As we are moving along in the 40 days leading up to Lent, I thought of my family who I am extremely grateful for.
I have my aunt and cousins in Bermuda and other areas of the world and my immediate family here in Montreal.
I`m grateful for my brother who is one of the finest guys I know and one day, I`ll do an interview with him and post it here and you can judge who has the better looks…
I am most grateful for my wife, Miss. Kelly and today, a few thoughts about her.
We met 23 plus years ago and little did I know that my life would change forever. There are so many moments that it would take endless blogs to try and encapsulate what Kelly has meant to my life but here a few things that stick out to me about Kelly`s influence in my life.
The Early Days
When I realized that there could be something more to the deepening friendship, one night after getting ice cream at Dairy Queen, we went for a walk and I had questions: lots of them because at the time, I was a full time minister and I knew that the life Kelly could potentially lead would be different to what she had known.
That 90 minute walk was key because I found out that Kelly placed honesty, integrity and a willingness to learn as high ideals in her life.
It continues to be refreshing that Kelly only knows how to run with those traits and it has served her-us well over time.
Have you ever asked a question and you know that the person you are asking the question to wouldn't know the answer so basically, the interest is in what they are going to say?
Have you ever asked a question and you know that the person you are asking the question to wouldn't know the answer so basically, the interest is in what they are going to say? I came away impressed with her intelligence, humility and fearlessness to share her thoughts. That she didn’t try and fudge or fake what she didn’t know.
Middle Ground
One of Kelly’s greatest strengths I believe has been leveraging her background and beginnings to make a difference in the lives of people.
Her upbringing was not the easiest and tough to say the least. Working with my youth center teenagers and university groups over a long span, the students came to appreciate Kelly’s straightforwardness, honesty, care. It has been a blessing in hindsight to have lived outside the conventional lines which has given Kelly a unique perspective on life.
Kelly has always been a great reader of people; I think the FBI could have used her as an operator for them!!
Funny how those Kelly connected with in the past still call or write or email to say how much Kelly profoundly affected their life for good.
I know for me, one of the great things that I love about Kelly is that she’s a straight shooter with grace and her unique style has been a benefit to many who have connected with her as a confidant, leader, friend.
As It Happens
I know that it has been good for me to have a life partner beside me who can challenge and provoke thought even when I don’t want to hear things that I need to.
A great encourager of the dreams even when those dreams seemed to be buried…
Ready for new challenges, willing to learn new things (since she got her IPhone, thinks she is a genius now) and loves the opportunity to expand her horizons.
Kelly was home with mom for the last 6 months of her life and Kelly loved the precious time and moments with her. Kelly loved the mother daughter relationship she had with mom and it takes a special person to not just say but in action and deed love and appreciate a woman that was not her birth mom but treated her as such.
I am most grateful that as our 22 year anniversary arrives, life with Kelly is just as fresh as it was back in the summer of 96….
Sometimes, it just really matters to be grateful for the “who” in our lives. I’m blest and fortunate that through the stormy moments, sunny days and everything in between, Kelly has been right beside me.
I am grateful that as I think about the many things I am grateful on the way to Lent, I am grateful for Miss. Kelly. I couldn’t have asked or dreamed for better!
Dave
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