I've just uploaded the latest photos from our trip to Florence, Italy to Facebook (one of my favorites above) and found my thoughts drifting to this blog. Some updates: we celebrated our wedding anniversary. We now have several Michelin restaurant visits under our belt, including our first 2-star! I'm writing from inside our new home with the fireplace going since early this morning. I'm delaying starting dinner preparations because I'm too comfortable laying on the couch. My neck is sore from a pretty long, extensive dance practice in all our smooth dance choreography (waltz, tango, foxtrot, Viennese waltz) yesterday. We're trying to get back into competing mode in time for a competition in March. 

I don't think the past me could have envisioned any of what I've just written. Since we've just celebrated Thanksgiving (a quick dinner spent at Ben's parents' home after I finished my shift) it feels right to write about what I'm thankful for. I am thankful for where I find myself in life now; I am thankful for the previous experiences that have led me to this point, even if it feels like I could have done without a lot of the painful ones. My mantra since returning from Italy has been: master yourself. In all aspects, I am trying to make the better choice. It is tough. Every decision feels deliberate, but the satisfaction afterwards makes it worth it. I hope to carry this momentum into the new year. If I can write in here more, even better.