PAYING IT FORWARD
2014 is already moving fast and February is almost upon us!
Thanks to everyone who sent in a story in response to our "Pay It Forward" email. We were all inspired to read the storiesand hear about what great things many of you do throughout the year and in your lifetimes. In the email, we indicated that we would send out a $20 Starbucks gift card to our pick of the stories. Thanks to Kim Lumley, Lynda Dickey, Bruce Lockwood, Randy Taylor, Tony Lightfoot and Bob Lewis for taking the time to share with us all. Hopefully stories like these will inspire all of us to "Pay It Forward" in some way, too.
We didn’t anticipate it being so difficult to choose just one winner. We are thankful that there are people like all of you in our world. In the end, we just couldn't decide between Lynda's and Kim's stories - they were both very compelling examples of the spirit of "Paying It Forward". You, too, can enjoy their stories as we’ve listed them at the bottom of the email.
Let us know what you think and thanks again to Lynda and Kim. A $20 Starbucks card will be going out to Lynda and we will make a $20 donation on Kim's behalf.
And, enjoy reading the articles below about our Austin and Highland Lakes areas - Central Texas is an amazing place to live, work, play and invest and these articles are all about it! Did you know that more people are moving to Texas than any other state???
And, we welcome Nattlie Hoover to our Team! Stay tuned and read our next newsletter for more about Nattlie. We are excited to have her join us!
If you haven’t already found us on Facebook, please like and follow us at www.Facebook.com/PPGTx.
Sue, Stacey, Brooke, Karen, Brooke & Nattlie
The Paragon Property Group Team
AUSTIN & HIGHLAND LAKES AREA ~ IN THE NEWS!!
- Luxury home sales strong in 2013, from Austin Business Journal
- More people moving to Texas than any other state, from Austin Business Journal
- Austin Board of Realtors agrees to feed its listing data to Realtors Property Resource, from Inman News
- Austin’s real estate scene for 2014, from Austin Business Journal
- Austin home sales reach historic highs in December 2013, from Austin Business Journal
- Austin-based Endeavor Real Estate Group puts remaining portion of shopping center up for sale, from Austin Business Journal
- Lake Travis and Eanes ISD prepare for future growth, from Community Impact Newspaper
- Assisted-living and memory-care centers on the rise, from Community Impact Newspaper
- Construction in downtown Lakeway set to start this year, from Community Impact Newspaper
- City of Bee Cave extends borders with annexation of nearly 180 acres, from Community Impact Newspaper
- Texas Highways magazine names Marble Falls in To 40 favorite destinations to visit, from Texas Highways
- YMCA gives Burnet Recreation Center a new look, from The Daily Tribune
- Progress made on water plant for drought-stricken Spicewood Beach, from The Daily Tribune
PAY IT FORWARD - TWO INSPIRATIONAL STORIES
The Book TallySubmitted by Lynda Dickey
Our daughter, who is a 4th grader at the local elementary school loves *Book Fair*. I have volunteered for it twice each year, Fall and Spring. This past Fall, I learned of a mom who wished to remain anonymous through her generous giving. Apparently, each Book Fair that comes around, this mom goes to the principal with a promise to pay for any child that cannot afford books. She used to drop off cash, now she asks a list just be created, and she will come pay all at once. I have seen children in tears over not being able to afford a book, truly heartbreaking. I have bought several books for children...usually they are very young and don't really understand the situation....they just want a single $3.99 book, just a sad thing. However, I finally learned why it is we had this policy of being able to out-right give books to kids. The teachers are in the know of which children will need that extra help. We always keep a running tally. This mom would come in at the end of the week and pay whatever amount necessary. At times, this amount could have reached $500, I am sure. Most of the kids usually get 2-3 books. They range from pre-readers to the Harry Potter size novels for the 5th graders and such.
I am in such awe of this mysterious mom and still not sure who it might be. But, the fact remains that without her, many children would not have a book to call their own. In this day and age of all things electronic, I fully believe children need more than ever.....books. Nothing can replace the look, the feel, the emotions that run through a mind while holding a book. This mysterious mom knows this for sure! Now that I know the story behind our Book Tally, I am even more excited for the Spring Book Fair.
I am in such awe of this mysterious mom and still not sure who it might be. But, the fact remains that without her, many children would not have a book to call their own. In this day and age of all things electronic, I fully believe children need more than ever.....books. Nothing can replace the look, the feel, the emotions that run through a mind while holding a book. This mysterious mom knows this for sure! Now that I know the story behind our Book Tally, I am even more excited for the Spring Book Fair.
Thanks for letting me share this beautiful story of generosity. I tell it to many people outside of our school.....in hopes of inspiring them to reach out and perhaps donate a book to a child somewhere, somehow. Keep on reading....the future is only one page away!
Angels in Austin...Tony and AstridSubmitted by Kim Lumley
In the spirit of paying it forward, here is a story for you. I wrote it this summer and after signing the closing docs with Stacey (Nelson)at Independent Title. I'm going through medical treatment for Chronic, Late Stage Lyme Disease and this was one of the posts from my blog this summer. These are all actual events and I've been sick since 1985. I've dedicated my life from diagnosis-forever…paying in forward. In fact, if you like my story and with the slim chance I win, I want to donate the gift card.
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