Hi, family! I finally got around to sending some news from Louisiana. It’s been fun for me to read what’s happening with all of you who have posted your news. I would like to read news of my siblings, too. In case any of you don’t know, I work at Teche Electric Supply in Baton Rouge, and three of my children work with me: Doug is the warehouse manager and over about 10 people, Kim is in purchasing, and Tara works in the warehouse under Doug as a receiver. Doug still lives with me but is looking for a house to buy. He’s done an amazing job getting this warehouse organized. We had just moved into the building we are in a couple of months before he came to work here, and it was in total disarray – not just with material not having places yet, but there were no procedures or rules in place. He got it organized in quite a short time. Ryan and his three children live with me, as he and his wife got a divorce last year. Ryan works for an electrical contractor in Baton Rouge, and they think very highly of him. I believe he is next in line to be promoted to being one of the guys who runs projects. His kids are Paisley, age 8 (almost 9), Rhagen, age 7, and Jack, age 2, (almost 3). I can’t believe how fast they’ve grown up! Lisa has been a school teacher for about 6 or 7 years now (I never can remember) and does an excellent job. She teaches at a school that has a very high percentage of black children who have really bad home lives and therefore, are frequently discipline problems. She had trouble with that the first couple of years but has learned how to deal with it. She now has children who absolutely adore her. She recently separated from her husband, but they’re good friends, so it will be okay. I never thought they had anything in common, so it didn’t surprise me, although it saddened me. Lisa’s kids are Sadie, age 6, and Dominic, age 1 (2 in Nov.). They look just like their father. They’re beautiful kids, but I sure would have liked Lisa to have a child that looked like her since she’s so pretty. Tyson works at another electrical supply in Inside Sales. He recently got a job offer to go to work for Siemens Energy & Automation (the gear manufacturer whose products we sell), but when he told his boss about the offer, they gave him a huge raise to keep him. Two weeks ago Tyson married a cute girl he’s been dating for 2-1/2 years. Her name is Hannah, and she’s really a sweet girl. She fits in our family very well. Tyson has a son, Chandler, from his first marriage. Chandler is 7, will be 8 in October, and is very tall for his age. He is taking after his dad and is really a good kid. Kim has done a great job since moving to purchasing in December. She does the purchasing for four branches. Her baby, Kaelyn, will be 10 months old next Monday, and is just so precious. She has recently figured out how to do like an Indian sound, patting her mouth with her hand while making noise. She walks around furniture, and Kim is looking forward to her walking and getting into even more stuff! Tara has been working at Teche for almost 3 months, and it was wonderful getting someone with a brain to do the receiving. She picked it up so fast. It’s nice to have her work here because before she came here, I only got to see her usually for a short time every couple of weeks or so. She was working as a waitress before, and she stayed at her boyfriend’s house most of the time. Now she is here with me at work, and she broke up with that boyfriend so is back home. Most days she eats her lunch in my cubicle, and we get to talk. So I love having so many of my children around me every day. As for me, I’m not real happy with my job, but I’m dealing with it the best I can. I do have quite a bit of freedom and perks here. I just don’t feel very respected by the manager. Anyway, besides work, I usually go to the temple every Tuesday evening and play volleyball every Thursday evening. I just went back to the temple for the first time in over 20 years in January. It makes me feel so good to be there, so I try to go every week. I have to make up for a lot of lost time. Well, that’s about it for our family for now. I keep praying that my kids will have the desire to go back to church. I was told that when you go to the temple, your children are blessed. I’m trusting that’s true. So, everyone, take care!
