God Is Pretty Practical

Well as you know my waitress career lasted two whole days. I landed a job in a souvenir shop on the Texas coast a few months ago which was lots of fun.  I loved listening to my new co-workers, who were just the cutest young people ever, talk about their latest love interest, fusses with siblings, communication gaps with parents, and of course lots of fun gossip. I ended up getting  super homesick for my little house, my own peaceful little routine, and my friends, in my small town. I truly had not counted on feeling like that but I did so, I put in my notice, thanked them for the job opportunity, which I really did appreciate, and came home. That next Monday morning I decided I was getting a job 'today'! So I drank my coffee, with a shake of cinnamon in the filter cause I like it that way plus cinnamon is good for you, dressed business country casual( cowboy boots), and started at one end of my small town and worked my way to the other collecting applications. I was so thankfull for the little cashier job my childhood Flour Bluff friends were kind enough to give me. I realize RN as the only experience in the last 25 years is not helpful to a potential employer looking for retail help. My first stop dropping them off that afternoon was the True Value hardware store. Now I was optimistic about this first stop but the manager took my application with barely a glance at me and turned to walk away. I just could not believe I was being dismissed so quickly so I spoke up in my nicest, polite, without sounding too eager voice 'could I get an interview?'. He kept walking and said over his shoulder he would call if an opening came up. Wow, what a buzz kill. So I prayed. 'Lord, help me to find the right job'. I had prayed before going in to get 'this job'. Since I for some reason have difficulty grasping the concept that God is not just for huge crisis. He is really pretty practical. Prayer said, my next stop was the dry cleaners which I thought was my least likely prospect cause they seemed to have such a small crew are locally owned and I figured probably hire amongst their friends. I walked in, one of the owners took me straight to the office for an interview and hired me on the spot. They are just the nicest people ever and I am loving my job. I never realized there was so much to doing laundry! I am learning a lot plus getting to meet friends and neighbors in my very friendly small Texas town. I still do not miss nursing. I am grateful for those years but for now I feel done with that part of my life. Just wanted to catch you up on what is happening in my small world. Have a super great , sunshine, Summertime week. kisses

Miss Self Control America

Did you maybe ever say a bunch of stuff to someone that was true in your mind and had bothered you for a while but somehow did not give you the relief you expected once you spoke it all out loud.   In fact made ya feel pretty crappy for not only saying it but having carried those feelings around so that they were bound to come out sooner or later. Just wondering...I was taught in Sunday school as a child and I know as an adult to be careful with words you cannot take back but here I am again feeling just wretched.  I like to think I am Miss Self Control America. Reality had other plans for me and has once again intruded into my little world leaving me no choice but to admit my huge lack of what I thought I had sort of pretty much mastered.  Now what do I do? Just wondering what you think. Have a super Summer, self controled, weekend. kisses

'Bought' Air

It was a beautiful, sunny, Texas Summer hot Sunday day today.  I was truly grateful for my central air-conditioner keeping me comfortable cool.  I remember my grade school classrooms feeling like a sauna in the humid Flour Bluff Summer heat.  We did not have air conditioned classrooms till 6th grade.  Those Summer days when temperatures soared into the 90's and himidity was likely around 60% retaining  information was at a minimum while day dreaming, passing notes, or any other sort of distraction was the norm.  I think us little kids probably suffered some degree of heat exhaustion daily. Not to mention riding an overcrowded yellow school bus, 3 to a seat, asiles filled with the older kids standing and the too small windows mostly all shut tight, home during the hottest part of the day.  Most of us had box fans in our windows at home. Air conditioning was a rare luxury.
Somehow we all survived. We were miserable but we did not know any different. Of course we played in the ditches, swam in ponds and when we got thirsty drank from the nearest garden hose. My childhood before air conditioned classrooms and hand sanitizer was great! Maybe I need to rethink the need for all this 'bought' air and I will seriously consider pulling out the old box fan...as soon as Fall rolls around. Have a comfortable, cool week.  kisses

Kids Say the Darnest Things

I hope your weekend is going sunny goodtime Summer great.  My grandchildren were visiting yesterday and we were having a super fun in the sun, splash in Nana's pool and totally wear Nana out great day. My girls, one of my handsome son in laws and grandkids were chilling in my living room before they left for the day when 5 year old Hailey looked at me with her ginormous beautiful innocent hazel colored eyes and asked 'Nana, why did you get divorced?' . I looked at my daughter and she just shifted in her chair, did that Mother to daughter eye roll I am so familiar with and said 'May as well answer her Mom, and if your answer does not add up she will ask you about that in a bit.' .  So I looked at my little princess, not wanting to disappoint but not overwhelm either and said 'well, I wanted a companion and Pop( that's what they call my ex-husband)was not a companion to me so I decided I would rather grow old on my own or at least be free to look for one. She looked at me a moment then asked 'what's a companion?'. I told her someone to do things with, hang out with. I guess for now that adds up for Hailey. That really was kinda the basic truth for me only it sounds kinda shallow saying it and writing it now. It sure did not seem shallow at the time nor did I ever take it lightly. Course I guess life is more complicated than the answers we have to come up with when taking to a child....but they sure do make ya think and possibly add a little more perspective.  I'm not sure if I should feel more guilty or whatever but I think we all just do the best we can with what we have at the time. I know I sure do love my grandchildren. I guess that will have to do for now. kisses

Wrong Way or Just My Way?

Happy sunshine beautiful breezy hump day, Wednesday. Do you ever feel like that odd fish swimming in the wrong direction? Not that the direction is truly wrong, just different and can get a little lonely at times.  I make it a point to get out and get some socialization, have some fun, even maybe a little out of my comfort zone. I like to tell myself 'Steff, ya gotta expand your horizons'. But it is something I have to work at and even kinda push myself at times.  I do end up having lots of fun and adventure so the effort is most certainly worth it.  Somehow relationship status continues to elude me. On that front, once again what I have figured out is that I have nothing figured out. Back to swimming in my own direction I guess. Hey maybe we can all swim together sometime, just for fun, and in our own way, in our own direction, even if it is only dog paddling! kisses

No Man is an Island-or Woman Either!

Good Morning, Good Morning! Hope your Tuesday is sunshiney bright filled with wildflowers and happy thoughts.  It has so hit home to me recently that what I do, little ole insignificant me, really does affect those around me, even ones I never realized were watching. I remember my Granny telling me that. "Steffie, be careful what you do. The little ones are always watching" .  She was talking about my younger brother and sister, of course but it kinda carries over and I'm thinking now really never ends. I have been way too wrapped up in my own little world these last 18 months or so trying to deal with life, career, and well just changes ! A wise friend of mine looked me in the eye a few months ago and said "Stephanie, you are important to a lot of people. Don't you ever forget that".  I just did my usual giggle and shook it off. How could I be important to anyone? But ya know, we all are important to someone and important to ones we might not ever even know about. I just want you to know You are important to me, after all, You read my silly blog about my very small world. You matter if only to me! Have a super trippy Tuesday. kisses