In this season of Thanksgiving, I’ve seen a lot of posts on social media that have communicated the things that cause us to be thankful.  Perhaps my favorite is the simple but effective “Thankful for Us” campaign on Facebook.  Like many, my thanks begin with my family—for them, I count my blessings every day—but I’m also thankful for every step in the process that got us to where we are today.

I’m thankful that my parents decided to return to Texas in 1984 and raise their four children in Marble Falls.  (My mother grew up in Texas, and she met my father at Southwest Texas State.)  I’m also thankful that I have had siblings, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Marble Falls or very close by; this makes every birthday and holiday—including Howdy-Roo, Lakewurst, and others—very memorable.

I’m thankful that my in-laws chose to make their home in this area as well, and I appreciate that they instilled in their younger daughter—and my wife—a love for this community.  When we considered where we would raise our own children, the conversation was pretty short: it had to be Marble Falls.  No place could match the combination of God-given natural beauty, community values, small-town charm, and the potential of Marble Falls.

In addition to the immediate and extended family we have here, the quality and depth of the members of this community—many of them multi-generational families as well—made our decision pretty easy.  It has been so rewarding to work with many of these people as they make investments in Marble Falls.  Every successful non-profit event, each new employee hired, and all new business ventures contribute to the community becoming a better version of itself.

I’m thankful for the people who teach, coach, and mentor our children, as well as all the leaders who strive to support the many worthwhile initiatives in our community.  I’m thankful for great friends who have been here through it all, as well as those who are new to this area.  All of them have chosen to be a part of this special community, developing it and improving it in new ways every day.

I’ll conclude by saying that I’m so thankful for our community’s spirit this time of year.  More than two dozen businesses participated in the Light-Up Contest sponsored by the Chamber and the EDC, and more than 50 businesses and organizations were a part of the Walkway of Lights parade last Friday night.  Please do what you can to support these local businesses and non-profit organizations with your spending and your gifts this time of year.

Happy Thanksgiving!