Thanksgiving is the perfect time to stop, consider, and thank the wonderful pivotal people in your life. By those I mean the ones that have influenced you to become a better person, who have loved you in deep and meaningful ways, and whom you cherish and love because of their unique place in your heart.
If you will indulge me for a moment, Jill Holmes is one such person for me. For eight years she has been the behind-the-scenes Wizard of Oz at Back to Basics. It’s mainly been just the two of us—both moms, and she with a full-time job already—who have handled, resolved, shared, and provided the site content every week. Our working relationship and friendship is unusual—due to her living out-of-state, we’ve managed Back to Basics almost exclusively through regular emails, infrequent phone calls, and one actual visit. The email connection has ranged from trivial details to commiserating over life issues, such as teaching our children responsibility or what to have for dinner. But when the to-do pedal is down, both of us accomplish in two hours what many people take four or five to do. And we have to: putting family first means efficiency reigns, and she is the queen of that realm.
Add to this her ability as an interpreter of foreign languages—mostly mine. Last minute, late night, unintelligible emails notwithstanding, she has resolved issues and completed tasks, each and every time, on time, no matter what. Her diligence has been unsurpassed. She has been the technical lifesaver for my content, and has done so without complaint (at least to me).
And why has she done this? Because she believes in helping women and families, and using these principles and practices to do it.
At times I think—how have we made this work for eight years, who does that? And then I know how—it’s because of Jill. We met through my doing a radio show for Bonneville Communications and a 12-week fitness challenge, which led to her being my right hand person, and which now, after eight years, has led to a changing of the guard.
It started in fall, but truly earlier than that. I heard a tiredness in her emails (can you imagine?) and asked her about it. At the same time, two women came to Back to Basics, one of whom was originally for social media. Jill and I discussed the possibility of shifting responsibilities for her to get more rest and to ultimately pursue her shelved original love and expertise—family history.
And that’s what has happened, and very recently. Jill has transitioned to “emeritus status” as we welcome in our newest Back to Basics team member, wonderful author and multi-tasker mother, Trina Boice (more about her in the future.)
Without being too teary, for Jill and I it is the end of an era. Building LIFEChange, then closing it (when my daughter stopped taking naps!), then later starting Back to Basics—the meaning behind that history is something only the two of us deeply understand as our very own. No one else will know the ins and outs of the past eight years like the two of us do, and how it has crafted a friendship as unique as the program.
So this is my “from the soul” thank you to Jill Holmes, and to all the other Jill Holmes in your own lives—the right-hand women and friends who, through the pureness of their love and hearts, make your and other people’s lives just plain better.
My love and gratitude to Jill and to each of you this holiday season for your good works and hearts.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Connie
P.S. This week’s Holiday Book Gift Set winner is Caitlin Young! So sweet, she says this about simplifying: “One way I’ve been simplifying the season is using my talents instead of a checkbook to show those I love holiday cheer. I’m a newlywed and money is stretched thin between student loans, grocery lists, and all the other joyous bills. I decided instead of trying to impress both sets of family members I’m going to show them love through homemade cinnamon ornaments, ginger cookies, and personalized letters me and my hubby made. It’s not much but it’s been a great Sunday activity and so much stress is gone.” Enjoy your e-book copies of Simplify & Savor the Season, 40 Days with the Savior, and The Life is Too Short Collection!
P.P.S. Get ready for our Friday Black Friday Busters! Freebies and fun things you won’t want to miss, more later!!
One more P.S. If you missed my KSL segment on “Dealing with Difficult Women,” you can check it out here.
