Tater-Tot & Tuna Casserole

The Linen Which Once Held Him is Empty

2011-04-09T16:18:00.003-06:00

I am so excited to celebrate Easter. I love how it is in the spring! Flowers bloom and plants reappear -- all of it is symbolic of our Savior and how he conquered death.

During general conference, President Monson quoted a poem by Emily Harris. The words brought tears to my eyes.

The linen which once held Him is empty.

It lies there,

Fresh and white and clean.

The door stands opened.

The stone is rolled away,

And I can almost hear the angels singing His praises.

Linen cannot hold Him.

Stone cannot hold Him.

The words echo through the empty limestone chamber,

“He is not here.”

The linen which once held Him is now empty.

It lies there,

Fresh and white and clean

And oh, hallelujah, it is empty.

^{I am so grateful for this holiday season. May we each remember the reason we celebrate it .}

^{John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life."}

^{HAPPY EASTER!!}

Dave and Susan..... "PRESENT!"

2010-11-13T15:14:00.005-07:00

Hey Everyone!

If anyone is even still reading this =) It's been a long, long time! I checked our last post and the last time we updated this was MARCH.....

I guess it is time to update you on what is going on. So much has happened and so much has changed.

On September 13 of 2009, Dave left for Iraq. This rocked our boat quite a bit. I was a new mom and Dave was a new dad and we were being separated. Our biggest concern at the time was that Dave would miss all of those precious moments of Jack's life: Jack's first time using a spoon, his first time crawling, his first time walking. But we inched along.

In May of 2010, Dave came home for his two week break. I jumped out of the car at the airport and he caught me in a huge hug - his hug that I had been missing so very much - and then he actually dipped me, right there on the curb, and kissed me! Then I asked him if he was ready to see his son. He couldn't suppress a smile and we opened Jack's car door. Dave said, "Hey Buddy! I love you!" It was one of the most tender moments of my life. We had an awesome two weeks and then Dave had to leave again.

Dave finally came home, after about 12 months out, on August 31 2010. Jack and I waited at Ft. Lewis for about 5 hours before his unit marched in and I could see him. Before that, I had the lucky moment to talk to Dave on the phone and see him on the video they were streaming from the airport. He waved and I remember feeling this relieving excitement that it was finally over. However, it would take weeks before that finally sunk in to its full depth. As soon as we saw Dave, I handed Jack over to him and Jack was quite unsure. He didn't really understand or know who the "strange" man was. But later that day, I got the best video of Jack and him laughing hysterically at each other while they played with a straw. It was as if they never skipped a beat, friends, father and son, finally reunited. It was one of the best moments of my life.

Now that Dave is home, and has been for 2 1/2 months, it has been an adjustment. I think for everyone on the outside of this experience it went by quickly. Even for me there are moments when it seems like it never happened. That he's been here all along. But then there are other moments when I'm reminded of how hard it was. How unhappy I was while he was away. But, like after all hard experiences are over, there is something to be said, and I'm always sure of this fact: we survived. We made it. It IS over!

So, as we acclimate to becoming a family again and try and focus once again on those who are important to us, we may be more consistent with our blog...

Maybe.

We love you all and are so grateful for everything you did for us and helped us with during this hard time in our lives. We could not have done it without you.

Dave, Susan, Jack, and Sam

Jack Jack

2010-03-20T19:31:00.002-06:00

Here is an update on my little guy. He's 8 months old now and growing up so fast! I love motherhood!

Leftovers for Mom! Gratitude Anyone?

2010-01-15T15:31:00.005-07:00

If any of you moms are like me, and hopefully you're not, I find that one of my biggest challenges is finding the time and inclination to eat. There are so many times when I don't have the will to go to the store or to prepare a meal, service for one.

Weaknesses aside..

I have discovered nothing more exhilarating than leftovers on a day when I'm starving. Now I know it's not really "starving." But you tell me how to function on an empty stomach when my metabolism is already so fast (I literally have to eat 4 to 5 meals a day to keep up with myself). Nursing moms burn so many calories just by nursing that they need extra.
I tell you, sometimes, I am starving.

But at that moment...
you know, the moment. The moment when you're wondering what you can quickly eat so you can then function enough to feed the baby. The moment when you open your fridge and you get that feeling of immense joy when you see that bowl of whatever waiting patiently for you (all it takes is a few minutes in the microwave!)

In this case, it was a strange concoction of packaged alfredo noodles on rice with a broccoli twist. And because that was too bland a shredded cheese topping just to add some flavor. It's amazing what can really spice up your day or in this case just make you extremely grateful. Anything to get rid of that thriving pain in your stomach right?

Although lunch was good - but only because I was "starving" - nothing compares to that little man who puts a true smile on my face. He is my reason for eating. My reason for eating horrible mixtures of starch and veggies loaded with cheese. He is my Honey Bear. And because of him, I am so grateful...even for leftovers =)

Jack's First Christmas

2010-01-13T22:49:00.003-07:00

Jack, Sam and I were able to go to Utah for the holidays. It was a lot of fun to see family, friends, and especially celebrate Jack's first Christmas. We also had many new adventures but will only share the major ones. Needless to say, we came back to WA with a carload! Now on to the pics!

Jack is very close to crawling! The last month he's really been working hard.

He started eating rice cereal! He also really likes the applesauce.

Jack and his very first stocking!

Santa Baby!

The Priesthood in Iraq

2009-12-22T12:31:00.003-07:00

This past Sunday I was privileged to witness and participate in a truly historic event. Let me set it up first: the Sunday before Thanksgiving the Baghdad District of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was established with the headquarters in Baghdad. I was present in my group at Camp Taji to sustain the new District Presidency. Well, this past Sunday the first two Branches were officially organized in Baghdad at Victory Base Complex and at Camp Taji. Once again I was present in my regular group, now a Branch, to sustain the Branch Presidency. The Priesthood, leading the restored and true church of the Savior has been returned to a region of the world where it hasn't been present for thousands of years. The Spirit was present in our little meeting and blessings were poured out. What a privilege to be a part of this wonderful event. The picture is of our group (I'm the furthest person on the left). "This Church will fill North and South America; it will fill the world." - Joseph Smith Jr.

Lifestyles of the Armed and Infamous

2009-09-29T07:25:00.002-06:00

I've been in Iraq for about a week now preparing for the rest of my Battalion to come up and join me (and the 10 or so other guys that are here with me). Since nothing very exciting is going on I'll just post up some pictures of where I'm living.

This is the front (and only) door to my "CHU" (Combat Housing Unit). It is flanked by my sand bags and my A/C unit. Look, I even have a little porch light. Don't worry, there is a window on the back wall so I can quietly sneak out when my commander comes looking for me ;).

Here is my "Study" with my wing-backed chair, book case, and ottoman (where my computer is resting). You can also see one of my armoires in the left side of the photo. The door is just to the left of that on the adjacent wall. My window is on the wall to the right.

About 3 feet to the right of my study is the Master Suite with its roomy and supportive extra-long twin and and 3-drawer dresser. My second armiore is just out of the frame to the right. Don't be fooled into thinking that I have a really thick mattress. The one you see exposed is the second bed in the room that I stuffed under my bed to make room for the study.

And there you have it. I'm thinking that after they take away the sandbags in the next few week I'll plant a little garden outside. I think that if I put down a Persian rug in the study and maybe tape a poster or two on the wall I can qualify for the Parade of Homes next year.

I'll try to actually get some pictures of myself posted up soon (I know that's what you are REALLY looking for...) and give you a little more detail about where I am exactly once the rest of the Battalion gets here.

-DAVE-

Kuwait is....sandy.

2009-09-23T00:19:00.006-06:00

Well, I've been here for a little over a week now and am currently in Iraq. However, I wanted to post some pictures from Kuwait and the journey up to this point. Kuwait was hot! 110-ish during the day and only slightly cooler at night. Then only thing I really saw was a lot of sand and a herd of camels. We did a little bit of training there and went to the pistol/rifle range to make sure we could still hit stuff (that's a good thing to be able to do here). Other than that, there really wasn't much to it. Now I'm in Iraq getting ready to receive the rest of my Battalion (I came a little bit early to get things ready for them). I'll let you all know where I am after the Battalion gets here safely.

I also want to say "thank you" to everyone. I know that you have been praying for my family and me and doing little things to make us (especially Susan and Jack) feel a little better and make our lives a little easier. The little things go a very long way and you'll never really know how deeply appreciative I am, again, thank you.

Also, I want to publicly thank Susan. She is such an anchor in my life. There is no way that I could undertake this endeavor without her strength -- she is the Flying Butress to my Cathedral Wall. ;-) There aren't many women who can let their husbands go for a year and still function with a 3-month old and a crazy, huge dog. I love you!

On to the pictures!

Here we are waiting at McChord Air Force Base (for the second time) before we boarded our plane. We also spent the night in Maine that night because our plane broke down.

Here is a group of my medics standing around joking after the shooting range (all 5 of these guys are part of my platoon). P.S. Medics love cookies!

Here is a picture from the shooting range. This is pretty much what Kuwait looks like. Just over the hill in the distance was a large herd of camels.

These tents are where I lived for my week in Kuwait. The next day we had a very windy sand storm and you couldn't see the tent next to yours during the middle of the day...crazy. The worst part of that storm was when I was about 1 mile from my tent and my eyewear fell into a port-o-john right after I had utilized it. The walk back without eye-protection was not very much fun. It was good for a laugh though.

Here is my mailing address. I should be ready to receive mail by October. Anything is welcome, but if you have a question about something, you can pass it through Susan to me and I'll let you know. From what I've heard it takes about 9-ish days for the mail to get here. Make sure you do not write "Iraq" anywhere on the packaging or it will go through the Iraq national postal service and I'll either get an empty box 2 months after you sent it, or I won't get anything at all.

1LT Shepard, David W
2-23 IN, HHC
APO AE 09378

Love you all!!

Blessings

2009-09-09T13:20:00.005-06:00

Over the weekend we were able to go to Utah to have our little son blessed in front of family and friends. Here is Jackson in his blessing suit!

This is Jackson David Shepard and Amelia Mae Lackey in their church clothes. Too cute!

A few pics of guests who came to the blessing are in the following three pictures! It was good to see you all!

We also got to see my little sister Ally's baptism. She just turned 8 and was so excited to be baptized! She was confirmed the same day that we blessed Jack. It was a very special day at church for our family!

Also, on Monday I was able to buy a laptop with a webcam so Dave and I can video-call each other while he is overseas. I am grateful for technology - it will be the way that I can see my husband's face while he is gone.

This is just the latest news. Will post again soon!

5 Weeks Old! And Other Fun Things

2009-08-19T12:55:00.011-06:00

On Wednesday Jackson was 5 weeks old. Here is a fun little video of him! Click the link to view. Please ignore my use of "good boy" to both Jack AND the dog. It's a habit from having Sam in the house first! (Believe me, I'm trying to break it). Also, don't be alarmed that his toys are going to hit him...they won't!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9a9tlST9Pk

Here are some other fun pics!

One of Jack's stroller rides

Jack got to meet some of our friends!

When we went to Utah we got to see some of our friends. We miss all of you guys! Here we are at Cold Stone. Amanda is holding Jack for this picture.

Meet Jackson

2009-07-21T19:03:00.008-06:00

On Wednesday July 15 at 5:57 p.m., the Shepard flock expanded by 33%. Little Jackson David came into the world on his own schedule (1 1/2 weeks late). He weighed in at 8 lbs., 5 ozs. and measured 20 inches long. After a few nights in the hospital we all came home on Friday afternoon. Both our families were here to help us out and meet the their new grandson/nephew/cousin. It was great having them here. So far Jackson is a bit of a night-owl...yea! The big guy spends most of the day just lounging around, eating, and giving mommy and daddy plenty of practice with diaper-changing. We love him so much and are so happy he is finally with us, so far it looks like his little personality fits in perfectly. Even Sam loves him and likes to give his head a little lick every now and then...oh boy, a new buddy. Enough with the chat, let's see the pictures. (Warning: there are a lot of pictures!)

Jackson David Shepard - just hours old

Jackson strrettccchhhheedd out!

Mom and Baby

Dad and Baby
New Parents! Our Family minus Sam (they don't let dogs in the hospital)
Grandma Char and Grand-dad ShepardGrandma and Grandpa RoyallAuntie Stefanie!

Uncle ZachAunt AllyAunt CandaceCousin CallieCousin Camryn

First Day Home, "Relaxin' Jackson"His "Mr. Serious" Face, "Action Jackson"

The World's Best Vacation Spot...

2009-07-02T12:25:00.002-06:00

Well, I just got home from Ft. Polk, Louisiana where my Battalion was on a month-long exercise with the rest of our Brigade. We were there to test and train ourselves and our systems for our upcoming deployment to Iraq. Despite the 105-112 degree ambient temperatures, the training was good and I actually had a little bit of fun. During five of the days we were there we were engaged in a "war" where we went up against an insurgent force. So, it was as realistic as it could have been. By the time the dust had settled, our battalion had done better there than any unit that the Trainers could remember. Not too bad.

This is a picture of my platoon's sleeping area in the Aid Station taken from my cot. We had A/C...can't complain.

This me in the back of one of my MEVs (Medical Evacuation Variant of the STRYKER) calling in a MEDEVAC bird for one of our wounded. On one of the radios I'm talking with the MEDEVAC pilot and on the other I'm talking with our TOC (Tactical Operations Center). Sometimes I was talking with both at the same time.

Here is the incoming MEDEVAC bird.

Overall, despite the fact that it was over 100 by 7am everyday, it wasn't too bad. I don't ever want to go back there though. :)

-DAVE-

For All You Moms or Moms-To-Be

2009-06-29T12:24:00.006-06:00

Claudia Cash sent me these links in an email and they were so hilarious I just had to post them so everyone could see. Hillary Weeks, an LDS composer, is extremely talented and wrote these songs. So for all of you moms and moms-to-be out there...enjoy!!

http://deseretbook.com/video/view/209

http://deseretbook.com/video/view/62

http://deseretbook.com/video/view/61

"WE CAN DO IT"

Twilight Central...Forks, WA

2009-06-13T14:40:00.005-06:00

This week my friend Brittney flew down from SLC to hang out with me. While she was here we decided to go on a little adventure to the area where Twilight takes place...FORKS!

Brittney and Me!

Me and Brittney on the pacific coast on our way to Forks.

Now entering...FORKS!

Forks High School, home of the Spartans!

Forks Hospital - Dr. Carlisle Cullen's place of work.
We then made our way to La Push which is just down the road. This sign was posted on the way.La Push Beach. They actually filmed some of the movie at this very beach!We couldn't go to Forks and not come home with SOMETHING Twilight, so we got these baseball tees that say "Cullen's Baseball." This shirt is in my pre-pregnancy size: one of my incentives to lose most if not all of the weight I've gained!Overall, it was an awesome little trip. After we got home we popped in the movie and watched it. Now we're dying to see the 2nd movie, New Moon. AH!

Dave's 26th Birthday Party!

2009-06-04T13:11:00.005-06:00

Dave is now in Louisiana for training. He left on Wednesday the 3rd and will be gone until...well, no one really knows, but sometime in July. We are just hoping that his return is sooner rather than later! Unfortunately, Dave will be gone for his birthday on June 6th so we threw a party for him the night he had to leave.

I know it's technically not your birthday yet, but happy birthday, Dave! I love and miss you!

Dave's baseball birthday cake!

He's thinking of a wish....

...and he blows! (26 candles! woohoo!)

from L to R (more like from further away to close up): Candace, (Cam is hiding), and Cal
Probably Dave's favorite present: a Dremel (basically it's a rotary tool w/ lots of head attachments for different jobs)Happy Birthday!

Please Accept My Apology...

2009-05-28T12:16:00.008-06:00

Hey Everyone,

At the beginning of the year, I set out to remember everyone's birthday so I could call or send something. I have failed miserably with this new year's resolution. MISERABLY! And I am sorry. I will try and do better. But please know this: I think about ALL of you all the time. I am always wondering how you're doing and wondering what is new your lives, and I miss you all terribly! And I am sorry for not being the friend I should.

Next, I have lots of pictures to post. Lots of things have happened in the last couple of months and it's been quite the whirlwind.
First of all, I should inform you all that we have moved! Just down the street and around the corner moved, but we have a new address:

8708 Christa Dr. NE

Lacey, WA 98516

On to the pics!

This is Dave and his mom. She came to visit for a few days and we were so happy to see her! (I woke her up the night before she had to leave so we could snap some pics. Sorry mom!)

Near our new house is a place that we call "The Retentions." Rain water collects and forms these giant ponds. We take Sam there to play and run around and it's great because we take him off leash. This is Sam and Dave's Rock. They love climbing up on it together and playing hide and seek around the bushes. I love my boys!

This is me and my mom. My mom got to visit shortly after Dave's mom was here. It was also great to see her! She got to feel Jackson move and kick and I was really happy that she got to experience it with me, even if it was for a short time.

For our 3rd anniversary, Dave got us a 2 night stay on Whidbey Island in a small tourist town called Langley. It was great! We took a ferry to the San Juan Islands and got to look at some tide pools on the coast. This is Dave pointing out some of the creatures we saw.
This is me being daring and going against everything my mother would say had she been there. I climbed down the rocks so I could see the tide pools. I didn't fall or anything! In fact, I realized how much I miss running and playing sports. With that said, I can't wait until the baby is born so I can go hiking again! (Mom Char, family camping trip to the Tetons next summer. We must go!)
Sheered Alpacas we saw on Orcas Island. I want one....
Dave "steering" the ferry.
Me with the Sorting Hat from Harry Potter. There is a cute children's bookstore in Langley and upstairs they have a hat room.
My Hero!
Just a general update: we are 33 weeks along now, doing very well, gaining weight, and getting ready for some major changes: Dave leaves for training in Louisiana on June 4 and could be gone until July 12, the baby will be born and blessed at some point, and then Dave leaves for Iraq in September and will be gone for a year. There are so many things happening right now but I am so grateful for my family and friends. I'm especially grateful for Dave and all that he does for our family. And I'm really, really grateful for the gospel. There are just some things I wouldn't be able to do without it! We love you all! Keep us posted on how things are going.

Everyone Loves a Little Yak

2009-05-05T19:10:00.010-06:00

Well, for the past 2 weeks-ish I have been in Yakima, WA at the Yakima Training Center with my unit getting ready for Iraq. It was really hot a few days, really windy a few days, and snowed a few of the other days. All-in-all, it was much better than being back on post -- the field is usually like that. My guys got some good training and it was a success. I threw in some pictures of our convoys from Fort Lewis to Yakima and back because I was put in charge of organizing them and coordinating it with the state. There were 9 convoys going up and 7 coming back. So, enough with the chatter, here are the pictures:

This is part of the convoy I was riding in on the way to Yakima.

Here are some of my guys relaxing during a rest stop. (L to R: Wissman, Kelly, Momberger)

Here is the inside of one of my MEVs (Medical Evacuation Variant of the Stryker) The litters (stretchers) on the left and right are about 7 feet long each and it's about 10-12 feet wide inside.

Here is one of the targets we used during training -- of course it's politically correct...

This is me in my gear with my M4 rifle, M9 pistol, Kevlar vest, etc.

This is one of the return convoys. This gives a little better view of what a Stryker looks like.

My guys were nice and let me command one of the MEVs on the way home. This is me standing up in the Vehicles Commander's hatch during the only dry part of the 5 hour ride.

A Clean Car is a Happy Car!

2009-04-11T23:37:00.000-06:00

See it HERE.

It's Been Awhile...

2009-04-05T13:35:00.002-06:00

Hi everyone! We realize that we haven't posted in quite some time, and a lot has gone on, so we'll just lump it all together! Let's get to the pictures.

Dad Royall came to visit for a weekend. We think the next time he comes back it'll be to visit Sam more than us.

The week after dad left, the Lackeys came to stay. They were here for 6 days and we did a lot of fun stuff. This is during the ferry ride from Bremerton to Seattle. We're sure that this is their favorite picture...

Next are some pictures we took today at the lake between conference sessions. Some of you know that we've been trying to get Sam to swim for awhile now, well today it is 60 degrees and he went right in a number of times and swam around to fetch his ball. He loved it, as you can tell by the smile on his face in the last picture.

Raindrops keep fallin' on my head...

2009-03-07T14:33:00.004-07:00

But not yesterday! It was such a nice and warm sunny day outside that we decided to take Sam to the softball fields to play ball. Dave and I took turns throwing Sam's new ball for him. Sam got all muddy (the grass was still wet) and you know what water and dirt add up to...
But Sam had a lot of fun and then came home and slept for a few hours in the sun. He is such a good dog. Below are the pictures from our fun day in the sun! Dave took some excellent shots!

We love the look of Sam's face in these pictures. He looks so proud that he caught his ball and so happy to be playing with his people

Dave getting ready to have fun with his pup!

A good shot of Sam and Dave walking back from getting the ball. Sam lost where it was and Dave had to point it out him..hehe, silly dog

The Beast with his catch

Me giving Sam a treat for returning his ball

A tired and thirsty pup, loyally bringing his ball back to his people who are calling

Dave and Me!

An excellent shot Dave got of Sam running full speed for his ball

All in all, it was a very fun and fulfilling day. Good thing we went yesterday, today it's snowing!

Thoughts and Things

2009-02-28T21:23:00.007-07:00

Hey everyone, we've been kind of slow when it comes to our blog, but I just wanted to share a few thoughts and updates. I am extremely grateful for so many things. One, is Dave. He is so wonderful and he is always thinking of me and my feelings. He is such an example to me and I learn so much from him every day that we are together. I am also grateful for the love my Heavenly Father shows me. I couldn't do the things I have to do without His help. Dave and I have had some interesting challenges since we've moved but they have helped strengthen us in more ways than I can possibly share. I'm glad that with life comes lessons. I'm grateful for the learning opportunities and for the love and support of family and friends.
Finding out that our baby is a boy has been absolutely fantastic. Calling him Jackson now instead of "it" makes me even more excited to meet him. I am so happy that the Lord has blessed us with a son. My husband will have a son - I can't stop smiling when I think about it!
Thank you everyone for your love, help, and advice. I miss you guys so much!

Now, below are a few pics of me and my growing belly...beware!
First, I'd like to show a picture of Dave and Sam. Here they are "rough housing." Sam is getting so big and is just a great part of the family. Dave and him have so much fun together playing ball, playing tug-o-war, and games like that. Sam knows to be careful around me - that or he knows I'm not the fun one at the moment; ) I can't risk him hitting me in the belly, however he started this new game: when I meet him outside, if he's really excited, he'll run and body slam me. Luckily he doesn't jump high enough to hit my stomach, but it definitely hurts my legs! I am very grateful for Dave and Sam and love having them with me. I am one of the luckiest ladies in the world having boys like this to hang out with!

Here is me on my birthday opening a few presents. Dave was really thoughtful and did a great job planning the party. I got some really good things! Thank you Candace for making an excellent dinner and thank you Chad, Callie, and Camryn for surprising me! You guys are awesome!

This is the cake Dave got me. He wrote "Yay Suzy!" On it. It was really good!

This is me in a pink maternity shirt. I was about 17 weeks in this picture. This is me now! I have gained some weight - which is good for the baby, not so good for my feelings; ) I'm 21 weeks now. Some days I feel huge. Other days, like when I get to feel the baby kick, I feel just great. Letting my body do what it needs to is just part of the process and I'm learning to accept that.

Thanks for letting me share my thoughts. I hope you all are well and that we get to see you all soon.

-Susan

Is it a boy or a girl?

2009-02-20T18:18:00.004-07:00

Watch the video to find out! Plus, we added a picture from the ultrasound (it's of the baby's face!)

P.S. We really like the name Jackson David for this bouncing bundle. We'll keep you updated on our thoughts! Love you all!
P.P.S. Check for bimmer updates below!!

Bimmer Updates

2009-02-20T13:43:00.002-07:00

You know where to go: www.davesprojectpage.blogspot.com

Love is in the air...

2009-02-16T13:31:00.003-07:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

Dave and I had a great cupid-poked day!

To begin, I woke up to find that Dave had gotten me some roses in a beautiful arrangement. (Yes, these are a few of those very roses in a close-up shot)

After we exchanged gifts we took a lovely drive to a town called Bremerton. They had a whole bunch of cute little shops nestled right on the coast. We then decided to take a ferry back to Seattle. This is me on the docks waiting for our turn on the ferry. Behind me is the U.S.S Turner Joy, a naval ship that is now used for tours!

This handsome guy is Dave standing on the ferry as we pulled up to Seattle. The entire ferry ride was almost an hour. Dave is standing on the car deck and I was able to catch a pic of him with the space needle off to the left. Gorgeous city, but what a guy! (It was very cold and windy right here on the car deck, which is why Dave isn't smiling. For those of you who know, he LOATHES wind. It was colder here than on the upper level passenger deck - which is where we stood the entire time.)

This is a picture of the city of Seattle as we approached and were getting ready to dock. There is no space needle in this pic, but we thought it was a good pic anyway!

Now for an update on Samson: he has all of his shots and is currently deemed healthy. He has lost all of his baby teeth and has these huge, fang-like man teeth. He is almost 6 months and weighs over 50 lbs! He's a big boy! But he's so sweet and truly is a man's best friend. Him and Dave just got back from a camping trip together and had a blast. He is all worn out, poor guy!

We love and miss you all! We hope you all had a great weekend. BTW, we find out the gender of our baby this friday - we'll post so you all can know!
Love,
Susan & Dave & Sam & Bean

Ode to a Friend

2009-02-14T10:40:00.004-07:00

Well, we knew it was coming, but it is still a sad day in the Shepard home. We have sold the beloved Miata. Most homes aren't like ours, but around here our cars become our family. Every time we make memories there is usually a trusted automobile that has taken us there. I think we had as many pictures of the Mazda6 that we rented on our honeymoon as we did of just ourselves -- the only picture I carried on my person when I was a missionary was one of my 1966 Mustang. So, cars are an integral part of our lives and when we must bid farewell to one of our friends it is a sad day indeed. Susan and I both shed a few tears (literally) as we watched the Miata drive away in the hands of someone else last week. That wonderful little car has taken us to car races, on summer picnics, to San Antonio and Oklahoma, it sat on a little trailer when we moved, and it provided hours of entertainment. I remember the smile on Susan's face when I first bought it and picked her up at work, I remember getting it stuck in my In-law's driveway. There is definitely an attachment when you've been covered in the grease of one of your own cars...it's always a labor of love (even when you're left changing a timing-belt in a swimming pool parking lot 3 blocks from home...in Utah...in January). I'm not worried about the Miata though, the couple who bought it showed up in a BMW exactly like mine (except for the color) and the husband and I talked E30 Bimmers and Miatas for awhile. I hope that they will make as many memories in it as we did, that will make the hours of work worth it for me. Nevertheless, our little white friend is gone and there is an empty stall -- with a few droplets of oil on the floor -- in the garage of our hearts...

-DAVE-

Bimmer Updates

2009-02-01T20:45:00.001-07:00

See updates to the BMW at: http://davesprojectpage.blogspot.com/

-DAVE

New President Snubs Medal of Honor Awardees

2009-02-01T18:01:00.003-07:00

I originally sent this in an e-mail, but I thought it was worth making it permanent. I won't post my personal opinion about this on here (though, I'm sure you can guess it), because this is already long enough. Read on...

"Every inaugurated president for the last 56 years has attended the Salute to Heroes Ball. Except one.

"Every four years during inauguration evening (the galas began in 1809), groups vie for a visit from the incoming president, his wife, and anyone from his ticket. For decades, the 'official' and 'unofficial' galas have hoped to get a short visit from the president. He would take a few turns on the dance floor, say a few words to those gathered, and move on to the next one. Typically, these galas and balls consist of groups of people that have a common theme or background — from youth groups (H.O.P.E. Inaugural Youth Ball) to the National Council on Women ball. Which ones the new president attends say much about his priorities (right or wrong) and which demographics he may hold in high esteem.

"In this case, the American Legion, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America, as well as other veteran’s groups, were sponsoring their gala that has coincided with the inaugural evening since Eisenhower took office in 1953. In total, nine presidents and 56 years have gone by, and each inaugural evening the new president arrived to thank the veterans and Medal of Honor recipients in attendance. As one of the “unofficial” balls, it meant quite a bit to have the president show up and make an appearance.

"Except this time.

"The president and first lady, for the first time in those ensuing 56 years, did not make an appearance at the Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball. In attendance at the gala were 48 of the 99 living recipients of our nation’s highest honor. Of the 99 who are still with us, not even half are in any condition or possess the wherewithal to travel to such an event. And by the next inauguration, likely half of those won’t be with us.

"Making this evening even more special was the fact that it is the 50th anniversary of the Medal of Honor Society, which has been working hard to reach out to people to educate them about its members.

"The fact that all the other presidents, of both parties, were able to attend the ball and not be seen as choosing Hollywood and rappers over sacrifice and honor says volumes about our new president and the direction he is taking us."

For full article and details you can visit: http://forums.hannity.com/showthread.php?t=1260871

-DAVE-

"Be able to speak up without fear..."

Dave's Pregnancy Nightmare

2009-01-03T11:29:00.003-07:00

Last Sunday I had a bit of a relapse with my morning sickness. I was eating Cocoa Puffs for breakfast (a recent craving) and once I finished, my stomach decided that the craving was no longer necessary. I was trying really hard to get ready for church and be there on time because the ward choir was performing and we had to be early. I had planned on leaving at about 8:20 a.m. but come 8:40 I was still feeling quite sick and decided I had to brush my teeth and get out of there anyway.

I don't know about you, but lately I have to really be careful when I'm brushing my teeth.

During the cleaning I did the worst possible thing: I gagged. Well of course that started a chain reaction.

Needless to say, I was grateful that I was at least making it all into the sink. (I didn't have a moment's notice to run over to the toilet). The WORST thing was that I really had to leave - I was also singing a solo/duet and needed to run through the song with the guy I was singing with.

I had no choice but to leave the...cocoa puffs...in the sink and clean it all up when I got home. I put Sam away and was out the door.

Later that day....

Dave came home from work for a bit and I was home from church. I had completely forgotten about the incident in the bathroom so I hadn't cleaned it up yet and Dave complained of a barf smell. I told him my story and kindly asked this wonderful man whom I married if he would clean it up for me, seeing as how my stomach was still kind of weak.

He lovingly agreed: )

But maybe he shouldn't have...

The problem with throwing up in the sink, especially the sink I chose, was that it was already kind of clogged. Those of you who are women and have a hair shedding problem like me might understand, but adding cocoa puffs to an already clogged sink....let's just say it was extremely backed up and that puke was going NO where.

Below is a video of poor Dave, being SO understanding and cleaning up my misfortunes.
**We do not show any barf, but for those of you have an aversion to hair, you may not want to watch**
I am extremely grateful to have a husband who literally stands by me through the thick and thin...and who also cleans it up: ) LOVE YOU DAVE! In 6 months we'll only have to worry about little baby pukies.

Christmas Cheer!

2008-12-29T17:00:00.005-07:00

So our Christmas was pretty awesome. We had a blast even though Dave had to work on Christmas Eve. We spent some time in his office eating dinner, he opened an early present, and then Susan went home to sleep, for the first time all by herself in our house....*shudder*

On Christmas morning we opened presents! Dave got a whole bunch of new tools: a new drill, soldering iron, multimeter, drill and drive set, 2 jack stands, a floor jack, and a 'creeper.' He also got a book and the game Settlers of Catan! YAY! He has spent the last couple of days working on his beamer with his new tools: )

Susan got some Sarah Brightman cd's (YES!), the first 2 seasons of 'Charmed' on DVD, the Twilight soundtrack, an ear warmer for running, cute maternity clothes, a memory card, carrying case, and a tripod for...this is totally awesome...a new Nikon Coolpix P80 CAMERA! It is sooooo nice.Sam got a giant bone that tastes like chicken.

Together we got a Flip Video and some money. All very cool things. We enjoyed our Christmas very much. On Christmas day we took our new camera toys to the park and Dave filmed a little video of our day there. We are posting it so you can see us. It has been a while since you have seen us and we know you are dying to see our faces once again. We just know it. : )

This is a picture Susan took with her new camera

This is Sam and Dave spending time together by the lake (Sam is sitting on it's frozen surface)

We miss and love all of you and hope you ALL had a very Merry Christmas! Enjoy the video "Christmas Romp."

Walking in a Winter Wonderland...

2008-12-17T11:48:00.004-07:00

Today we had a fun little Christmas surprise! In a place where snow rarely takes the place of rain in winter and where 4 inches of snow could cancel school, workdays, and life as they know it, the people of Washington got just what I was wishing for...

Snow for Christmas!

This morning I made Cream O' Wheat with some toast and just sat in front of the chilled window watching the snow fall. It was a perfect morning. I put on The Christmas Song and hummed along as the words "chestnuts roasting on an open fire, jack frost nipping at your nose" rang through the house. Christmas without snow is abominable; simply because I've always had a white Christmas and that's what one thing I love about this time of year. I'm glad that even though I'm far away from home, I was able to have a traditional part of Christmas rain down on me like...

well......Snow! Merry Christmas everyone!!

My Winter Wonderland

This is the first time Sam has seen snow! He was running around and jumping and playing with his favorite sticks. Then he just kind of plopped down on the back porch. I quickly told him to "stay!" and like a good dog he stayed while I ran inside to grab the camera. I took this picture perfect image of Sam with snow on his nose after a long and tiring run through the backyard. Then we went inside and he fell asleep under the Christmas tree.

THIS Christmas tree to be exact. This is our tree with the lights all a glow! Every year Dave and I buy a new ornament to go on our tree and we write the year on it. This year's ornament was of a puppy that looks just like Sam. He's clinging to a red ornament that says, "Happy Howlidays!"

New Images

2008-12-04T16:54:00.006-07:00

I have gotten some requests to post some pictures of our kitchen because we failed to do so in the original "new house" post. As I started to post the kitchen pictures that I took, they somehow disappeared from the file folders. So I will have to post them later. Here are some pictures of Sam - he has grown soooo much! We love the little tike.

This is Sam sitting like a gentleman

This is Sam worn out after a long day of play

This is Sam's "Crazy Face." The one he gets when he's about to bite something with fear-ocious vigor. Beware of dog! (I had to fight Sam for the camera to get this shot - which is why he's so close to the screen. If you click on this one to full view you can get a real life like example of what it's like to be Sam's chew toy. We're trying to teach him against these things).

New Toy

2008-11-29T13:22:00.004-07:00

Well, we decided that the Miata would be a little too small and unsafe for me to drive a baby around in, so, in typical fashion I started one of my favorite pass-times -- car shopping -- without telling Susan. I found this nice little BMW 325is and then talked her into it. (I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful wife that puts up with my irritating idiosyncrasies -- and she loves cars too!) It's a little bit plain right now, but as soon as the Miata is sold I'll put some of that money back into the Bimmer. A little safer (it actually has a back seat), a lot more powerful, great handling, good reliability, great aftermarket support, and good looks -- I think it's a suitable addition to the flock. I'll definitely be sad to see the Miata go -- I love that car -- but I can always get another one someday.

I've also set up a car blog that will cover my projects and will always have other cool car stuff, so feel free to check it out: http://davesprojectpage.blogspot.com/

-DAVE-

Twilight

2008-11-24T16:40:00.004-07:00

Twilight, the obsession of my existance and the one thing my husband won't read -- But he did watch it! On Friday, Dave surprised me with Twilight movie tickets and I absolutely loved it. I thought the chemistry between Edward and Bella was incredible and absolutely perfect. There were some cheesy parts but because it is twilight, I had to love it. If they make the second book into a movie, I hope they get a new director and I thought the sparkling skin could have been a bit more sparkly.

But I still loved it.

I loved Victoria, Rosalie, Eric, and Mike. I loved the whole crew and thought the characters matched perfectly. Loved the baseball scene and the ballet studio scene. The tension was pretty realistic. So I give it a 1 and a 1/2 enthusiastic thumbs up!

**UPDATE** I have just read on Stephanie Meyer's website that they are going to start production for the second book, New Moon. Now I'm excited!

ODE TO BRADEN K - Birthday Emergency!

2008-11-21T10:51:00.003-07:00

So I feel somewhat bad about missing Braden Knutson's birthday by a day. I thought that I had written everyone's birthday down before we left, but then I realized it was only my girl friends...(sorry boys). SO to make it up to Braden, here is my "Ode to Braden K."

It was your birthday a bit ago
but time seemed slow; here it doesn't snow!
I started to shake with the biggest fear,
that I would forget someone else's birthday, oh dear!
So I'm writing to you, in hopes it will pay,
the birthday that I owe you, Oh! Braden K.

Now, to everyone else...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE send me the information of your birthdays- husbands and wives - so I can have them on record. And I mean EVERYONE. Anyone who reads this or comments on it!

Love you all, and Happy Birthday Braden: )

First Doctor Appointment

2008-11-17T19:51:00.004-07:00

Well, we had our first baby-doctor appointment today and saw the first images of our little bundle (it looks like a little bean...). We also got to see the heartbeat on the ultra-sound! It was kind of amazing. The doctor took measurements of baby and said that our due date is July 11th. Mommy is doing well, even if she is barfing up everything she thinks about eating...yum.

A New Tot for the Casserole

2008-11-08T11:49:00.002-07:00

Hello everyone, now that we've talked with our families and such, we feel that it's appropriate to post this message:

WE'RE HAVING A BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's right, we 're due in July some time. We just found out on Monday. We'll keep the blog posted with updates, so check back often to see what's going on with baby, mommy, and daddy.

Love you all!!

Meet Samson...

2008-11-05T16:34:00.003-07:00

This is the newest addition to the Shepard Flock!! His name is Samson (Sam, for short) and he is a 10 week old Golden Lab. Dave's been looking all over for a suitable puppy this week and this morning he saw Sam on craigslist and contacted the owners immediately. A short while later, Dave was on his way home to surprise Susan with this cute little bundle. He's very sweet, mild-tempered, and already is learning pretty quickly as well, but he's certainly still a puppy and very playful. He's going to make a good guard dog when Dave is away and will be a great companion to the family. Everybody welcome Sam!!

Halloween

2008-11-03T13:01:00.003-07:00

Well it was a fun Halloween! We had about 4 trick or treaters is all but we did have fun together.
Below are some pics of our pumpkins that we carved and the food that we ate. We also watched the new Journey to the Center of the Earth - cute kid movie and very funny. We also made homemade rootbeer and it was delicious!!! Below you'll see a picture of the fog: )

Important Items to Discuss......

2008-10-26T20:43:00.005-06:00

Hey all,

Dave and I were asked today to be soloists in our ward choir Christmas program. I am Mary, Mother of Christ, and Dave is my loving husband..Joseph! We're singing an awesome song that brings me to tears. Let's hope I can keep myself composed for the actual program...unlike in my parents ward when I sang "I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked," right Brooke?
I wanted to include a link so you could hear what we're singing but I had no luck finding it. I couldn't even find a CD that it might've been on. Sorry!
I also would like to see what car I should buy. I am going to post a few options and I would like the feedback. Now, they don't have fancy names like Dave's cars do, with five names followed by four initials and a number, but they sure look fantastic. Which one do you see ME driving??? Money is NOT a factor at this point.

Triumph TR4

BMW M5

Austin Healey Sprite

Ferrari F430

Lamborghini Murcielago

Lotus Elise SC

Dodge Charger

And Finally...A Morgan Horse: )

Funeral Services- Nessa & Garwin II

2008-10-19T14:24:00.007-06:00

The funeral services of Nessa and Garwin II Spiderwick were held today at 3015 Carpenter Loop in Lacey, Washington.

They were good spiders and though they did not live long, they will be deeply missed. Their personalities were unlike that of anyone we have ever met; crawly, aggressive, but full of webs of love. They were always inviting other bugs into their web for parties and mixers.

Nessa was found dead in her web and Garwin II was discovered missing when he did not return home on Friday night and when his web unexpectedly disappeared.

"There is a void by the window now," Dave Shepard, owner of the home that Nessa and Garwin inhabited said, "They were our first companions here and though we were deathly afraid of their size, they were still family."

Nessa is survived by the bugs that now inhabit her web - though they are also dead - and Garwin II is still suspiciously missing.

There will be no graveside service due to the unwanted physical contact of the deceased with the home owners. "We admired them from afar," Susan Shepard said, "and were many times amazed at how Garwin II caught his food. Nessa always returned after a hunt but fate took a hand and she is now shriveled."

RIP Nessa and Garwin II. May you always be crawly.

Our Humble Abode

2008-10-07T17:10:00.004-06:00

Backyard and Porch
Living Room
Garwin II (spider-friend)
Spider in the house
Living Room
Living Room
A garage with both cars in it!
Susan & her Music Room
Big workshop (for future project car)
Front of house

Well, we promised pictures and here they are. The living room is almost completely finished, but the rest of the house still needs a little work to get it where we want it. Anyway...enjoy!

-Susan & Dave-

Wa-wa-Wash and Rain

2008-10-02T16:11:00.002-06:00

Hellllloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!

We are here in Washington and safe and well and we LOVE IT! We apologize for the lack of publishing on our blog as of late - we do not have internet but will get it next tuesday..thank goodness. We did want to post pictures of our house and our pet spiders but dave left the camera at home, and here we are, in a cute little sandwich cafe place that offers free wi-fi, and no camera........ So we'll get those up as soon as we decide to buy another sandwich, or until tuesday rolls around -- whichever comes first. We miss you all and always think about how you'll look in our newly finished living room. In the meantime, here is our mailing address:

3015 Carpenter Loop SE
Lacey, WA 98503

please feel free to send us care packages..lol just kidding, there is a grocery store just down the street and also on post if we get totally lost. Love you all!

Susan and Dave

BYU vs. UCLA

2008-09-15T10:28:00.003-06:00

BYU 59 UCLA 0!!

That was a phenomenal game on Saturday for BYU. To help celebrate the win, I am posting a video on the side of our blog that was played on the screen at the beginning of the game- it's a fight between a cougar and a bruin. GO COUGS!!!!! Make sure your volume is up -and enjoy!

What did he say?

2008-09-01T16:00:00.004-06:00

I'm pretty bored here at Fort Sam Houston, so I thought I might have a little fun with you all. What follows is a little story, see if you can understand the plot (P.S. The events depicted in this tale did not actually take place).

So at 250530UAUG08 at AGFSH, I jumped in my POV and went to the PT track to go through a standard APFT. When I was done, my IPFU was soaked, but I decided to go to the DFAC anyway (there's no AR that says I can't eat while I'm sweaty). Well, I got there and they were closed, so I went back to the BOQ and grabbed an MRE. After I had taken care of SS&S I was ready to head to the AMEDDC&S for first formation, but couldn't remember what the AR 670-1 said about the new ASU. So I threw on my ACUs and headed to C&S to find out (I also planned on DX-ing some TA-50 at CIF) . Well, I got in my POV and realized I was out of Class III -- I was TO'ed. About that time a HMMWV rolled up with a LTC and a CSM inside followed by a LMTV with a bunch of PFCs, CPLs, and a few SSGs carrying M4s with PEQ-2s and ACOGs (all I had was my M9). The LTC asked, "Hey LT! Can you tell us where to get a bunch of Class VI? We just came back from our FTX at NTC and we are thirsty!" I told him I didn't know and the CSM called me a POG as he hit the gas and sped away -- "Watch for the MPs!" I yelled. By now I'd missed first formation, so I threw on my PC, and grabbed a ride with my PSG in his FLA to meet our PLT on a STX lane (they thought I was AWOL). I got there, threw on my IBA with SAPI plates (even though it was HEATCAT 5) and got started. Well we secured our FOB and even got a few EPWs in the process. I was exhausted, so I called in a UH-60 to EVAC my platoon to the rear for some A-rations and R&R. What a day.

There you go!! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!! If you have any questions about what anything means, just ask.

-DAVE-

The Reflection Pool

2008-08-23T14:33:00.003-06:00

I started another blog page that is only for my writings called The Reflection Pool. If you guys would like to read the first chapter to a story, the link is this: http://saturdayreflections.blogspot.com

I would really appreciate the feedback and help on grammar and the like. Thanks!

-Susan

Writing is Scary and Even Scarier When People Have to Read It

2008-08-22T16:28:00.003-06:00

So, I think I would like to try a hand at writing. My idea is this: writing is scary and even scarier when people have to read it. So, taking a page from Elizabeth Shipman's book (thank you Elizabeth), I would like to post some things on the blog, just sections of a story. If you guys are interested in reading it as it comes, I would like to post a section every week and I would very much appreciate the feedback and constructive critiscism. My hubby says that I tend to write passively and I know I am in no way an English major - so help in that department is also welcomed. If you are not interested or if my writing is not very good, lol, I would like to know that too so I can start with something else. But I would like to give this a good honest try. So, let me know what you guys think.
Thanks!
BTW: I LOVE YOU DAVE!!! I am so very excited for when you get to come home.

-Susan

The Soldier's Creed

2008-08-17T07:27:00.004-06:00

Just a quick update. We got back from the field on Friday after spending the last week out there. Nothing happened that wouldn't take me five paragraphs of background explanation for anyone not in Medical Service to understand (if you really want to know, you can always call me), so I'll just say that I learned how to do my job a little better. I did qualify as an "expert" with the M9 pistol on friday, however. That was the major highlight of the week.

The new video on the sidebar is one that I made (it's on YouTube and is titled "The Soldier's Creed - There Goes My Hero"). I don't know if everyone knows that we, as soldiers, live by the Soldier's Creed, so I wanted to get it out there so people can get a better grasp of the caliber of people that I serve and work with everyday. We recite this creed every morning here. Enjoy, and let me know what you think. Love and miss you all, but it won't be long until we see each other again.

-DAVE-

And the winner is....

2008-08-10T00:12:00.003-06:00

Okay, so I decided which car will be the next to join the Shepard family stable. After weighing all aspects of building a car as I have envisioned, listening to expert advice, and carefully considering opinions of family and friends, and most importantly, deciding which one I really liked the best, I have chosen. And as you can probably tell by the pictures it's the Datsun 240Z. Susan told me that the last picture I posted of the Z wasn't very flattering, so here are a couple of pictures from different angles of a different 240 -- hopefully they will help to persuade those of you who may have previously found the car unattractive.

-DAVE-

P.S. It's hot here...

An Unexpected Response - for girls only? Maybe it's just me....

2008-08-08T22:45:00.005-06:00

My mind burned.
It wasn’t one of those mild and disappointing salsas. It was a scorching brand that permanently etched the spicy tastes – or in this case, the images – onto whatever surface they touched.

Not only was my mind a rush of images and information, my stuttering heart and ragged breathing also gave my emotions away. My mind could not get rid of the images or the feelings.

Not to mention my constant stream of vocal worry.

I couldn’t stop hammering on and on about how much this bothered me. It felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster; first anticipation, then frustration, then rage and fury, and so on and so on.

Despite the fact that the story ended perfectly, what it took to get there was emotionally – and physically – jarring in many more ways than one.

It still didn’t make sense. The story ended the way I wanted it to and yet I couldn’t make myself see that that was a good thing. I still felt the pain, the anger, the unbearable stress and sadness like it was an ever reverberating echo off the hollow walls of this horrible place that I was trapped in.

If you had been there you would have understood.

Every pain the character had to feel was unbearable to me, like I was feeling it first hand. I didn’t want to go on, to read the words on the page because for some reason they made me feel anxious and upset. Like I was a desperate soul with no life left and no will to hang on to the little life there was left.

Surprisingly, I felt immense hatred.
Hatred?
Yes. Hatred.
Why?
Who knows. Not hatred for the books or anything in them for that matter. The books were more than I expected and ended in the most perfect way and the characters -- oh those characters! -- were way too lovable.

How is it possible that a few books could get my emotions so out of whack? So magnified and intense were my emotions I felt they would consume me. How could they make me so crazy that I could think of nothing, do nothing, say nothing, unless it was about thinking, doing, or saying something about the books? That I could hate something that I absolutely, without hesitation, actually loved?

I did have an answer to that.

Never, ever, ever read the Twilight Series when on your period. It will literally kill you.

And for all that, I still wish I could be a vampire. Go figure.

The Elements

2008-08-04T14:19:00.002-06:00

While Mom Shepard and I were in the Tetons, we made up a little story. We each took a character and made up powers and things. The characters and their powers were based on the four elements of earth: rock, fire, wind, and water. We decided that Char is Rock, I am water, Bill is fire, and David is wind. (Dave didn't like that much but they weren't there to decide- he later claimed he wanted to be light but this video overrules that just for a moment-I love you sweetie!). So here is a video, cheesy yes but fun it was, of the superheroes we came up with. Make sure your volume is up and enjoy!
http://www.slide.com/r/khtImI6A4z-WKldbKUjnpZoMvN4OAELN?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

Susan

In the places you hold dear to your heart...

2008-08-01T17:08:00.002-06:00

Ok -- below is the link for my slideshow on my trip to the Tetons! If you've got seven minutes to watch it (sorry it is long) I would be honored. Make sure your volume is up!http://www.slide.com/r/6Jr97Z3l6j8jBIG0Wuj-i0OOV7ckYvg2?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

San Antonio Address

2008-08-01T14:30:00.006-06:00

There's a small addition to the address I provided earlier. If you already sent something to the other address it'll still get to me, it might just take a few extra days, so don't worry.

2LT David W. Shepard

2250 Stanley Rd.

Ste. 36 (General Delivery)

Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234

See, that wasn't so bad was it? Love you all!

-DAVE-

P.S. Mail is great for morale ;-)

The Majesty of the Tetons

2008-07-28T10:12:00.007-06:00

I just got back from the Tetons and they were beautiful! We hiked this canyon called Garnet Canyon and it was so much fun. We hiked another canyon called Cascade Canyon and then we hiked to a place called Hidden Falls. I fell in love with the place and learned some good things about myself while I was there. I've included some pics that I took - i'm attempting to create a slideshow but am having no luck. So if anyone out there is "blog saavy" and could come over and help me out - I beg you - please do: ) (I just can't figure it out). I'm also including a picture of my mom and Dave from Dave's commissioning because I saw it for the first time and thought it was a good one of the two. The 1st pic is of Char and me at the top of Garnet Canyon eating lunch, the one with the lake is Jenny Lake and I can't remember which mountain the other one is (Mom Shepard, maybe you could help me out: ) Click on the images to see them better and they'll blow up to a larger size.

I love you all and hope you're all doing well!

New Project Car

2008-07-26T17:28:00.005-06:00

OK, sometime in the unknown future (probably once Susan gets her horses) I will get a car that I can turn into a track monster (so I can keep the Miata in a "comfortable" streetable condition). The problem is that I can't decide what the addition should be. I've narrowed it down to a few choices that are similar in buy-in and performance parts prices (all are very economical to operate and work on too -- I want my kids to be able to go to college no one said it had to be an expensive one though :) ) and are all recognized, successful, and widely used in sports car and auto-cross racing. So I want your help in narrowing it down. Which of the ones pictured above do you like the best and why? They are all shown at about the same level of competition-worthy modification. Thanks!

-DAVE-

DONE!! (with oklahoma, at least)

2008-07-26T08:43:00.004-06:00

So I finally left Ft. Sill yesterday morning, very early, and arrived in San Antonio yesterday afternoon. I can't report for three days, so I'm just relaxing and enjoying doing absolutely nothing for a few days. I've included some pictures of stuff we were doing in Oklahoma (in the one where we're sleeping, I'm the one at the very far end -- this is how we slept during week 6 -- catch it when you can).

Ft. Sill was a good experience, I learned a little bit, technically speaking, but I learned more just by observing others' good and bad leadership styles:

-Subordinates should be corrected when they are wrong, but should also be recognized when they do well -- if a leader only praises their people they will never take him seriously and if he only corrects them, they'll fear him and only do just enough work to get by with out the boss talking to them and they'll never communicate back to him.

-Ensure that all of your subordinates, peers, and bosses know exactly what you're doing and coordinate with them.

-When in charge, take charge -- don't let others make the decisions that should be yours -- every time you do that you will lose credibility with your subordinates.

-Time is just as important to others as it is to you -- never waste it for them.

-Show your people that you are enduring with them -- always do what you ask them to do for you, or at least show a willingness to try to do it along side them (i.e. Don't ask them to do a 10 mile march then join them for the last mile only).

-People may respect your rank, but they'll never respect you until you earn it.

-Pick your battles -- Sometimes it's OK to fight something that you see is messed up or irritating, sometimes it's just better to put your head down and drive on.

-Complaining rarely pays off, it just makes you and those around you more sour about the situation that can't be changed.

-ALWAYS set the example -- subordinates (as a group) can only ever be as flawless and proficient as their leader -- if you do something that isn't quite right, your subordinates will think it's OK to do it too.

-No matter how trivial the task give it your best -- even if you fail, your people will see that you gave it all you had and they'll do the same in return.

OK, that's about it. I'll let you all know how San Antonio is. See you soon!

-DAVE-

Week 6: 24 hour Operations

2008-07-19T15:37:00.003-06:00

Wow, I am quite tired at the end of this week. Since last sunday I haven't gotten more than 3 straight hours of sleep at a time and no more than 4 hours of sleep each day (if that) -- in fact, most of my sleeping didn't even happen at night; it was usually on the back of a truck sometime during the day. It was a busy week as you can probably tell by now. This week was the culminating exercise of BOLC II. We basically spent the whole week fighting a "war" against an insurgent force. On Monday I worked straight from 4 am until 3 am the tuesday morning in the TOC (Tactical Operations Center) as the guy who planned and was in charge of everything that happened inside the FOB and all the missions that were sent out against the "enemy". It was a long and busy day. As soon as I was relieved from TOC duty, my platoon was sent out on missions to act as the enemy. It was a lot of fun, but I didn't get to finally get some sleep (about 2 hours worth) until about 1 o'clock that afternoon (so, if you're keeping tally, that's 33 hours without sleep, but I'm sure it's nothing compared to what guys are going through in the real war.). After we were done being the enemy we became the "Mission" Platoon (tuesday night and all day wednesday) and conducted regular missions against enemy buildings, convoys, and patrolling units. We were done with our missions by 11:30 pm (wednesday) and thought we were going to go right to sleep for the rest of the night, but from 12:15 until we took over as FOB Security at 6:00 am we received mortar attacks every hour and the FOB almost got over-run by the enemy, but we finally repelled them. Following that we were on FOB security from 6:00 am until 2:00 pm (thursday) when the whole thing was finally over. We repelled another attack on the FOB during that time. At 2:00 pm we ended the whole exercise and started cleaning. At 6:00 pm we were done cleaning and slept until 10 pm when we woke up to get ready for our 10 mile ruck march back to the barracks. We stepped of for our march at midnight (I'm sure most of you were just getting ready for bed about that time -- I was just starting my day). We got back to the barracks at 4 am (friday), turned in weapons and slept until 8 am when we had a formation, cleaned the barracks and finally got released for the week at 10 am (I finally went to sleep for more than a 3-hour stretch at 1 am -- once I got done with my laundry, so yesterday was another 27 hour day) . The best part is that we're done (I also learned that my body and mind can function on very little sleep)! All we have to do this week is turn in our equipment and clean our weapons. We graduate on friday and I'll be in San Antonio on Friday night getting ready for BOLC III. Have a great week everyone!

Weeks 4 & 5 - Urban Assault

2008-07-12T08:57:00.004-06:00

Greetings from the humid hills. Sorry I didn't post anything last week -- I was just too tired (only 12 hours of sleep in 5 days will do that to you). Last week we did Advanced Rifle Marksmanship -- basically moving, distinguishing between friendly and enemy targets and engaging those targets while moving. We also did Land Navigation (I got all my points). This week was a little more dynamic. We did Convoy Operations during the first part of the week where we practiced (with live ammo) how to maneuver a convoy under fire, dismount the vehicles and return fire. The best part of the last two weeks has been MOUT (Military Operations on Urban Terrain) Training where we learned how to enter and clear rooms and buildings. There's a video on the side bar that shows the kind of stuff we were doing (the guys in the video are far more high-speed than us, but you get the idea). I know that's just a brief overview, but I don't want to bore anyone.

I do want everyone to know that I love what I'm doing, I love putting on this uniform everyday and serving with the best people for the greatest cause. It is an honor to stand guard over this wonderful country and what it stands for as well as my friends and family. Not many people can say that they love their jobs as much as I do. I am very blessed. I also want to thank my family and friends who have helped me to get where I am. There's no way I could do this without the patience, strength, and encouragement of my wonderful Susan, or the support, love, and inspiration from my parents (both sets), brothers and sisters (both sets) and friends -- you're wonderful examples to me. Thank you.

-DAVE-

Electronics: can't live with em' can't live without em'

2008-07-01T22:21:00.007-06:00

Every electronic thing I've tried to use today has broken down. I was writing a song on Finale that Claudia (an incredible violin player) and I could play, and the program did something funky and I lost half my work. Then I was using the camera and it decided to tell me after 2 pictures that the batteries had been depleted. The remote control also ran out of batteries and I had to change the tevevision by hand (I was either two lazy to see if we had more batteries or I was that stubborn, I'm not sure which), and my plant is dying. Okay, that's not an electronic thing, but it still failed me.
By the way- does anybody know how to create a slideshow using your own pictures?
Thanks. Love you all - Susan

Week 3...

2008-06-28T07:44:00.003-06:00

Well, the third week of training has come to a close. It was a pretty uneventful week, we spent most of our time at the rifle ranges zeroing, grouping , and qualifying with our M4s (the rifle pictured above). I was a little disappointed with with my qualifying score of 31 out of 40 though. That's the worst I've ever done on a qualifying range, but it's still good enough for "sharpshooter" qualification. This upcoming week will be a little more exciting. We're spending the week in the FOB (Forward Operating Base) and we'll be doing advanced rifle marksmanship (night qualifying and shooting while on the move) and land navigation. I was also selected to be the Platoon Leader for the week, so I'm going to be busy. Luckily it's only a 4-day week because of the 4th of July, so I'll be a very happy camper when thursday afternoon rolls around and I will be relieved of my duties as PL. Hopefully everyone is having a great week. Love you all and see you soon.

Are YOU Army Strong?

2008-06-22T12:21:00.003-06:00

Here's a little video we put together to demonstrate what it takes to be an officer in the modern US Army. This is a very rough draft, but it's ok to put out for now. This is just a glimpse at what we do here. I'll post the more refined versions as they become available. The answer to your question is: NO, we do not have too much time on our hands...

-DAVE-

Mom's/Char's/Grandma's Birthday!

2008-06-20T19:10:00.002-06:00

Mom Char's birthday was yesterday and it was fun! Here are some pics of the cake and the birthday girl. Dave was even able to be "there."(Don't forget to read Dave's post from yesterday: )

"You think anyone wants a round-house kick to the face while I'm wearing these bad boys? Forget about it..."

2008-06-19T17:57:00.000-06:00

I thought I would give everyone a quick taste of what's been happening this week "where the wind comes sweeping down the plains." We had a bunch of BRM (Basic Rifle Marksmanship) and AIMSS (Advanced Infantry Markship Strategies and Standards) classes this week where we've been trained on using our M-4s with scopes and infrared lasers with night vision (all the cool stuff). My roommate and I pulled out our night vision goggles after light-out last night and had a little fun trying them out -- they are really cool. Also, we've been getting training on the first level of MACP (Modern Army Combatives Program). It's based on Jiu-jitsu and we've been getting the crud beat out of us, but it's been useful (Zach better watch his back when I get home) and a lot of fun (even if I'm covered in bruises and I've been choked 2-dozen times in the last two days). We've gotten to do some pretty good "rolling" (sparring) and yesterday I rolled with about ten people -- one at a time -- for a total of about 40 minutes non-stop. I was basically dead at the end. Today we got to roll two squads against the other two squads in our platoon. My squad and 3rd squad beat 1st and 2nd squads 2 out of 3 -- we're pretty much a big deal. The video I put on the side-bar isn't my platoon, but it gives you a pretty good idea of what we've been doing and learning. Next week we go to the rifle range to qualify during the day and at night -- I'll let you all know how it goes. Oh, by the way I know everyone has been telling me how hot it's getting in Salt Lake, but it's got nothing on this place... Love you all and can't wait to see and hear from you.

-DAVE-

Oklahoma! Oklahoma! Oklahoma!

2008-06-11T19:29:00.002-06:00

Well, I have a few minutes to write to write, so I thought I'd give everyone a quick update. So far, it's been extremely boring and slow. In-processing is tedious and I've been standing in long lines (usually at the back because of my last name starting with "S") and waiting for long periods. It's kind of like Disneyland except when you get to the front of the line you either have to sign a paper, get stabbed with a needle, or pee in a cup. It's all necessary though and the real stuff starts next week (Combatives and Rifle Marksmanship). I am getting paid for all of this and I get nights and weekends off, so I can't complain too much -- it'll all go up from here. It's pretty hot here (95 with 95% humidity), but the constant wind (which you all know I love so much) actually helps to keep it somewhat cooler. We took a PT test this morning and I got a 270-something (not too bad for not having worked out since April). Well, that's about it for know. I miss you all. Susan, I love you so much and miss you the most -- you're wonderful and I can't wait to see you. Talk with you all soon.

-DAVE-

August Rush

2008-06-07T22:13:00.003-06:00

I watched August Rush for the first time on Friday night and it literally gave me chills. Lately I've been reading or watching books and movies about people who have to go through some really challenging things and as I stopped to consider my own life, I realized I'm not that much different. The only difference is that they are supposed to be fictional. With Dave being gone for four months (that's a long time!), I thought plenty of times if I could do it and after much thought -- I know I can. Even the smallest person can do some great things. We just have to try. So, my message to all of you is to keep moving forward, keep believing in yourself, and keep smiling. Thank you all for your love and support, Dave and I really appreciate you all. And remember, do great things -- even if people tell you its impossible! I love you Dave!!

Dave's Birthday and Training Address

2008-06-05T08:33:00.003-06:00

Last night we celebrated my birthday. I know, it's not until Friday, but I'll be somewhere in Kansas on Friday and thought doing it yesterday was appropriate. So, Friday I'll be 25 (yea for lower car insurance rates!). It was a great birthday. Susan made two cakes. One was a German Chocolate Cake and the other was a regular chocolate cake with cream-cheese frosting -- they were both delicious. For my birthday I got some money to help me to get the rest of the stuff I need for training this summer and Susan got me a Journey CD and an iPod car adapter. My parents and Susan's family were all there. After the festivities Susan, my Mom, and I played Phase 10 -- Susan won (I can't believe she didn't let me win on my birthday ;-)). It was a great birthday, I couldn't have asked for anything more.

Tomorrow I leave for Ft. Sill, Oklahoma (about 80 miles south-west of OK City) for Basic Officer Leadership Course (BOLC II). I'll be there until July 25, then I'll go to Ft. Sam Houston, Texas (in San Antonio) for Army Medical Service Corps BOLC III. I'll be there until September 17, then I'll come home. On September 24, or so, we'll leave to make our home at Ft. Lewis, Washington (near Olympia) with the 2nd Infantry Division. Who knows where we'll go from there.... I'm looking forward to my training this summer, it should be fun (anything would be better than LDAC was last summer), and I'm excited (and nervous) to finally get started on the things I've been preparing for the last 25 years to do. I'm going to be getting a laptop sometime soon, so hopefully I'll be able to post some pictures and blog-postings while I'm gone to inform everyone of what's going on. Well, I think that's enough for today. I'll post my mailing addresses for both OK and TX at the bottom. To anyone I don't get a chance to talk to before I go: I'll miss you and I'll be home soon. Thanks for being such good and supportive friends.

Oklahoma (June 8 - July 25):

2LT David W. Shepard

A/1-22 FA (BOLC II), Class 08-08

P.O. Box 825

Fort Sill, OK

73503

Texas (July 28 - September 17):

2LT David W. Shepard

2250 Stanley Road (General Delivery)

Ft. Sam Houston, TX

78234-6111

Love you all, and I'll see you soon!

-DAVE-

Welcome Class of '54 Reunion

2008-06-04T12:14:00.005-06:00

We just spent the weekend at our friends cabin and had a blast. They were the hosts of a "How to Host A Murder" weekend and they assigned all of us a character: mine was "Penny Loafer" and Dave's was "Cal Q. Layder." The point of the game is to figure out who killed the victim, (in our case it was my twin brother, Rock N' Roley). We all met at the "Maltie's Falcon Cafe" (the cabin) and had malts- absolutely delicious Braden. Dave ended up being the murderer - bad baby! It was also one of the last times we might get to hang with our friends: ( but we had so much fun. Here are some pictures so you can see us in our costumes! (Click on the images to make them full size!)

The Blog you've all been waiting for

2008-06-02T22:36:00.000-06:00

Here it is...the blog you've all been begging and nagging for us to start. (Well, just the family really). We have called it Tater-Tot & Tuna Casserole for a couple of reasons: one, those are the foods we always eat, two, one casserole each describes one of us, and three, our children can now be called tots: ) (That's not a hint that we have any on the way). Dave's not laughing so I'm signing us off. Watch for more posts and updates about the big move coming up and our adventures this summer and those coming up in Ft. Lewis Washington!!