Today’s guest is Shannon from StrengthAndCourage Cards. I love the story of how her little side business got started. Let’s meet her!
Me: First things first. You just had a baby at the end of August! Tell us about him (and the rest of your fam).
Shannon: Ezri is our third child. We have two daughters (4 and 2 years old) and to be honest, I was hoping for another girl! Don’t get me wrong, I know that boys are great, but I feel like this is completely unfamiliar territory that I’m in with raising a boy! I’m used to painting fingernails, dance parties, and tea parties… I grew up with all brothers and I have a strong suspicion that Ezri will be changing the atmosphere of some of our regular pastimes. That being said, we are just loving having him here! My oldest is our live-in nanny: always holding and caring for him. My husband is thrilled to have someone who actually wants to watch the Cowboys games with him!
Me: Now tell us about StrengthAndCourage Cards.
Shannon: The cards I make are…
…a way for me to get some time away from the demands of stay-at-home/homeschooling mom responsibilities.
…a way that I feel I can minister to others when I’m in the middle of a season in mommy-hood that doesn’t allow me to do some of the other service projects I would like to do.
…cards that I would enjoy and hope others would like to receive. Who doesn’t love receiving snail mail?! And a home made card is a rare treasure to receive.
Me: You say that your ministry was born partly out of your inability to speak well. Could you tell us more about that?
Shannon: Well, I speak. A lot. And insert my foot in my mouth again and again. God has given me a sensitive heart to those hurting. I want to minister to them. Show them love. But I walk up to them and the silliest words (all meant with the best of intentions) come out! I found that that I was shying away from ministering to others out of FEAR of saying the wrong thing. We are not to live in fear! I find that if I send a card, I can write one line and they still know how much they are cared for!
Me: What goals/dreams do you have for your life, and how does your card-making fit with those?
Shannon: My LIFE goals? Life is mostly day to day goals right now! On good days, my priorities are as follows…1. Know God more (Bible study). 2. Be the helpmate for my husband. 3. Raising my kids to know and love the Lord. 4. Serving others.
One great thing about cards is that they are so flexible. I can work on them WITH my daughters who also enjoy making their own cards and thinking of others that they can encourage. My husband never throws away a card that I make him, even though I insist that he can’t keep them forever!
My goal for StrengthAndCourage Cards is to use the sensitive heart and creativity that the Lord has given me to strengthen and encourage others. Carrying out this goal today may look totally different tomorrow and I haven’t tried to imagine what it will look like in the future! For instance, I never thought I would be ministering to so many broken hearts with my cards. I thought I would be making lots of HAPPY BIRTHDAY and CONGRATULATIONS cards but my THINKING OF YOU and SYMPATHY cards way out number the happier greetings. I love that the cards allow others to grieve with those who are grieving and rejoice with those who are joyous.
Me: What encouragement do you have for others who might be doubting their gifts and abilities in certain areas?
Shannon: I think that, when you find what you love to do, you should find a way to do it. The hard part? This might not be the season in your life to do what you love full time. Or even regularly! But if you love it, keep working at. Keep getting better! And find a way to use it to bless others! Marla, Thank you for this opportunity!
Me: Thank YOU, Shannon! I’m really inspired by the way you use your cards to encourage others! I love the ones you gave me!
Today, Shannon is giving away the three cards (Pretty in Purple) pictured on the blog!
What beautiful cards!
I have a stationery habit, and I’d like to add yours to the problem. I’m kidding. (sort of) They’re pretty, and I think sending mail is THE BEST!
yay! But if you win them you gotta promise to send them (at least 1 or 2 of the 3) to others! That’s what StrengthAndCourage is about…. passing along those notes to encourage others!
Of course! The problem isn’t keeping it to myself!
LOOOVE your cards Shannon! your creativeness is AMAZING! I don’t know how you do it with all of your little ones! :]
Thanks Becca!
Totally agree with Marla, with writing you can edit yourself (if you ask my fam, they probably say I should write more often LOL). Wonderful idea for a way to combine a biz and ministering to those you are called to help.
Thanks Cheryl. The ministering part makes the biz part fun!
Shannon, these cards are great! I love mailing cards to my friends and family for encouragement.
I bet your friends and family enjoy receiving your cards even more than you enjoy mailing them! What an easy way to brighten someone’s day and say ‘I’m thinking of you’!
YAY! One more person who will help keep the post office open (at least a little longer!) I am 100% convinced that few things warm a heart more than a personal, handwritten letter/card in the mail, and it’s really over the top when it’s a handmade card!! Shannon, your cards are beautiful!
Thanks for warming MY heart this week through the mail, friend!
Thank you Krysten!
Shannon – your cards are beautiful! We have some friends who recently suffered a tragedy and when I see them in person I cannot find the words to express my sorrow for them. For some reason words come much easier to me in emails. But, a card? Much more personal (and prettier) than an email! What a great way to minister to others.
I always feel like a card is kind of like a hug in the mail! Something to hang onto especially in the sad times! And the truth is, sometimes there really are no words… but letting them know you are there for them is a great comfort!
I love what you are doing encouraging people and sharing God’s love. I love getting snail mail and giving mail to others.
Seriously! How exciting is it to open the mailbox and find something other than junk mail and bills! Cards are fun!
Your boy will probably be a terror (just like my 19 month old is), but you will be SO GLAD you had a boy instead of another girl! There’s just something about their boy-ness (the way they get excited, the way they dance, the way they destroy things) that is just so incredibly cute and irresistible. Congrats on your family of FIVE!
Can’t wait to find out if baby #3 is another crazy, destructive cutie or a beautiful little princess! Love you!
Thanks…. I think
Definitely looking forward to the new dimension our little guy will add to our life. And it looks like (from Marla’s comment) that a CONGRATS is in order for you too!
one of those things I am pretty sure I could never think up — they are wonderful
Cards happen to be my thing (and it is something that I continue to work at by the way)…. but you are gifted individually. What ever YOUR gift is, use it for the Lord!
oh my, i have foot-in-mouth syndrome all the time. this is also why i prefer cards and emails! these are just so cute!
Sometimes I wish I had a mute button to use on myself! Or maybe a redo!
Marla, you do both writing and speaking… which is easier for you?
Writing for sure. You can edit yourself.