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Vanessa Shepherd

@_vanessashepherd_

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⛪️ Pastor, @canyonhills_slo
📖 Author, The Good in the Awful & The Ugly House
🙌🏻 Founder, @thegoodchronicles
Friend. Just call me friend.

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I still don’t get how parents just do this.

My once small baby, a surprise to me as I still felt much like a child myself, grew older and wiser and braver and bolder.

You were the first to move into action, the first to accept the lessons being learned, and the first to show up for every celebration- even if it wasn’t yours. But man, there was so much we’ve been gifted to celebrate with you.

I got a front row seat to every mountain top and valley low, to watching you chase God’s leading and submit to His pruning. You’ve been every dream I’ve ever had and more.

I didn’t even know if I could be a mom until you came along, and now I’m just trying to figure out how my heart will be ok when part of it grows out into the world.

I love you, son.
My firstborn.
My little sidekick.

And I’m so proud of you.
The man you are.
The man you’re becoming.

Happy 18th birthday, Michael.

May you do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before your God. Always and forever. And may His face ever shine upon you.

We’ll be just fine. Ride like the wind, Bullseye. We’re cheering you on. by @_vanessashepherd_

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3 months ago

We’re still thinking about how incredible Easter at Canyon Hills SLO was this past Sunday! ✝️🙌

From worship and the teaching of God’s Word, to salvations, re-dedications, water baptisms, Canyon Kids’ illustrated Easter story walk-through, the Jesus Hunt , and sweet time together over refreshments before and after service — we saw the goodness of God all day long. ✨

Jesus is alive 🙌, lives were changed ❤️, and we are so grateful for all He did this Easter Sunday. ✝️

#EasterAtCanyonHillsSLO #JesusIsAlive #HeIsRisen #CanyonHillsSLO taken in Canyon Hills: SLO by @_vanessashepherd_

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6 months ago

My Habibi… I’ve known you for most of your birthdays (which is really getting up there, dare I say you’re mid but not in the Gen Z way because we’re both too old to understand that anyway) and you still keep me guessing.

I love the way you go all in on fitness… and pizza, coffee… with loads of creamer, and cleaning laundry… but still wearing the same workout attire.

You’re my favorite person to wake up to, even if your constant moving keeps me awake… and my favorite partner in literally everything, because God has so intertwined our lives.

You’re my coach, my confidant, my best friend, and my biggest encourager. The days haven’t always been easy but the years sure are stacking up… and it’s beautiful. Our life is beautiful. You make sure of that.

I celebrate you today and everyday, even when I’m moody. Cheers to 44 years, and many many more adventures to come.

Oh yes, and happy birthday to your twin @chris_shepherd_22 , you’re exactly the same only very very different. And I love you, too! by @_vanessashepherd_

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8 months ago

I used to talk about my brother and about grief pretty regularly. Somehow, they would make their way into every conversation and interrupt every waking moment as if my body just needed people to know his name and know why I was still limping through. John Paul, only a few years younger, would no longer share his version of our childhood together or create new memories that we would retell to our grandchildren. He was just, gone.

And while grief is a horrendous weight of its own, I was also compelled to speak because I wanted the world to hear what few were whispering into the darkness… that God is still good in the grief. That He cares. That He isn’t aloof or indifferent but in fact a very present help in time of need.

That grief still exists, but it’s been quieter within my soul. I talk about him not constantly but as the occasion comes. And when prompted, my answers remain the same: God is still good, and I miss my brother immeasurably. It’s both.

If you are grieving, I pray that you can make space to hold those two truths in the same hand. Truly, God cares about death. So much so that He sent His Son to redeem it.

Thank you to those who wore their whacky socks to celebrate John’s life with me yesterday. It means so much. Every day we are one day closer to being reunited again. #KrazySoxDay #Grief by @_vanessashepherd_

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a year ago

Michael is a senior in high school and was signed by @sacstatemgolf to play on their Division I golf team. Which is incredibly exciting.

But he’s also a stellar human being and that’s actually why I’m proud. Follow God and fly like the wind, Bullseye. We’re always gonna be cheering you on.

#StingersUp 🐝🐝 by @_vanessashepherd_

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a year ago

Hey everyone! As some of you may know, October is Pastor Appreciation Month (I’m a little behind 😬). I am very grateful and blessed to have two amazing parents who are both pastors of @canyonhills_slo . Many of you see them on Sunday walking around with smiling faces, but what some of you don’t see is the immense amount of work both of them put into the church. They truly embody the commandment from Christ to love the church and serve in it. From the way my Dad can get fired up and challenge the church with his application points and amazing illustrations, to the way my Mom can intellectually break down a verse and what each individual word means towards the context and meaning of any verse she teaches, there are so many reasons to which not only I, but our entire church community, are grateful for the spectacular spiritual gifts the Lord has blessed both of my parents with. I admire both of their abilities to steward the gifts they have been given and point it all back to Jesus and hope that I can retain as much wisdom as I can from them before I leave for college. If you get the opportunity, even if it is something small, reach out to them and thank them for their love for the church (my Mom loves coffee and Dad will always accept a steak lol). I love you both so much and am forever grateful.

Love, MJ by @_vanessashepherd_

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a year ago

The days came quickly, the children grew. Entering what feels like a new season with immense gratitude.

My life, my heart walking outside of my body, and my favorite crew.

📸 @felishaconnolly by @_vanessashepherd_

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a year ago

Michael turned 17 last week while we were on another tournament trip but this time to Poppy Hills. He had a hard first day (79) but came back day 2 with determination and shot a 74.

He also eagled hole 18 (which he’s done before but not with me at a tournament) which made for huge smiles and a small crowd cheering him on. Being your mom has been a complete joy, Bubba, but getting to see so many others in your corner makes this next year more bearable.

One more year of you at home.
One more year of road trips and car jams.
One more year of stifling my excitement at your tournaments.
One more year of watching you hold the tension of mundane life with the overwhelming favor you’ve been walking in.

One more year of this chapter of your life before the page turns and a new one begins.

I’ll still be taking pictures of you in the trees and the fairways, because no matter what I’ll always be your biggest fan.

I love you.
♥️ Mom by @_vanessashepherd_

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a year ago

I don’t know if she’ll look back on her childhood and remember adventurous or anxious mom, tidy spaces or tense ones, but it’s the little moments not the big ones that are magical to me. From where I’m standing I am sure grateful to God that I get to be her mom.

#FourYearsOfAdeline #MiracleGirl by @_vanessashepherd_

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a year ago

We talked about Mental Health in church today.

We talk about Mental Health at home everyday.

I’m so proud of this kid who has learned how to advocate for himself, share his journey without shame, and push his body when he’s long tired. He has come so far. SO FAR.

And while Michael gets all the golf recognition (and Adeline the cuteness overload), I want to celebrate this kid’s commitment to showing up. In church. In therapy. And in school.

We’re so proud of you, Jake. Let’s go climb another mountain. by @_vanessashepherd_

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a year ago

These last two weeks have been… a lot.

I put in my two weeks at a job I had been working, but then sabotaged the ending by telling a white lie (that I unprovokingly confessed later that day) and was asked to not finish out my time.

I stepped back into being the kids/youth pastor with the transition of our Next Gen Pastor… on top of my usual church responsibilities all the while feeling like the biggest failure/sinner/imposter to lead.

I got a call that my aunt was unexpectedly put on life support after aspirating during a simple medical procedure the night before a planned book signing.

I canceled that book signing, easiest decision ever, to be with family despite having ordered a few dozen books to be able to sell.

I made two trips to two different hospitals to be with her as she clung to life, the second being the same hospital my brother died in 7 years ago (how has it been that long???)

I had to rush home from Sacramento when Adeline (who was with me) came down with another stomach bug, stopping every 45 minutes to clean the car or hold her per her request.

But when I reflect on all of these things I hold both the hard/true with the equally good/true….

✦ I was grateful to leave that job, it wasn’t a good fit.
✦ I LOVE being full-time at the church, especially with the kids/youth!
✦ I have been able to spend so much time with family these past 2 weeks, even unexpectedly getting to celebrate my sister's 40th birthday. And my aunt is still fighting.
✦ I was asked to speak at a retreat in October and they pre-ordered 40 books.
✦ I get to see the Lord redeem that hospital for my family.
✦ I got to hold my miracle girl when she felt unwell, cherishing that she is mine to hold.

God’s gift of holding the hard + holy together is available to anyone who is willing to look for Him in the darkness. I am so grateful He loves us so.

#thegoodchronicles #weallneedJesus #savedsinner #Godisgood #christianblogger #christianauthor #thegoodintheawful #theuglyhouse #comehome by @_vanessashepherd_

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2 years ago

I’d like to close out the weekend with my sincerest gratitude to all who came (and the few I actually got pictures with) at @broodcoffeeshop yesterday. What a treat it was for my heart to see friends from all over who drove with new friends and with small children to share in this new story with me.

I’m not a professional author, I never thought of a book tour as a way to market and make money. It really has all been about sharing this honest, most heartfelt work, with those who would come. To be joined in the journey of the long road toward Jesus.

Thank you, friends. You gave me the best *welcome home*. by @_vanessashepherd_

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2 years ago