On her way to Stardom

Today was a big day for Tiara! She played in her first "Fall Ball" in fastpitch softball. She got up early this morning...pumped up for her game. She found her cliche...fastpitch softball. Her number is 40. That's her dad's football number when he was in high school. She plays for Mirage and her uniform is real cool! She plays with half Bushland and half Amarillo High players. We want Tiara to play with Bushland players for the next 5 years so she can get better with her teammates. Her team won the first game 19 - 1. They have a great pitcher who threw a no hitter for 3 innings and left the game. I was shocked to see how good she was. Tiara played left field. Neenee and PawPaw had a great time with us. Scott told me that Pawpaw was one of the best catchers when he played fastpitch back in the days. Tiara is carrying on the tradition!

Scott's Big Game

Scott is starting his career as a football at Bushland High School. We've been married for 20 years and been through basketball state tournament 6 consecutive years and baseball 4 times. In both Basketball and Baseball, he was named Texas Coach of the Year. And then, in wrestling...he has won 13 State Wrestling Titles with 6 consecutive UIL State Champions. Scott has been named Texas Wrestling Coach of the Year 6 times and has been inducted to both State and National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

I know, I know, I know...I still feel "awe" of my husband. I am extremely proud of him. I am proud to be "Coach Tank's wife" and I love the feeling that goes with it. He is my life and he is my everything.

One thing I admire Scott is his determination to set and achieve new goals. He wanted to be a football coach and prayed about it. God has answered his prayers and send him to west to Bushland. He loves his job and the people he works with. He has one regret...he waited too long to become a football coach.

What about the coach's wife? Me...Oh, I love Scott's new job!!! Let me tell you why. The people at Bushland has gone the extra mile to learn sign language so they can communicate with me. They made me feel that I belong there. I have made so many friends and so did Tori and Tiara. The coaches' wives are very supportive of each other.

Here's a picture of Scott working in the press box. He studies the opponent's offensive/defensive schemes (whatever that means). He is the offensive Coordinator for both 7th and 8th grade football team and he will call his first game on Sept 10th against Highland Park. Good luck, Coach Tank, on your first start!!!!

~Angie

Trent's Status

WE GOT SOME GOOD NEWS!! On Friday, Sept. 4th, Scott and I went to the Youth Center to see Trent and his counslors for a case review. He has been promoted to Phase 3. We are exciting about it. That means he's 2 step closer to freedom! Trent has to work through phase 2 and phase 1 and then he'll be able to get out. Please pray that he'll work hard to fulfill his phases. We would love to see him out by January, or February at the latest. During his case review, he has improved in many areas of his life. Due to the seriousness of the situation, we have to remain confidential about it. I wish that I could share what went on but we prefer to keep within the family.

After the meeting, I asked them if we could take pictures of Trent and see how great he looks. Trent took us to his dorm room and showed how tidy his room is! He was extremely proud of his room. Books stacked perfectly, bed made up so tight that you can bounce a quarter on it, and he has a window view. He also has ping pong table, foosball, and guitar in the living room. Scott said that Trent is so mature now that he was before. He said that you can tell the way he talks...he has confidence in himself. Trent even said that he misses Tori and Tiara so much. He realized that they look up to him. He said that he can't wait to get out and be a family again.

Trent, we are still a family. We talk about you everyday, especially Dad. He misses you more than anything. You may not realize this but Dad really wants you home more than anything. So does Tori, Tiara, Neenee, PawPaw, Miki, Baby, myself and everyone else. We are pulling for you and we thank God for saving your life. Son, I love you.

Mom

PS: We got to see Trent again on Saturday, Sept. 5th. We had a great time visiting with each other. Trent was very talkative and he laughed the hardest when Scott told him that Neenee started to get involved with Facebook. He couldn't believe it. He thought it was cool to have his granny on Facebook. Trent's main concern was how he affected all of us with his lifestyle. He is very concerned how his involvement with drugs and alcohol has affected his sisters. He mentioned about going to al-teen and Al-non, organizations which helps family members who have been victimized by drugs and alcohol. Scott and I are going to check it out because it will help all of us.

Major Changes!!!!!

August 2009 is probably the busiest month I've ever experienced! You know people talk about 'mid-life crisis'? Well, I've experienced "August Crisis" and believe me...it was full of crisis!!!! With Scott starting his new job and me quitting my job at Wal Mart is something else! I loved working at Wal Mart and I missed my friends there but there are things I needed to do at home. We got new carpet put in the entire house! Before the carpet came, Tori, Tiara and friends of the family painted the living room, installed a new screen door, new bathroom door and replaced the ceiling fans in the kitchen. I know it sounded like a major overhaul but it was! I couldn't have done all these if I still work at Wal Mart. It was a much needed work and it took about a week and half. We couldn't get all these done if it wasn't for our friends from church. To you all who helped us...thank you so much, especially Courtney for her nice surprising gifts!!!! Special thanks to Brad and Teffney and Neenee/Papa for their gifts for the house!

Please check the pictures of our crisis that became a blessing!

First Day of School 2009

What a day! This is a big day for all of us! Trent is starting his senior year with Canyon High School at the Youth Center. He's real exciting about being a senior and he plans to graduade at Bushland High School in 2010. He's taking Government, Economics, Algebra II and English 4. He will also take Speech and ASL II in second semester. I thank God everyday for Trent's opportunity at the Youth Center to get his Education. Not only in academics, but in life.

It is also the first day for Tiara and Tori to go to Bushland Middle School. Sure, they were both nervous...being a new student at a new school! Change is a hard thing and I pray for Tori and Tiara to adapt to a new environment and make new friends. We drove to Bushland and we were shocked to see how many parents came to the first day pep rally at Bushland Middle school. Tori was impressed with the parental support and said, "I've never seen so many parents in a school!" Having a pep rally for the first day of school is a great way to start the year!

Of course, what about "Coach Tank" being a Falcon? He loves it! He can't wait to coach the Middle school football team. He's been with the varsity coaches and players since the first week of August. He's looking forward being ASL II teacher and create a atomsphere of "deaf world" in his classroom.

~Angie

Trent's 17 TODAY!

Scott here...time flew by...Trent is 17 years old today. I can't imagine my son turned 17 today. It was yesterday when I remembered his birth at Northwest Hospital. I shall never forget the moment when he was born. My mother (NeeNee) was also in the hospital at the same time. Sunday morning at 8:40, my lil man came out in to the world! You know...it was the happiest moment of my life. In the recent months before Trent was born, I've been working with Angie's speech. She's pretty self conscious with her speech and she won't talk in a room full of strangers. But I shall never forget that morning when Trent was born. After struggling all night with contractions and my feeble coaching - "Breath in, Breath out...baby, you can do it. Breath, Breath..."

"Shut up, Scott!!!"

"My bad!"

At 8:40, the little man came out! It was the most beautiful event I've ever witnessed. The nurse cleaned up Trent and handed him over to Angie...they wanted the mother to hold the baby first. Angie held him tightly, and then she held him up where she can see his face and said in a room full of strangers,

"I love you"

Everyone heard it. I saw it. There wasn't one dried eye in the room. Even the doctor had tears running down his face. The interpreter and the nurses were crying.

Just thinking about Trent and how much I love him makes me cry. I shall never forget the moment when Angie, verbally, said, "I love you."

God gave him a name. God told me in different ways to name him Trent. There was a friend who played baseball with me and his name was also Trent. There was a great basketball player who played for me on the AAU team by the name Trent. Finally, there was a man from out of town who came to Caprock on school business and he met Nee Nee. She asked him,

"What is your name?"

"Trent Tankersley"

It's amazing! God spoke to me loud and clearly. I've done some research on the meaning of Trent and it comes from the word torrent which means rapid waters. In several languages, it means, "Rivers of blessings".

Back to my mother being in the hospital. They put Angie on the same floor with my mother. Can you imagine when I wheeled Trent's carriage to NeeNee's room and when she held the baby, visitors walked by...gawking at an old lady having a baby!!! It was a funny sight! Trent would go back and forth to his mother's and grandmother's room. What a man!

Yesterday, Papa, NeeNee, Tiara and I went to see Trent at the Youth Center. This is where he lives until January. He's celebrating his birthday with his comrades at the center with a big cookie that the cooks made for him. Angie and I got him American Eagle shorts and Trent loved it. Tori and Tiara had send him a card in the mail. Trent said that he's ready to get out and go home. He has to work his way out by going through 4 phases of the SAIT program. I told him that we'll have a birthday party for him when he gets out and he was exciting about it. Even though, he's in rehab, he still brings blessings to all of us. God has a wonderful plan for him and He is using the rehab to shape him for His plans. Trent knows that. He said, "Dad, when I'm in prison, I am free. When I was out there in the free world, I was in prison in my own mind." Yes, son, in Jesus Christ - you are indeed free.

Watch each picture carefully, you'll see the 'river of blessings' coming toward you.

Happy Birthday to Trent!

Scott Tankersley

Hear Ice Cream Truck's Music

While I seeking pictures of Trent for the blog's slide show on his birthday...I'm doing Trent's slide show for Scott so he can post it exactly on August 9th which is Trent's Birthday (Scott doesn't know how to create a slide show, so I'm working on it before I leave for camp. I will be at L.I.F.E. Deaf Youth camp on Aug. 6th to 12th) Sadly, Tori and I not be able to celebrate his birthday this year! But he told us that the caferita staff are making a BIG cookie for his birthday! I am glad they are celebrating there! Scott, Neenee and Papa will see Trent and they have his AE shorts for his birtday.

While I was looking Trent's baby pictures, my heart melted. I have SOOOO many pictures of all 3 kids and it's hard to decide which ones to post. All of them are VERY cute! PRECIOUS MOMENTS!! There was a picture that I will never forget...Trent was 5 years old and he heard the ice cream truck coming down several blocks and he asked, "Can I get ice cream?"

I answered, "Sure, Yes you may. Please go and sit by window to watch when the truck is coming let me know, So I can walk down with you to get ice cream, OK?"
He said, "ok!" He went sit on floor and watch through window, waiting for the ice cream truck. Meanwhile, I was in kitchen, cooking. I realized that Trent hasn't come to me and it was a long while! I thought that I'd better go and check on Trent, wondering why he didn't come. I walked to living room. Ooohhh my heart melted... He fell asleep and missed the ice cream truck. So I took picture of him. When he woke up and said, "The ice cream truck never come by." And I explained what happened and how he fell asleep. Trent,I"m going to take you to Braum's after dinner." He said,"That's ok." I felt so bad for him that he was looking forward the ice cream truck then he fell asleep! He is SO cute and this is one my favoriate picture! Here is a picture.....

~Angie