Family of the Month

The Kelley Family

Share with us the names and ages of everyone living in your house, including your pets.

Rick—44, Tara—40, Rhyse—10, Rylee—7

Melbourne the bearded dragon

Bob the Beta fi sh

Where do your kids attend school?

Prairie Creek Elementary

Tell us about your pets.

Since Tara has an aversion to any pet with fur, the choices were limited to reptiles or aquatic animals. 

What do you do for a living?

We are both in the pharmaceutical research industry which means we help bring new medications to market. Rick is the Director of Clinical Operations for Peloton Therapeutics—a biotech company that primarily focuses on renal cell carcinoma: AKA kidney cancer. He is responsible for all of their clinical trials. Clinical trials assess the safety and effectiveness of the drug. The data collected in clinical trials is submitted to the US Food & Drug Association for approval before medications can be offered to the public.

Tara works for DaVita Clinical Research—the research arm of the global dialysis company, DaVita Healthcare Partners. Tara is the Sr. Director of Clinical Operations overseeing all the clinical trials conducted in the DaVita dialysis clinics and Healthcare Partners physician offi ces. DaVita is currently conducting clinical research studies in patients with arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, and preventive medicines such as vaccines.

We both enjoy being able to “talk shop”. Since Rick is on the pharmaceutical development side and Tara works for a healthcare provider, we can offer different perspectives within the same industry. It’s nice to have your spouse be the best source of career advice—inhome career counseling has its benefi ts!

June 2011

June 2017

How did the two of you meet?

We met through work, as a matter of fact. Tara was working at Baylor Medical Center right after college in 1999 (Texas Tech-go Red Raiders!) and Rick was working for Pfi zer (after UT). He visited Baylor monthly to oversee the clinical trials there and met Tara on the day she interviewed for the job. Tara referred to him as the “Cute Pfi zer Boy” for the fi rst few months until he fi nally asked her out on a date in January of 2000. Rick says the only reason it took so long to ask her out was because he knew she was special. He had to be sure he was ready to leave bachelorhood. Indeed he was—they married in 2003.

How long have you lived in Canyon Creek?

Since July 2011

What brought you to Canyon Creek?

We were looking to move from the Preston/Royal area in Dallas to a neighborhood with great schools. Rick, being from Houston, was open to any area. Tara, who grew up near Parkhill Junior High, was hoping to be close to her parents. Some college friends of Tara suggested she and Rick check out Prairie Creek. We immediately loved the school, beautiful creek and areas where we could enjoy the outdoors.

What do you love most about living in Canyon Creek?

We love that it’s a community of people who truly care about each other. We believe it takes a village to raise kids into good humans. During the toughest times in our lives, this village took care of our family in a way that was selfl ess, supporting, and healing. We are forever grateful to our Prairie Creek family.

Tells us a favorite story or two about your family (funny, sentimental, etc.).

We (Rick and Tara) are both cancer survivors. Rick was diagnosed in 2011 and cured in 2013. Tara was then diagnosed in 2014 and has been cancer-free for two years. With so much of our daughters’ young lives being exposed to friends and family taking care of their parents, both girls have come through the experience having adopted the qualities of the caregivers.

Rhyse is incredibly observant. She can sense when someone is happy or hurting, needs a laugh or needs a hug. It is important to her to connect with people and make them feel good. Rylee has a depth and warmth about her well beyond her years. She cherishes her friends and family and values more than anything the quality time spent with those she loves. It is these beautiful gifts that have come from suffering that seem to make the experiences of the past worthwhile.

Share with us a funny or awesome story of living in Canyon Creek.

Rick loves to golf and is most content going anywhere on his golf cart. He decorates the golf cart on Halloween, each year adding more lights and decorations. Look for him next October in the navy blue golf cart with the 5 foot illuminated skull on the roof and the Halloween music playing loudly.

What do you do for hobbies or for fun?

Travel is our favorite thing. Really, it is about the time together with our family and sharing new experiences. We look forward to those breaks from school and work when we can set out on an adventure together.

Do you do any volunteer work?

Tara works with an organization called Suite HOPE (Helping Cancer Patients Esthetically) that offers support services to women who are undergoing chemotherapy.

What do your kids do outside of school? Sports teams, etc.

We are not sure where the girls get their affi nity for music, since neither Tara nor Rick can carry a tune. But music is a big part of the Kelley household. Rick can often be found in his offi ce playing on one of his guitars. He is self-taught. Tara thinks he’s really good and loves the background tunes he plays. It’s the soundtrack of the house. Rhyse takes voice lessons and Rylee takes piano. Both play soccer and have recently joined the Cheer Athletics team.

Anything else you would love for your neighbors to know about you?

Whether it is a rogue bobcat citing, having a coyote cross your path, or dealing with a pesky raccoon knocking over your trash, Prairie Creek offers a unique and highly desirable place to raise a family. As the kids get older, feeding the turtles off of the hiking trail bridge has given way to bike rides and other activities. Prairie Creek continues to provide opportunities to grow and explore.

WayForward Adventures. Where Adventure + Discovery = IMPACT

Canyon Creek! Have you ever wanted (or needed) the adventure of a lifetime that not only challenges you physically, but also personally and spiritually? Did you know that some of your neighbors have experienced this kind of adventure through WayForward Adventures? Check this out:

WayForward Adventures empowers individuals through outdoor adventure to identify how they are wired. Their vision is to take individuals on week-long backpacking trips in the Rocky Mountains to not only grow personally but to also experience community in a way that when you leave the trip, you are eager with a desire to change the world.

WayForward guides will navigate your group through both the wilderness and WayForward’s unique personal development curriculum. The curriculum consists of independent readings, personal refl ection, and group discussions focused on personal vision, values, and leadership.

But . . . WHAT IS WAYFORWARD?

WayForward was started in 2013 from a dream and a question.

The Dream: Creating an organization to take adults on incredible adventures with the purpose of discovering their true self.

The Question: “If money wasn’t an issue and you could do anything to make an impact in the world, what would you do?” This was the question Bill Strahan asked his friends before they set out on a backpacking trip in 2013. Todd Pinkston (WayForward Founder & CEO and Richardson Resident) answered the question, “I would do this!”

After Bill experienced a week on the trail and his wife saw the change it made in him, he and his wife Becky knew they wanted to take some of the money from the sale of their business to start WayForward Adventures. And ever since, WayForward has been surrounded with great people. A long time guiding friend, Alex Knoop, has provided the foundation to create a great experience on the trail. The CrossFit Richardson members, led by John and Julia Marshall, have embraced WayForward as an extension of their community. And of course, there is no WayForward without Erin Pinkston, Todd’s wife, who is an integral part of what makes WayForward so special.

A TRULY UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE

So, when was the last time you hit the pause button on life to discover who you are at your core? A trip with WayForward guides might be the adventure you need that will result in life transformation, self-discovery, and stories to tell for years to come.

Pinkston says, “When you get to the end of yourself . . . that is where you fi nd yourself. Are you willing to put in the effort to fi nd your true self?”

And what better way to do this than with a group of friends on an unforgettable WayForward Adventures trip: A multi-day backpacking adventure in the Rocky Mountains where participants rely only on the items carried on their back and the support of their fellow participants to conquer the challenges.

WayForward participants are welcomed in to an environment that celebrates excellence in facilities, appearance, food, service and quality of experience. Central to our purpose is that participants will experience true life and be spurred on towards living it out more faithfully at home.

So . . . WHO SHOULD TAKE A WAYFORWARD TRIP? YOU!

Wondering what some of your Canyon Creek neighbors think about their experiences on a trip with WayForward? Here is what a few of them have to say:

“I was on the trip with the Men’s Group from Shady’s Bible Study. We went Aug 18-21, 2016. Being led on an adventure in the majesty of the mountains was truly an exhilarating and exhausting experience. I have encouraged my wife and she will be taking a WayForward trip this July.” —Paul Rinaldi, Canyon Creek Neighbor

“As a mother, full time employee, and small business owner, WayForward gave me the opportunity to disconnect for the fi rst time in more than 10 years and get my priorities back in line. It has made me a more loving, compassionate mother, wife and friend. It truly is a life changing opportunity and you HAVE to go! As adults, we rarely pour back into ourselves. We’re always pouring into everyone and everything else.” —Brooklyn Clasby, Canyon Creek Neighbor

“We live in a world full of noise and distractions. That requires us to take the time and create a space so we can contemplate what is truly important in life. A WayForward trip gives us the opportunity to fi nd a life of meaning and purpose.” —Terry Pham, Canyon Creek Neighbor

“I have done two WayForward trips and it reminds me of hitting the reset button on my computer. I am a working mom of two and it’s not very often in life where you leave behind all your responsibilities to spend intentional time with God, to be introspective, to be challenged and to be loved. That’s what WayForward is for me. Icing on the cake was the meaningful relationships I built with the women on the trail. I have no doubt that I can call on these women at any time for advice and encouragement, whether we are on the trail or off the trail.” —Christy Gadoci, Canyon Creek Neighbor

“I loved the parallel between life and the trail. I learned about relying on the Lord whether it’s an easy decline or a raging stream.” —Kim Lumpkin, Canyon Creek Neighbor

Heard enough? Ready to go? Your next adventure and the life you were created to live is waiting for you.

For available dates to schedule a four to fi ve day trip for your group of 7-13 participants visit WayForwardAdventures.com/dates. Contact WayForward by submitting the Trip Registration Form (www. wayforwardadventures.com/register), then get ready to be unplugged in the wilderness and experience the true life you were meant to live.