Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. I think because its sole purpose is to set aside time to be with family and friends – to be thankful for each other and all the blessings in our life. For as long as I can remember in our home, it is a day to tell family stories, laugh, overeat, watch football, play cards and take in a movie. Those are the things that make for a happy Thanksgiving for me.
This year, I asked Goldleaf’s family to share their answer to the question “What are you thankful for this year?” And, just to make it a little more thoughtful, the standard “friends, family and good health” was not an acceptable answer without some elaboration. Below are the things that we here at Goldleaf Surety are thankful for this holiday.
“Blessed with a beautiful granddaughter and thankful for everything God blesses me with on a daily basis.”
“I am thankful for the relationships and partnerships we have with all of our clients. Each one is unique which creates a special bond with each one. Without their partnerships, we could not be successful.
PS I am also thankful for family, home, job, health, etc.”
“How do you pinpoint one thing to be thankful for? There are so many. I am truly thankful for it all! I have been so blessed in life. Maybe I can cheat a little and incorporate it all into one by saying I am thankful for all of the opportunities God has blessed me with in life. The opportunity to be a wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, granddaughter, niece, cousin, friend, co-worker, partner, employee, etc., and all of the experiences those roles in life have given me. Why? Well, taking the good with the bad (mostly good), I have enjoyed all of the individuals who have touched my life as well as every part of the ride along the way!”
Rita Jorgenson, Vice President
“This Thanksgiving I am thankful for my husband, son, and daughter, and for all of us being healthy. My husband had a stint put in earlier this year and we are so blessed that his heart condition was caught early on. If a person is healthy, they have it all! I feel blessed to be healthy and to have such a sweet family in my life. Life is good!”
Amy Nordaune, Account Specialist
“I am thankful to get to work with our great contractors and agents that provide us with an opportunity to help them with their bonding. Without them as our partners, we would not be here. I am also thankful for the health of my family and friends.”
Brad Koosmann, Account Specialist
“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to work for Goldleaf Surety. I know that sounds really cliché, but it was a huge transition for me. My background was specifically in agriculture/livestock industry, and starting a new career was a challenging task. I started at Goldleaf Surety with zero experience in the surety world, with only viewing financials from a farming/owner perspective. I believe it was a huge risk for Goldleaf Surety to hire someone with no experience in the surety world. The team at Goldleaf has taken a lot of time and effort in teaching me the fundamentals of surety, the viewing of financials, the meticulous attention to detail, and always asking the question if you don’t know the answer. It has been a real pleasure to be work at Goldleaf Surety, and I am very honored and thankful to be working with such great people.”
Jarett Berg, Account Specialist
“I am blessed to have a wonderful husband & two sons who bring so much joy and happiness into my life. I cherish the simple joys and am grateful for the quality time we spend together as a family. I love to see and hear the laughter while whitewater rafting, the peacefulness when horseback riding & the smiles at the lake. Each day is a gift. We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.”
Kristi Enevoldsen, Commercial Bond Manager
“Over the years, I have come to dread winter more and more, and that attitude became increasingly more and more unhealthy for me, both physically and mentally. I am thankful that last winter I was able to flip the switch on that! Rather than wishing I could escape it, I determined to “layer up and lean in” to winter, and I regularly exercised (walked briskly) outside all winter long. I experienced the healthiest, best winter in a long time. It isn’t easy to change clothes and get out the door into the cold and dark. In fact, it’s hard to do, but the alternative wasn’t acceptable, so I did it. And once you are out the door, it is empowering! I remember one evening after I returned home from my 2-mile walk, I told Brenda, “that’s just like medicine.” I am thankful and grateful for this unexpected discovery, and that it continues now even stronger than before, and shapes my attitude as we head into this winter season.”
Ron Kaihoi, Financial Manager
“I am thankful for:
Each new day (but I can easily take for granted that there will be unlimited days).
Personal relationships in my life (both at work & at home).
Work itself – to feel useful & productive; plus the variety it brings to each day.
Jesus – my assurance of forgiveness and eternal life; thankful for the freedom to worship.
USA & the freedoms we have here.
Seasons – I may complain that some are too long or too short, but we have all 4 here in Minnesota.
Home – a place to feel secure in & to experience memory making moments with friends & family.”
Becky Risa, Document Production Manager
“Extremely thankful to have safely completed our 2019 farm year. It has been a year filled with challenges and we are so VERY THANKFUL to have had a safe harvest. We are very thankful for family and friends. We like to use Thanksgiving as a time to remember our friends and family who are no longer with us and to be thankful for the time we had with them and the enjoy the time we continue to have with those still here. Thankful for continued good health/remission for my husband.”
Jan Sachariason, Commercial Underwriting Assistant
“I think I am most thankful for my husband, our kids, grand-kids, extended family & friends. As a person ages I believe we realize that’s what is truly important in life, having good people to spend your time with and to enjoy their company and companionship. Being in good health is always something I appreciate as well because there are so many people who are not. I also feel very fortunate for our home and living on the family farm and enjoying the rural small town life where people are always friendly and willing to lend a helping hand. I’m thankful for my faith, my church family, my job, and the community I live in. And of course, I’m thankful for our fur babies who keep us constantly entertained and who give their loyalty and love so unconditionally.”
Gwen Olson, Administrative Assistant
Goldleaf Surety is truly thankful for our working relationships with all our clients, agents and surety partners.
From our family to yours, we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!
