Let me see if I can catch up on a few things since it has been so long since I have written. Charles and Terri had a little boy named Charles Justin... he will be 8 years old in August. We have spent a lot of time with him, keeping him on weekends and takin him on trips with us. We love him a lot and he feels like one of my own. Charles and Terri divorced soon after he was born and Charles had him every other week... and since Charles lived with us that meant we were able to be real close to him.
It was hard for me to move away and leave him, but we write and talk on the phone and he is coming out to visit this summer. Charles got a really good job with US Air and has been working for them for the past 9 years or so (Charles also works part time at a garage). Charles has been married twice since he and Terri divorced. He and Kelli had a little boy named Colton... her new husband adopted Colton... Terri wouldn't allow Charles to see Colton (with excuses like, "It would upset the child and confuses him since he looked at her new husband as his father... and called him "Dad". There are no other children (from Charles's marriages). Charles still has Justin every other week end. Charles still hasn't come back to church... I keep hoping and praying that he will. He is a good hearted person and still willing to help others. He lives alone in a little apartment and works... but thinks he may be laid off from his work at U.S. Air in June - I hope not.
John - John served a really great mission in the St. Louis, Mo. Mission... and was in a Church video - "Called to Serve." He came home and went back to BYU for about a semester... then went to Alaska and worked on a fishing barge for a year or so... then came home and started his own business as a Stock Broker while working nights at a restaurant. He has bought himself a nice little condo and has spent his time & money fixing it up really nice.
He doesn't go to Church any more either... because he works on Sunday... and I think it is because he doesn't have a car + he won't let his pride ask for a ride. John likes to go to the Hawaiian Islands every summer for his vacation. He flew out here to Utah in January to see us... we really enjoyed his visit. He is a good boy (MAN) and lives all the commandments. We really have good children and I wouldn't trade any one of them... we have been very blessed.
Donna - Donna came to Utah to attend BYU. She met Mike Staker, they were married and now have three little girls (and is expecting another baby in July). She is still a beautiful, sweet, kind girl. Her children are also cute and smart... she spends a lot of time teaching them the gospel and about Heavenly Father... they know all the Primary songs that we use in these days;;; at least Ashley and Michelle do... Rachel is still too young, but she is learning to say lots of words and does actions with the songs. Donna got her Teaching degree in December of last year... that is one of the reasons we moved out here (to take care of her children... so that she could finish the course work for her degree). Her husband, Mike) is in medical school - so they are really busy and we can help in the baby sitting area.
Danni - Danni is so pretty...I don't think she has the slightest idea as to how pretty she is... her face & teeth just remind me of a movie star sometimes and I don't think she knows it. She is beautiful in other ways too. She came to Utah and attended BYU. She was an honor student in high school and was in the honor society. She left BYU and went to Morehead State University in Kentucky to get her Nursing Degree. We are way proud of her. She has had some hard times and trials in her young life but she is going to do just fine.
It has been interesting to watch her handle some large debts... she has paid almost every dime on her own and it couldn't have been easy, but she hasn't complained. She will have it all paid in the next couple of months... that makes me proud to know that my baby can do it. She is the other reason we moved out here... so we could be near her. It has been good seeing her and Donna together and how they care for each other. Especially Danni... how she cares for Donna's family. She sure does love those little girls - and they love her. She is really good to them, always buying clothes for them & Donna seems to appreciate Daniela's help.
Don - Don retired from IBM... he worked completed 25 years with them and they offered a year's pay and an additional 5 years service credit to anyone willing to retire early... he took it and ran! He worked at several odd jobs to keep us afloat until he was old enough to start drawing his pension. Carl retired from the Army and came down to visit us and thought the two of them should go to Truck Driving School and make that a career... Don did - and it lasted about a month of On the Road... neither of us liked him being gone all the time.
His next major work experience was teaching Driver's Education for high school youth - it was the easiest job in the world (he did this for a couple of years). He also worked for the Police Department in some clerical area for three or four years. Here in Utah he worked for Phast Corporation (a small electronic company) and then for Deluxe Check Printing Company... taking his retirement at the end of year 2001.
Donna's children have him wrapped around their fingers... especially Rachel, she is a Papa's girl - she wants him to hold and play with her all the time. He has plans to make his barn into a nursery - so as to have something to do when he really retires. He also is planning on having a big garden this year.
Me - Anna - I have been teaching reading in kindergarten and first grade (specifically to "At Risk Children") for a few years - I loved that job. I also substituted before that to help the children buy books & things in college. I have been in Stake & Ward Relief Society President (off and on) for many years and loved it. Our move to Utah has been different. I have no sense of direction & haven't learned my way around a lot... I can get where I need to go and that is about all.
I baby sat for Donna so she could finish school & then she had another baby (a boy). She has been really sick these past few months and it has been good that I am here to help... with Mike in Medical School, he didn't have much time to help around the house. Donna had an inner ear infection, sinus infection, kidney infection and strep throat... so we all were just about worn out, but Danni was really good to come home on her days off and "give a hand"... I don't know what we would have done without her. She is so good to Donna & her children. She keeps them dressed in good clothes and buys everything for them... Donna is "blessed" to have her around at this time of need.
We like our new ward... Don is the High Priest Group Leader and I am the Assistant Compassionate Service Leader. We have made some good new friends and miss all our old ones in Charlotte. We are fixing up our new home and enjoying the large back yard... I like being outside and all the flowers and garden potential... we just have to get the Knack of this irrigation system.
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