Grandma's Birthday Tea

Wow! Christmas is over and the New Year about to begin. Hope everyone has had an exceptional Holiday.
With the New Year, We will continue to Celebrate. This Sunday, Grandma Shepard will be "85" years young!
We will be getting together at Fountain View, for a Tea Party. I know this is late notice, so if you can't make it
try to get a card out to her. Hope to see many of you there around 2:oo pm. Call me if you have any Questions.
899-2666 or 901-9698 Marcia PS Her address is 50 South Maple, Grant, MI49327

...and baby Rackes makes 6

Weighing in at 6 lbs & 15 oz and 18.5 inches long;

Kris and Jeff welcomed a beautiful baby girl

Rilie Louise

into their family at 7:05 pm on 

Saturday, December 6, 2008.

(These pictures were taken within the first hour after birth.)

View Album

Get your own

Lights glow

Lights warm

Lights twinkle

Lights brighten

Lights illuminate

Thinking of Loved Ones

May bring to all our minds

The things lights do in our lives

Let us shine out lights for all to see

With a small $5.00 donation you can place a light

for a loved one on the Community Christmas Tree.

At Fountain View.

The lighting of the Community Christmas Tree will be

Monday, December 8 at 6:30 pm-Grant Fountain View

Commemorate a loved one with a small donation.

You can place a light for a loved one on the

Community Christmas Tree. A special service will be held

to light the tree with a time of Scripture, hymns and refreshments

afterwards.

The deadline is December 3. I will be sending copies of the form to all

the Mom's .

If you would prefer to send this right away, please send with your $5.00

donation for each person, the name or names of the person you would like

remembered along with your name and address to:

Fountain View Retirement Village of Grant

50 S Maple

Grant MI 49327

If you have any questions you can call Fountain View 231-834-8202

Hope to see you there.

Love to All

Shepard Christmas

Just a note. Mary and Marcia thought it would be fun to have a Shepard Christmas talent show. The hall is equipped with a Stage. Surprise us, maybe a song or a dance keeping with the Christmas theme. If your little ones have a Christmas carol.....anything. Could be fun. Personally, I'm hoping to see Sling Shots and Tulips, I heard they were pretty impressive at Wheatland!!

Love to all

Shepard Christmas

Please mark you calendars for Sunday December 28, St Catherines Hall in Ravenna. I'll be getting invites out yet this week with all the details. Hope to see everyone there.

Love to All
Gina

Thanksgiving Dinner

I am cooking tukey and potatoes and whatever else I may feel like Thanksgiving morning. Dinner will be at 1:00. Anyone who wishes to join my family and I for dinner are welcome. Please let me know if you can can make it.

Love to all,
Marianne

F A M I L Y

I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
'Oh excuse me please' was my reply.

He said, 'Please excuse me too;
I wasn't watching for you.'

We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said goodbye.

But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.

Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.

When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
'Move out of the way,' I said with a frown.

He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.

While I lay awake in bed,
God's still small voice came to me and said,

'While dealing with a stranger,
common courtesy you use,
but the family you love, you seem to abuse.

Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door.

Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.

He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes.'

By this time, I felt very small,
And now my tears began to fall.

I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
'Wake up, little one, wake up,' I said.

'Are these the flowers you picked for me?'
He smiled, 'I found 'em, out by the tree.

I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue.'

I said, 'Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way.'
He said, 'Oh, Mom, that's okay.
I love you anyway.'

I said, 'Son, I love you too,
and I do like the flowers, especially the blue.'

FAMILY

Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company
that we are working for could easily replace us in
a matter of days.
But the family we left behind will feel the loss
for the rest of their lives.

And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more
into work than into our own family,
an unwise investment indeed,
don't you think?
So what is behind the story?


Do you know what the word FAMILY means?
FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU

Any one interested in a Dance/Exercise class? We've started our own Clogging Group! We will be meeting at
Fountain View, Tuesdays at 6:00 pm. We are working on a marching routine for our next years Walk. Hope
some of you will join us.

Alice's Army

The alzheimers Walk was a great time for everyone. We had 95 walkers and raised over $15oo.00 from Alice's Army alone. Mary can tell you what the whole group collected , I forgot to write it down. Just want everyone to mark your CALENDARS for next years Walk. The Saturday after Labor Day.

And another...

Kris and Jeff are expecting their second kiddo on December 5th.  Their son Clayton will be 3 years old on September 13th.

Below is a 4D photo from her July ultrasound with a healthy babe weighing in at just under a pound.                              Love to all!!!

And Another.....

You know how it goes, everyone has to have a prego partner. So... Sara graciously volunteered to go through it with Meg. We're do with our second on April 3rd. Just eight weeks along. Mom's feeling good, and Dad's gaining weight...

Love,
Sara, Will and Jacob

Oh yeah, and Jacob turned the big 01 on the 6th.

Randy Shepard Memorial Golf Scramble

The Tri County Eagles are sponsoring a Randy Shepard Memorial Golf Scramble, September 13 at The Falls at Barber Creek. The teams are 4 people, $45.00 each person. You'll be playing 18 holes with a Golf Cart, lunch will be at the Eagles in Sand Lake. The proceeds to go to The Tri County Band Boosters. To register and get more information please contact the Eagles Club at 616-636-8787. There is enough room for 12 teams so please register soon.

A new addition to our very large family

Alan & I would like to share our news. Megan is going to be a mom. The little bundle is due Mid March. She's 9 weeks along so keep her and the baby in your prayers.

Love to all

August Birthdays and Anniversaries

Bithdays!
Mandy (17), Candi (20), Gina S. (22), Samantha & Shantall Weeks (25), Kayden & Kylen (29)

Anniversaries!
Al & Gina (11), Matt & Kristi (15), Mandy & Brian (21)

I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the summer!

Love you all,

Mandy

Try to remember the "Memory Walk"

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6TH is the date for the Alzheimer's Memory Walk. It starts at 10:00 with registration at 9:00. This year the walk will take place in Newaygo at Brook's Park, with a scenic, just over 1 mile walk along the river.
We will again be walking as a group for "Alice's Army" so wear any camo gear you might have. Bring along any friends or extended family members you think would enjoy this event. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to take part. Remember, there are lots of prizes, refreshments and fun. Please start collecting any donations for this cause, from any one willing to give. Our goal this year is $1,000. If you cannot attend and you can still collect some money, you can send it along with someone who is going, send it to Mary or donate on line at Alzheimer's.org. Also if your business or someone you know wants to contribute something that could be given as a prize in the ticket drawing let Mary know. If you have any questions call her @231- 937 -7329 Her Address is : 9470 62ND Ave. Newaygo MI 49337

July Birthdays and Anniversaries

This is my first post to the family blog. Mandy made me do it!

July Birthdays:

Mary & Marcia (8), Steve (25), Alayna (31).

July Anniversaries:

Chris & Melinda (5), Steve & Mary (8), Ron & Linda (11).

This seams like an awful short list, did we forget someone?

Hope you're enjoying the summer. Love Marcia

Fountain View Resident Family Picnic

Fountain View - Grant is having their annual family picnic on Saturday, August 2nd, 11am - 2pm. Lunch will be served at 11:30 followed by games for kids, entertainment & door prizes. All of Alice's family is invited (I don't think they realize how many that is) as well as friends! The theme this year is Irish so remember to wear your green. There is no RSVP or sign up, everyone is welcome.

Sorry forgot to tell you to put "Soldiers of Guam" in the search engine.

Heres something extremely cool that Alan discovered today. Go to www.thoughtequity.com to shot reel #4931131-1 clip #4931131 029 and you will see file footage from Guam, WWII, Grandpa hammering for about 6 seconds.

"RoyAl" Shepard Family Reunion 2008

June Birthdays and Anniversaries

Happy Birthday & Happy Anniversary!

Ethan (7), Melissa, Ben, Bailey Cole (15), Brandi (22), Saige (27)

Ric & Marcia-31 years on June 4th. Grandpa & Grandma's anniversary was on the 22nd of June.

Eli is 6 Months Old!!

Happy Mother's Day Shepard Moms!

A baby asked God,
'They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow,
but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?'
God said, 'Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you.'

The child further inquired,
'But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy.'
God said, 'Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you.
And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy.'

Again the child asked,
'And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?'
God said, 'Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear,
and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.'
'And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?'
God said, 'Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.'

'Who will protect me?'
God said, 'Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.'

'But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.'
God said, 'Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me,
even though I will always be next to you.'

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard
and the child hurriedly asked, 'God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name.'

God said, 'You will simply call her, 'Mom.'

May 10th deck building party!

Anyone interested in hitting some nails and relieving any tention and frustrations, I can offer an outlet by inviting you to help build a deck around the pool on Saturday, May 10th.
If you can make it, we will be starting around 10 a.m.
Marianne

May Birthdays & Anniversaries

I have missed a ton of birthdays so I will just start with May.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Aunt Teresa (3), Heather (5), Uncle Ron (6), Brynn & Lily (15), Craig Cole (Tracy) (21), Drake (30)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!!

Rick & Andrea (5), Erica & Caleb (10) Luke & Nicki (21)

I would love it if everyone would post a comment, but if you are unsure or uncomfortable, please call me!!   Love, Mandy

Getting Started...

Ok, we have a little bit of experience with other family blogs, but we are definitely not experts. 

Once you have signed onto the site you have a couple of options.  If you are interested in sharing news, thoughts or ideas with the rest of us; likely you would compose a "post".  This option can be found near the top right of the page ("new post").  No worries, once you compose and publish your post you are able to return to it through the "new post" link to edit as needed. From what we can tell you are only able to alter those that you created.

If you are interested in commenting on someone else's post you would select the "comments" link noted at the bottom of each post.  Comments are hidden from view and can be seen and added through this link.

Mandy, we hope you don't mind but we thought we would demonstrate this by adding your May birthday and anniversary announcement as a post.

Happy Blogging!!!     Love,  Andrew & Heather

May 2008 Newsletter

Welcome to our Blog! I'm so excited about this! Now everyone can post whatever they want to without having to go through me! But forgive me if it's a little confusing. I'm not really sure what I'm doing on this yet.

Reminders that the Auction up at Grandma's will be this saturday, May 3rd. And that our family reunion will be June 8th at Wabassas Lake.

Already Matt and Brynn have their family picture in here. (maybe they can enlighten me on how to do this)! I love it! And already we have 7 comments! Whoo Hoo! I think this is going to work great!