Hello to our Friends and Family! We can’t believe it’s been another year and what a year it’s been. As we pulled up a few photos for our card and this little “letter” we were reminded of all the things we did this year from senior awards, scholarships, tea party, plays, graduations, wedding, soccer, cross country and traveling – there’s much to be grateful for the time and memories we spent together this year.
Our biggest adventure together this year was an Alaskan cruise with our family plus our nephew, Blaze, and Tina’s parents. It was definitely a different type of cruising for us compared to warm weather, but the views were just incredible! It was a big accomplishment to get Tina’s dad, Bobby, on the ship but he was glad he went and I think we all were able to check something off our bucket lists! The trip was in celebration for Madison and Blaze’s high school graduation this year.
Dustin stayed very busy this year operating Bright’s Hardware Company with 3 hardware stores (Kermit, Abilene and Van Alstyne) all finally converted Ace Hardware stores. When you run one or two stores it’s small and manageable, but when you get into 3+ stores especially ones you can’t all visit often you need to implement procedures that make things run more smoothly so it’s been a year of implementation and learning all things Ace! Plus he was approached about opening a store in a newly renovated shopping center in the heart of Sherman so the 4th (and largest) store will be opening in Q1 this year. The hardware shows this year took us to Dallas and Chicago. We loved visiting Chicago in the fall!
Photo from Van Alstyne where Madi just worked on the break reorganizing the drill bits and saw aisle! She works at both this store and the one in Abilene when she’s at college.
This photo is from a ladies retreat “Come Fill Your Cup” in Oklahoma with some of Tina’s bible study sisters!
It’s been quite the year for Tina with a really wonky real estate market with many buyers staying on the sidelines due to the economy and interest rates. We are hoping that 2025 turns the corner on the market and things start hopping a bit more for sellers! In addition to selling real estate she also helps with bills and checklists 🙂 for the hardware stores. She’s also co-leading a weekly D-Group Bible study that has been an awesome study through the gospels this year – if you want to grow your relationship with God more check out D-Group locations near you or the Bible Recap! Tina would be happy to visit with you about either one!
Madison graduated high school this year and has completed her first semester at Abilene Christian University. It has been a great semester getting acclimated to college life and even some fun along the way. We were able to visit for Parent’s weekend and see her in Freshman Follies as well as visit for Homecoming weekend. She is involved with a Horse Riding Therapy group at Camp Able where she assists and has just recently visited a church with several deaf members that she may can work with on interpreting to keep up her ASL skills as well as some other jobs she has worked as an interpreter.
With all the credits she had from AP and Dual credit entering she will start spring semester as a junior and will be seeking an OT Therapy shadowing internship this summer.
Freshman Dorm setup and Freshman Follies Performance
You would think things might slow down with only one kid at home these days except Taylor is involved in many things!
Last spring as she finished out middle school theatre she was Little Red in the production of Into the Woods which they performed in black and white style with only a few color items. It was a neat rendition of it and she did awesome singing, dancing and throwing a big fit on stage (per the script)!
She’s a freshman this year and is running varsity cross country which means she’s been up running most mornings this year at 6:45am – starting since June! She will continue in Track this spring running the long distance events and we are excited to watch her on this new adventure. She is also continuing in her club soccer with the Texas Spurs that keeps us busy on the weekends! Even with these early mornings, late night soccer practices and busy weekends she’s doing well at high school as a student athlete.
Here’s a few more highlights from our year! We are looking forward to a great 2025 and pray the same for you too!
The Marr Family
Little Red “Into the Woods”
Ace Hardware Convention
Sister Height Check
Cross Country Banquet
Senior Photos
Elementary Grad Walk
Prom Spring 2024
Camp Able Volunteering
Alaskan Cruise Formal Night
Alaska Sled Puppies
Ketchikan Alaska
