There are times of the year and certain times of our lives that serve to remind us of how fortunate we really are. It is almost like a switch is turned, a fog is lifted and what was hidden before is now clearly seen. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Special people come in and out of our lives when we need them the most.

This past month brought about some adversity for our family. On Nov. 30, my husband Jason was diagnosed with a stress fracture near his knee. That means a person like Jason, who is used to going full throttle, working 12 hour days at his job during the month of December, has now been reduced to only occasionally moving around three rooms in our house. For the past four weeks he has had to keep as much weight off of his knee as possible. So he sits a lot. It has gotten to the point that he has started having dreams at night about walking and running. He still has two to four more weeks to go. It’s going to be a long two to four more weeks.

To top it all off, our roof started leaking for the first time ever during the record rainfall we had recently. With Jason out of commission, physically and financially we worried about how to fix and pay for it. Fortunately, I work for the very best boss on the planet. To make sure my time in the office was not spent worrying about a leak issue at home, he sent the repairman he keeps on call for his personal, business and rental properties out to my house to fix my roof, and my boss picked up the tab for the repairs. He truly treats his employees like he would his friends and family. For that I am extremely thankful.

To help pay this unexpected generosity forward, I gathered a group of friends and associates together to help out a local mom of four elementary age kids with presents from Santa for Christmas. There was going to be precious little under the tree this year.

Everything comes full circle. We all help each other out where and when we can. What did you do this holiday season to pay it forward? The true meaning of the season is not what you unwrap in decorative paper, but what you unwrap in your heart.

Blessings to all of Bremerton this holiday season and a special thanks to all of the wonderful caring people who populate my life.