Shannon’s SCW Blog

We’ve received several responses to the “Peeping Behind His Pornography Problem” blog that was posted several weeks ago, so I thought you’d enjoy this new video clip produced by Covenant Eyes…

http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8453b946b88adca7fac7

Even though we need to be “internally motivated” to avoid pornography, it’s great to have filtering software such as Covenant Eyes to provide the “external motivation” we may need to starve enslaving addictions or prevent them from occuring in the first place.  Such accountability can restore a man (or woman’s) dignity, replentish a spouse’s trust, prevent teens and children from surfing sites that could get them hooked, etc.  I can’t recommend it enough!

Wishing you and your family FREEDOM,

Shannon

I recently received the following email from 14-year old “Courtney” (her name has been changed to keep her parents from having a heart attack if they read this):

I used my webcam to show an 18-year old boy my body parts and I saw his body parts. Does this mean I’m no longer a virgin?

I explained to Courtney that “virginity” is a medical term describing whether or not someone has had physical sexual intercourse.  However, just because someone is still a virgin doesn’t mean that activities such as this don’t affect our purity.  Sexual purity isn’t just a “physical” thing like virginity, but is physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.  I encouraged her to learn from her mistake, forgive herself, and move on to make better choices, beginning with reading my book for teens & college age girls called Every Young Woman’s Battle (available at www.shannonethridge.com).

While it’s never my intention to rain on any girl’s purity parade, cyber-sex, text-sex, and all related activities can’t be classified as “okay” simply because a girl can’t get pregnant or an STD from them. It’s a matter of mental, emotional, and spiritual integrity, and those things have a huge bearing on future choices and relationships.

If you’ve not had honest, open conversations with your cyber-savvy teens and pre-teens about these issues, what are you waiting for? In fact, did you know some young people are facing possible legal charges because of inappropriate sexual conduct in cyberspace?  Check out this article…

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_11704/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=ugIPMA61

What do you think about this 21^st century issue of teens & cyber-sex? Are adults making too big of a deal about it, or not a big enough deal?

With all this love in the air around Valentine’s Day, perhaps we should consider DATING again!  With our husbands!  Remember that activity?  Dating?  Where two people spend time showering each other with all kinds of attention and affection?

Here’s 8 Great-Date Guidelines from the February 2009 edition of Good Housekeeping:

1.  Pencil it in.  Stive to set up at least one mini-date every week — even if it’s just grabbing a quick cup of coffee together.  And aim to enjoy a real, full-scale date every other week at minimum.

2.  Schedule smart.  The idea of date NIGHT turns off many early bird couples.  If mornings suit you better, make plans earlier in the day — like a leisurely breakfast out or a sunrise walk in the park.

3.  Keep it light.  Conversations about housekeeping (whose car needs new tires) or problems (“What’s up with Mikey’s math grades?”) are off-limits.

4.  Minimize the multitasking.  It’s tempting to call a trip to the garden center a date, so you can cross two tasks off your to-do list.  But don’t.  The whole point is to concentrate on each other, not your chores.

5.  Double-date.  When you make it a foursome and share deep conversation — real self-disclosure, not just small talk — you grow closer to the group, but you also feel more deeply in touch with yhour partner, finds new research from UCLA.

6.  Relax about reciprocity.  Yes, ideally you and your spouse would share the date-planning responsibility, but face it: If you want date night to happen, it may be faster and easier to set it up yourself.

7.  Sex is optional.  Contrary to popular opinion, every good date doesn’t have to wind up with a frolic in bed.  But do remember to end on a high note by thanking each other for making time for the date.

8.  Avoid rain checks.  While there will be times when yo’d really like to cancel a date, try to resist that urge, put on your game face, and go.  That lets your spouse know how much you value your time together.

The Girls Get-a-Way Cruise was GREAT!!! Thanks for your prayers and well-wishes for our family!

Only 5 more days until Valentine’s Day, so here’s even more ideas about how to light his fire:

1)  Leave a piece of his favorite candy on the passenger’s seat of his car with a note that reads, “Thanks for being so sweet!”

2)  Use your lipstick or eyeliner to draw an arrow from any body part to any other body part, with instructions to your hubby that read, ”Kiss me here!”

3)  Create a coupon book of romantic dates and/or sexual activities, redeemable any time he’s ready.  Make the last coupon “fill in the blank” style, so he can name his pleasure.

Isn’t marriage GREAT!!!???  Thank you, God!

Wishing you shameless sex,

Shannon

We’re about to set sail on a BIG boat to Cozumel, but as promised, here are a few more ideas to spark your imagination about how to float your Valentine’s boat…

1)  Rather than complaining about something he didn’t do, notice when he does something without asking and THANK him for it with a big hug and kiss.  Everyone loves to feel appreciated.

2)  Get a box of red hots and make a trail from the front door to the master bedroom for when he comes home from work.  No doubt his curiosity will prevent him from getting sidetracked with mail and phone messages until AFTER he discovers his red hot wife at the end of that trail!

3)  Look up what sporting events will air between now & Feb. 14th and record one on your DVR.  Then on Valentine’s Day, tell him to relax with some snacks and watch the game while you relax in a bubble bath and give yourself a personal spa treatment.  Who knows what will happen when you’re both done?!!

More to come before February 14th!  Please pray that we all have a great cruise as a family (and that our state room will allow SOME privacy from children on occasion!)

Blessings,

Shannon

With February here already, the Valentine-count-down clock has begun ticking!  With 12 days left, it’s time to come up with some wonderfully creative ways to say “I LOVE YOU!” to your man.  Here’s a few ideas to spur you on:

1)  Leave a sexy love note in his underwear drawer.  When he finds it the next morning, he’ll get a kick (or a rise) out of it.

2)  Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to make a light imprint on a slice of bread before you put it in the toaster.  It comes out Valentine toast!  Maybe even fill in the heart with red strawberry or raspberry jam!

3)  Change the banner on his cell phone to say “Your wife loves you!”

More ideas to come before we leave on our Girl’s Get-Away Cruise this Thursday!  I know, it’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it!  And I’m so thankful that I get to do it with my family this time.

Wishing you Happy Valentine’s Day,

Shannon