Dependants and Military Brats

Servicemembers aren?t the only ones who create friendships and then have to move on due to a transfer or release from service. Families can also build these close relationships and have to move on to new situations.

Social Networking provides not only a method to stay in touch, but also a method to conduct a search for people who might have been at a post at the same time they were present.

Some of these relationships can last for a lifetime, if they can be kept alive. Merely keeping in touch can keep contacts going and allow relationships to be rekindled when opportunity provides a chance to be together again.

Especially for teenagers, moving away from close friends can be traumatic. Social networking sites allow these teenagers to stay in close enough contact to justify keeping a friendship going. While a loss of contact can be permanent, if contact is retained, it is very possible to arrange for meetings in the future, perhaps even arranging to move to the same region at some point.

Of course, the same reasons that servicemembers might want to find other soldiers who share similar interests apply to dependants and military brats. Finding someone who shares your experiences, being at the same post at the same time is potentially interesting, but it can be even more rewarding if you find someone who has the same interests and has shared experiences.

This can also allow finding people who share some interests even before you reach your new home. Just as much as for soldiers, spouses and children also like to reduce the uncertainty of a new move, and having someone you know on the other end telling you what to expect can make life much simpler. Even when the news isn?t what you want to hear, knowing will allow planning and a response, while ignorance just allows panic.

For those so inclined, even separated by half a continent, these social networking systems can allow shared experiences such as friends taking the opportunity to see a movie on the same night even across the country, or a virtual visit. With a webcam and speaker, it is possible to hold a group chat with friends from all over and have almost as much fun as you can manage in person. The possibilities are limited only by the imagination, and whatever is currently popular.

Parents will be relatively happy since most of the bad things that can happen in teenage relationships are much harder to arrange over a modem. Teenagers will like having relationships that they can keep to themselves, as something uniquely theirs.

On the other hand, parents can talk to each other with other parents who have children and who are facing similar situations. They might even be able to identify the parents of the dreamboat their daughter is talking with online so they can all figure out what little can be done about it.

For a great way to network with or keep in touch with US Military members please check out the author's US Military based social website at http://militarysociety.com

Jeweled Shamrock Pendant

March 17th is St. Patrick's Day and according to tradition if you are not wearing at least a little something green you just might get pinched and why put yourself through that? Let's face it most of us do not look very good in green attire but, there are ways around this.

A pretty green pendant to wear on your lapel for the occasion would be fun and festive especially if you make it yourself.

I chose the Shamrock or Four Leaf Clover because, According to Irish tradition it represents blessings and who doesn't like getting blessed?

This St. Patrick's Day craft project is geared for adults, it is not easy enough for children to do unless an adult is right there helping the child through each step.

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Supplies:

1- 18 X 22 piece of green felt. (any shade of green)

1- Acrylic Craft Jewel (any color)

1- Pin Back- 1 1/4"

A small tube of green (any shade of green) glitter fabric paint

Scissors

Craft Tacky Glue

1- Black Sharpie marker

Heart shaped template (provided)

Circle shaped template (provided)

Clover Stem template (provided)

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Please go to- http://www.craftsxcetra.com/jeweled_shamrock_templates.html to print out the templates for this project.

Directions:

1. Print out the templates provided. Use medium to heavy white card stock to print on.

2. Cut along out lines of the circle template and the clover stem template. (See fig. 1) at http://www.craftsxcetra.com/images/pendant_fig1.jpg

3. Fold heart shaped template in half. (See Fig. 2) at http://www.craftsxcetra.com/images/pendant_fig2.jpg

4. Cut along out line of the folded heart shaped template. (See Fig. 3 & 4) at http://www.craftsxcetra.com/images/pendant_fig3.jpg and http://www.craftsxcetra.com/images/pendant_fig4.jpg

*Unfold the heart shaped template.

5. Lay the heart shaped template onto the piece of green felt. Take the black Sharpie marker and carefully trace inside the line of the template.

Do this 4X (4-times). Let Ink Dry. (See Fig. 5 & 6) at http://www.craftsxcetra.com/images/pendant_fig5.jpg and http://www.craftsxcetra.com/images/pendant_fig6.jpg

6. Trace the Clover stem template and the Circle template onto the green felt. Let Ink dry. Cut along outer edges. (See Fig. 7) at http://www.craftsxcetra.com/pendant_fig7.jpg

7. Glue each heart piece to the circle piece. Be sure to glue the pointed part of the heart piece to the inner part of the circle piece forming a Shamrock or Four Leaf Clover.

Let glue dry (5 - 15 mins) (See Fig. 8 & 9) at http://www.craftsxcetra.com/images/pendant_fig8.jpg and http://www.craftsxcetra.com/images/pendant_fig9.jpg

8. Turn Shamrock or Four Leaf Clover over, and glue the Clover Stem unto the back. Make sure that the stem extends out and shows from the front before actually applying the glue.

Let dry (5 - 15 mins)

9. Glue the acrylic craft jewel in the middle of the Shamrock or Four Leaf Clover. Let dry for (5 - 15 mins)

10. Take your tube of green glitter fabric paint and carefully trace along all edges of the Shamrock or Four Leaf Clover.

Let glue dry for approx. 24-Hours. Be sure to sit your project somewhere out of reach from the kiddos! lol

11. After the glitter fabric paint has dried (24-hrs) You might want to go back over it with the paint, It's up to you because, if you do choose to go back over it you will need to let it dry again for another 24-hrs.

12. Simply glue the pin back to the back of the Shamrock or Four Leaf Clover. Glue to center of the Circle part. Let dry for at least 1-hour or more before attempting to wear.

And, That's It!

You can view the finished Jeweled Shamrock Pendant here at: http://www.craftsxcetra.com/images/pendant_fig10.jpg

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Your Jeweled Shamrock Pendant is ready to wear for St. Patrick's Day!

You may even want to make more than one, and share them with family, friends, and co-workers.

"Many Irish Blessings to You & Happy St. Patrick's Day!"

Lynda K. Smith, is the owner and webmaster of http://www.craftsxcetra.com She lives in Texas with her Husband and Two Children. Her hobbies are sewing, crafts, and web design.