Letter to the Editor: Blessed by my time in a very special community

Lovell Community,

It is with a full heart that I share I have accepted a position in Powell. While I am truly excited for this next chapter, I cannot let this season come to a close without pausing to speak directly to this community -- because you deserve that.

Lovell, you are something special.

From the very beginning, you took in my family without hesitation. You didn’t just welcome us, you made us feel like we belonged. You showed up in big ways and small ones, weaving us into the fabric of this town and loving us as if we had always been yours.

You have the BEST kids! They are truly remarkable, and I am blessed to have had the opportunity to work with them for the past 12 years. From all walks of life, with different stories and different paths, they show up each day with resilience, humor, kindness and heart. It has been an absolute privilege to learn alongside them, to watch them grow and to be a small part of their journey. They are a reflection of this community at its very best.

And in the moments when life asked the very most of me -- when loss and heartbreak felt too heavy to carry -- you surrounded me. You showed up with compassion, with strength, with meals, with hugs and with quiet presence. You supported me in a way that was truly overwhelming in the best sense of the word. It is something I will never forget.

Although the commute was long, it was never a question to keep making the drive -- because this is where I belonged. That truth hasn’t changed, but I also know now is the time for a new chapter.

What you have here is rare. It is a community that cares deeply, shows up wholeheartedly and loves without condition. That is not something to take for granted.

Though I may be stepping into a new role and a new place, a piece of my heart will always remain here. I am forever grateful for the time I’ve had in Lovell and for each of you who made it so meaningful.

With sincere gratitude,

Brenda Hackenberg Coombs