Our dear family members and friends (new and old), what a year this has been for the Guillot family! As I was recovering from my October 2011 ankle surgery in early January, I remember saying to my physical therapist, “I can’t wait for life to get back to normal!” I quickly learned that those days of swelling and pain were minor inconveniences compared to what was in store for us. If you are reading this, I am sure you are aware of the circumstances that followed… The fire that almost took P.J.’s life in January and the flooding of our family home by Hurricane Isaac in August. Although we all often wish that we could turn back time and change the outcome of both those events, we can’t help but be thankful to God for His glory that has shone through in both tragedies.
This letter is to thank you all for the love and support that you have shown us already and continue to pour on us each day. During the first few weeks after P.J.’s accident, we were told to be prepared for the worst. Your prayers and ours were heard and God woke him from his sleep and brought him back to us. His days continue to include pain and suffering that most of us could never comprehend, but he is alive and fighting the battle courageously. We thank you all for the prayers, calls, emails, Facebook posts, contributions to P.J.’s video, “Get Well” cards, and the hundreds of cards, letters, and gifts he received on his 20th birthday. Your thoughtfulness has truly made a difference in our child’s life.
After Isaac destroyed our home, we were reminded once again of the great support network that we have in all of you. I do believe we have more clothes, sheets, and towels than we had before the storm! Our rental home is filled with furniture and household items and appliances from countless sources. I tell everyone that it has the value of Joseph’s coat of many colors. As my mother always says, “We couldn’t have more or want less.”
The friends and volunteers (from four different organizations so far) who have come to help with the emptying, cleaning, and gutting of our home, have shown us what selfless giving is all about. We are inspired by their sacrifices and hope to “pay it forward” someday.
Many of you have shared our story with your friends who have shared it with their friends and so on… (just like the hair commercial)! We need your help now in sharing our thanks with these individuals, who in some cases remain anonymous to us. We apologize that we were not able to send individual thank you cards to each one of you, but we ask your help in passing this message along to everyone. Please feel free to email it, share it on Facebook, or photocopy and distribute it. There is no way to adequately portray what we feel.
This is just a small attempt to let everyone know the enormous depth of our gratitude. We are humbled, overwhelmed, and forever thankful for the generous gifts of all kinds that have been provided. May God bless each of you twenty fold. We love you. We truly do.
Tina Guillot
(On behalf of A.J., Tina, P.J., Joshua, and Molly the Schnauzer)
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