Once Upon a Time...

Once upon a time there was a family who decided that this year, they wanted a freshly cut CHristmas tree! It was already known that this would be an adventure, every Christmas movie that has a family cutting down a tree is always halarious. As you can see from the terrain, this family didn't find there perfect tree until they were many km's into the forrest, (or the Christmas tree farm!). They searched high and low, deep and wide, analyzing the trees, their colour, height, fullness, smell etc... It was almost as bad as going to the movie store to pick out a movie with 6 people. But then, uncle Joe and Daniel found the perfect tree. It smells great, is a perfect colour, and now full of our decorations we have acquired over the years! It is sitting right in our living room! I really actually can't believe that Christmas has come so soon! Now it is here and I can just enjoy the festivities, but this year I have been so reminded through songs and people of Jesus' birth. I know it sounds simple, but it makes me excited for heaven! During Christmas carols like O Holy night and what child is this and O Come all ye faithful I picture Jesus in the manger with Mary and Joseph, the shephards and wisemen all around him, and get excited for heaven when that will be us celebrating. (That is a random thought from my thoughts!). Merry Christmas!
jspen (that is my new nickname for myself)

carrying the tree back to the car!

"can we get one that is this wide?"

mom thinks this one will be easy for her to decorate because it is her height

No Daniel, this one will not fit in the living room!

As if I didn't see that one coming Jill!

the moms...they weren't really dressed for this type of terrain

Jill Chillin

The Christmas Kid Scene 1

So, I am a 40 year old, slightly high strung, emotional business woman/wife/mother named Jessica Sheppard. As most of you know, my acting skills have been stretched in many different camp skits, agnes and ethyl (although I can't remember which one I was!), not to mention DVBS skits at camp. This was a definite stretch since I am in real life none of the above! Although the play fell in the middle of final exams, it was a definite encouragement to me in my life and in the lives of people watching it. This made the many moments of multi-tasking worth it, and again I am left feeling small that God would some how use a Christmas play to have the joy and love of his birth known in a real way. And for all of you who came I think there might be a sequel in the making but I can say no more!

is that persons hair colour in the bottom left for real?

Islay, CHristine, Andrea, Emily and me at the play!

The first needle...

Actually, I mean my first flu shot...and no I did not give it, I received it! (But I had to say something to get your attention since I have been slacking in the blogging area of my life). Don't you worry though, by the end of 2006 I will have a very good one that has been brewing in my head for the last few month. I hope that when I am a nurse I can give everyone stickers with their bandaids because no matter how old I am, stickers make a needle feel better!

I knew Jer had a love for lululemon!

The cousins's new Golden Retriever!!!!

I took this one picture of this adorable dog, and then my battery died!! I would have taken a better one but I did not have anymore batteries, so sorry about the shadow!
P.S. For Christmas I would like one of these with a red collar as well

October High School retreat to PEI!

I ate all of these....just kidding!

The only time of the year for Candy Apples!

This isn't a Halloween Costume People!

My First Day!!!

On Wednesday night I could barely fall asleep. I had felt a little nervous about going to the hospital the next day, but really I was just so excited. (kind of a nervous excited! :-) I was going to be job shadowing a nurse in the PACU. (which is people just as they come out of surgery). So, here I am in my scrubs before I went. I got there and found my nurse. If you had of told me two years ago that I would be looking at iv's, catheders, wounds, EKG's, smelling lots of hospitals, helping to check vitals, talking to people about their medical condidionts, looking at blood drain, and looking at a lady who just had a masectomy for breast cancer...I probably would have turned white and passed out on the floor! But nope, I some how have gotten over those fears and hear I am loving it. I loved the nurse I was with so much. She kept telling me how healthy I looked for a person for celiac disease (jill, you can insert your comment here....). I was there for the afternoon. When I walked out I smiled so big and said "I can't believe I just did that!" I couldn't wait to get home and tell mom and my family all about it. I still can't believe it, but I love it so much, it was so fascinating. I got to talk to lots of patients too which was neat. I told an old lady that had a hip replacement that she was going to be a great dancer. My grandma always liked to hear her hair looked nice so I told her. She needed an eye patch and as my nurse lady was putting it on she said to not take her eyebrows off...they were penciled in...haha. Anyways, I really have to go pack my bag for the weekend at the farm in PEI..... Here is a picture of me in my scrubs..notice my name tag....it says my name and school of nursing :-)

My month of October

October is coming to a close. It is hard to believe. It feels like it is just going so so fast. Thankfully I am enjoying what I am doing. So here are some pictures to recap my month, since I have not been extremely faithful to the blog portion of my life, although the digital as made it on many occasions just for the day when I knew I would post them! So here are some pics of Ashley's Birthday, Peter Thamer's new open house, Thanksgiving weekend in Cape Breton, and most recently our half marathon in PEI. This week I am going to be going to go to the hospital for the first time in a post surgery unit. So, I got my first set of scrubs, which are blue! The typical nurse colour. I am sure there will be much to say! I have loved fall. It is starting to get cold. No matter what, I love the changing of seasons because it reminds me that there is always new. The changing of the seasons and what each season brings always reminds me of the seasons in our own lives, and that in the wintery months, God does things so that we can grow, and enjoy, and to have new experiences in Him.

Ashley's Birthday...It is Today!!!!

For Sheilagh in Mexico

This is the post for you Sheil. It is at Peter's new house party!

Cerys and Charlie!

Uncle Al shot for you

Peter's amazing Grand Piano Room

Oh man! The acoustics in this room are incredible!

CHelsea, Jo and me

well, I think the last picture of us together was about 4 years ago...so here is the new one!

Thanksgiving weekend!

On Thanksgiving weekend our family went to our cottage in Cape Breton. We have never done this before, but when I was in SOuth Africa mom suggested it. I think it will become a tradition. It was so nice just to be able to sleep, and eat. I went for some good runs, the trees were gorgeous, and I brought the wrong textbook and couldn't study....oops!

My professional photo shoot

I got a dog...

um, just kiddin! That is a joke. This is our neighbour's!

Harvest Moon at our Cottage

You can't really tell how full the moon is here, but just think this picture in your head, and magnify it by 100

Ashley and I after the race

Well, we ran the race. Here is an after shot. The one below is before the race. It was kinda cold, but we were very excited....right ash?

Half MArathon tales

Well there aren't any pics yet, but I promise they will be soon to come. So, I decided to tell some tales of the half marathon today. Since the half marathon's in May I have only been running smaller distances. I registered for the 10km race in Prince Edward Island. However, last week I was running and decided I would switch to the half marathon and I did. I am so happy that I made that decision. I was uncertain about running it since I knew I hadn't really trained, but I showed myself up and ran it today with a 5:54km in a total of 2hours and 3 minutes...this is about the same amount of time I ran the Bluenose in. This was my favourite race ever. It was gorgeous and quaint. The race led us through some of Charlottetown's old historic homes, on the the confederation trails and then back downtown. I enjoyed it for many reasons. First, is Ashley and I ran it together. Having eachother to sing along to songs with and even dance at some points made it very fun. I also just realized again how much I just love running. I was thinking about it as I ran, how enjoyable and easier it is to do things we love. I began to think more about the gift and preciousness of life (which is one thing I learned from those babies in South Africa). Life is so much more enjoyable when we have the freedom to do things we love. Sometimes this takes overcoming fears and doubts, but as I was running my heart became filled with thankfulness and joy that God wants us to love what we do, whether running, nursing, ministry. or whatever it may be! It just encouraged me more not to do things out of duty or obligation, but because I love it. Anyways, it does make me laugh what you can think about while running. At about km 17 I was making up figure skating routines in my head to music from pride and prejudice....very random! So, it was a great run and a beautiful weekend...I guess something solidified to for me, that as long as I love running and am able, I'll keep doing it! OH ya, and Ian HOldway ran a very fast half as well...so make sure you give him a high 5 next time you see him!! Stay tuned for pics of the race as well as more pics from Thanksgiving in Cape Breton at the cottage and from Jen's wedding...they are coming when midterms finish on tuesday!!! see ya later!! Anyone wanna run the Bluenose half in May??????

Jen and AJ's wedding!!

Awesome wedding! I will say more in a second!

....Before the dresses go on!

this is before we went over to Jen's to put on THE dresses!

Hair Time

Chelsea did Naomi and my hair. Joanna was there too!

Gettin Ready...yes, it is true...I am wearing makeup

pretty bride!

Bachelorette P-A-R-T-Y!

our hike....it isn't sea kayaking (what it was supposed to be)..but still soooo fun!

My birthday party- annie erikson's fart gift was the hit of the party!! thanks annie!

my birthday cake

gluten free and DQ!! = awesome!!

African Hair gone!

Well, unfortunately, the hair is gone. It was a great experience that I will remember. The afro I had when it was all out was worth the work mom, Susan and I put into taking it out though!

Hats!

Some are ghetto, some are for cowgirls...and others are for...austrian men??

I am no longer African

Another Adventure!

A few days after I got back from Joburg, it was time for Sheil and I to head to Kelowna BC for our good friend Mandi's wedding. We had a layover in Edmonton where we saw CHristiane and Haven...unfortunately Lilee was working. The time we got to spend with Mandi was so great. It was such a happy time to celebrate her and Travis getting married. This was a very different time than in South Africa. There were very sad times there, but this time in BC was so so happy and full of so many different blessings and encouragements. As I sit here and listen to Joburg radio on my computer, I remember both trips and am so thankful for both and for how GOd used them both in so many different ways as an encouragement to me! Adventure #3....I started Nursing today!! My classes are microbiology, anatomy, physiolgy and foundations of nursing.....I AM SO EXCITED!!