And now, a little about me:
I was born on Thanksgiving Day in 1960. (That makes me 54) I was the first child born to my wonderful, loving parents. They went on to have 3 more kids, 1 son and 2 more girls. I was brought up in a Christian home, where the Bible was read after meals, bedtime prayers were said and if church was open, we were there. My parents lived out their faith - it wasn't just going to church. I accepted Christ as a child and can't imagine what my life would be without that decision.
My Dad was a farmer, so there was lots of land for us to play on. There was a creek to catch frogs, hills to sled in the winter and cows and chickens to see on a daily basis. I remember bringing my Dad lunch when he was planting or harvesting. Mom would pack something up and us kids would walk out and find him. Other times he would come home for lunch and before he went back to work, he would spend time playing with us. We really had great parents.
When I was in Junior High I started working. One of my Dad's sayings was - "A little hard work never hurt anyone". I started out picking blueberries, then worked on a strawberry farm, and when I was in high school I started working on a celery farm. It was hard work!
I went to nursing school right out of high school, and when I finished I started working at a hospital. I worked on the ortho/neuro floor, which was very interesting. About this time, I met a guy... and the rest is history!
Bob and I got married when I was 21. Our daughter Laura was born about 1 1/2 years later, Heather was born 3 years after her, and Andy came another 2 years later. I was working part time and enjoying being a Mom!
When Andy was 2 we moved back to the town Bob grew up in, and we still live there. The Director of Nursing at the local nursing home knew me from the hospital and asked if I would like a job there.
That was 24 years ago and I'm still working there. I started out on call, working 3-11, then went to part time nights and finally to full time days, when the kids were older. I really enjoy my job, the residents and the people I work with.
My hubby is a manager at our local True Value Hardware store. We both have busy schedules and it can be hard to plan things because neither of us works a regular Monday through Friday schedule.
Our kids are now grown. Laura is married to Aaron, and they are the parents of our 2 darling granddaughters, Alaina and Ruby. Heather is marrying Andrew in about a month. Our son Andy was in the army, and now that he is out, he lives in Kentucky, working on the same base he was stationed at. He maintains the electrical systems on the Apache helicopter.
We are active in our church, and enjoy the friendships we have there. Bob does caricature carving, woodwork and gardening in his spare time. I like to cook, read, do digital scrapbooks and play with my granddaughters!
I think that's all for now. If you have questions, let me know! I'm leaving you with one more selfie. You probably won't see another for some time. :)
awwww You are SO cute! I love that pic of you.
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting life, Mari. And, you're so blessed to have a loving husband and family.
You were born a few months after I graduated high school. I KNOW, I'm old.
Thanks so much for sharing yourself with us, especially your newest friends like me. :)
xoxo
Well Mari...its nice to meet the lady behind the camera...at last. What a wonderful, blessed life you have had and I'm so happy to know you. Thank you for sharing your story
ReplyDeleteHugs
Phoebe x
Well of course you do have a photo of yourself on your avatar so you are aren't a complete stranger.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! I had no idea you had your children when you were young yourself, that must have been hard work!
Love your selfies!
What a wonderful post Mari! Great to see your pictures too, did you find them hard to take - I did! You smiled beautifully and look so lovely. So nice to read more about you and your background and family too. I had no idea the wedding was so soon! I hope that it goes really well and that the happy couple have as long and happy a marriage as you and Bob have had. Thank you for sharing, it is so nice!! xx
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!!! Thanks for sharing. Blessings
ReplyDeleteThat was fun! I learned a few new things about you after all this time! Your hair looks amazing!!!
ReplyDeleteI have no idea how I would write a post like this. I just don't think my life would fit into less than a book, hahaha!
I love your post, dear Mari! You are so cute and I love your hair style. Even though I knew most about you, I still liked to read a few more details. You write so well. I thought about doing the same kind of post, but it would be too long. I have lived too many places and been through too many things. Also, I am twenty years older than you so, of course, it would be longer. Ha! Ha! Thanks for sharing your life.
ReplyDeleteMari, I knew some of this, but not all, so really enjoyed learning more about you! Love the last 'selfie'. You are a lovely lady, inside and out! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou have a blessed life like I have. Sometime it is hard to imagine every ones life is not like ours. You are about the same age as our oldest son. Want to be my daughter? And that wedding will be here soon. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your life with us. I knew you were a Christian, just by our comments to one another and your activity. Being a retired nurse, we can relate in that department too. You sure dont look your age, you look much younger. Have a great Monday.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I finally got to know your story.. And by the way, the selfies are cute!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I finally got to know your story.. And by the way, the selfies are cute!!
ReplyDeleteHey there, pretty lady :) What a fun and sweet post - it was a joy learning more about you!
ReplyDeleteHow fun that you were born on Thanksgiving day. My older sister was born at the end of November and every now and then her birthday falls on Thanksgiving {she is 35}.
Thanks for sharing, dear Mari. Hugs!
What a lovely post! I really like your selfies :) It sounds like you've been very blessed.
ReplyDeleteSo happy to meet you!
ReplyDeleteThose are great selfies and what a fun post. I am one of your new followers and I absolutely loved learning more about you. Enjoy your week... :)
ReplyDeleteI just love this Mari! You're so adorable - embrace the selfie! Lol
ReplyDeleteAnd I love getting to know you even better. I relate with you on so many levels. I am about a decade younger but I'm a Fall baby too (Oct). My hubby's bday is Nov and often on thanksgiving too!
I grew up in a Christian family and gave my life to the Lord as a child and can't imagine anything else as well. I worked in a hospital and in long-term care (but as a social worker). We both love scrapbooking and photography. I also have a family member in the military (my brother) and live in the Midwest as your neighbor in WI. You're my MI big sister. ;)
Thanks again for this peek into your life dear Friend and letting us get to know you even better. xoxo
Mari, you are beautiful in both person and heart. I always enjoying visiting you because I know I am going to feel better after I leave than when I arrived. I appreciate your friendship and glad we met through blogging....
ReplyDeleteHugs...
Ah, there's my lovely friend. I'm glad to say I knew most if not all of that information! You're a keeper, Mari. xoxo
ReplyDeleteIt was so nice to read about you, Mari. You have such a pretty smile.
ReplyDeleteNow that was a very fun post and a great idea for your readers! What a fun Thanksgiving package you were to your mom and dad! Aw.
ReplyDeleteLoved this! Thank you for sharing. Been following a long time, but learned some new things about you. :-)
ReplyDeleteI know I don't comment much but always enjoy my time here!
Mari, thank you so much for sharing about yourself here. It is nice to know more about you. I was also raised on a farm...and loved it! I was my dad's tag-along. :)
ReplyDeleteLoved seeing more pictures of you, also!
Your family is, in a way, just like mine, Mari! I'm the eldest, and I have a younger brother and 2 younger sisters. "Hard work never hurt anyone" is something my great-grandmother used to say--a quote that my papa passed on to me. There's nothing quite like growing up in the country.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the selfies and learning more about you!
awesome post - love the selfies with a real camera instead of a phone. :)
ReplyDeleteOh Mari, what a wonderful post! Its so good to know more about you. Sending you big, warm, hugs!!
ReplyDeleteLoved reading all about you Mari, and of course, seeing that lovely picture. (Beautiful inside and out)
ReplyDeleteEven though you've been a blog friend for years (and we even got to meet in person!), I learned some things about you that I didn't know before :)
ReplyDeleteLove the selfie!