Be Thankful.
Posted on August 18, 2007
Filed Under Posts |
(Hurricane Ivan, Over The Cayman Islands September 2004)
Erik Stafford here… and I want to share something personal with you. Did you know that on September 11th, 2004 my family and I survived a direct hit from a Category 5 Hurricane?
Probably not. It’s something that I don’t much talk about anymore… but we did.
We were living in the Cayman Islands at the time, and the storm was called Ivan. It was a direct hit. Winds were clocked at 200 mph.
We lost almost everything: the cars, the condo, the jobs. Photos, computers, clothes and books…
All of it washed out to sea.
We were evacuated to Miami a few days later, with the two things that we didn’t lose, the two things that were the most precious to us: our children.
It took us over a year to get our lives back together. We replaced everything, eventually…
But I sit here and watch the news today and I see Hurricane Dean bearing down on Jamaica, and on our former home… and I think about how lucky I really am, and how precious life really is. I realize that I take so much for granted, and I shouldn’t.
I am incredibly thankful to have what I have.
I am thankful to have two healthy kids. I am thankful to have a beautiful loving wife. I am thankful for my parents, who raised me to be the man I am today.
I am thankful for my business, and I am thankful for you.
Without you I wouldn’t have a business!
If you would, please take five minutes tonight and say a prayer for the people of Jamaica, The Cayman Islands, Mexico, and Texas/Louisiana.
And also take a moment to reflect on everything you have that you might take for granted… and be thankful for what you have, and what you have the ability to achieve!
To your success,
Erik
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2 Responses to “Be Thankful.”
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Erik, kudos on your last post. We will remember those in the path of the hurricane. We were livivg in Broward County(Ft Lauderdale) for Andrew. We were blessed with little damage. We were involved in relief work for weeks, having to cut our way into some areas to deliver food, ice and water.
I hope to be able to meet you after the first of the year. My son lives there in Cape Coral and we will visit him after Christmas. I stay close to home during the season as this is my most busy time. I am moving most of my Santa business to the internet. That way I can devote more of my time to helping non-profit and service agencies. Perhaps some time I’ll be able to share some of the things we do on the internet. We are also expanding our internet presence this year.
If you look at www.santaspeaks.com you will see one of our programs. And yes that is me in the picture.
Again thanks for your concern and it is good to reminded about all we have to be thankful for.
Always believe and be good.
“The Real Santa”
Santa Jim
www.SantaSpeaks.com
Our prayers are with everyone in harms way. Let them be safe.