Happy Sunday, Journeyer!

I have to say that this week was like a wink of the eye.

BLIP!

Back to work after three weeks off definitely comes with challenges, most notably for me is getting up and showered and dressed and out the door before the sun rises.

But all in all it’s been a good week.

The sun has been shining more often than not; daily events that don’t go unnoticed by me.

I don’t know about you, but my spirits are in much better shape when that big glowing orb is present in the sky.

Isn’t it amazing how much faster our days and weeks seem to go by when we are in a good mood?

Though the past seven days are a big blur, I do recall a few highlights…

Warren and I were able to weed through the mail, unpack much of the load that filled the back of our car to the ceiling, and still have a little time to unwind in front of the television with a good movie.

We finally watched the taped ending to The Voice. Congratulations to one of our favorites, Jordan Smith!

We celebrated Christmas with my-inlaws yesterday, an event that went off without a hitch. None of those water-cooler discussions about family gathering disasters! Phew…

We had a delicious meal followed by an interesting and fun game of Cards Against Humanity.

I spent several hours with a good friend one night, and though our conversation seemed to be monopolized by sagas with our children, it was nice to catch up with her for a belated birthday celebration.

Warren and I attended another gathering that wasn’t quite so pleasant, Journeyer.

We received one of those phone calls you never want to receive, a notification that someone you know has died unexpectedly.

In this case, the person was one of the counselors Warren and I have been seeing for marriage counseling. In fact, he’s the man behind that infamous Letting Go lesson.

We debated about going as we didn’t know the family, but in the end I am so happy we chose to attend. “We knew him in a professional capacity,” I said to he wife when we walked through the receiving line.

“Oh, did you work with him at the Psych Center,” she asked?

“No,” I replied, “we are actually some of his clients. The world has lost a great man but we have gained a great legacy in all that he did to make the world a better place.”

This new widow told us how much it meant to have us there and for the family to know the positive impact he had on others. “He was fiercely protective of that privacy so we are happy to have a glimpse into how he made a positive difference.”

Two of their three sons reiterated that same sentiment after their mother introduced us to them.

Though I am saddened by his passing and definitely not looking forward to starting over with a new counselor, I am eternally grateful for having had the privilege of knowing and working with this fine man.

I’m hoping people don’t take this the wrong way, but he kind of reminded me of that someone you’d like to call “friend,” that someone who genuinely cared about you… Someone who could be serious and witty at the same time; a gentle soul who wasn’t afraid to share his own relevant challenges in a way that his successes humbly shone through.

We ended the week by helping another friend celebrate his birthday.

Friendship, Journeyer…that seems to be at the epicenter of this week’s joy…which began with a birthday card from another paesano, a nice surprise in the midst of the unopened mail that had accumulated during our absence.

Lastly, Journeyer, you know that saying about “man’s best friend?” Every day I find myself saying to our new little girl, Patches, “I’m so glad we found one another.

Every day we are learning something new about her and I am constantly amazed by her resilience and dumbfounded by the fact that anyone could ever harm another living being.

We all have the ability to rebound from misfortune and mayhem, Journeyer, and that fills my heart with joy.

When it comes to loss and bereavement, we have neighbors in grieving and when it comes to recovery we have friends in healing.

I am so honored to be sharing this road of life with you.

What about you, Journeyer? What moment(s) filled you with happiness this past week? Share something in a comment below and spread a little joy!

Until next time, yours in hope, healing, and happiness,

Soon…