The Fuller folks

Dear Tomball,

You raised me from a child into the adult I am today, and for that, I am forever grateful. When I left as a young adult, I told you I never wanted to return. It wasn’t because I didn’t love you, but because I had dreams beyond the familiar streets of my hometown. I was drawn to the excitement of the city, chasing the idea of becoming a city girl, imagining my life unfolding after time in Aggieland. But God had other plans, leading me instead to the University of Houston, deep in the heart of the city.

I fell in love with the energy and pace of the city, but it didn’t love me back, at least not at first. I was too bubbly, too full of small-town innocence that quickly got a reality check. My “bubble” was popped, and it was hard. But I found my people, my niche, and embraced a life that felt full and exciting. After college, I dove into someone else’s dream and then found myself thriving in a community that became like family—friends that God so beautifully wove together for me in that season.

But life has a way of circling us back to where we started, and Tomball, God called me back to you. I dug my heels into the pavement of 290, resisting what felt like a step backward, leaving behind a community that had carried, encouraged, and prayed for me. Coming back was hard. I had found something so special, a sense of belonging I hadn’t realized I was missing. And when we moved back, I wasn’t ready to let that go.

At first, I resisted you, Tomball. The comforts I had cherished about my hometown—the familiar faces in local restaurants, the way you could know almost everyone at the grocery store—seemed smaller after the vastness of the city. Yet, after a short-lived pity party, my heart had what I like to call a “come to Jesus” moment. My dear husband helped me see what I was missing: the goodness that God had placed right in front of me.

I had been going through the motions, doing what I knew was right, but my heart hadn’t fully embraced the calling. I had led, but only by managing tasks, not by truly stepping into the leadership God had intended for me. As I reflect now, I see how much I missed—how much wisdom, grace, and friendship were at the table that I didn’t fully appreciate at the time.

But in your way, Tomball, you welcomed me back anyway. I started serving again, and my heart found joy in giving back to this community that raised me. Real estate became more than a job—it was a way to serve others, to use the gifts God gave me. And in time, my business flourished. People assumed my success was because I was so connected here, but the truth is, I wasn’t raised in a well-connected family. I had to tend to relationships, plant seeds of connection and hope, and trust God to water them.

Tomball, you taught me about community, about the joy of people coming together. From the families who became an extension of our own, to planting a church and being involved in every corner of this town, you stretched and grew me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. There were seasons of feeling lost, wondering if the deep sense of community I once had in the city could ever be recreated. But you showed me that real community, built on trust and shared experiences, is possible anywhere when you open your heart to it.

We planted roots, helped build new things, served in local government, volunteered at school events, and grew so much in this place that will forever have my heart. I poured my energy into the Chamber, into schools and churches, into causes that I loved. Along the way, I learned to balance passion with limits, to trust that God’s purpose for me was unfolding even when I felt overwhelmed by it all.

And now, even as we have moved away, you are still part of me. I may not know why God has called us into this next season, but this time, I’m listening. I’m trusting Him in the discomfort and the unknown. I know that what I’ve learned from you will carry me forward—your lessons of grace, community, leadership, and love.

Tomball, you’ll always have my heart. You shaped me, grew me, and gave me so many gifts—memories, friendships, lessons that made me who I am today. I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know that you’ve prepared me for whatever comes next. Thank you for being my home, my foundation, and a place that will always bring a smile to my face. You’ve grown so much, yet your heart remains the same—the heart of a community.

With all my love and gratitude,

Tiffany Fuller