Thank you to our Family & Friends & even total strangers

Before I completely sign off Face Book for some time to heal my heart and just get in a better place I wanted to send a formal thank you to my family and friends since this is a great way to reach so many people. First of all, I do plan to continue my blog and you are welcome to view it any time you wish and comment if you want and not if you don't want to. Either way it is just a way for me to express some thoughts and feelings I may be experiencing at certain times. As a precious friend reminded me, I need to also document some "blessing journals" and not only my low points so it is my commitment to work on doing just that.
That being said I hope that everyone gets the honor of having the kind of family we have. Some use to say we were too close a family. Well, I would like to say to people who have ever said that, that you couldn't have it more wrong. Yes, we are a super close family. We are the type of family that may not talk every day or even see each other more than once or twice a year, but we always (and I mean ALWAYS) know we are there for each other no matter what life throws at us and that was more than proven when we lost our precious little Chadman. We had family that traveled from all over to be here for us. Most people know what a burden just taking time away from work, life, and the financial strain traveling can be so for so many of our family that traveled to do just that for us has touched us, but didn't surprise us at all. For each of you that did that for us thank you will never be enough, but please know that it made a very difficult time a little easier to walk through just knowing you were here. For our friends that we have held so close to our hearts for as long as they have been in our lives (and you know who you are) also either traveled from near and far to be with us and those who couldn't make the trip made sure they did something (cards, donations, calls, etc.) to let us know that they were with us from right where they were. They still took time out of their precious little time with their families to make sure we knew they were thinking of us. Our hearts are forever touched and changed by the outpouring of love and support we have felt. Tebo and I do try to live our lives making sure those we love and care about know how we feel, but fortunately for us we haven't had to experience many times in our lives where we had to be on this receiving end of this love and support and it has been amazing. We can't forget those friends (now) that we had never met before all this. Some (most) were/are Marines and other military personnel/families that will forever be in our lives. There was a local artist that we have never met and didn't know us or Chad, but was commissioned to do an art piece for another TN Volunteer fan and just before completing the art piece she learned of Chad and of his passion for TN and she felt compelled to do an art piece for us (her name is Robin Loveless of Rogers, AR). She created an amazing piece of TN Volunteer art piece for us at no charge and had it delivered to our home and when she signed it she stated "in memory of Chad Wade". We will always be appreciative and hang that artwork in our home with much pride. These are very little gestures that we have received since Dec. 1, 2010 and words just don't seem enough to thank so many people for so many huge acts of love they have shown us. We are fortunate to work for a company (Tyson Foods) that not only tell their team members that we are important to them and work so hard on our culture and core values, but live them. That was so evident throughout this process with us. We did not have to worry about food, paper products, anything throughout this sad time, because not only did they make sure we were taken care of, but they made sure anyone who happened to be in our home were taken care of and they even had committees and communication teams in place to make sure when an inventory was taken and anything needed to be replaced it was suddenly right there. We don't know how to say thank you. We can't express our gratitude to all these people without making special mention to our wonderful neighborhood (Oxford Ridge, Bentonville). They not only made sure meals were provided when needed, but they opened their homes (you know who you are) for friends and family to sleep without paying for hotel rooms (even my family members arranged with Lindsey Properties to make sure family and friends had a free place to stay) and they have been a continued source of support and encouragement throughout all of this. I have to mention that most of our family and friends have been supporting Tebo, myself, and Katie since deployment started to make sure we were doing ok with this 2nd and final deployment so it is really no surprise that they have stepped up like they have. There is a particular neighbor that I won't mention his name because just understanding the kind of man (Veteran in the Army) he is he would not want his name mentioned, but he has gone above and beyond to take care of us in ways only he could. He has made sure that we, as parents, are shown how important our son is and for that I am certain we will never be able to thank enough. Every day we continue to have our breath taken away by the love and kindness we are shown. It has been a renewed faith in human kind that I guess in some way we needed to be reminded of. We are profoundly changed from this day forward, but it is our mission to make sure that every active military young man/woman never again has to pay out of their pockets for a plane ticket to come home before and after deployments to love on their families and friends ever again. Sadly, that is what our young men and women have to do. They have not all been as fortunate as our Chad to have family, friends, and parents who could help them get home before and after deployments and it breaks our hearts to know this happens. We will be committing the rest of our lives in making sure that if our Government isn't going to provide free tickets for these young men and women to visit their families before and after their tour of duties then Tebo and I have committed to figure out a way to get those paid in full for them. We don't mean if they just want a weekend or time home to hang out with friends or whatever. We are talking about precious time they get to come home and tell their loved ones "see you when I return to the states" or love on them when they've been gone 8 months to a year, then we want to do all we can to make sure they get home without having to take what little money they have to do it themselves. Okay, I'm off my soap box for now, but again, I know thank you isn't near enough to express how we truly feel about all of you and our new Marine bonus sons that helped us through this journey, but that is truly all we have, but it is felt from the depths of our souls. Love, Tami & Tebo