Happy Anniversary Mike & Katie !!!

Hi Ya'll, just wanted to wish the the happiest of Anniversaries. Hope you have a great day and a great week.

Love, Steve & Barb

What an incredible group of nieces and nephews

It is so exciting to see our family growing and changing. Gary and I are always proud of what a great bunch of kids this family has turned out. We are constantly telling people about all of you. Bravo to our generation for doing such a great job raising them, and big hugs and pats on the back to the middle generation of Grandma's kids.

Afternoon I'm Officer Whitley!!

Hey Family-

Thanks for the support during the hard 4 1/2 months of grueling training both physical and mental and thanks for all the prayers and congrats!! This academy experience was one of the hardest things I have ever accomplished especially the physical part, I have now recovered from the hit i took in the throat and my sprained finger, luckily those were the only injuries i suffered compared to others, but hey what hurts you now will make you stronger later!! As of May 25th I became a Certified Texas Peace Officer. Friday, June 1st I will be sworn

in, be given my badge, and get my police officer commission through Midland Police Department! Here are pictures taken during the academy: The 1st one is of Rose and Me doing push-ups for running over cones, the 2nd is of me driving over the cones, and the 3rd is of my academy class the 78th Session!!

Samson is going to be a big brother!!

Well, I was going to wait to spread the news until after we had our first doctors appointment...but I dont think my mom can keep her mouth shut much longer, and especially not at Collin and Anna's wedding (and congrats guys, wish i could be there to share this special time with ya'll), so here goes...
Mas and I are EXPECTING!! I found out on Mother's Day, which made it even more special, and we just feel so so blessed!! We are so excited and are just praying that everything goes well and as planned. I will have my first doctors appointment the first of June, so I will share more news then. We will be due around the end of January. Please, please just keep us in your prayers!!
I also have more great news....I got a new job as a Labor and Delivery Nurse, which is the main reason I even went to nursing school to begin with, and I just feel so lucky and blessed that I got this job this soon. I was expecting to wait at least several years before a job opportunity presented itself, but this just kinda fell in my lap. I just started orientation, and there is soooo much to learn....its just so different than all the other departments I have worked in, but it's even more exciting now because I am learning not only for this new job that I LOVE and I truly think I was meant to do, but also because I will be experiencing this miracle of life in less than 8 months myself!That is what is new with us!! I will hopefully be able to post sonogram pictures soon and I will keep everyone updated. Again, please pray for a healthy baby and healthy me!
Sarah

Congrats Officer Whitley!

Way to go Steph. We know you have worked very hard for that title and will be an asset to the Midland PD. Wish we could be there for the graduation. We are VERY proud of you and tell all our friends about your accomplishments. Be sure to post pictures so we can all see you in your uniform.
Love,
Gary & Mel

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, STEVE
Hope you have a great day and fun celebrating another birthday.
And that you never feel lost in the shuffle between other birthdays,
Mother's day, and celebrating Marge Debbrecht's birthday on the
same day.
You are very special and
I love you lots,
Mom

Hey Everybody!! I'm sorry that I haven't gotten to write on the blog any sooner; I have been sooo busy. I 'm finally out of school, but I chose to live in Stephenville over the summer because of my great job. I work for a horse trainer in a little town close to Stephenville. I saddle, work and bathe top level show horses all day (my dream job!). Then on weekends I drive back to the lake to work in the resturant, when I'm not off to a horse show! I live in an RV at the ranch where my horses are boarded. I also have a couple of other four legged creatures running around at the ranch too: a female pygmy goat named Smokey and a 4 month old female Aussie Shepard puppy name Bootie. I will try to get some photos posted of them and of the trailer where I'm living soon. Plus, I'm taking a couple of summer classes, which will be fun. Other than that I haven't been doing much!! I still have my two show horses, Leggit and Chloe, but I sold my other horse, Shadow, to a nice girl down in San Antonio. So that's all for now, hope to see everybody soon! Love from Stephenville, Alyssa

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! You are the envy of mothers everywhere - your vitality, your exuberance, your zest for life as well as being the epitome of great motherhood! We look up to you, we are proud of you, and we boast to others about you.
All our love,
Your kids, kids-in-law, grandkids, and great-grandchild!

Posted for Anne.

Howdy. Things are as always busy. Life never slows down even for a minute. I'm doing well, and still really enjoying my job. If its not fires, hurricanes or tornados; its training and paperwork. Today marks my first full year with the Texas Forest Service, hard to believe its already been a year. Abilene is okay, ...well its here anyways. Not alot to do. I did start dating a girl I graduated high school with, Rachel, we've been seeing each other since mid-March. Things are good, she's living in Fort Worth and is contemplating moving back to Odessa. Its a 2.5 hour drive either for me so... Don't know if you've paid much attention to the news lately, but the state of Georgia has had some monster wildfires (over 60,000 acres burned). They've called for support from the TFS, and it looks like we will get deployed this Friday or Saturday. I'm really looking forward to it, my first out-of-state fire assignment! Probably working in the plans section but might help work with the media. I should be gone 14 days and return late May, keep your fingers crossed (need that overtime...lol). I think I finally found my purpose in life, this career just makes sense. No matter what we respond to, its about helping people and protecting our natural resources. For me its just right. Of course there is that adrenaline rush that stays constant. Anyways, hope you all are doing well and are staying safe. Take care and talk to you soon. Shawn