COUNTY LIFE
Family finds leap of faith to aid Vietnamese children rewarding
By BARBARA GREEN
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How does a professional design engineer living what he calls the “comfortable, American life” uproot his family and spend the next 10 years of their lives creating a children’s relief organization in Communist Vietnam?
For Brent and Stacy Tarr it was a journey of faith. The couple says God leaned on their hearts and pointed them in the new direction ultimately creating and operating Tiny Hearts of Hope. The Tarrs were back home in Bowie during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays visiting family and friends, along with sharing their story.
Brent, 44, is a 1992 graduate of Gold-Burg High School, and Stacy
Brent is the son of Peggy Tarr, who lives in Bowie, while Stacy’s family is in Wichita Falls and Oklahoma. They met in 1991 and became high school sweethearts marrying in 1995.
Brent graduated from North Central Texas College in 1996 with an associate degree in drafting and design and an associate of science degree. An internship in engineer/research and development followed at Bowie Industries after graduation. He has worked periodically for the Bowie firm when he has been home for longer periods.
His first job came in 1997 with Boeing Commercial Airplane Group in Everett, WA. He worked as a draftsman and then moved to
What followed was a career in the auto design industry that took him to Portland, OR with Freightliner Heavy Trucks; Volvo Trucks North American in Greensboro, NC; Siegel-Robert, Inc. St. Louis, MO and Honda R&D Americas in Raymond, OH. During his tenure with
The Tarr family grew with the birth of their first child, Addison, now 19, who is attending Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Alec, their 17-year-old son a senior in high school followed. Stacy graduated from NCTC with a cosmetology degree and worked in the field until they had their first child, at which time she stayed at home and later
It was the couple’s love of children that pointed them to Vietnam. In 2006 they began the process of adopting a little girl from that country. The next two years would change
Read the full feature in the weekend News.
It has been quite a busy few days at the Montague County Youth Fair with schedule changes, juggling of events and trying to cope with the unexpected snow storm. However, the youth fair always rolls on thanks to the dedicated volunteers, coordinators, parents and students.
Friday the rabbit how starts at 10 a.m., with heifer and steer show at 2 p.m. Ag. mech. check-in at 6 p.m. with that show at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Swine will move into the barn later today with its show at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Saturday the home economics silent auction will start at 6 p.m. and run to 9 p.m. in the show barn. Showmanship buckles will be presented at 6 p.m. in the barn followed by leadership day awards. The premium sale is at 6:30 p.m. Make plans to come out and support these hard working kids and families.
See all the winners in the Thursday Bowie News.
Top photo – Poultry show photo taken by Rashonda Hobbs of Unfazed Creations, official photographer for the youth fair. Make sure and check out her photos.
When we were going through my grandmother’s house in Nocona after it sold, I found a few neat keepsakes, but the biggest treasure I thought I had found was her biscuit cutter. I was so excited to show my mother (her daughter) and just knew she would be happy it was found and would still be used after all this time.
My mother, however, had a different thought about my precious biscuit cutter. She said, “Suzanne, you know that biscuit cutter is just an old tomato paste can that has both ends cut out.”
I was still no less delighted with my cutter. I continue to use it today. My husband has bought me vintage, new and fancier cutters, but this cutter is something I go back to time and again.
My Memaw was recruited to be a lunch lady from 1952 to 1958 at Nocona Elementary, back when lunches were cooked, not “fixed.” Lenora Brown Burnett was an excellent cook and everyone knew it. She went on to work at the Nocona Major Clinic kitchen from 1958 to 1969.
You could only use shortcuts if you knew how to do it the long way. That is how I still approach cooking. You can only use a cake mix if you know how to make a cake with lots of ingredients, time and effort.
Read Suzanne’s Love & Luck column in the Thursday Bowie News on the On the Table page.
Top photo – Grandmother’s biscuit cutter and hand written recipes. (Photo by Suzanne Storey)
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