Gratitude

Canadian Thanksgiving was a few weeks ago and American Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away. For us, it has been a season of Thanksgiving. We have been showered with, impressed by and grateful for all the help we have received in the past few months. The kindnesses shown have been big and little; subtle and obvious. Just a handful of examples of the thoughtful and gracious acts of kindness we have experienced: 

• Help picking up the patio at the end of the weekend
• Help on Fridays to setup for the movies or get the fire started for FirePit Friday
• Folks that drove from other states (Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma) for harvest weekends
• Help in the tasting room and tours
• Gardening, mowing and landscaping
• Painting and staining
• Moving furniture and tanks
• Garage & loft cleanup
• Folks who call to see if I need company or even better, come in on a rainy day knowing I need to be there but it will be a slow day so want to make sure I am not alone
• Folks who attended Amrish's sporting events and kept me company on the bleachers
• Folks who helped look after the tasting room so I could attend Amrish's sporting events
• Texts reminding me to eat (and in the early days after William passed away, to shower)!
• Hugs - and some of you are excellent huggers!!
• and most importantly - helping me decipher the WillGyver codes 

The list of things we are grateful for is much longer but what we have come to realize is that when we are faced with obstacles, confused about the choices and decisions that need to be made and afraid of all that still lays ahead, being grateful gives us perspective.  Acknowledgement of the help we are getting and the amazing people giving us the help has strengthened the relationships we have cultivated.  We have become a very strong community bonded by a shared passion, strengthened by shared sorrow and determination not to fail.

We are very thankful for the loving community that has enveloped us.  We have learned to ask for help.  You have given us more than we asked for and continue to be there - good days and bad.  We know it's not over - we have a long ways to go but knowing you are just an 'ask' away is a tremendous relief.  We can never repay the kindness (although we will do our best - just ask) but know that it has not gone unnoticed.  Thank you!