Treasuring the Small Things, December 12, 2015

The one who treasures the small things in life 

has found the path to true happiness.

~Kim Clark's Motto

Advent and Christmas is a time with special meaning for children. When I saw this holiday picture I could not pass up the opportunity to share it here in The Shepard's Crook. 

Taken earlier this month, this picture shows Santa and the four grandchildren of my brother Darrell Shepard and his wife Mary of Bothell, Washington. From left to right in the picture are Kellan Shepard (parents Rachel and Brian), Finley Shepard (parents Christopher and Jessica), and brothers Logan and Mason Shepard.

Happy First Birthday to Mason Shepard! Mason, the little one on the far right in the picture above with Santa, celebrates his first birthday today! With his big brother Logan, they are the sons of Patrick and Nicole Shepard of Bothell, Washington. 

This second image is of one-year-old Mason in a picture taken about a week ago. Thanks to Nicole for sharing this picture and for the update below.

Nicole: Mason is doing great! Can't believe he is one year old already! He is a very happy boy! Just about walking; and taking 10-15 steps at a time. He is VERY busy and into everything! Keeps us hopping! He is so much fun though. We are having a big "winter ONEderland" themed birthday party for him this weekend (today!).  It's going to be fun!

The Birth of Calvin Drinks. Congratulations to my cousin Joan Shepard and her wife Dee Shannon of Dixon, California who on Thursday celebrated the birth of their first grandchild, Calvin Robert Drinks. Calvin is the first child of Ryan and Robyn Drinks of Chico, California. Best wishes to baby Calvin, his parents, and his whole family who are thrilled to welcome this first member of the next generation in their family. This picture shows Calvin being held by his proud daddy Ryan at just a few hours old.

In Memory of Duen Ouk (1942-2015). It is surprising how often our joys and sorrows, the births and deaths, the happiness and the tears, seem to go hand in hand. It is with sadness that I report the death of the mother of our daughter-in-law Chenda Sou Shepard. Chenda, who has been in the U.S. now for almost 7 years, lives with husband Nathan and their 3 children here in San Diego. Last week on December 4, her mom Duen Ouk passed away in the family home village of Kampong Speu, Cambodia, after a long illness. 

Chenda went to Cambodia just a few weeks ago to visit her family and spend time with her ailing mother. Chenda's father died just last year, so this is a double loss in a relatively short period of time. 

This picture from 2008 shows both Chenda's parents, Duen Ouk and Penh Sou, at their home in Kampong Speu. Native Cambodians, they spent almost 35 years together, through some incredibly difficult times, among which were the desperate years of the Khmer Rouge and "the killing fields". Their family legacy includes several sons and daughters, and numerous grandchildren in Cambodia, Australia, and the United States. Among their grandchildren are our grandchildren Preslea, Logan and William Shepard. Our prayers and best wishes go out to Chenda and her whole family.
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Steve Shepard

Respect and Joy In Each Other’s Life, August 23, 2015

The bond that links
your true family

is not one of blood,

but of respect and joy

in each other’s life.
-Richard Bach

Greetings to all of you from Anacortes, Washington where Cindy and I and our grandson Logan from San Diego are visiting family here.

Yesterday was our bi-annual family reunion, this year in Bothell, Washington. Many thanks to Patrick and Nicole Shepard for opening their home to this family event. 20 of us gathered in the sunshine of the Great Northwest to renew the ties that bind us and enjoy one another's company. This first picture shows the whole group, from left to right Pam, Logan A, Barbara, Steve, Pat, Logan J, Mason, Nicole, Darrell, Mary, Maida, Gary, me, Cindy1, Rachel, Kellan and Brian. At the bottom left are Russ, Linda and Cindy2.

The food was great, the fellowship was wonderful, the family updates were many, and the memories we shared all helped to make it a special event. The ages of those who were there ranged from 90 years old (Maida Shepard of Anacortes, Wa.) to 8 months old (Mason Shepard of Bothell, Wa.). This second picture shows the two youngest members of the group, Kellan (11 month old son of Rachel and Brian) and Mason (8 month old son of Pat and Nicole).

We had family from Anacortes, Oak Harbor, Seattle, and elsewhere in Washington, as well as from San Diego. This third picture shows the senior member of our family, Maida Shepard, with her 5 children.

Happy Birthday Amanda! This coming Tuesday, Aug 25, is the 32nd birthday of Amanda Ortiz Davis of El Cajon, California. Amanda is the daughter of Kim Boyd Clark and the granddaughter of Thelma Shepard Boyd, of Blue Springs, Mo. Amanda was born in Gallup, New Mexico and lived much of her life in San Diego before moving to Missouri just a couple of years ago. She and husband Justin Davis moved back home to El Cajon recently.

Amanda: Yes, the big 3-2 birthday is rapidly approaching! Justin and I moved back to El Cajon last month and we are loving it! He says that's my birthday present lol we are just living and loving life while soaking up the California sun. The picture was taken 2 weeks ago when we took Justin on his first trip to Disneyland. 

The Disneyland selfie shows Justin and Amanda (upper right) with brother Jeremy Ortiz, "Goofy" nephew Damian, and sister Desiree Ortiz.
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Steve Shepard

"Wake Up and Live!" April 14, 2015

Don't bury your thoughts,

put your vision to reality.

Wake Up and Live!

-Bob Marley

Happy Birthday today to Rachel Shepard! My niece Rachel with Brian Miller are the parents of 6 month old Kellan Shepard, one of the newest members of our family. They and Rachel's parents Darrell and Mary Shepard live in Bothell, Washington, as does Rachel's brother Patrick Shepard and his family.

28 years ago Rachel was born in Helena, Montana, but has lived most of her life in the state of Washington. Rachel stays busy these days not only as the mother of little Kellan, but also as the director of the Business Office of Brookdale Senior Living facility in Seattle.

The first picture shows Rachel and Brian with son Kellan in a picture taken last fall.

Just a few days ago was Sibling's Day, an occasion that did not go unnoticed in this blog. I mentioned that the senior siblings among us are Vicki Gower Johnston and her sister Maida Gower Shepard (Rachel's grandmother).

Junior Siblings. This blog is not only concerned with genealogical matters and our senior members, it also has an eye to the newest and youngest ones in our family. It seems only fair then to mention that two of Maida Shepard's Great Grandchildren are the junior siblings in our extended family. They also happen to be the nephews of Rachel Shepard. 

Logan Joseph Shepard (21 months old) and his young brother Mason (6 months old) are the youngest pair of siblings in our family. They are the children of Patrick Shepard and Nicole Haw Shepard, also of Bothell, Washington. Logan was born in the summer of 2013, while his little brother Mason was born just last fall. My brother Darrell and his wife Mary are their proud grandparents.

This second picture shows junior siblings Mason and Logan in a picture that was posted on Facebook about a week ago. Notice that Logan and Mason are among the "youngest descendants" of our family, an updated section on the main screen of The Shepard's Crook website.

I mentioned a while back that we have had something of a baby boom in our family in the last 5 years. Mason and Logan are 2 of the last 4 born during this boom time. So from all indications they may be the junior siblings among us for the next few years. (Yet you never know...) 
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Steve Shepard