This past weekend Jackie and I headed up to Lansing to visit with my parents and my sister's family. Originally it was billed as a "fall" weekend thing, where we would watch some MSU football, and then maybe head outside for a fire. We did end up watching the football, and thankfully MSU won (with Purdue pulling a huge upset against Ohio State) making for a good day on the football front. We never did end up outside, not that the day wouldn't have been good for it, but we all just got cozy inside and decided to hang out there.

We got to share some good food with the family, including being able to see my grandmother, which is always nice. Got to play with my nephew Gavin, who at 18 months, is at such a fun age, and its such an interesting dynamic to watch him grow up in the times we don't see him, and witness how quickly he matures in those gaps. Before heading back yesterday my parents made us breakfast and we talked. Also marking the weekend for me, in addition to the time spent with family, was the number of good conversations. Talking about life, politics, work, whatever...the conversations were good, not necessarily all in agreement, but good discussions with people you love and you know love you back - I think that makes the discussing easier at times.

Much of this is pretty mundane, but I was thankful for the weekend. As difficult as going out of town for a weekend can be at times, and how it seems to throw us for a loop for a couple days when we get back, it was a nice break, a nice separation from the usual routine. It's a good reminder, at least for me, to be thankful for those opportunities and enjoy them when they come along.