The Gratitude of a Year Gone By

As the final hours of 2007 wind down, and I return from a brief hiatus from writing this blog, I find myself reflecting on the past year in a spirit of gratitude to the many people who have enriched my life. It seems right to end the year in gratitude. There has been much over the past year that has been accomplished here at Avila and there have been so many people who have contributed their time, their energy, and their resources to make our continuing transformation so successful. It would be wrong to let the year slip away without acknowledging my gratitude to them.

I fear that to try to name them all will mean that I leave out too many, but let me try to name a few, at least by category. The best place to begin is with my wife, Suzanne. I don't think I could have managed this transition or that we could have done as well as we have without her guidance, support, and friendship. It's funny, sometimes a significant life changing event like a new job, a move, and a new community can really bring a couple together. I feel that this was one of the blessings of coming here and I am grateful to her for making it so. I am certainly grateful for the rest of my family and friends who have supported me as we have adjusted to this new community of Kansas City and helped make us feel welcome. In one short year, Kansas City truly has become our home. I am grateful to the trustees, faculty, and staff of Avila who have shared so willingly of themselves to enhance this university. I really believe that great things are happening at Avila, and they are occurring because of the creative and innovative ideas, the generosity of spirit, and the passion of our people. For as many good and great things that are happening now, there are many more on the horizon. I am grateful for our students who so readily get involved, who push themselves, and who explore new roles and possibilities for their own development – through their efforts, they are accomplishing great things and becoming the outstanding people we desire of our graduates. I also know that they do this through the support of their parents, family, and friends, and so as I express my gratitude to our students, I also am grateful to their families and friends for the support they lend to make our students successful. And finally, I am grateful to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, our sponsors, who give so generously of their charism, share with us their spiritual gifts, and help us to chart a course faithful to our calling as a Catholic university. Operating within this spirit, they help us be true to our calling and distinctive in our character.

For all of you, I am deeply grateful and consider this year especially blessed by the many ways you have shared yourselves with me and blessed my life. And so as the year 2007 leaves and the New Year begins, thank you each and every one.