I met Mike and Shell Christian and their family enjoying food, music and fun in Central Park on the 4th of July. They had just moved to Tehachapi in June from Corona which is a part of Southern California's vast Inland Empire. They said that they had lived there off and on since 1985, wandering off to live in places like Hawaii and the Chico area of Northern California. The Christians were looking for a less hectic environment in which to raise their three children, 14 year old Sierra, 12 year old Sequoia, and 10 year old Hawk (Jericho).

Mike works from home and is SQA (Software Quality Assurance) for a company in St. Louis, Mo. that makes 3D modeling software for the construction industry. Shell is a busy homemaker and homeschools their three children.

Mike was born in Providence, R.I. and has two younger sisters. His family left the East Coast when he was five years old. Shell was born in Duarte, Ca. but spent four of her early years in Brazil where her family lived just outside Rio de Janeiro. She has a brother and two sisters. Her parents were missionaries and Shell said that they moved 15 times in 17 years. They ended up in Rowland Heights, Ca. where her parents started a church. That is where she met Mike and the rest is history.

Both Mike and Shell said that they love music and it is a big part of their life. Shell added that she also likes to dance. The entire family enjoys being outdoors: Shell likes to work in the garden; Sierra likes horseback riding and would really like a horse; and all the guys are into sports. The boys play Flag Football and baseball and Mike coaches their teams. Sierra said that she also likes to read and aspires to be a teacher someday.

Not to be forgotten is the family's canine companion, JJ, who they think is a collie/lab mix.

Tehachapi sends you all a big "welcome" and we know you will enjoy your new home.

Jamie and Roger Protte arrived in Tehachapi in March. They had spent the last several years living on the Ventura County coast where Roger was stationed at Port Hueneme. Jamie said that they had lived in both Camarillo and Oxnard while Roger was stationed there. This spring he was transferred to Edwards Air Force Base. Tehachapi was their choice for a place to live and they bought a home here.

Roger, a vehicle maintenance mechanic, has accumulated 17 years in the Air Force and is three years away from retirement. Jamie also joined the Air Force in 2000 but left active service in 2007. She now works for the Department of the Navy as a program analyst, a job she is able to do from home. She and Roger met while they were both stationed in Germany. Over the years they have lived in Texas, Wyoming and Colorado. Jamie said that they loved Colorado and thought they would like to retire there. They even bought 40 acres on which they planned to build a house.

Roger was born in Leasburg, Mo. and, according to Jamie, is a real country boy at heart. He grew up hunting and fishing and still loves those activities. He has two brothers and two sisters and is the "baby" of the family. Jamie, on the other hand, was born in Trenton, N.J. and is a true Yankee. She has a brother who still lives in New Jersey and a sister in Pennsylvania.

Jamie and Roger have two daughters, eight year old Isabellah and five year old Korinne. Jamie says that she enjoys traveling and is also a budding artist. Roger likes to go hunting and fishing. He holds a D9 hunting license from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Deer Management Program. That license area extends from here to the Lake Isabella area. The Protte household also includes a Norwich terrier mix named Shatzi and a French bulldog named Bo.

"Welcome to Tehachapi" to Jamie, Roger and the entire Protte household.

If you have moved to the Greater Tehachapi Area within the last six months and would like to know more about your new community, call (661) 822-8188. We will be happy to make an appointment for a hostess to come by and give you lots of helpful information, some valuable coupons, gifts and much more. Many families and individuals who come to the area are pleasantly surprised with the amount of knowledge they gather about their new home. Publishing your welcome article is completely voluntary and is not a requirement of being welcomed.