Growing up during the warm days of summer

So, all summer i have been working like a crazy person, too many hours and lots of driving from one job to another! But at the beginning of the summer I promised Marc I would take off today to take him to the Vans Warped Tour, an all day concert featuring many bands, kids of all ages, fun, and independence from Mom and Dad miles from home! At first I was not sure I wanted him to go without his big brother as chaperon, but he convinced me that he and his group of friends will be OK and safe. And then I remember my first summer concert. I was 16 or 17 and drove myself and several friends to Poplar Creek to see the Cure and several other bands we loved at the time in our lives. I remember how great it felt to be an "adult" and travel around in my car having fun... So, even though Marc is not driving himself, yet, he is getting his first taste of being a young adult... They grow up way too fast! What favorite thing did you do over the summers of your youth that made you feel "older"?

Shannon

Counting Days!

I remember the summer I turned 5 (my birthday cometh); I ran around for weeks and told anyone within hearing distance the my birthday was in XX days! Yeah Me! (As if I had accomplished anything at all~! I should have been praising my parents!) Well, this summer will not be much different, except I am not counting the days till my birthday (YET!) ~ I am counting the days till I get to see Jay!~ 51 to go! I am so excited! We will get to spend 2 days with him! I miss him lots and can hardly wait! (Except thinking of the humid heat in GA in the first week of September- better rent a car with air conditioning.)

Keep Stitchin' (sweater is coming along well...)

Shannon

Found Treasures

Your know that great little feeling and smile you get when you put your winter coat on for the first time, put your hands in the pocket and find a dollar? That is how I feel today. While doing some decluttering I found a roll of film, pictures taken but not yet developed. I was not sure how old it was, but I figured if it had expired that was ok, at least I had tried. So, I dropped it off on June 1st, my sister's wedding day and I was there buying more film... I know, get a digital already! Anyhow, I forgot about it till yesterday when I was cleaning out my wallet and found the receipts, then I thought, oh, I bet the store tossed them because it was more than a month ago! But they had not! And what a surprise! They are pictures of one of Jay's first drill performances from JROTC in high school. If I can get the darn things loaded I will post a few here. Anyhow, it was bittersweet, but nice to see them. And it dawned on me then, and yet again, that even though Jay just left for basic training 6 weeks ago, he really was preparing for his life then.

Enjoy!

Shannon

Jay Update!!

People who blog, and I include myself here even though I am really new at this, think about how they will title their entry and how they will phrase it, ect. I can not think of anything cute, funny, witty, wise, ect. other than to say we have new news!

We have recently received a few more letters, all stating that he is feeling better, has an inhaler to use as needed, and will be staying. (Mixed feelings) I have also received a form letter from his Battalion Commander giving us the dates for family day and the graduation dates. I will be going for both. The form letter also states to not send boxes yet, even though Jay keeps saying that he can receive them... Gosh I hope he calls today so I can ask him about that.

Well, that is about it. Oh, there is a web site where they post general pictures of his platoon, except it has not been updated and the last groups' pictures are still there. I will post a link on here somewhere so you can see it and hopefully they will update soon.

If you are writing letters, please write often, send pics of you two if you have them.

Thanks,

Shannon

Address and Update

Wahoo! I have mixed feelings about Jay being gone. Mostly now I am worried about his health (asthma) and I miss him terribly. We have an address for him now, so we are able to write. If you want it, please e-mail me at my address on file and I will send it to you, providing we know you. If you know Jay, please write encouraging letters often, he could really use them.

Thanks,

Shannon

Direction....

Hey all! I am eagerly awaiting for Wednesday, bc it will be a day off work, a day to spend with my family, and a day to get so much needed sewing in on the QT! I have two deadlines I am working against, that are quickly closing in!!!!

SO, I am finishing those and back to UFO's! Gotta get some more of those done and actually have finished one, and almost 2 more. NEXT!!

And I will be working on a flyer to hand out about tee shirt, memory, and photo quilts to kids in camps, walkers and runners that participate in the weekend fundraisers, ect.... I am really going to get something of a schedule down for this, because I would really like to build that up.

Lastly, we have had such a great show of help for the craft donations, thanks to everyone that has help or is committed to helping. This pas weekend I spoke to a staff teacher at the school I am at and she told me the only kids who get regular art classes are 4th graders, once a month. Ughghg, how discouraging. I was never great at art, but really enjoyed it and all the ugly things I made. AND more importantly it showed me to be creative, trust in myself, and take a risk once in a while. So, the little gears in my head have been turning trying to figure out how I can help change this so that the kids can get art more frequently, especially when the district budget barely covers the education part. Any ideas? Any volunteers who have a special talent that they would like to share? Post here.

Happy Stitchin'

Shannon

P.S. The darn tablecloth is coming along....