Day 5 of Gratitude - Jerriah Miller
31 Days of Gratitude - In an attempt to publicly express my gratitude for the people that have impacted me in some way in 2015, I'm setting out to write one post a day sharing what I appreciate about them or what moment that marked me. Some of these people I know well, some I've only met, and some I'm just getting to know. There is no ranking to these posts and they aren't meant to put anyone on a pedestal. They, like you and I, are imperfect people with their own flaws, some you may have experienced. Despite those flaws, I believe we all need to have our positive characteristics called into light and celebrated. This is that attempt.
When Michelle and I moved into our neighborhood 7 years ago we never thought that some of our greatest friends would actually be our neighbors. We've been blessed by this reality by a number of really incredible people that live a few houses down, around the corner, or a street or two over. It's taught us that choosing where you live matters more than the house you can buy, the schools in that area, and how close it is to your favorite grocery store.
Jerriah and his wife Brandy have become great friends over the past couple of years after they moved in just down the street. They are the kindest, loving, friendly, and generous people. We're grateful that you chose to live in Williams Woodland and that you have become our friends and loved our kids.
Jerriah has become a really great friend over the past couple of years and one of those guys that I look forward to spending time with. He's full of energy, extremely engaging, and we connect on a lot of things. He's always up for hanging out, riding bikes, and dreaming about what life could be if we lived more intentionally and more simply. I appreciate you, Jerriah.
Today, I'm grateful for the way you've been a champion of me and the work I'm doing at NeighborLink. From wearing Team NeighborLink cycling gear, to telling all your friends about NL, and to all your efforts fundraising for us this year. Feathers for Heat was an incredible gift to me and a huge sacrifice for you to make all those stained glass feathers. Then, to host a holiday party with your friends and encourage donations to NL as a part of that. You could have chosen a dozen solid nonprofits and charities to support, but I appreciate that you chose to give up far more than just a personal donation. You've given up tons of hours in your basement making feathers, invested in hosting this party, and chose to advocate for something bigger than yourself. It's always easier to write a check, but that's not what you've done.
Thank you for being a friend and I look forward to many more adventures in 2016.
