by Emily Murray DTM District Director
Families are like quilts…lives pieced together, stitched with smiles & tears, colored by memories, and bound by Love.
District 25 is my family. I have said it so many times this year. I will say it again: You are my family.
The quilts I make are a literal way to wrap people up in love and warmth. A readily available hug, even when I’m not available. They are a tangible, physical representation of the love, respect, and devotion I have for others.
It is unfortunately not physically or financially possible for me to make quilts for every member of the district. This is what drives me to make sure I have them in the raffle baskets at our events, giving everyone in my family a chance to win one is the closest I can get to actually giving everyone one.
Whether you have one of my quilts or not, please know that the love I have for you as an individual, as a member of District 25, as a friend, and as part of my family has grown exponentially over the past three years. I did not know there was this much room in my heart, and from the bottom of my heart, thank you for this opportunity. It has meant, and continues to mean, more to me than I can ever possibly put into words.
These past three years have been indescribably phenomenal. I am often amazed that you placed your trust in me, and I hope I have provided enough value to make that justified. The impact you have all, individually and collectively, had on me is … indescribable. I cannot begin to explain how honored I was to have been elected to each role, and am so glad I had the opportunity to do all three roles in top district leadership. The journey has been a long one, but an incomparable one. Who I am now is vastly different than who I was three years ago. And that is all thanks to you, for being my family and believing in me. The privilege has been to serve you as a district leader is humbling and often left me awe-struck. I am so thankful and grateful that you believed in me and that you gave me this opportunity.
And I simply cannot tell you how proud of you I am. I have met so many of you, though there’s always someone new to meet! And I have watched you grow, push, and challenge yourselves. I’ve watched you support others through scary things. I’ve watched the love grow between us all. You have accomplished so much, and I am excited to see where you go as you continue to Share Your Sunshine with others well into the future. I could not have grown unless you were also growing. And being part of that has been something I will treasure forever. So many of you stepped up and took on new roles and responsibilities, and without that willingness this district would not be the unparalleled thriving hub of friendship, family, community, and support network that it is.
Thank you for every single time you said “Yes”. Thank you for giving yourself so that you could grow, so that others could grow, so that we could grow, so that I could grow.
Thank you, thank you, and thank you so many times. Thank you for this opportunity. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for loving me as I love you. This is the best family I could ever have asked for.
Have a Sunny Day. Go and Share Your Sunshine with the world!
