I was in Phoenix attending an annual industry conference. Early mornings to late nights, trying to keep up with the flood of new product announcements, company and client meetings, catching up with former colleagues who have shared portions of my almost 40-year career. Think of 5, 10, 20, 30-year high school or college reunions — all wrapped into one event.

Occasionally, when I had a moment, I would quickly scan my personal email, in case anything important or urgent at home needed tending. I was surprised to see an email from Carol with the subject line: It's snowing at my house!

Snow in New Hampshire in May? After the winter we had, sure, that was plausible. I didn't open the email and continued to my next appointment, thankful for sunny skies and 80 degrees in Phoenix.

Later, when I had more time to indulge my curiosity, I opened and read Carol's weather advisory: “A blizzard of thank you cards from the congregation. Could this have been orchestrated by powers beyond us?”

By then, Steve and Kathy had chimed in.

“I got 'em too. I'm blown away.”

“I finally got a chance to go through my mail. What fun to receive all these cards!”

I thought of college — way before email — when I would eagerly approach the mailbox wondering what news or Care package might be inside. I felt that anticipation building until I returned home five days later and saw the stack of cards awaiting me. However I resisted the urge to tear into them like a 6-year-old on Christmas morning. I waited until I could unhurriedly read each one, absorb the words and the gratitude behind the words, then pause and imagine the author.

That's what we all did, savored the cards,each one.

Carol shared what this outpouring means to her:

After the long and hard winter we've had, I never thought I would welcome a blizzard in May, but the fact that it’s been snowing cards at my house for over a week has been such a delight. Each day’s mail has renewed for me the energy I have for our congregation’s transition into a new settled ministry with Allison, energy which maybe got a teeny-tiny bit diminished at the end of a two-year search process. But now I'm bouncing back!

Many of you have written of the sacrifices we've made. Perhaps surprisingly, I don't think we feel that we've sacrificed. Sure, we devoted many hours and worked diligently these past two years, certainly more than any other project we've undertaken for the church. Yet sacrifice implies we've given and not received an equal measure.

Throughout the search we've been buoyed by our experiences: bonding with one another, learning about the church, widening our perspective of Unitarian Universalism, meeting so many devoted ministers, feeling your trust and support throughout the process, and writing the opening line in a new chapter in the history of this congregation. Words can't describe our joy when candidating week concluded with your enthusiastic and unanimous vote to call Allison.We'll never forget that Sunday morning that culminated our two years of work. It was one of those life events that we'll treasure forever.

In addition to asking us to serve and voting to call Allison, your cards have been the best gift you could give us. Thank you for being such a loving community.

With our love and gratitude,

Gary, Laurie, Kathy, Steve, Carol, and Donna