Father and son duo baking a legacy at cookie shop
Written by Raechal Leone, The Shreveport Times

Jamie Burns was on a stage in Beverly Hills, Calif., thousands of miles from his hometown of Haughton, when he decided to trade California for cookies.

His acting coach asked Burns, now 28, what was most important to him. Burns answered his family and -- at that moment -- realized that he wasn't where he wanted to be.

A few phone calls later, Burns and his wife, Julie, were on their way home to take the day-to-day operation of the family business, The Wooden Spoon bakery in Bossier City, off his father Henry's hands. (Mom Lynette has always kept the books.)

Today, Jamie and Henry live close enough to each other to spend holidays like Father's Day together -- probably working, but together. Henry estimated the bakery sells 8,000 to 10,000 gift baskets each year.

"I really enjoyed the business as a kid growing up," Jamie said. But it took his part-time work at a California YMCA to supplement his acting income and hearing from actors who were in search of more than a career to make Jamie really appreciate his close-knit clan.

The Burns family, including Henry and wife Lynette and children Jason, Chris, Jamie and Carrie Beth, is one of those rare families who made a point to sit down to breakfast and dinner together; they still meet for Sunday dinners.