A First Birthday, March 26, 2011

The future belongs

to those who give
the next generation

reasons to hope.

~Teilhard de Chardin

Hello Family and Friends,

Preslea Shepard

Greetings to all of you, wherever you may be, from Northern California where Cindy and I find ourselves on this rainy, first week of spring. 

Several members of our family have gathered here in the San Francisco Bay Area to celebrate a special occasion. Today is the first birthday of Preslea Maida Shepard, the granddaughter of Cindy and me, and the pride and joy of her parents Nathan and Chenda Shepard of Alameda, California. Preslea's maternal grandfather is Sou Penh, who lives in Kampong Speu, Cambodia.

Preslea and Family

Preslea is the youngest of the 10 GGgrandchildren of Will and Bura Davis Shepard, and also the youngest of the 10 GGgrandchildren of Leroy and Nola Gower. She is named after a certain singing legend, as well as her Ggrandmother Maida Gower Shepard.

The first picture, above, shows a smiling Preslea in her stroller. The second picture shows Preslea on her father's lap next to her mother Chenda. In the back are grandparents Cindy and I. Select this link to see a photoshow of Preslea's first year, including pictures of her family and friends and the birthday celebration.

These days, when she is not chasing their cat Socket around the apartment, Preslea enjoys walks with her mother to the playground of their local park, playing with her dad when he comes home from work in the evenings, and humoring her grandparents on our occasional visits from down south. 

Right now she is also enjoying the attention of her great aunt Barbara and her Ggrandmother Maida, who are visiting from Washington State. In a few months Preslea will welcome the arrival of a little brother, who is due to make an appearance in June.

- - -

Steve