Grateful Friday

 Good morning from the PNW, which was showing off shamelessly when I took this picture from our hotel last night.

I am grateful to be tagging along on this trip with Adam.  We stayed with Geri on Wednesday night and enjoyed visiting with her.  She gave us her bedroom, which is so kind of her.  Adam took some meetings on his laptop on the deck and Geri and I visited.  

I appreciate Geri's life experience that has given her wisdom and empathy, which is all a blessing to me.

After lunch, I met Stephanie (oops, she thought we were meeting for a late lunch and I ate a sandwich at Geri's, but Stephanie is the opposite of me and the very definition of chill so she didn't mind at all).

We sat on Stephanie's couch and caught up on everything.  Stephanie is a gem in my life.  Braeden called on FaceTime while we were chatting and QE performed some somersaults and belly flops off the couch onto the cushions for our benefit.  

I told QE that Stephanie is a dancer and Stephanie gave some appreciative comments on QE's form.

Then Dillon called on FaceTime and we got to talk to him for a minute--unfortunately, his little girl wasn't there for us to admire, but believe me when I say that Stephanie had shown me pictures and videos of her grandchildren.  They are the best.  

An award winning invention!

Braeden and Dillon used to get together almost every day and they'd go on glorious adventures, like one time they rode their bikes to Costco and bought a chocolate cake and rode home with it balanced on handlebars.  And now they're both dads and FaceTiming to their mothers' delight.

I drove to Seattle, which was harrowing because my phone had me avoid the nightmare traffic and get off and drive these crooked narrow streets with nary a sightline to oncoming traffic.  (Also, my sense of direction and driving skills are not what anyone would call top notch.) I met Adam at Duke's Seafood on Lake Union.  It was beautiful.  We watched sailboats and seaplanes and paddle boarders.  I had already met a lot of the people we were eating with and I regaled them with stories of Adam duct taping his backpack.  Mostly, I sat and quietly ate my delicious food because I was tired.

My health is still wonky and I am waiting for more answers (but, you know, I'm super patient, so no problem).

I went to our hotel and Adam still had some work stuff to do.

I was happy to be in a quiet and cool little room to rest.  (AC for the win and that view!)

Today I'm meeting Janet for lunch and visiting.  I'm looking forward to that.  Tonight we'll have more work stuff.  I may bow out of some of it, but participate in some (the advantage of being the wife and not the employee).  Tomorrow we will go back to Geri's and spend a few days enjoying family time.

I'm grateful for my life.  I'm grateful for Adam.  I'm grateful for our kids and families.  I'm grateful for old and new friends and the ways they enrich me.  Even for this confirmed introvert, people I love matter so much.  They buoy me and support me and are a blessing in my life.

I'm also grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is the anchor that you can rely on in stormy weather.