Joe and Shayla
December 2007
Ready for the Winter Formal at the Stake Center.
Our stake has 2 formal dances a year for the youth,
so that they can attend something a bit nicer than the
atmosphere of the school dances.
This was his first date, he said it was fun.

John's official Air Force picture.
Looks good huh?
He will be home for Christmas on Friday.

Maren's 7th grade picture taken in October 2007.
She auditioned for the All-City Middle school Orchestra a few days ago. When she got to school yesterday morning she found out that she had made it. Her orchestra teacher said it was just by the skin of her teeth. She and one other girl in her school are the only ones who made it. Pretty good for 7th graders.

Halloween Fun 2007

Everyone had a fun time this Halloween. Last weekend we went to a corn maze at night in the dark, with a full moon. Lots of carved jack-o-lanterns, and costumes. We had about 100 trick-or-treaters.

Next- The patio cover

After the greenhouse was done, Charlie started on the patio cover. It's finished size is 12 ft.x18 ft. I love it.

Greenhouse project in July

Charlie started building the greenhouse in the Spring, and got it finished in June.
It's really nice, has water piped into it, and a possibility of heating in Winter or early Spring.
There's a door on each side, with a brick pathway down the middle. I can put a little table and chairs in it now.

John left for Basic Training on Tuesday --He is at Lackland Air Force Base

This is an email that is a follow up to a phone call from the older sister missionary that called on Friday night, saying that they had met with John and that he was doing fine. These three are the LDS recruits that are new. They get to go to church for 2 hours on Sunday, so they meet at 1:30 for Sacrament meeting followed by Priesthood/Relief Society time.

13 October 2007

To The Family of Airman Basic

John Sheppard:

We are full-time missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in San Antonio, Texas. As part of our Church assignment, we had the opportunity to meet

John on Friday at the Base Chapel. He gave us permission to e-mail his address and a photo that was taken at that meeting. His address at Lackland AFB is:

AB Sheppard, John A.

331 TRS/FLT 037, Dorm A-9

PSC #3

1320 Truemper Street, Unit # 369551

Lackland AFB, TX 78236-5570

Graduation is scheduled for 23 November

2007. Graduation dates may change, therefore, we suggest that you confirm the graduation date with your trainee before purchasing tickets that cannot be modified. The following website gives considerable information about Basic Military Training (BMT) Graduation.

The plane he took. It is such a small airport. It opened in June with 2 Delta flights daily
between Salem and Salt Lake City. He stood in a line with about 20 other people, then
after they went through security they all walked out to the plane to board. We stood
outside the gates and watched and waited until the plane took off at about 6:15am.
When he got to Salt Lake there was a shuttle bus that he took from the airport to the MTC,

He says the days there are very very busy, and that he is learning a lot. He is really
enjoying the experience.

Scott's Day

On Tuesday evening before Scott flew out to the MTC, the Stake President came over to our house, with his wife. We talked for a short time, we were all asked to give Scott some advice, or something to think about. Then he was set apart as a missionary. These pictures were taken after they left. Then, since Scott had to live by mission rules, John took him (as his companion) out for deep-fried ice cream.



This picture was taken at the Salem Airport just before he boarded at about 6:45 am.

I figured no one cared but Scott told me I was wrong.

So....I am setting up a blog to post pictures, ramblings, events and other various things that we do around here. I have enjoyed all of the blogs that I have read; starting with Tera's, then Tiffany and then the other Tiffany's. I like to see your pics and be able to share a little bit of your life through your writings. I will see what I can do with this as time goes on.