Our Family

Every month our church puts out a newsletter. We have a lady in the church that thoroughly enjoys interviewing and writing a little 'biography' of the families in our church. This month we were chosen. This newsletter comes out in a week or two, but here's the final draft on the story of us.

Thought y'all might enjoy reading it!

By Mary Wagoner-Angelin

The family has shared their family talents with Ooltewah church since 2005. Steve, Doreen, Joelle and Natalie love to serve the Lord and do so joyfully.

Steven ‘Steve’ was born in Englewood, Colorado on May 7. He has twin sisters that are a few years younger than him. He was raised in an Adventist home and received an Adventist education. He graduated from Campion Academy in 1989. Following Academy Steve went to Southwestern Adventist College in Keene, Texas. On the first day of school in his freshman year he met his future wife, Doreen. During their time at the college they met Kalvin and Kristine Follett who later would connect Steve with a job and introduce them to the Ooltewah Church.

Doreen was born in Mexico, Missouri on May 8 (a year later than Steve). She has an older sister. She was also raised Adventist. Her family lived in the area and her father taught at Southern Missionary College. Doreen attended Spalding elementary from grades 3 through 7 when the family moved to Texas. She graduated from Chisholm Trail Academy in 1989.

In 1993, Steve graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Broadcasting. Doreen graduated the same year with a Bachelors of Science degree in Medical Technology. Following graduation, Steve and Doreen were married July 18, 1993. The first adventure they would take together following school was to move to Southern Illinois. Steve had gotten a broadcasting job at 3ABN as the master control operator for the night shift and then worked in production as an audio engineer and editor. Steve says,”during my time there it was amazing to watch it grow from twelve downlinks to almost 100.” He worked at 3ABN for three years. While they were there Doreen worked as a Medical Technologist and lab supervisor at a local clinic.

Steve and Doreen described themselves as planning people and one of their plans was to start a family. Part of that plan included getting their finances in order. From 1996-2000 they were owner operators of a moving truck for United Van Lines. Steve utilized his driving experience he had gotten during his college summers when he drove with his father for Montana Conference Transportation. While Steve drove, Doreen kept track of inventory and the condition of the articles being moved. She also helped with loading the truck. The time working for the moving company was a blessing for them. They were able to visit family and friends across the country, see lots of the beauty and special sights in America and get completely out of debt. They also experienced the blessing of traveling extensively. They traveled to every continental state except Michigan. They moved just over a million and a half pounds of furniture during the time they were movers.

In January of 2000, Steve took a job to become the Production Director for the North American Division’s Radio Network called LifeTalk. His first assignment, however, was to physically move LifeTalk from Yakima, Washington to Vonore, Tennessee. After that task was completed he did real radio work like making spots, audio editing, preparing live talk shows and on air engineering. Later he was promoted to create and manage the new television department. Doreen worked for almost a year as receptionist with LifeTalk. During this time they had Joelle on April 20, 2001 in Sweetwater, Tennessee then 18 months later had Natalie on October 31, 2002 in Sweetwater, TN. Doreen stayed home with the children.

In October 2005, Steve was hired at McKee Foods as a truck driver. Doreen laughingly said, “another way of looking at it is he’s a snack cake relocation specialist.” As Steve drives the truck Doreen is working on becoming a dental hygienist. She attends Chattanooga State and will complete the program by April 2009. She specifically chose the dental hygiene profession to have an income without being on call, flexible hours and not having to work weekend or holiday shifts.

Steve and Doreen are competing with each other to see who will get to the last states they are missing to have gone to all 50. Steve has been to Alaska and Doreen has not, and Doreen has been to Hawaii but Steve has not. In the meantime, Steve enjoys eating Doreen’s gluten and Doreen enjoys eating mangos.

When they began attending the Ooltewah church they got involved with the Adventurers club. Doreen can be found helping lead in the Adventurer song service and the church family sing. She shares her musical talents through song and playing several instruments. She can play the marimba, French horn and guitar. Steve helps out with taking pictures for Adventurers and operating the church P.A. system. They typically attend first service and go to the young adult Sabbath School class.

Joelle attends the Kindergarten Sabbath school class. She has been home schooled by Doreen and will be attending 1st grade at OAKS in the fall. She loves horses and strawberries. Natalie, on the other hand, loves princess things and cucumbers. She also attends the Kindergarten Sabbath School class and will be starting at OAKS this fall in pre-Kindergarten.

Together as a family they enjoy Geocaching, biking, swimming, camping and serving the Lord. The family plans to go to a family reunion this May in Oklahoma. In August they plan on traveling to the Boundary Waters on the boarder of Minnesota and Canada for a camping trip with Doreen’s sister and family.

This family is a blessing to the Ooltewah church. If you have not met them take a moment to do so. They have a healthy sense of humor and their joy is overflowing.