Laura and Lew Webb both originally hail from Southern California where, born in the same hospital 6 months apart, they grew up about 5 miles from each other. Eventually, they attended rival High Schools (Laura at Long Beach Millikan, and Lew at Los Alamitos) where she was a cheerleader and he, a football player. Amazingly, until they met in August of 1983, they never remember meeting each other, though they knew many of the same people. Ironically, while Lew was playing football against her school mates, Laura was cheering against him on the sidelines. Now she's his biggest fan!!! Laura attended Long Beach City College, then transferred to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where she received her teaching credential. In her spare time, she coached AAU Synchronized Swimming. Lew went to Whitworth College in Spokane, WA, where he played football, but transferred as a Junior to The University of Southern California, where he played Fullback on the USC Rugby Club.

Laura is a school teacher by education, and was teaching middle school when they met. Ten months after they married in 1985, a set of twin girls arrived, so Laura became a full time Mom when the twins were born. Mallory and Sarah were followed very quickly by McKenzie, and then Madison soon after that. The four girls were all born in slightly under 3 1/2 years, so, in the understatement of the century, Laura was a very busy Mom with four in diapers!!! Lew is a second generation automobile dealer, but retired several years ago when the dealerships sold, and the whole family moved to Durango in 2000.

Both attended church growing up, with Laura at Long Beach Brethren, and Lew at Long Beach First Baptist, and both made commitments to Christ at young ages. They believe God is uninterested in the various man made "religions", but is focused instead on the hearts of men. Thus, The Retreat at Thunder Ridge is focused on evangelical Christian groups, whether they be Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Lutheran, Episcopal, etc. It's about Christ!