Jackie Smith Is This Week’s Caught in the Act Recipient

Jackie Smith was preparing for her morning at Forest Hill Elementary, anxiously awaiting greeting all the kids arriving for school, and then we called.

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She had no idea that her husband, Derrick, had initiated our call with an incredibly penned nomination letter, that told us of Jackie's dedication to others, her kindness and compassion.

We would be remiss without thanking Derrick for his service to our country and for such an inspiring letter about his blushing bride.

One read of that letter and it was obvious that Jackie was exactly who we were looking for and was perfectly suited to rein this week as the newest recipient of the Kiss Country Caught in the Act Award.

Just look at that letter and you'll understand.

I don't know where to begin with this so I will start at the beginning. I met Jackie in the Shreveport Airport in 2005 when her brother and I came home from Iraq on R&R. I was immediately taken with her but thought she had to have someone because she was so beautiful and vibrant, and I just knew she was out of my league. I didn't see her again until I got home from my tour, and we spoke briefly by phone as her brother and I prepared for our next assignment. That started a daily phone conversation for the next 45 days (until I got leave) and counted the minutes until I got to speak with her each day. We began dating and got married the next year. She has been my rock for 16 years now and I can't imagine life without her. Because of what I did in the service, she could not be near me so I only got to see her when I came home on leave. She kept the home fires burning and a year after we were married, we welcomed a son...whom she masterfully raised for 4 years until I came home for good. She is a wonderful educator in Caddo Parish and is the Instructional Coordinator for the Forest Hill Elementary School. That is the perfect job for her because she loves taking care of kids and making sure the teachers at Forest Hill are taken care of as well. She endures so much each day with a smile on her face. She voluntarily takes on extra responsibilities to get the job done at work, at home and at our church. She freely gives of herself so much that most of the time she is exhausted when she gets home but she still finds time to take care of us, help our son with his homework, and ensures all of the extra paperwork she has to do gets done. I have never seen a more gracious, powerful and tough woman in all of my travels around the world. She is beautiful inside and out...and her shining light touches so many people that it would be missed sorely if it wasn't part of the world. She is the best wife, mother, bonus mother, bonus grandmother and friend in the world and we love her so much.

Jackie Smith, thank you for being so amazing! You are a big reason why this is the greatest place in America to live! And because you've been 'Caught in the Act' the gang at Silver Star Smokehouse have a $100 Gift Certificate for you and the family to come have dinner!

Take a listen to the phone call we made to Jackie to let her know that she was this week's Caught In The Act Award recipient.