An Ounce of Blood, April 4, 2012

An ounce of blood is worth more

than a pound of friendship.

~Spanish proverb

Hello Family and Friends,

Greetings for a second time during this week of Easter as we celebrate important events in the life of our family.  

Happy Birthday James! Birthday wishes today go out to James Sauvage, husband of my niece Kelly Shepard Sauvage. James came into our family 11 years ago when he and Kelly were married in San Diego. They now live in Weatherford, Texas with their 2 sons Nate and Kyle.

Happy Birthday Jim Gower! Another "Jim birthday" in our family today on April 4 is that of my cousin Jim Gower, whose date of birth, 4-4-44, has always made his birthday easy to remember. He is the second child of my aunt and uncle Hank and Starlene Gower and the second grandchild of Leroy and Nola Shannon Gower. 

Jimmie was born and raised in San Diego but lives today with his wife Cheryl (see first picture) in Fort Mojave, Arizona, along the Colorado River. Jim and Cheryl are the parents of one son, Tim, who teaches and coaches at North Monterey County High School in Castroville, California. They are also the proud grandparents of Tim's one son, Dane Gower, who turns 11 this year.

The second picture taken in San Diego, is an oldie from about 1947 and shows Jimmie on the left with his older brother Hershell and their grandmother Nola Gower. Jimmie and Hershell were both born in San Diego during WWII and were the first two of the 12 grandchildren of Nola and her husband Leroy Gower. Nola was a 44 year old grandmother of 3 at the time (Gary Shepard being the 3rd grandchild) and is dressed in this picture, along with her grandboys, as if this might have been Easter Sunday. Nola and Leroy were regular in attendance at the Balboa Park Baptist Church in San Diego.

Happy Birthday today, to Ciara Ortiz! Ciara is the first born of Jeremy and Desiree Ortiz of Blue Springs, Missouri. She is also the first grandchild of Kim Boyd Clark, and the first Ggrandchild of Terry and Thelma Shepard Boyd of Gallup, New Mexico. This, of course, makes Ciara one of the GGgrandchildren of Will and Bura Davis Shepard.

The third picture shows birthday girl Ciara with her sister Ashlyn on the right, and her 3rd cousin Emma Wilk on the left.

Mom Desiree: Ciara will be turning 10 this Wednesday, April 4! She sure is growing fast! Time goes by so fast when you are a parent :) Ciara will be celebrating her birthday here in Missouri with family at her favorite BBQ restaurant, Famous Dave's!

Best wishes to these three and their families as they celebrate these milestones in their lives.
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Steve