Appealing to your market....

in what I do we really do have a market but not in the sense most people think of. When ad companies think of ads and demographics they make the ad appeal to a certain group they have in mind. In youth programs, we do too.... but it can be a little more challenging to figure out their interests as they are at an age when even they changetheir interests daily! I started thinking about this as I prepare to form the book clubs for the two middle schools I will be at this year and suddenly realized that will be my biggest challenge. Engaging young people that sometimes change and reinvents themselves regularly, sometimes more than once a day! Yikes!! :-0 So I will be spending part of my 3 day weekend, finding out what are the "hip" (they probably do not even use that word any more), new trends for teens are.... If you happen know, please, share those with me. I will be forever grateful (and may ask for your advice and help in the near future).

Keep Stitchin'

Shannon

Mistakes in the Media...

Does TV programming count as "media"? I am guessing yes so I will proceed.

For the last few months I have been watching what has become one of my favorite shows, Army Wives on the Lifetime Network. I like the story line, characters and actors. Someone told me it is similar to Desperate Housewives (which I do not watch yet) but set on an Army base instead of Wisteria Lane. The only thing I really do not like about it is the misrepresentation they constantly give that soldiers in basic training can have visitors~ They cannot! One of the Wives has a son that has just entered basic training at Fort Benning and another Wife has a daughter that repeatedly goes to visit him, how real is that? NOT! Otherwise I would have just showed up at Fort Benning to check on my son whenever I chose. Very poor writing.

Anywho, In just a little over a week (which will pass like an eternity) we leave to go visit with Jay for a couple of days (which will go by too quickly). Please, pray for our safe travel and a good visit.

Graduation is two days of events that start on Thursday, October 11th and end on Friday, October 12th. then home he comes with us for a couple of weeks. If you need the specific info for graduation, please, e-mail me.

Bye for now....

Happy Stitchin'

Shannon

For me....

Like most women, I put me last on the list of things to do today... and have for years. But recently my small group and I have been reading a great book by John & Stasi Elderedge called Captivating, Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul. I know, you think it is a guide for men, but it is not. And if I was a little more techno savvy, like my friend Lundie, I could embed the Amazon.com link here, but you'll just have to go look for it yourself. One of the things I noted weeks ago, was that I miss being feminine. Really I do. I long for the days when I took the time to fix my hair and make up just so and these small things made me feel pretty. Please, do not send me a deluge of e-mails or comments telling me beauty is on the inside, I already know this. But consider this, how do you feel when you get dressed up for a special occasion? And did you know that on picture days at grade schools the kids are dressed up and there is notable difference in their behavior and attitude? So, I have decided to spend more time on (drum roll, please...) ME! Now a few of you have seen me today and know that I looked the same as always, shorts, tee shirt, flip flops, hair up in scrunchy.. but the difference is I walked this morning! Two whole miles and I feel great still! While I know the walking will make me look better I have decided to walk twice a day (not 2 miles both times:-)) and this will really help me feel better on the inside and out! My friend Lundie, the techie one (as if I have two friends named Lundie), showed me where I can chart my progress and put it here on my blog page, hope it works.... but if it doesn't, I'll post.

What are you doing for YOU today?

Happy Stitchin'

Shannon

P.S. Sweater is almost done, only a few rows to go! Then back to the D#%n Tablecloth and quilting UFO's.

More time coming!

Well, not really MORE but MORE free time, since this is my last crazy work week! Yippee! I cannot hardly wait to get my quilting UFO's out and start working on those daily, one motif daily ( I think) on the D*#m tablecloth, and work for 15-30 minutes daily on a sweater (only one at a time so I do not create UFO's in my new hobby. It is hard to believe but once you try it you will see that just 20 minutes daily really does add up to a finished project! It is incredible and God is great to give me these gifts and the time to do them.

Also, which will be a priority, I will start walking each AM and PM, only 20 minutes each time but that will help me (heath wise) and the dog (who loves walking but will only get to go on the evening walk). This week, so far, has been a preview of what's to come, since we have not had to leave the house till 8:30 each day I have 2-3 hours from the time I get up before we have to leave to do things! Wow! I love that and plan to make the most of it. May actually get to finish the Bible in a year plan I have started several times but gave up... Anyone want to do that with me?

Well, onto work.

Keep stitchin', walkin', prayin', and lovin' others,

Shannon

26 Days and Counting...

ok, only 26 more days till Marc and I go to GA to see Jay!! I am so excited! And I am sure Marc is too, but it is not cool to show that much emotion, so....

On another note, Jay's platoon had earned a pizza party but he asked instead if he could make a phone call, so I was able to get a call from him on Saturday! It was great! We talked for about 6 minutes and he sounded so much better. He asks that everyone keep writing, send pictures and short articles of interest. And he said to tell everyone he misses them all.

Well, I have lots of work to do, but keep posted here for new things happening in my crazy, functioning-at-light-speed of a life soon.

Keep Stitchin'

Shannon

Missed....

Oh, today of all days to miss a call from Jay! What a wonderful son to try to call me on my birthday, and I miss his call, twice! I was in a crowed large room and did not hear my phone ring! I am so bummed all I could do was wait for my time to leave, listen to his messages a cry...Still crying... like a big baby. I miss him much more than I though I would. Even though I have been preparing for his growing up since he was a baby, it still hurts so much. If you have been writing Jay, please keep doing so and send any pictures you have. He can also get single sheets of news articles, but not magazines nor books, so send him something interesting to read. No puzzles....last week I sent him a ripped out Sodoku puzzle from the news paper but they would not let him keep it. it helps if he gets mail daily, they really run them ragged and the heat and humidity there is worse than here. Pray for him too, please, he could really use God's help.

That is it for now... I am signing off to finish my crying in peace.

Shannon :-(

Tired, too tired to realize just how tired....

So, camp ended last week, and you'd think I would be recuperated after a few days of rest; but I'm not. In fact I have come to the conclusion that I am no longer in my 20's and fit for working so many hours... so, all though I love all the work I do, I will be saying good bye to 2 of my part time jobs as my true passion and calling from God turns into full time work on the 20Th! And just as I was thinking all of this I felt like a fool! God does not want us to be busy rushing around to take care of "things", He wants us to lean on HIM. So today I will take a real leap of faith, give up all extra jobs and things not necessary for life (except the one at Fringe, bc I really do love being there amongst all the yarn) and by this time next week I will see the end of business in my life! Say yeah! (And maybe the end of some of the clutter, dust bunnies, piles of laundry, dishes, ect too). This has always been an ify spot for me, bc someone, I truly admire, once told me that I was the only person I could count on. I now realize this person is not the Christian I want to be when I grow up, I want to depend upon God for all my needs, true needs. And ask Him to show me that which do not need... (probably lots there to work on). Pray for me. LOTS

Happy Stitchin'

Shannon