FEATURED COLUMN

Member Spotlight
Shirley (aka) KittyKapers - January 2008

Please tell us about yourself & your family: My name is Shirley, but most everyone knows me as KittyKapers and live in northwest Indiana about 90 miles from Chicago. Am semi-retired and work part-time at a driving school and have recently started my own home business as a Watkins, Inc. Associate. My husband and I divorced in 1983....been single since and plan on staying that way....guess I enjoy my independence to much...lol. I have a Masters in Theology and teach adult and children's religious classes at my parish. I also stay with my youngest granddaughter two days a week while her parents work. I have two children and three grandchildren (hopefully, soon I'll have 4). I feel very blessed that both my children live close to me and I can see my grandchildren as much as I want.

What are your hobbies and interests: I love to read, anything and everything. Aside from my family, books are my passion. I also do some cross-stitching, but my main hobby is scrapbooking. I have albums for my three grandchildren...what better way to document our times together then with pictures. I'm also in the process of making heritage albums for my two children. I have a deep interest for the Civil War, especially the battle at Gettysburg. My son and I took a vacation there years ago and since then I have read and reread whatever I can get my hands on. Love the History Channel and watch it as often as time alows. I also love playing with my PSP and making web pages and sets.

Tell us a bit about where you are from: Mishawaka is a small town (Pop: 46,000) and the twin city to South Bend, IN. (home of Notre Dame football) I have lived here all my life...never had the urge to move. Old fashioned neighborhoods still exist all over the city and neighbors are willing to help each other and offer friendship. If I want the "big-city" life, I can take a short trip to Chicago which is two hours from my home. I also live about 40 minutes from the shores of Lake Michigan and consider that area my second home. I visit often, summer, winter, spring and fall. South Bend/Mishawaka is my home and my family's roots are deep.

When did you joined WOSIB: I joined WOSIB in July of 2005. This is the best group on the net and I have met some wonderful ladies. I kept seeing the WOSIB logo on pages I visited and decided to see what this group was all about. I liked what I saw and decided to give it a try and discovered a group of very caring women.

What Gardens are you currently involved in and to what capacity: The first garden I joined was the Celebrators Garden as a pagemaker. I so enjoy helping to make birthdays/anniversaries special for our members. I also joined Quilters and the Critters Garden. All three of these gardens are so special to me.....they have become part of my family and can't imagine not having them in my life.

What's the best thing about Wosib: The friendship and the caring attitude of all the members.....when I joined WOSIB I guess I didn't expect the warm welcome I received. As I became more and more involved in the gardens I joined, I quickly realized what a blessing WOSIB was in my life. If I need to celebrate, or need help, support, or some love...anything at all....they are there, waiting with open arms to help me. What more can a girl ask for????

Anything else you would like to add: First off, thank you so much for choosing me as member spotlight of the month. Secondly, I have learned so much because of the diversity of this group. Women from all over the world come together to share their cultures, insights and feelings. All these women I have encounted in this group have become my true sisters and am so very proud to have them as part of my family. God bless you all.

Thank you for telling us about yourself Shirley, please accept the award that will be e-mailed to you, as a token for being in our spotlight!

You can visit Shirley's Personal site here: http://kittykapers.com/