The year that changed our lives....

Well, 2008 was a life changing year for us. Our oldest son, Chad joined the Marine Corps and deployed to Iraq. He is so amazing. He's done such a great job since being in the Corps and is truly setting the stage now for a wonderful future for he and Katie. We are so proud of him. He has been promoted to Lance Corporal now and any day now will take Corporal. He returned from Iraq in September 2009 and 2 weeks later he married his sweetheart who stood by him faithfully while deployed. I made a promise to him before he deployed that I would take good care of Katie while he was gone so I did the best job I could. We got very close and she even allowed me to participate in planning and throwing her wedding and even picking out the dress. It was amazing. I will have a wedding album for them on this site so feel free to check them out. They were beautiful if I must say so myself. He had to return to base just a week after their wedding and she was able to join him less than 3 weeks later. They have started their married life in California on base at Camp Pendleton and will soon be moving off base into an apartment. As much as we hate they are so far away I'm glad if they had to be anywhere they could be in beautiful California. Their plans are to return to Arkansas when his contract is up and start the next chapter of their life together here. He will have one more deployment some time this year and shortly after that he would have fulfilled his 4 year contract and will opt to get out and most likely work in law enforcement in some capacity.

Our oldest daughter, Candi, also got married in 2009 six months before Chad and Katie. She and Nathan married in Amarillo, TX and began their married life there, but as Nathan completed another semester of college (all along still working full time) they decided that they were in a good time of their life to relocate and loved NW Arkansas and made the decision to move here. Nathan got a transfer with his job and Candi is currently looking for a job. She moved here approximately 3 weeks ago to look for a job and Nathan is joining her next week. We can't wait for him to arrive and I know she is thrilled beyond words. They found a place to live and we will be moving them in next week. They are a precious couple and love each other so much. They will do great things together as they continue to grow together.

Our youngest son, Trevor, has been very involved with school this year and on Face Book (big time). He is in a school play and has a girlfriend (well, a 2nd one in a month) and seems to be very happy. 14 is such a funny age with relationships. They will break up today and before they are home for dinner the next day they are back together. They can break up with one today and be with someone new tomorrow. Ahh... young love.

Our middle daughter, Tia, is such a sweet soul. She is so mature for 19 and such a work horse. She was a manager at a grocery in TX and recently got a new job at a bank there. She has such a great work ethic and a good heart. She is dating this new guy, Alex, and she seems the happiest we've ever seen her. We are anxious to meet him over Memorial Day weekend. As long as he treats her right and takes care of her I know we will love him.

We are truly blessed with the kids we have and the families we share. My husband, Tebo, is just amazing. He loves me and loves all our kids and takes such good care of us all. We both work at Tyson Foods and everyone that works with him or for him just respect him more than I've ever seen. I couldn't be more proud of him. So, that was our crazy last 1 1/2 years and I look forward to what awaits us ahead.