What am I really doing here?

I need to figure something out for myself: what am I really doing here? What am I good at? I'm a wife. A darn good one. I work hard, treat the hubs like a King, I can cook, bake, sew on a button when necessary, clean when I have to, do laundry, the usual stuff. I'm a mom. I raised four kids with the hubs. We tried real hard to help them turn out to be productive human beings and they're finding their respective ways in the world. One or two of them are finding it more difficult, but they're doing ok. We tried to remind them that God is in charge and is always there for us, and I hope they all turn to Him for guidance. I'm a grandmother - I'm Nana, if you will. And I love those two baby boys fiercely. Anybody ever messes with them, I'll kick some butt. Don't even try. I'm a nurse. I'm a damn good nurse. I love what I do and why I do it and I love to continually educate myself and my coworkers about the latest and greatest in orthopedic surgery. I have hobbies I love. I cook and bake. Some pretty tasty stuff. I love to read. I mean, I LOVE to read. I devour books. And I retain what I read. But even though I recognize all these things about myself, I'm trying, just like zillions of other people, other women, to discover what I'm really doing here. Am I making a difference? Am I touching lives? Am. I. Making. A. Difference? 

Are any of us?

The boys of Fall

They're here - the boys of Fall. High school football scrimmage - on a beautiful late summer evening, cool and clear.

I don't know about you but I'm ready for real football and anything made with pumpkin!

Late summer bounty

Late summer, except for the horseflies and bees and extreme dry heat (but not this year) is so great. I love love love all the fresh veggies.

These babies were sent home with my husband by a friend of his at work and will be devoured tonight with cottage cheese, red onions and salt and pepper. Yum! 

What is your favorite summer treat from the garden? I've got tomatoes of my own growing but not quite ripe yet, along with spaghetti squash and pumpkins. Last evening at our local farmers' market I picked up jalapeños, baby red potatoes and green beans. 

I'd love to hear from you all!

Who am I?

I've introduced myself to literally tens of thousands of people in my life. As a child, I was me. My parents' daughter. Older sister of my younger sisters. When I reached junior high school, I became, in addition to myself, a cheerleader, a spelling bee champion, a lifeguard at the pool. In high school, I was a singer, an actress, again a cheerleader (captain of the cheerleaders, if you will), a band member, a girlfriend. Since I was 21 years old, I've been a mother, a wife, a mother three more times, my parents' daughter still, a waitress, a banquet server, a college student, a patient care assistant, and a nurse. Some of these things I still am when I introduce myself. I'm a darn good mother and grandmother. I'm a really great wife - ask my husband, he'll agree. I'm a damn good nurse. I'm a reader, a singer, a musician when I have the chance, a friend, a swimmer when the season's right, and a walker. So let me get something off my chest. Let me tell you what I'm not. I'm not a runner. Never will be. I'm not a gym rat. I just don't have it in me. I like to walk. I hate to work out. Hate it with a deep, searing passion. You won't catch me running stairs at some auditorium or stadium. I don't like to lift weights. I'm ok with sweating, really, I am. I'm just not going to kill myself in a hot nasty smelly gym six days a week. I don't care if I ever wear a bikini. I don't. I may not totally love my body all the time, and I know I need to drop some pounds, but I'm active. I'm healthy. My lab work and "numbers" are all good. I'm not very good at "dieting". I'd rather just eat a little of what I like and move on. I'm not you. I'm me. I'm no exercise fanatic. I cook. A lot. And I'm fairly good at that. I like flavor. I like variety. I love vegetables, but I'm no vegetarian. I like meat. I like sweet. I like dairy. I love fruit. I'm no ovo-lacto-vegan. Not happening. I'm not you. I'm me. And I kind of like being me.

Just a few thoughts...

Love one another. Be kind. Pray often and hard, especially for those whom you know need it most. Pray for all the babies in the world. Pray for guidance to do right. Smile at someone you don't know - they might need it more than anything. Always say "I love you" to your spouse and children, and mean it. Make someone feel needed and useful every day. Make someone feel special every day. I said it before - be kind, just like Ellen says - be kind to one another. Just do it. This world is a scary place anymore. We need love and smiles and laughter and warmth in cold and cool breezes in heat. And love. Lots of love. So be kind. Please