thankful thursday #230

Two weekends ago I worked a very late football game in my old stomping grounds at Mississippi State. When I left the stadium at 1:30 in the morning, I loaded my car and pulled out of the parking space, only to discover (quickly) that my tire was flat.

Not low. Flat.

Three twenty-something men loading up their tailgate nearby came to my rescue and replaced the flat with my spare before I could ask for help. Their dads meandered over -- tailgating is a family affair -- and supervised, chatted with me about the game, and offered an air compressor to check the air pressure before they left.

Now listen. This was a well-lit area, fans were still waiting for traffic to clear, and I had friends and colleagues with me. I was not in danger.

But oh, to be reminded that there are still good people out there, sober after an SEC football game, and willing to help out a single gal.

As I drove off campus, I literally said aloud, God bless Mississippi men. I loved that they knew how to change the tire in the first place, they offered and were genuinely happy to help, and they didn't mind getting dirty.

Those men made their wives proud that early morning outside Davis Wade Stadium.

And they made me thankful.

Have you had a stranger lend a helping hand? Go on, be grateful!

catch-up monday

Listen up. Here's some of my summer in a quick photo purge.

And as a bonus, these first few from our company retreat have a very fine yellow filter.

I work with these gals all the time.

They're so fun.

And this one. She and I share a very deep love of Mississippi State, having both served there for many years.

She's so great that I spent two weeks in Italy with her. I can't say that of many.

These two I've known as coworkers and friends for 14 years. (What?!) Some of my very earliest memories of my career are with them. (That was back when we didn't know what we were getting into.)

We worked hard, but in the end there was this sunset that brought my heart rate back down.

Some girlfriends and I went to see a movie. These are work friends, too, and sometimes we dress alike.

Not on purpose.

This one got spectacles.
 

I wasn't convinced he could get much cuter, but he did. I can't take it.

And this one will not stop smiling.

All summer long. So happy.

Meanwhile, I've been darting all over the place for meetings. On one of those jaunts, I actually drove a Dodge Dart.

I couldn't help this snap. Those Darts. They're tiny.

On another one of those jaunts, on an airplane, I landed back home around 2:00 a.m. That was not worthy of a photo, I tell you.

I turned 37. I felt loved in so many ways.

My parents celebrated with me. My friends. I ate like a queen. I laughed til I cried. My mom's carrot cake. I loved that birthday.

There is more to share. It's been a summer full. Has yours been, too?

thankful thursday #219

Let's discuss the random thankfulness for the week, in pictures. Yes?

Before I left on a marathon travel week last weekend, I did a little purging.

Not really. I did a lot of purging. It's good to feel some space.

I met the Littlest in person! He's pretty sweet.

When he wasn't as peaceful, this ball was a savior.

He likes to bounce, you know.

And then, because it's the week of the babe, I visited this gal and her newbie.

I'm so thankful my job gets me to parts of the country where my far-away friends are. Those visits tucked in between meetings make for delightful trips. Truly.

And of course this one. It's miraculous I bound him for more than two seconds for a quick snap. He is such a joy.

It's been a full week, and I feel rich from the thrill of it all.

What happy is filling you this week? Go on, be grateful!

thankful thursday #214

Thankful for these memories of late:

These people I work with. There's so much goodness in that snap, I'm shocked it's not exploding.

The one who couldn't be with us sent us this happy. She sent it to us on the day her first child was born. Honestly, she's too much. I love her.

We got to sit in regular seats and be regular fans. In the upper deck. It was glorious.

The Italy crew got to reunite.

We ate at this new dive in Athens. So tasty.

There's a lot to love, heading into Valentine's Day weekend. Go on, be grateful!

thankful thursday #212

I hate to be the girl who wishes away time. I really do.

But mercy, I thought January 13th might never come.

The all-consuming work project is complete, and I am sleeping in my own bed again after eight days on the road. It is a relief to have it all behind us.

It's a little like crossing a mountain. You get to the other side, and when you look back, you see the majesty of the mountain, but not so much what you went through to cross it.

You remember that you were weary, and thought more than once you might not make it, but you do, and in retrospect, glimmers of gratitude begin to peek over that mountain.

For example, can we get an amen that these statues fit back into their crates and through the doors of their warehouse?

That was a moment of relief gratitude.

Or how about that we met a celeb or two?

I don't watch commercials, but I've heard this guy is quite the phenom. Whatever.

We listened in on the Lady Antebellum sound check next door.

Appreciative for the chance to do something I don't do every day.

I loved watching our work family FaceTime with real family back home.

Made me grateful that we value the important things.

And then really in the end, despite all that goodness, I was darn thankful to head home.

On this side of the mountain, it's nice to look back at the view, but it's also exciting to look ahead at the 2015 landscape.

Do you have a mountain behind you, too? Go on, be grateful!

the indy iphone purge

When we go to Indianapolis to work, it's always at the time of year when we're tired and weary from the grind of football season.

But it's also the time of year when I'm most grateful for my work people. They really are like family in these days, when we are with each other for every minute of every day. Working, sleeping, eating.

This is us at Steak 'n Shake at about 1:00 a.m. A patty melt, fries and a milk shake are good pick-me-ups after an eighteen-hour day.

We even dress alike.

 

(We were kind of in love with our new vests with the company logo on the hip.)

Love this one. We look so pleased with ourselves, don't we?
 

This one. I don't know. Maybe I was sad that we still had ten hours to go that day?

Here're a couple of us in happier times.

 

I think we'd just been giving out free pizza to some hungry little ones. Always a job perk.

Here's the whole crew on the morning after, ready to fly south.

Indy, you're always good to us, but it's also really nice to be home. 'Til next year.

thankful thursday #207

When I'm traveling, and I've got a roommate (which happens in our company all the time, because we're like a family), there is this concern (beyond what the roomie will hear me say in my sleep):

Is it possible for two girls to have simultaneous access to a mirror and plenty of electrical outlets?

(This is the mark of a practically designed hotel room.)

In the big D, the Gaylord Texan has delivered.

First, this double sink vanity:

And better, this full length mirror with the electrical outlet next to it (the critical, yet always-elusive slam dunk of a feature):

I sit right there on the floor and dry my hair. Perfect.

Hotels of America, take note. The single girls bunking while on your properties will appreciate it.

Some days it's the little things, people. Go on, be grateful!

thankful thursday #205

When people ask me how long I've worked for my employer, and I answer them -- thirteen years, eight months, and six days today -- they usually give me a bewildered look.

I know it's a long time for a 36-year old. It's not how my generation rolls.

I take some pride in that, though, that I might be an exception to the rule. Because I don't love doing things the way everyone else does. And because I feel invested and loyal.

Our culture doesn't give time a chance anymore, but when you let it, I think time can grow love in a place. I'm grateful for a long time here, with good people and experiences and lessons and development.

A downside of this long time, of course, is that it's easy to develop blinders. To miss important nuggets in the mundane.

This past weekend at one of our games, a guest tripped and fell in our area of responsibility and showed frightening symptoms of a traumatic brain injury. I was given a new perspective on our work in hospitality, and how it's not all about making things shiny and new and happy (as awesome as that sometimes can be).

Here's what I wrote to our staff following my reflection:

Team,

On Saturday at the MSU game, there was a sobering medical emergency to which Meghan and her staff tended with the greatest care and timeliness. She has remained in contact with them over the past few days out of concern and genuine compassion … so kudos to her! The husband of our injured guest wrote her a sweet note (below for you to read) that gave me a unique perspective on hospitality, and how we practice it:

We place a lot of emphasis on ensuring our facilities are immaculate, television feeds are crystal clear, food presentation is unmatched, hot dogs are fresh (and hot!), and staff is smiling bigger than anyone else in the stadium. And those things are of utmost importance to create the very best environment we can for our guests.

On the other hand, what happens in those environments is often — and maybe more often than we’d like to admit — out of our control. We will never know when something frightening, uncomfortable, or downright tragic will occur. A guest is sick, or trips and falls, or misplaces a child, or gets some very bad news: These are times when our call to service and hospitality might have the greatest and highest impact on a person’s soul, because we’re called to care well for them at all times, especially when they are under duress.

I know these instances are anomalies, and frankly, I hope they remain as that. But what an opportunity for us when they do occur! Let’s remember that while we work hard to be a happy place and refuge, we’re also a place where we might be given the chance to care well for hurting people in a very specific time and place. Be prepared not only with a sound emergency response protocol, but with a readiness to extend mercy and grace in times of need. It’s a high calling!

Wishing everyone a great game week!

RLF

Thankful this week for a new perspective, even after thirteen years, eight months, and six days in the same company.

Any new epiphanies for you this week? Go on, be grateful!

thankful thursday #196

One of my dearest friends moved away from Birmingham about six months ago. 

(This one. I love her silly side.)

It was a good move for her, but let's face it: I'm selfish, and I was sad.

When I'm lucky, my work travel allows me to cross paths spontaneously with people I love.

Thankful that I'll get to linger with her over a leisurely dinner tomorrow, en route to my hotel for the night.

I'm expecting some belly laughs.

Connecting with friends this weekend, too? Go on, be grateful!

thankful thursday #194

These two weeks have been peppered with more work travel than I prefer.

But for tonight, my last night on the road (at least for a week, ugh), I'm grateful to be climbing into this bed.

Doesn't he look cozy?

Thankful to be in my own bed tomorrow, but he'll do for now.

Wishing you a restful weekend, friends, and one of appreciation. Go on, be grateful!

hello monday (an iPhone photo purge)

When all else fails, go to the iPhone for some blogging material. Here are a few recent photos to help me greet the week:

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Hello, long work days.

They're why my blog is suffering.

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Hello, sweet treats.

Menu tastings are such a job perk.

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Hello, beautiful skies.

Even when they are unfriendly and turbulent, they do radiate glory, don't they?

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Hello, temptation at the Birmingham airport.

It had been a long day.

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Hello, opportunity to learn.

These guys know what they're doing. It was awesome to soak in some knowledge.

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Wishing you a very good week ahead, friends!

thankful thursday #188

I had a brake light and a tail light replaced today. I suppose I should be grateful that this week's car repairs were minimal compared to two weeks ago. Yish.

Or I could be grateful that I wasn't completely embarrassed at my tennis lesson today. I wasn't sure there for a while.

But I can do better.

This week has been one in which my mind has been challenged at work. To analyze. To problem solve. To think hard. To consider hard choices. To balance personalities. To make decisions.

I'm not even saving people's lives, and it's exhausting, frankly.

But it makes me grateful for a mind that works (for now), and for the opportunity to exercise it. That's a good position to be in, and one for which I should be more thankful than I usually am.

Have you had a good brain challenge this week? Go on, be grateful!

thankful thursday #185

Sometimes hidden in happy and fun, there are some hard conversations. Sadness. Bad, earth-shaking news.

And those hidden things can peek out and interrupt that happy and fun at the most inopportune times, can't they?

During our happy and fun company retreat this week, one of ours got some news that rocked her world. Some were around to hold her up when her body collapsed; others were around to listen and cry; a few sat and prayed with her; a couple tucked her into bed so she could rest.

The happy and fun was tainted, and for that one, it was a time she will always remember with a little pang in her heart.

Even when questions swirled, and hearts were broken, and answers eluded us, we could be grateful for supportive work family, and for a divine sovereignty we will never understand.

What tough moments have challenged your heart of thankfulness? Go on, be grateful!

thankful thursday #161

In my office, I like to view a calendar that shows at least four months at one time. Usually it means ripping off four pages of a yearly calendar and sticking them up on my bulletin board.

It's a pretty low-class operation.

This week, in cleaning up my office and preparing for the holidays, I decided to step up my game and do something special for 2014, and now I'm ready to face the new year in style (literally):

(Of course I didn't design those. Please. It's what Etsy is for.)

I'm so grateful for creative people who are so darn genius, they sell instant printable downloads like these.

It makes the lives of the not-so-creative population, of which I'm a member, so much more festive.

Have you tapped into any favorite Etsy creations or design services? If you have, go and be grateful!

a snow, some work crafting, and a row of tubas

I'm fresh off of my annual trip to Indianapolis. It's a given that I'm happy to be home and sleeping in my own bed (Courtyard Marriott, your beds are surprisingly terrible).

But there were some fun moments to share!

You know I love a good snow, and I rarely get one. But Indianapolis delivered, and delivered big.

These beauts and I went to dinner ...

... and when we were happy and full, came out of the restaurant to see this.

Two of us couldn't help but to walk the mile back to the hotel in the snow.

We were adamant about snow photo ops!

I really couldn't swipe the smile off my face. It was so fun.

The next morning this scene caught my eye, with the pretty church, and the snow still capping the tree branches.

Of course we worked some, too! We created these memorabilia cases for each Big Ten team:

And in so doing, we learned that duct tape wads and foam board go a very long way behind the scenes to make a craft look great.

We are nothing if not resourceful.

For good measure, here's a snap of Ohio State's marching band (I mean, The Ohio State University, of course).

The tubas make such a visual statement, don't they? I wondered which one of them was going to dot the i at the game.

Good friends, good work, good snow, good fun.

I'm so pleased that the good outweighed the terrible beds bad.

hello monday (on tuesday)

Monday kind of punished me. Let's move on and greet the week today instead, shall we?

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Hello, second-to-last-football-game-I-have-to-work this year.

Was happy to do it by this gal's side.

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Hello, family and friends.

Glad that while I was working, you got to enjoy the game. (And that I got to pop into this pic!)

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Hello, cold and rain.

I wish you'd come on a day I never had to get out of bed.

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Hello, Thanksgiving.

You've come out of nowhere, but I'm glad you're finally here.

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Hello, Christmas decorations.

I'm mentally preparing myself for you.

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Hello, splitting headache.

Move on, already. You're slowing me down.

Wishing you a holiday week that's warm and cozy, headache-free, and spent with friends and family you love!