Thanks for Your Prayers!

Well, my dad had his heart surgery last week, and he pulled through. However, the surgery was unsuccessful and his heart is beating as fast as it was before. Thank you all for your prayers, please continue them. We'll see what happens; I'm sure it is in the Lord's hands and He's watching over my dad.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Tomorrow my dad, John Joseph Shepard, turns 52. I've been thinking a lot about my Dad lately. He is in the hospital today having heart surgery. Your prayers would be much appreciated. I thought maybe I could write a little bit about my dad here.

My father was born in Columbus,OH in July 1958 to Gene Allen Shepard and Phyllis Ann Paver. He had it kind of rough when he was growing up. His parents divorced when he was a teenager. Then, his father listened to the missionaries, and my dad listened too. He was the only one out of the 6 kids who decided to be baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That has made all the difference. He met my mom, Terri Lynne Hubbard, at the Institute program at Ohio State University, and they got engaged. But my dad decided that he had to serve a mission before they were married. They both did, my mom in Ventura, CA, and my dad in Sacramento. They were engaged for 3 years! I am grateful for my father's determination to serve the Lord. He knew that The Church was true and wanted to share that light with others.

Dad on his mission in Sacramento, California

John Shepard and Terri Hubbard get engaged

Their wedding day, October 12, 1983My dad is a musician, he has a beautiful voice, and plays the guitar. He is also an actor. But, I think his favorite thing in life, although it has been very difficult, is being a father. My mom had 5 children and they adopted 2. Hannah Lynne, Emily Jean, Claire Elizabeth, Martha Suzanne, Jacob Allen, Trey Robert, and Ashley Tonya.

A first time Dad (with Hannah)

(Dad graduated from Ohio State University in accounting (I think), but became a computer programmer, but I think he'd rather just sing and play his guitar, or be a movie critic)
I talked to my dad last night over the phone. I am so glad I did. He told me he wanted me to know how he loves me and how proud of me he is, and that he is so glad I am excited about the gospel, and that I have a growing testimony. "That's all I want for my children: happiness, and I think you're on the right track." He also told me that he an mommy think Seth is great, and that I couldn't have found a better husband. -I agree, and I'm glad they think so.

Mom, me and Dad at my 2nd B-day party

I told him I loved him, and that I'm so glad he is my father, and that he and mom chose to have our family sealed together forever in the temple, and have kept their covenants. And I know, that because of that, no matter what happens, everything will turn out right in the end, and we will be a family forever, and get to be together again.

Me and my beautiful mother

He agreed, and added that if anything ever did happen to him, he wanted me to make sure and do one thing "Make sure you take care of Mommy, who has sacrificed everything for you 7 kids." (After all these years, my parents still call each other "Mommy and Daddy," even though we're all grown up. I think it's because that is their favorite thing to be, parents together.) I assured him that we will, and told him not to get any ideas about going anywhere though, and that we expected him to come out of this in tip top shape.

Dad and me

My dad isn't perfect, but he is wonderful because he's always tried his best, and he loves us. Do your parents know you love them? Have you told them recently? Give them a call, and tell them again, today! You never know what could happen, but it is a wonderful reassurance to know that your parents love you, and you love them, and that you've told them recently.

I love you, Dad! Happy Birthday!

Our eternal family as of 2010
(At Hannah and Michael's wedding, Chicago Temple, June, 2009)
From left to right: Claire, Jacob, Trey, Mom, Michael Dimond, Hannah, Dad, Ashley, Martha, Emily, and Seth Wagner

A visit from the Wirtz's

In July we had a really nice visit with some of the Wirtz's. Kevin and Jill Wirtz were close friends of my parents at Ohio State University, and they always kept in touch, and so their daughters became like cousins to us. Nikki and her husband Bret, and Stephanie and her husband Sam and their son Reid all got to come and stay with us. It was really fun to catch up with them!

Nikki and Stephanie chose great husbands. I'm so happy for them.

Thanks for taking the time to visit us Wirtz's! From Left: Kevin, Bret, Nikki, me, Stephanie and Reid, Sam, Jill

This is Kirtland!

We are so blessed to be part of the Kirtland, Ohio stake. Every year, volunteers have put on a play called "This is Kirtland." We really wanted to try out this year, but our schedule and my health wouldn't have permitted it. But Seth's sister Angie Brimhall (Eliza R. Snow) and her husband Jeff (Parley P. Pratt) and kids, Hadley (Mary Elizabeth Rallins) and Hyrum (Parley P. Pratt Jr.) got to be in it, and also Seth's mom, Jeena (Rhoda Greene). We got to see the show twice and it was wonderful! It is such a testimony of the restoration of the gospel. Our family did so well, I can't even begin to express it! They were like professionals, and they worked so hard.

Hadley, Jeff and Angie even had lead roles with big speaking parts and solos, and they nailed them!

I video recorded the show, and it turned out pretty well! I learned how to use software that makes DVDs and I made over 50 DVDs of it because so many people wanted to have a copy!

Angie, Jeff, Jeena, me (Emily), Seth, and Hyrum and Hadley

(I made a bouquet for each of them, and Hadley choose the lily, When she was smelling it, she got pollen on her face, so they had to go wash it off. - That is why her dress was all wet. Seth kept telling me "That was a dirty trick, Emily." He was really teasing me, but I did genuinely feel bad that she got pollen on her face! Sorry Hadley!)
The first show we went to, we took Jazmine and Nathaniel Harges to see it. Jazmine is in my Primary class, and Nathaniel is the only young man in our ward (Seth's in the Young Men's Pres.). They had never been to a play, and they don't really get any opportunities to go out, so I'm really glad we could take them. Being in a ward with such a small youth program, and being a leader over children who have had such hard lives, and more great challenges ahead has helped me to realize a lot. Even if we only have one young man, or one child in our primary class, they need us to help and teach them. And even if almost all the odds are stacked against a child in life, one caring person can make a difference though it may not seem like it at the moment.

We took our wonderful neighbors, Fay and George Williams to the play the second time we went, and they LOVED it! It was wonderful to hear their reaction. George talked about how strong the spirit was, and Fay was so impressed by the reverence of the children in the cast. They were so glad they came, and I'm glad they were home from New York, where they often visit their daughter Tracy, so they could come. We love them so much, and they are like another set of grandparents to us. It will be so hard to leave them when we move in October.

A wonderful miracle also happened. Larry Andres, who played John P. Greene the play, was not a member of the church although his whole family has always been, and because of all the years of love and missionary work, and because of the fellowship and testimonies of the cast, he was baptized yesterday, right before their last performance. It was such a special day and it reminded me of my own Grandfather's baptism and conversion, and that those baptisms mean that our family and their family is one big step closer to becoming an eternal family.

Lakeview Cemetery

In May, Seth and I got to finally visit the Lake View Cemetery, a famous, beautiful, and gigantic cemetery in Cleveland, just 3 minutes from our house. What makes this cemetery very special to me is that it is the resting place of at least 11 of my ancestors. The Shepard monument and plot can be found in section 19 of the cemetery. (You can find it easily if you enter the cemetery on Mayfield Rd. Take the first left, and keep left toward the Garfield monument. It will be on your right).


This is my great grandfather, Paul J. Shepard, the father of my grandfather Gene Allen Shepard, who is my dad, John Joseph Shepard's father.

These are Paul's parents, Jerome J. Shepard and Theresa Dempsey. Jerome owned a brick factory in Cleveland, I think, and was very wealthy. My Grandpa Shepard knows all about the history of our family, and I am excited that I have some time off from school right now, because i am going to go to Columbus to spend some time with Grandpa and my other relatives to learn more about our family and to do family history work.


This is my Grandpa Shepard's brother, Uncle Jack. I remember that Uncle Jack used to send us those shiny new coins in the cases when we were kids. I guess I was a kid because I always wanted to open it up somehow to get the money out. I was never successful, but I liked Uncle Below are more ancestors.
I think Norma is either one of Paul's sisters, who married Frank W. Milward.

May might also be one of Paul's sisters (Paul was one of the younger children, I believe).

James could also be Paul's brother, and Irene, his wife is from Germany. My grandpa said she comes from a royal German line.
Possibly another brother.
I have a lot of research to do! I am glad I have the Shepard family close to me right now, and I am going to try to take advantage of that, and record my family history.

Here are more pictures from the beautiful cemetery. I think they said there are over 250 acres. (I mean, it's huge!)






President James A. Garfield is buried and has a monument in Lake View. It is pretty cool.

We learned that Garfield was assassinated when he had only served about a year as President.
A cloudy view of Cleveland from the top of the monument.

John D. Rockefeller is also buried here. This is his monument. He lived to be 98!


Seth and I had a great time looking around the cemetery. It is so peaceful there.

This is the Wade Chapel.
"Tiffany" (I think that means the famous diamond guy) made this huge wall to wall glass mosaic.

If you are near Cleveland, and haven't checked out Lake View Cemetery yet, GO! It is a great place for a picnic, you can learn a lot about history, and enjoy the awesome scenery.