By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

Merry Christmas! I rarely write a personal column but have chosen Christmas week to write an open thank you note to all the wonderful people of Columbiana and Shelby County for making me part of your community.

I had the honor of being this year’s grand marshal of the Columbiana Christmas Parade, sponsored by the City of Columbiana, Merchants and Professional Association and Beautification Board.

Husband Red and I moved from Crestline to our “sanctuary” on Lay Lake in 1995 having built our cabin as a second home in 1979.

Son Robert was at Rhode Island School of Design and son Donald was at Altamont. We became very involved in our community.

Red is a member of the Alabaster Remote Control Association, which flies RC planes and teaches aeronautics in Alabaster schools.

I am third-generation owner of Donald Real Estate, a company my grandfather Charles J. Donald founded in 1925.

Red is active in real estate and invaluable to me at DRE. We bought an office in Columbiana that become our “home in town.”

I have been a columnist for the Shelby County Reporter since 2008, a gift God gave me that was totally unexpected and has brought me such joy.

I love the whole process of writing columns: Finding the story, interviews, photography, writing, editing and especially personally thanking those who have given me their time and trust to tell their story. And I thank you for reading my stories!

The Robinson family made the grand marshal night a group effort. Our sons and daughter-in-law Katie made the sleigh float.

We had an open house at DRE before Robert sang Christmas music on Main.

The whole family dressed up: Red and I were Santa and Mrs. Claus, our sons were reindeer who “drove” the sleigh, the older grandchildren were elves, the grandbabies were little Christmas trees held by their mamas, who were Santa’s helpers.

The night was magical as Main Street was filled with friends cheering the parade. Daughter-in-law Katherine and her mother and my friend, Edna Rush, stayed late and helped clean up DRE.

Thank you for the honor to be the 2015 grand marshal. Merry Christmas to all!