Immense gratitude marks this Thanksgiving season

Melody Beattie famously said, “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more …” So in this season of thanksgiving, Rodrock Development feels it’s imperative to express not only the company’s sincere thanks, but also to share it with all of those who’ve made this year such a spectacular one.

Darol Rodrock’s ability to find truly great pieces of property has warranted the nickname “Lucky Darol Rodrock” or “LDR.” And while luck has little to do with his purchases — Rodrock favors the mantra “luck is where preparation meets opportunity” — he does feel incredibly fortunate that Johnson County has such fantastic land on which to develop. The county has been exceptionally managed and carefully grown, ensuring that its many communities are a success. It’s a true blessing to be able to bring Rodrock’s development dreams to fruition in such a top-notch county.

Another thing for which Darol Rodrock and Rodrock Development are grateful is the award-winning school districts that attract and keep families locally. For instance, the Spring Hill School District has earned numerous academic awards, exceeding all state and national benchmarks. Right within walking distance to many Stonebridge homes, the largest of Rodrock Developments, is Prairie Creek Elementary School, which has received the Governor’s Award for Excellence three times.

Meanwhile, the De Soto School District, with 12 campuses, has found great success, including De Soto High School, which was ranked No. 4 among the top-rated high schools in Kansas by U.S. News and World Reports. And the Olathe School District, the second-largest district in Kansas, has some 17 Blue Ribbon School Awards, more than any other district in the state.

Finally, the Blue Valley Unified School District, one of the largest school districts in the Kansas City metro, has all five of its high schools named to the Washington Post’s 2015 most challenging high schools list, Newsweek’s 2014 top public high schools list and The Daily Beast’s 2014 list of America’s top high schools.

“Next, I really want to thank all of the subcontractors for all of their hard work,” Rodrock said. “These men and women give it their all each and every day building homes that build memories for families. They’re dedicated to the finest workmanship and treat every home as if they were building their own. These talented individuals are true craftsmen dedicated to their profession.”

“Our vendors,” Rodrock continued, “stand by their products, strive to put the best out on the market, and make our homes excel, from the strongest in framing materials to the finest in finishes. We so appreciate all that they do.”

And it’s the builders who take all these elements and put them together to make a home. “A lot of people don’t realize the intensity it takes to be a homebuilder,” Rodrock said, speaking from firsthand experience as a builder himself. “The builders in our communities have survived and thrived due to their commitment to families. Home building isn’t just a job to our builders — it’s a passion. I’m proud to have the group of builders that we have in our communities, and I can’t thank them enough for choosing Rodrock Development.”

Still a house is just a house until a family moves in, making it their own, and transforms it into a home. This is where the tireless devotion of agents comes into play, as they find the right family to fit the right house.

“I know that there are a lot of new-home communities that the area real estate agents can show,” Rodrock said. “I truly appreciate every single agent who brings buyers to our communities. I am humbled and consider it a great privilege that the real-estate community has supported me and shown confidence in what we’ve created in the more than 80 communities we’ve built. We couldn’t have done it without their support.”

And of course, Rodrock said he owes so much to the more than 30,000 homeowners who’ve chosen to call Rodrock Developments home.

“I know it’s no minor investment to purchase a home,” he said. “I’m grateful so many incredible people have chosen not only to call my communities home, but to actively participate in them through the Moms’ Councils, homeowners’ associations, and more, ensuring that each neighborhood has an unparalleled sense of camaraderie, is a haven for families and filled with friends, not just neighbors. I’ve so much to be thankful for. I’m lucky, indeed.”

For more information, Rodrock.com.

This story was originally published November 7, 2015 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Immense gratitude marks this Thanksgiving season."