17/52

  I'm home from my whirlwind week and it feels so good.  I'm not trading in my wanderlust for some slippers and another cat anytime soon, but there is a difference between travel for fun, and travel for work.  And a very happy sense of relief walking in my front door and knowing my time is my own.

I started out my week in Michigan with one of our companies based in Grand Rapids.  We were there right in the mix of the flooding which added another element to our stay there.  Then on to beautiful North Carolina to tour more factories and go to the High Point Furniture Market.  Mixed in with all the learning and seeing new products, it was such a pleasure to see quality industry in America.  We were hosting four designers that work on LDS temples and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them more and hearing about the work they do.  Working on temples is a career goal of mine down the road a ways.  I'm happy where I am right now, but one day I'd really like to be a part of that effort.  The group dynamic was of the very best kind.  Easy going people and lots {LOTS}of laughter.

Various shots from the factories we toured.

 A layover in Chicago did get me excited about my next work trip in a few weeks.  {Just happy I have a few weeks in between.}

Highlights from my whirlwind week:

New places, new people, new experiences

6 airports, 5 factories, 1 textile mill, 4 states and countless fun encounters with strangers

Hushpuppies - fried corn balls are like manna from heaven.

A really fun and unexpected misadventure that included socks made out of band aids and walking much further than I sent out to.  This isn't a new story in my life.  I seem to do this in new places, no matter how much I tell myself to set limits and be smarter about my wandering habits.  Best way to see a place in my opinion.

Coming home.

Dinner with dear friends and perfect weather for roof top conversations.

The most perfect Sunday walk I think I've ever been on.  Can't think of one to top it actually.

Everything about yesterday was really great, come to think of it.  A much needed rest after a week of on the go adventure.  Church was enlightening and peaceful.  Dinner with

my grandparents was filled with love and a sense of belonging.  It feels so good to be home.

A quote from yesterday that really stuck out to me:

“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he’s been robbed. The fact is that most putts don’t drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to just be people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old time rail journey…delays…sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling burst of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”

President Hinckley

{excuse the ugly formatting, don't know what is going on with blogger today.}