It appears my Lazy Sunday paid off – I was very productive at work today and I feel great about it!  I’m grateful for a productive Monday.

I made a quick trip to Temple for work today.  A co-worker came along with me and was a nice little trip – An easy drive on I-35, fun conversation, and the best part: lunch at Cheeves Bros.  The food was simply incredible, and the service delightful.  Most of all I enjoyed getting to know my colleagues and spending time with them.  It was such a great experience and I’m grateful for my quick day trip to Temple.

The introvert in me tends to resist seeking new connections.  However, my career forces me to forge against that resistance.  I’ve learned to embrace and appreciate it and am grateful for the new connections I’ve made recently.

After a successful and productive work trip, I’m thankful to be back home safely.

Traveling in and of itself is exhausting, but when you don’t live in a hub city and have to connect to get just about anywhere, it makes for a long day.  Today was no exception, and with barely thirty minutes between connecting flights and running over a mile through four terminals to get on the next leg (the train was out of order) missing any opportunity to grab lunch, I was both exhausted and starving.  

My reward after such a strenous day was drinks and dinner with colleagues at Oyster Catchers.  We shared ceviche, oysters, and calamari as appetizers.  For dinner, I had red snapper, and later key lime pie for dessert.  Drinks were flowing throughout.  I more than made up for missing lunch, and the company was thoroughly enjoyable.  

I’m thankful for such an amazing meal shared in great company.

I received a promotion at work that will put my skills to the test and challenge me like never before.  I’m beyond excited!  

Today I’m grateful for being given a chance to prove myself on another level, for upward mobility, and most importantly for the support of those around me. 

There’s been a lot going on at work for me the past few weeks. It’s been intense, and while the great thing about the business is constant change, it can be exhausting. So today I’m grateful for a quiet day where there were few calls, few email, and nothing urgent allowing me to get caught up in peace.

Today I experienced how something so small could be so impactful. A few of my co-workers and I delivered the gifts that we collected and wrapped to the family we adopted for Christmas.

Just by making the delivery, their whole season was made. The mother kept saying that we were angels on Earth. It was such a profound statement, it made me realize the significance of what we had done for this family. I am so thankful for the ability to help make their Christmas special, and to have been a part of such a meaningful moment.

Donovon and I attended my company’s annual holiday party tonight and had such a great time.

We typically do a formal dinner at a fancy restaurant. This year, we went for something casual and fun – Franklin BBQ. The result was a fun party with a relaxing vibe and pretty dang good BBQ!

I know some companies forgo holiday parties or charge guests to attend, so I’m grateful for our company holiday party. It’s always nice to catch up with the spouses of my co-workers and enjoy each other’s company outside of work.

My offices adopted a family for Christmas, and I cannot believe the overwhelming response. This family of eleven is going to have an amazing Christmas. It is such a wonderful way to welcome the holiday!

Admittedly, I’ve typically not been a big fan of this season. It’s usually very stressful, and I find the spirit of the season to be lost in the commercialization of it all. This year, however, for some reason, the Christmas spirit has been renewed in me. Even though I know it will be tough without my Daddy, I find myself excited about Christmas.

I have no idea why as one would think that I would be far less enthusiastic about the season this year in particular. It’s inexplicable, but I’m taking it in stride and the support we’ve received for this family has made me appreciate Christmas that much more. So in addition to being grateful that my co-workers and I are able to help this family we’ve adopted have a wonderful Christmas, I’m so thankful that I’m enjoying this Christmas season.