Mark and Julie Richer: In a nutshell, 2010 was a challenging year for the Richer family, as Mark was laid off in May. However, I'm happy to report he was hired in January 2011 as an IT consultant for an international consulting firm. He provides technical support to the company's other employees in the US and abroad and is able to work from home, and so far he's really enjoying his new position. I am still working as an official court reporter for DC Superior Court and really like my co-workers and supervisors, which makes going to work a pleasure. We still enjoy living in Alexandria, VA, although we haven't put down roots yet, as we haven't yet been able to sell our house in Boulder. Fortunately, we have good tenants in Colorado that enable us to cover the mortgage and property taxes there while living in the east.

Eve moved to Spain last September to teach English in a small-town elementary school. Her contract runs out at the end of May, but she most likely will renew it to teach in Spain again next year, most likely in a different part of the country. She's hoping to be assigned to Barcelona or an area near there next year. She's also finishing up a documentary on head injuries that she filmed as a volunteer last summer when she was in DC, and she and her friend, Ben, are putting together a series of humorous webisodes which will debut online in May.

Diana and Allison are looking forward to graduating this May, Diana from Goucher College and Allison from University of San Francisco. Allison will receive a bachelor's in environmental science, and Diana will be getting her degree in philosophy. We're hoping to take a family vacation during the first part of June to celebrate their academic success and the end of an era of tuition payments. After that, we'll see where life takes them. Their future appears bright but is not yet well-defined.

Love to all of you,
Julie

Eve Richer: I wanted to send out a link to a project I am working on with a friend of mine. It is a comedy web series about an English teacher living in small-town Spain: www.pueblotheseries.com

 We have a teaser on the homepage and plan to release the episodes in May. I'd love to hear what you think. Also, if you have Facebook, you can "like" our fanpage which would make us very excited: www.facebook.com/pueblotheseries.

Thank you! Happy late new year to everyone.
Love,
Eve Richer (Julie's daughter)

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John Thompson Family

We are:  John and Maggie (Liu), with children Ben (28), Sam (27), Michelle (formerly Becky - 25), Jessie (24), and Sally (22, with hubby Devin).  Jessie has two daughters, Veronica (5), and Valerie (3).  Sally has one daughter, Amy (2).

John and Maggie are branch missionaries in the Seven Springs Chinese Branch, and also serve in the Oakland temple.  John does software at Sony Computer Entertainment (PS3), and Maggie does software at Microsoft (XBox).  John has also been working on a new website for learning languages, which he hopes to launch real soon now, and also helps the Elders teach a weekly English class.  They just got back from a vacation in Hawaii, and and already looking forward to another in Taiwan and Japan in the Summer of 2011.

Ben moved back from Salt Lake, works at a computer company in shipping, and translates apocryphal scriptures in his spare time.

Sam was released from the state hospital, and now lives in a great group home, and is doing very well now.  He loves growing tree seedlings and has begun studying web programming, and hopes to sell tree seeds on the internet.

Michelle works in accounting, and changed jobs not too long ago.  She also moved up the SF penninsula.  For fun she hangs out with her nieces, runs half-marathons, works out, sky-dived at least one, and hopes to buy a motorcycle soon.

Jessie moved back from Salt Lake, and has her hands full with her 2 daughters, Veronica and Valerie.

Sally and her husband Devin got their first apartment.  Devin will be graduating from college in computer science in the summer of 2011.  Sally has her hands full with their daughter Amy.

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I've enclosed some pictures, from Sally's wedding, granddaughters at the Children's Discovery museum, and Mom's (Nancy) funeral.

Thanks, -John

SALLY'S WEDDING

 GRAND-DAUIGHTERS VERONICA (AGE 5), VALERIE (AGE 3), AND AMY (AGE 2) AT THE DISCOVERY MUSEUM

 NANCY THOMPSON'S FUNERAL

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Barbara O'Nash

  I am still just working away here at the motel in White Bird.  I was fortunate  to have two of Shannon's kids spend some time with me.  I really enjoyed getting to know them.  Gracie was only four and Evan was a baby when I left Salt Lake.  Amanda's two boys will be coming up again this summer.  They are big enough now to help with some of the work.      

     I had my eyes checked last August and learned that I have the beginnings of cataracts.  At least I can get them repaired.  I have decided God probably didn't really plan on us living to a really ripe old age or he would have put it zerk fittings so we could squirt in a little WD40 occasionally.  My doctor use to tell me that at my age if I got up in the morning and it didn't hurt, it probably didn't work either.  Well, I'm here to tell you the older I get, the better it works.  It is hard for me to believe I will be 69 this year.  I complain a lot but I actually feel pretty good.  I take care of the motel which helps me keep from being a couch potato.  Kelly is living up here with me and he helps with the stuff I can't do. 

     I gave in last year and bought an economical car.  It's not what I would have liked but with gas prices going up again, I am glad to have it.  My business is mostly hunters, fisherman, and rafters so it depends a lot on the weather.  Early snow last winter caused a lot of cancelations as did the cold spell this spring but summer is coming and I have been completely booked up for White Bird Days in June since November last year.  That's a good thing.