Gratitude, Holidays, and a Much-Anticipated Reunion

Over the years, I have developed a mantra of sorts: be kind. practice gratitude. find joy. I remind myself of these imperatives every day, I share them whenever possible (I have imported a "weekly gratitude/ goal list" to every job I've had in recent years, and it always catches on), and I really, really try to live them.

Some weeks I do better than others. It's been more than a little difficult to find joy on this rainy week of dreary commutes and long work hours in an empty building while everybody in the city- including my better half and my precious baby- is enjoying the holidays with family. And said better half, on the receiving end of a fair number of joyless phone calls, would probably tell you that this has not brought out any particular kindness either.

So it'll have to be gratitude that saves the day. And I am grateful. Although I miss my family desperately (and actually found myself in tears on Sunday, watching little kids line up to see Santa while my own was exactly 1556 miles away, not that I checked), I am grateful that I got a couple of uninterrupted evenings to clean out the attic, donate two whole carloads of things we didn't need, and put in a few hours volunteering at the food bank -- all while knowing that Finley is well taken-care-of, surrounded by her doting dad and adoring grandparents, and certainly misses me less than I do her. I'm grateful that April made time to visit, and took me ice skating at the National Gallery, which I've been dying to do.

I'm grateful that we got our own mini-Christmas on Saturday morning before Seth and Finley left, and that my siblings sent her drums and xylophones and cars and other noisemakers- because she loves them. (And that she still goes nuts for the planet mobile I couldn't resist at Pottery Barn when she fell in love with it while Christmas shopping.)

And I'm grateful for FaceTime (new favorite photo),

and a husband and mother-in-law who send me priceless photos like this one.

And this one.

Mostly, though, I'm grateful that today is my last day of work before Christmas, and that I have a 6am flight to Minneapolis tomorrow. I still have a long baby-free to-do list and have so far packed only socks and long underwear (this notwithstanding, I am hoping for snow), but I'm beyond excited for it to feel like Christmas, and to see my family. I feel like it's been ages. And family is, after all, the very best part of the holiday season.

I'll be thinking of Missy spending Christmas in Fairbanks, Ben & Lisa & fam and their first Christmas in Japan, the Bustamantes doing something fabulous and exotic for their South American festivities, and Mom & Dad celebrating the holiday and Mom's birthday in style in Texas (because everything's better in Texas.) I love my family, and our longstanding tradition of not having to be in the same place to be together.

Also, Finley wanted to wish Ana a happy birthday. (Obviously the photos of the week.)

And so, in the immortal words of Clement Clarke Moore, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"