#DailyGratitudePost
The final post of 2025!🎉
I’m grateful that I succeeded in my intention to post every day this year!🤗 Through all the ups and downs of the year, I am so mindful that there is always, always something to be grateful for in our lives.🙏🏽
Thank you 2025; and here’s to 2026!💖☺️

#DailyGratitudePost
The #family trip continues with finally being able to visit my wonderful aunt for a few hours today(25年12月30日・火).☺️🤗💕 I feel whole & happy being with my family. And very blessed!🙏🏽

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Next stop on the #Family Visiting Tour today (25年12月29日・月) - enjoying being with the cousins + a birthday celebration!🎂🎉🥳🖼️

Happy times and good fun!☺️

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Wonderful day at Dad’s house full of kids laughing, kids snacking, kids playing (+ unfortunately one kid 🤮) and fun on a drive w/ Dad🏎️💨 Lol.
Not a bad way to spend the day!☺️

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The journey continues for home visiting today (25年12月27日・土) - made it to my Dad’s & enjoying more family time!☺️🤗🎉

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Happy Merry Boxing Day!🎁🤗 Enjoyed the day (25年12月26日・金) with my Bro going to see Wicked: For Good💕💚 (finally!) at the movies.🍿 For real good times were had together!☺️

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Merry Happy #Christmas y’all!🎅🏾🎄🎁💕 (25年12月25日・木) Had a nice day with the Fam filled with happy smiles, good food (I’m in charge of the Mac&Cheese🤗⬇️+ one slightly ‘toasty’ lemon pound cake🤦🏽‍♀️🍋), and most importantly - lots & lots of love!❤️

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Yay! Christmas Eve has arrived🎅🏾 (25年12月24日・水); and with it the joy of last minute Christmas shopping w/ the Bro🛍️, Christmas dinner prep w/ the Mom🍗 & wrapping gifts for my loved ones!🎁
Just a really nice day!☺️

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So happy to have completed my journey #HomefortheHolidays !🙏🏽🎄🎁

Started with a pleasant journey on my usual Delta flight (25年12月21日・日)✈️ but with a special upgrade!🤗🔺1️⃣

Enjoyed a quick last minute Christmas Shopping run🛍️(25年12月22日・月) with The Ma & The Bro👍🏽
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#DailyGratitudePost
Spent a little time at the Roppongi Hills Christmas Market today (25年12月20日・土); and finished up my Christmas shopping!🎄🤶🏽🛍️
‘Twas a Nice Christmasy Day!🎁

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Really enjoyed letting the students celebrate the last day of the semester today (25年12月19日・金) with a gathering full of good food 🍱, karaoke🎤, laughter😆 & dancing!💃🏽🕺🏽

They really are a good bunch!☺️

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Winding down the working year with a final team call today (25年12月18日・木) with a group I truly enjoyed interacting with every week this semester💐 Happy to have the opportunity to do so!👏🏽

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Hosted my last group of visitors for the year to our Res Hall today (25年12月17日・水).💐 Can’t believe how fast the semester has gone; and folks are still happy to see our facilities for the first time!🤗

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Enjoyed one of my fav Japan-homemade winter meals for dinner today (25年12月16日・火) - ‘nabe’ hotpot!🍲

It’s so good and sooooo easy to make with loads of yummy veggies, tofu + your choice of meat.💪🏽 Was looking forward to #dinner all day!🤗☺️💕

#nabe #hotpot #winter

#DailyGratitudePost
Had two good meetings today (25年12月15日・月)👍🏽 & I’m feeling positive about wrapping up the working year; and gearing up for the new year!🙏🏽 Step by step😉👣

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Went to the cell phone shop today (25年12月14日・日) to change my service due to a special they are running.📲 Got a great deal & an upgrade on my service!😎
Even better: the young lady helping me at the shop had the cutest nails!💅🏽 So we chatted about nail art in Japan before I left!☺️💝

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Though I usually get to do this much earlier than today (25年12月13日・土), I finally got my place decorated for #Christmas !🎄🎅🏾🎁

Had Christmas tunes in the background🎶 & a happy spirit in the air.🤗 Very nice way to spend time today!🙏🏽

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TGIF!🤗 Another long but ultimately productive workweek wrapped up today (25年12月12日・金).👏🏽
And now I’m *very* much looking forward to a quiet weekend!🙏🏽

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Enjoyed catching up today (25年12月11日・木) with a friend who regularly comes to Japan for work. And who also always makes time to have dinner with me while they are here.💕Always such a treat!🤗

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Had a cool experience today (25年12月10日・水) delivering remarks at a press conference for one of our partner orgs.🎤

I felt good representing my org but also really inspired by the work they are doing for students in Japan!👏🏽

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Was happy that dinner plans worked out today (25年12月9日・火) with an old friend I haven’t seen in years!🙏🏽

This is their last night in town & sometimes you just need to make the time.☺️

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Felt grateful to be able to attend the Official Memorial Service for the Founder & Chairman of where I used to work today(25年12月8日・月).🕊️It was a traditional Japanese-style public service. First time to attend one; felt nice to be together w/ so many former colleagues & students.🙏🏽

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Made it to the doctor today (25年12月7日・日) and luckily I don’t have the flu!👍🏽

Yay for ‘just’ having a cold I guess.🤧😏🙏🏽

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Welp… I seem to have come down with whatever has been making its way through the students…🤧🤒😷

Very grateful it’s Saturday today (25年12月6日・土) cause I didn’t have the energy or inclination to do much of anything today.🙏🏽😓🛌

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And…. That’s a wrap!🎬 Today (25年12月5日・金) was the last big event of the semester for the students (and staff😏). Thank goodness…Lol🙌🏽 Now, just a couple more weeks to wrap this first semester up!🤗

#DailyGratitudePost
Was so grateful that my friend let me know today (25年12月4日・木) that they are able to step in at the last minute to help with my work event tomorrow.🙏🏽
Having #friends you can call on when needed is so special indeed!🥹

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Another full day today (25年12月3日・水) with more film crews doing interviews of students (and yours truly)☺️ Though my brain is mush from being ‘on’ all day; that means I should sleep really well tonight! Lol 🛌

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Had an adventure today (25年12月2日・火) with processing visa applications for the students at the Embassy.👩🏽‍💼🧑🏽‍💼
As a result, found myself at the convenience store printing out dozens of extra copies of a doc & ran out of change before I was done...🤦🏽‍♀️
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#DailyGratitudePost
Had such a busy day today (25年12月1日・月) to start off the week & the final month of the year!👏🏽 But also got a lot accomplished for the students while trying to be an excellent hostess to a local news media crew who were on-site filming.🎥
Yep - I’m wiped out!🥱

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Enjoyed starting my Sunday (25年11月30日・日) chatting with a few #friends I don’t usually get to connect with who are currently living in places all over the #world .🌎🌍🌏

A nice way to ease into the last day of this crazy-busy turbulent month!🙏🏽