• THOUGHTS OF THANKSGIVING
Mayor Jeff Williams and wife Karen celebrated the arrival of their newest grandchild. Their son Ryan and his wife Morgan introduced Olivia to the world last month – and THAT’s something for which to be grateful.
Jerry McCullough, Retired educator and longtime volunteer on local projects
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s for everyone, 2020 has been an unusual year. First, I am thankful for my family, my wife, Becky and my son, Mark. I am thankful for God’s protection in Mark’s job as a captain of a fishing vessel in Alaska. I am thankful for my health and the assistance I received from my doctors at the Heart and Vascular in the Arlington Memorial Hospital and Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Even with the pandemic and my health issues, I am grateful for the opportunity I have been afforded to serve our community through volunteering at Mission Arlington (pastor of an apartment church in east Arlington), Salvation Army, Young Life, Mended Hearts, Child Protective Services, River Legacy, and Men Serving God organizations. I am grateful to have been honored with the Bill and Shari Bowie Community Service Award from the Arlington/Mansfield YMCA. I am grateful to lead several Bible Studies for men each week. I am grateful for my friends who have supported me through my health crisis and my volunteering. I have been blessed.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Williams
FOR THIS WE GIVE
THANKS
Dr. Aaron Reich, President of TRINU Healthcare and Arlington ISD Trustee
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hanksgiving is one of my favorite times of year. Settling into the holiday season, appreciating the blessings that have been afforded to me, and usually taking some needed time away from all of the hustle and bustle to focus on family and what is really most important is what makes it such a special time of year. I am thankful to God for everything I have been blessed with. My wife and two children are at the top of that list. My children are young adults now, and there is nothing more special than being with them, interacting with them at a whole new level, and witnessing the incredible humans they are growing to be, all with the love of my life at my side. This is absolute completeness. I also take this time to make sure I focus on what other family I have while thinking of all those that have moved on to be with the Lord. Our time here is finite, and no matter how I try to appreciate every moment of every day, Thanksgiving is a window of reflection of the time to come with the dawn of a new year on the horizon and the time past with the dusk of the current year. This time of reflection also makes me think of the sincere gratitude I have for friends and the relationships I have with so many. I am grateful to simply be alive, to live in a community that cares, works together for the betterment of all while striving for safety, comfort, and prosperity of every person. I feel truly blessed to live in Arlington and serve our community while contributing my little part of something that is so much bigger than myself. The actual day of Thanksgiving – I can’t wait for it to get here. Cinnamon rolls, Thanksgiving Day parade, family, food, football, and an incredible warm feeling of comfort and gratitude.
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ARLINGTON TODAY • November 2020 • arlingtontoday.com
