Fal...

Here in the Midwest the leaves on the trees are changing color and falling from trees. Their colors are bright and vibrant reds, oranges, yellows, greens, and purples and really a delight to my eye, even though I am not really big into nature. And at the moment I slow down enough to really appreciate it, I thank God for this beautiful sight that I have so often taken for granted, and for loving me.

Fall also brings out sweater season, and I am making a chunky one! Yeah! And quilts too, cannot forget my first love. Working on my UFO list still, but, as always, need to be more consistent in that area.

What are you doing now that Fall has come?

Happy Stitchin'

Shannon

Home, Sweet Home.... AT LAST!

Well, the 15 weeks were very long for me but in the end they did fly by and Jay is home! TY, GOD! We just sat around last night, eating tapas (which was really just an old favorite of finger food and appetizers that we started when the kids were younger) and watched a funny movie. He said he enjoyed being on the couch (the ugly old one I am dying to replace) and he is still sleeping, so I guess he feels like home also. He only has 7 days so we will also have a busy day today and then he will have the week to hang out with friends and Miss Ashley (GF). Then onto Fort Campbell for jump school (scary), but at least he will be closer for 6 months, till he deploys in April.

It is still hard to believe he has grown up so much, seems like just yesterday he was a baby in my arms.....

Happy Stitchin'
Shannon

Graduation....

Most of the time we think of graduation as the end of something, but really it can be the beginning of a "next" in some one's life. Like last night, 10 men graduated from the Master's Touch program, part of Wayside Cross Ministries, where I work, www.waysidecross.org . It was truly humbling to hear their stories, their songs, their laughter, and give and receive hugs. I realized how amazing God is to provide the resources to help these men and many that have come before them and the many that will come after them. And He does it not for them or us, but for Himself, just because He can and I think to exercise Freewill and prove that man does choose Good over evil. Yeah GOD!

Happy Stitchin'

Shannon

TGIF!

Not very often do I get a Saturday off~ so this weekend will be so great because I do! I am spending the whole day sewing! Well, a big part of it! I can hardly wait. And I have not been very good about my daily challenge of 20 minutes/day on UFO's so I think I will post a ticker on that (to remind me to do it daily!)

Happy Stitchin'

Shannon

Groups Help with a Challenge

Hello, so I have not been walking much, but Scott promises to walk a mile with me daily, that coupled with 2 quick half mile walks at work will get me closer to my year end goal. In addition, I really will be making some positive choices in diet and eating habits and to help I have joined Miss Lundie's Healthy for the Holidays challenge. (Lundie's spot is over there on the side~ there is a link ;-) I will lose 28 pounds by Christmas Eve~ And that will just be the beginning. How? You say, I will be using the ThinWithin philosophy of only eating when I am hungry, easting soup and salad for one meal, and lots of other healthy habits I should have been acquiring all along. Want to play along? Go to Lundie's spot, get a post going, and let me know, so I can watch your progress.

Happy Stitchin'

Shannon

A Spoonful of Sugar

May help the medicine go down, but it does nothing for bad news. I know some people eat for stress, but that does not seem to be helping me at all. We have received the bad news that Jay has received his platoon assignment and will be joining them in Iraq in about 5 months. :-( There is no amount of sugar, carbs, or anything else that can lessen the heartbreak, pain, or concern I (we) are feeling and I know it is really up to God, but I feel like I should be doing something to prevent or fix this. Not this time. It is his choice and he has to listen to God for direction. Consider this an advance invitation to come for a welcome home invite on Sunday the 14th of October. We will find a place and have a party for Jay... If you know us or Jay, you are invited to come and celebrate with us. Please, e-mail me your addy and I will get you all the info as time goes on and we are able to make the arrangements.

Happy Stitchin'

Shannon

Time to go back yet?

Even though we have just returned from seeing Jay I can hardly wait for these next 4 long weeks to pass when we go back for graduation and get to bring him him, even if it is only for 2 weeks! We had a great time and just spent the time, talking, Jay told us lots of funny stories, we played games, watched movies, swam in the hotel pool and basically just hung out. Darn I miss that kid! For those of you going to graduation, the first part of the ceremony is on Thursday and their is a family briefing that day at 11:00 at Sand Hill. Jay gets to leave then for about 8 hours and the next day graduation is at 10:00 AM and lasts about an hour. After which Jay goes back to his area, secures his paperwork and home we'll go with our big soldier in tow. If you are attending graduation, please, e-mail me so I can send you some directions about getting on base and Sand Hill (they are separate and you need a visitor's pass from base entrance and then drive back to Sand Hill to enter the area. If you are planning on visiting Jay while he is home, better make plans soon, his dance card is starting to fill up fast! Here's a picture of us, obviously from the first day, as we are still smiling and not thinking about taking him back yet.... and a picture of Marc in the pool (he needs a hair cut!). OK, so I need some instructions in adding pictures, but you get the idea....

Keep Stitchin'

Shannon