2023 - Year in Review

January - Happy 12th anniversary to my handsome husband and favorite guy.  The new year always has a great start when you can start the first day with an anniversary.  The planning has already began for our 15th anniversary; if you have any recommendations for hidden gems in Europe, please share!  This month was the start of safety patrol for Grace Lynn.  She also has been doing great in her first club season of volleyball.  And look out world!  Shelby Laine is on the move!  She's not walking unassisted yet, but is learning how to get from A to B on just two legs.

February - This month was a fun one and a special one for the girls (and Garrett).  The month started with the daddy-daughter dance.  This one was extra special as it was the first one since COVID.  I cannot believe how quickly the girls are growing.  We also had our annual trip to the state fair as a family, which is always a fun day out!

March - This month, we had some free time, so we took the opportunity to do some date days with each of our girls separately.  They always enjoy that one on one time and so do we!  Grace also competed in her first big volleyball tournament this month and was featured on the AAU social media platform; how fun!

April - April was quite a busy month.  Grace is now 11 years old.  The linemen rodeo fell a little later this year, but you know we were not going to miss it!  Shelby was also featured in the Pegasus Magazine, which is the magazine of UCF.  Mommy actually took her first business trip in some time this month and it was to Nashville; this city has always held a special place in my heart.  And both girls had an exciting month with horse... Scarlett Lily earned a trophy saddle!!! for winning 1st in 5D youth for the previous year (thank you Spot N Tail Charters); Grace Lynn earned her first "big girl" buckle!!! for winning 1st in Open 5D.  We are so proud of both these girls and so thankful for their incredible coach!  Scarlett also attended a jiu jitsu seminar this month where she ran into the one and only 24K Hannah Goldy; she had not seen her since a seminar at her gym years earlier.

May - We celebrated both girls birthdays this month since April was crazy busy and Scarlett's birthday always falls during youth world and she really wanted her school buds there.  We celebrated with a fun Tree Trek adventure.  The girls had their year-end school awards and came home with some great accolades.  Even more special is being able to celebrate with their the sweet friends.  We also went up to North Carolina this month to visit with Garrett's family.  It's always a special treat seeing the oldest generation teaching the youngest generation and both generations thoroughly enjoying that time.

June - Summer is officially in full swing and we have been busy with family bowling  dates.  Scarlett has started joining the worship team and loves it!  She goes up on stage with the team and gets to play the drum.  Thank you New Horizons for making her feel so special and welcomed.  June is also the month of NBHA State Championships for the girls.  

July - Another busy one... this month started with summer church camp, which the girls look forward to every year!  This was a big year for each of them, as this was their first time going solo (without each other and without mom).  In year's past they were in the same camp or when Grace was little, I was able to join.  They both did great and came back with so many wonderful stories.  Scarlett loved spending time at the archery and Grace's favorite thing was the blob.  Grace started playing Beach Volleyball this month and she loves it!  Her and her sweet friend had a lesson together and that sparked a love in Grace's heart even more for volleyball in general.  We wrapped up the month with the NBHA Youth World Championship's.  Scarlett officially became a 9 year old while at world and ironically was pictured in the event's program too!  This was such a fun year as the girls thoroughly enjoyed camping with their friends and the great rides was just icing on the cake.  Dad even rode again this year as Kristoff on Sven (Harley).  AND... we cannot go without sharing that our baby girl, Grace Lynn, qualified as a finalist!!  This is a HUGE deal and she was over the moon excited.  This opportunity does not come easy and is no guarantee by any means.  We are so excited for her and for this moment in time that she got to live.

August - First day of school for my big girls; 4th and 6th grade!  Grace made the middle school volleyball team again this year.  She is so excited for another fun season.  Scarlett competed in her first jiu jitsu tournament in some time this month.  It did not go as she'd hoped, but it was a great learning opportunity and she held her own against some tough and big boys.

September - I took the big girls on a day date to paint and then out to lunch.  I enjoy spending any extra one on one time with them that I can.  This month, Shelby had her first school pictures too!  This is her first full year in a daycare (since January) and she was not so sure about this formal picture thing, HAHA.  Dad's birthday is this month, woohoo!  Happy Birthday, Garrett!

October - We had our annual mother-daughter retreat, which is probably my most-looked-forward-to event of the year.  I so enjoy this time with my girls and with my mom.  We also went to the rodeo this month with some sweet friends.  And, we gained another nephew!!  Welcome to the world sweet Kai.  Grace tried out for a new volleyball club this month and was invited to play on their 13U team, as an 11yo!  She cannot wait for another fun season of volleyball, especially coming off a big win with her school team; winning districts for the first time in school history!  I'm another year older this month and we celebrated with my Papa out at lunch.  We ended the month with Halloween.  The girls went as a White Fox, Mouse, and Monkey this year.  They were definitely the cutest little things around.  

November - Can you believe my dad is finally retired?!  After 42 years, my dad has hung up his ears and is now enjoying the extra time with family and with his dad in the woodshop.  Shelby is 2yo!?!  We celebrated while also celebrating Thanksgiving in the mountains.  Blue Ridge was such a special and fun trip.  We ended the month with our annual Christmas Tree Farm visit and meeting with Santa Claus.  Poor Shelby was just not having it this year.

December - And so we reach the end of the year and as I look back and reflect on all that we've done, it's just incredible.  The year has absolutely flown by, but it's also brought so many amazing memories with it.  We are looking forward to what God has in store for us in 2024 and we thank God for the year that 2023 was for us.  One thing that just this month brought us that little bit of extra joy was winning tickets for all access to the Crayola Experience from the Z!  That is something that we will be looking forward to in the coming weeks, I'm sure!

Merry Christmas family and friends and a Happy New Year.  If you've made it this far, thank you for reading!  This year would not have been the year it was without the love and support of our family and friends.

2022 - What a year!

January - Happy 11 years to my one and only! With a newborn, we did not get out for an anniversary date or trip, but did enjoy the time together at home with our three girls.  Of course, dad likes to have fun with the bigs... see candid photo from Shelby's newborn photoshoot as evidence.  Also this month, cousin Maverick turned 1 and got to come back home for a visit.  It's always fun spending time with my sister and her sweet family.  This is also the first time that Mav and Shelby got to meet.

February - This month started on a sad note as we had to say goodbye to our sweet first girl, Cambrie.  Cambrie was 11 years old and the best big sister (pig).  Grace and Scarlett loved her so much and I also am going to miss her terribly.  The month did turn to some positive notes though.  We enjoyed the FL State Fair again this year with friends Grace and Celine.  I love this annual tradition of ours and I love that we are making these memories with such great friends as well!  Later this month, Grace's amazing teacher, Mrs. Pence drove out to one of her horse shows and watched both her and Scarlett run.  What a blessing she is!  This was also Shelby's first horse show outing.

March - March started with a bang as both girls earned enough points the previous year to win awards at the annual West Volusia Saddle Club awards banquet. Scarlett also got her very own saddle this month and could not be happier... of course our cheetah loving girl went with Cheetah print.  In Scarlett's words "I like cheetahs because they are FAST and I like to go FAST!"  This month, another amazing teacher showed up when she didn't have to.  Thank you to Scarlett's teacher, Miss. Quinones (Q) for coming to cheer Scarlett on at her jiu-jitsu tournament!  Then to round out the month, I went back to work, after enjoying a generous maternity leave from Duke.  Grateful to have that time with my loves and excited about starting back up in my new role, in leadership (Asset Management Manager for Design Automation Tools & Support)!

April - Y'all, our big girl is officially double digits!!  Where has the time gone?!  We celebrated Grace by doing an escape room with two of her best buds, which she's been asking to do for a long time.  This month we also celebrated Easter, Shelby's first Easter!  The annual Duke Energy Lineman Rodeo is always a fun time and we are grateful to be able to enjoy that as a family.

May - May is always such a busy month and this year was no different.  We celebrated Grandma Dee Dee turning 90 this month!  The girls also attended their first "Lovely" event by going to Lovely Jr and they cannot wait to attend another.  The big girls and I had the opportunity this month to see Mathew West with Cain in concert with friends; what a great 1st concert experience for them that was.  Mother's day is always such a special day and made even more special this year with four generations together.  Lastly, the girls had their school awards banquet and we are so proud of them!!  Scarlett even won the Citizenship Award for her class, which is such a great honor.

June - This month Scarlett earned her second barrel buckle!!  She won the National Barrel Horse Association FL-District 09 Peewees!!  Not only did she get her buckle, but she also came home with some other great loot.  June was also a fun month with summer camp mixed in.  The girls had so much fun and always come home with the biggest smiles, saying "when can we go back?!"

July - This month was probably the best month because Scarlett was baptized!!  Nothing compares to the joy of watching your child be baptized in Christ and also watching her big sister tell her how proud of her she is.  This mama heart melted.  She was baptized by her Great Uncle Donnie and prayed over by her Great Papa.  It was a day to forever cherish and remember.  We ended the month with Scarlett turning 8 and by attending NBHA World, where both girls did amazing!  Dad even got in on the fun and ran in the armature costume race; picture evidence below.  He's the absolute best!!  I think the girls' highlights though may have been Scarlett winning the art contest and Grace earning herself a funnel cake.  Happy girls.

August - Cannot believe it is already time to start another school year.  Grace is now in 5th Grade and Scarlett is in 3rd.  Time, please slow down.  Grace had the opportunity to try out for middle school volleyball this year as a 5th grader.  We all knew that it would not be easy.  She was prepared to go in, have fun, see what it was like in preparation for future years.  To all of our surprise AND joy, she made the team!!  Her and her friend, Darcy, were the only two 5th graders on the team and they had so much fun together.  By the end of the season, they even ended 2nd in their district.  Way to go Legacy MS Girls Vball!!

September - Shelby's baby dedication was this month at church and she got to wear the same sweet dress that both Grace and Scarlett wore at their baby dedications.  So grateful for our loving and supportive church family to help guide our young family.  This month was also a big one for the Sheppard family, as this year was the 75th Annual Sheppard Reunion!!  What a special and fun time it was with family.  Papa was even the oldest surviving Sheppard at this year's reunion.  Already counting down to next year's.

October - I need to start with saying that month was the most roller coaster of a month.  This month was filled with joy upon joy, but also had our family mourning greatly.  We started the month with Year number 5 of the Mother-Daughter Retreat.  This time with my girls and with my mama is my favorite time of the year.  This month I celebrated my birthday by seeing the Judds Final Tour with my mom and sister.  Wynonna has been my favorite singer for as long as I can remember and is the only artist that I've seen multiple times and would see again in a heartbeat.  This birthday weekend did not disappoint!!  Unfortunately just a week later, my Papa passed away.  Papa Sheppard loved God, his family, and his country more than anything.  He made such a positive impact in my life and my girls.  He and Granny's marriage was the model marriage and one that Garrett and I strive to have.  Cannot wait to see you again Papa. We love you and miss you!!  After Papa's passing, we tried to get back to some normalcy and joy... Halloween right around the corner allowed us to have some fun together and keep making positive memories.  This was Shelby's first Halloween and she got to wear the same costume that Grace and Scarlett both wore for their first.  We went trick or treating with Wednesday Addams, a Cheetah, and a Sunflower.

November - I cannot believe November is now here and our sweet baby is a year old.  It cannot be possible... time should not be allowed to move so fast.  We celebrated by going to Vampire Penguin and letting her chow down into a sweet shaved snow treat.  This girl loves her sweets.  Cutting down our Christmas tree together is another favorite family tradition of ours and one that the girls enjoy so much as well.  Shelby also met Santa for the first time this month.  The girls shared with him what they wanted and gave him big hugs.  Did I mention that Mrs. Claus wrote back when Santa's letters were received??

December - This month started with Scarlett getting promoted to a grey/black belt; her 4th belt!  Congratulations Scarlett.  We are so proud of you and all your hard work.  As she said, she had been "looking forward to this day all year!"  This month was also a month to enjoy time with family and celebrate the birth of Jesus.  We hope that you each had a blessed Christmas and enjoyed time with your loved ones this month as well.  Merry Christmas from us to you!

Thank you all for being a part of our family's lives.  Whether we talk often or little, if you are seeing this, you've had a part or continue to play a part in our lives.  We are grateful for each of you and wish you a blessing-filled new year!  No matter what tomorrow holds, we know who holds tomorrow.  For that reason, we smile and welcome the new year!