Each year, especially around Thanksgiving time, we are each given the opportunity to reflect (and often share) what we are most thankful for.
I (Michael Hellickson) have SO much to be thankful for this year! First and foremost, I am thankful for my wonderful wife Tara Hellickson, and the two wonderful children she has blessed me with: Madison Hellickson, and Austin Michael Hellickson!
They have each been such a blessing to my life in so many ways. In good times and in bad, they have always been there for me and encouraged, pushed, supported, and even kicked me in the butt when I needed it!
Madison has, even more so than usual, shown me how bright ones light can shine, regardless of how dark the world may be around them. Always cheerful, she continues to be the one person in the world who will ALWAYS give me a smile no matter what!
Austin has impressed me this year with how extremely astute he has become at business and being able to quickly understand and articulate strategies in businesses I have been involved in. This young man is destined to become one of the great leaders in our world in years to come.
2014 has been a great learning year for me. In December of 2013, I purchased a partnership in an HVAC and commercial foodservice equipment repair business… crazy huh?!
Never having been involved in anything quite like it, even I was surprised to discover that I was able to step in and grow it from $2.7mil to over $7mil in gross revenue in under 1 year!
Learning that business opened not only my eyes to a new, untapped and fragmented industry, but also to a plethora of opportunities which I am currently exploring more fully.
In doing so, I have been learning a great deal about Private Equity Firms, Family Offices (The “business” of ultra-wealthy families… pretty cool stuff), Private Investors, Venture Capital, Angel Investors, and other corporate business venture financing.
I’ve learned a lot about myself this year as well, especially what I am and am not willing to do to succeed in business. I have learned at a very deep level that WHO you are in business with is just as important as (and at times MORE important than) what business you are in.
I am thankful for the lessons that have taught me I am capable of far greater things, in far more areas than I ever realized. I look forward to 2015, and the ability to more fully explore the extent of what those capabilities really are.
I’m thankful for my parents who raised me, and despite my stubbornness managed to continue to love me even when I wasn’t very lovable.
I am thankful for Larry and Martha Hoffman (my in-laws). They are rock solid in the Gospel, and are wonderful examples to Tara, the kids and I. They can ALWAYS be counted on for help/support, and give freely to anyone who could benefit from their time, talents, possessions etc.
I am extremely thankful for great friends like Jared and Jessica Lothyan, Andrew and Jessica Nelson, David and Jenny Hamilton and so many more who have been there for us in times of need, and who have shared their homes, hearts, and more with us more openly than anyone can imagine. Wonderful people to the core, and terrific people all, your love and friendship mean more to Tara and I than you know.
I am also thankful for Marv White, Hugh Stewart, Tod Sandberg, Steve Hawkins and others who have been so helpful to me as I discover my next steps professionally. Your advice, counsel, and friendships are valued more highly than you know.
More than anything, I am thankful to my Heavenly Father for blessing me with more blessings than I can possibly count, hard as I might try to do so.
Finally, I am thankful to clients, friends, family, my kids friends, church members, and EVERYONE out there who has touched our lives in some way. Good, bad, or indifferent, each of your contributions to my life have made me who I am today, and I thank you for that.
For your input, your patronage, your friendship, your love, at times your sympathy, your encouragement, you openness, your willingness to share who you are, your wisdom, your humor, your compassion, your light, and all that you are, have been, and will be to me and others around you, I thank you all.
Please, share the things YOU are thankful for this year here.
I grateful for all the good that befalls me and the not so good! I thank GOD for all things, how would I grow if I did not use life lessons as a tool. Enjoy this day and everyday here after. Go be blessing to someone
I am thankful for the opportunity to serve God.
I am thankful that our family has an opportunity to offer Thanksgiving every week with brethren throughout the world in Members Church of God International (mcgi.org).
I thank God that even though we went abroad to take care of family our family has had strength to be together, leaving family and friends behind and material possessions in the States. To God be the Glory!
I am thankful that my skills of Content writing have become a way for me to earn while abroad.
I thank God that my husband’s skills with SEO has enabled him to earn and to teach me so, we can begin a business abroad.
Thanks be to God for things we are and are not aware of that God does for us.
I to am very thankful all the very special blessing and each day blessing which I receive from my Father in Heaven. I often think of the love that I have for my wife Audrey and what we have gone through in life, some good and some bad. I have learned so much from the mistakes I have made. But back to the blessing. I think Pres, Monson puts it the best way.
“I have found that, rather than dwelling on the negative, if we will take a step back and consider the blessings in our lives, including seemingly small, sometimes overlooked blessings, we can find greater happiness.”
—Thomas S. Monson, “
I am thankful for my loving wife Nancy and all of our great family and friends, even though we may not all see eye to eye all of the time. And even though it’s not as goods as it was when I was 20 or 30 my health and of course, my home.
I love the heartfelt comments you have each posted! MADE MY DAY to read them! THANK YOU!!! 🙂
We had a terrific Thanksgiving with friends and family gathered round. While we missed the company of many who could not be here with us, we really appreciated the time we were able to spend with those of you who were able to celebrate with us.
While there were many highlights, it was especially great to see baby Olivia Lothyan for the first time, see Jared and Crystal Roberts and their son Hunter (for the first time), and of course Tony and Jamie Brady and their girls. So great to see the terrific men you have both become.
Seeing Steven Hellickson was also a great blessing, as so with the entire Hellickson family (Neil Hellickson and his fiance’ Sandie Lien, Vernon Martin Hellickson, Barbara Hellickson), and Tara’s terrific parents, Larry and Martha Hoffman (missed you Kevin and Abby Hoffman).
We were also blessed to have Lori and Jake Curnow, and Rob and Sue Tester and their wonderful kids join us! Their presence and spirit really added to the joy of the holiday for us!
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I grateful for all the good that befalls me and the not so good! I thank GOD for all things, how would I grow if I did not use life lessons as a tool. Enjoy this day and everyday here after. Go be blessing to someone
I am thankful for my husband, my work, my state and our homeland.
I am thankful for the opportunity to serve God.
I am thankful that our family has an opportunity to offer Thanksgiving every week with brethren throughout the world in Members Church of God International (mcgi.org).
I thank God that even though we went abroad to take care of family our family has had strength to be together, leaving family and friends behind and material possessions in the States. To God be the Glory!
I am thankful that my skills of Content writing have become a way for me to earn while abroad.
I thank God that my husband’s skills with SEO has enabled him to earn and to teach me so, we can begin a business abroad.
Thanks be to God for things we are and are not aware of that God does for us.
I to am very thankful all the very special blessing and each day blessing which I receive from my Father in Heaven. I often think of the love that I have for my wife Audrey and what we have gone through in life, some good and some bad. I have learned so much from the mistakes I have made. But back to the blessing. I think Pres, Monson puts it the best way.
“I have found that, rather than dwelling on the negative, if we will take a step back and consider the blessings in our lives, including seemingly small, sometimes overlooked blessings, we can find greater happiness.”
—Thomas S. Monson, “
I am thankful for my loving wife Nancy and all of our great family and friends, even though we may not all see eye to eye all of the time. And even though it’s not as goods as it was when I was 20 or 30 my health and of course, my home.
I love the heartfelt comments you have each posted! MADE MY DAY to read them! THANK YOU!!! 🙂
We had a terrific Thanksgiving with friends and family gathered round. While we missed the company of many who could not be here with us, we really appreciated the time we were able to spend with those of you who were able to celebrate with us.
While there were many highlights, it was especially great to see baby Olivia Lothyan for the first time, see Jared and Crystal Roberts and their son Hunter (for the first time), and of course Tony and Jamie Brady and their girls. So great to see the terrific men you have both become.
Seeing Steven Hellickson was also a great blessing, as so with the entire Hellickson family (Neil Hellickson and his fiance’ Sandie Lien, Vernon Martin Hellickson, Barbara Hellickson), and Tara’s terrific parents, Larry and Martha Hoffman (missed you Kevin and Abby Hoffman).
We were also blessed to have Lori and Jake Curnow, and Rob and Sue Tester and their wonderful kids join us! Their presence and spirit really added to the joy of the holiday for us!