelled out “AUNT XXX, AUNT XXX”, and I laughed and said “No way, trouble is Grandma!” He giggled and ran into my arms for a big hug and a kiss.

Best moment of my weekend.

Moments to be thankful.

Moments with loving family.

Moments D70; Thank you

Today I spent a good part of my morning writing out thank you cards. Over the long weekend I was lucky enough to have shared some special moments with new people. Gracious people who opened their homes to me and not only shared a place to sleep and a delicious meal or two, people who brought me much joy, laughter and love.

I am thankful to have friends in my life that can share their friends and family with me. I am thankful to have been included in such a wonderful weekend of new experiences and conversations.

I am thankful for much and today I stop and celebrate that.