Starting over again. Searching.

Starting over again, searching. I have been juggling several businesses over the past few years, a real estate broker, an educator for a medical company, a salesperson for a major pharmaceutical company, and a reservist in the military, a mom to a son and daughter, and a Mimi to two great grandchildren. When people looked at me they would assume I had it all together and was accomplished to some extent. Yes, financially I have been blessed by decent jobs and good financial sense. What I missed was a sense of purpose. It is was January, a start of a New Year. New Years tend to be a symbol of new beginnings and therefore that is what I was going to do.

I have always had a love for houses. I enjoy looking at them from the outside to the inside. I would ponder as to why the builder placed the door here or there. I would be excited for the grand entrance to see what was inside the home. Would the flooring lead me to a grand living area where I could imagine people gathering, or someone who loved to fall asleep on their couch as they watched their television program. The upgrades were never that important to me as I knew that many of them would be added or changed over the years in the home. It was the foundation, the bones of the home that always excites me.

As an educator, I enjoyed being in front of others to share knowledge that someone would use to enhance their lives or someone else’s. I would get an assignment to travel each week to a different destination. I never knew where I was going until the email came. The excitement began at that moment. I would start to research the town, so that I could plan accordingly to what I would do after I worked as an educator. My calendar would be filled from the moment I landed until I headed to return to the airport. Discovering the cities and people there became a high for me. Truly a blessing as I would never have traveled to Casper, Wyoming or St. George, Utah which now I claim to be one of the best places to visit.

The start

I had originally went into the military at the age of 17 to become a Nurse. Getting married at 21 and becoming a mother, I elected to do the next ten years in the Reserves. Then I did not re-enlist but had 14 years under my belt. As I became more astute with my finances and life; I realized that getting 6 more years, or one more term would be beneficial indeed. I returned to the Reserves at the age of 51 and my 6 year commitment ended April 2020. Starting over again. Searching.

As I mentioned earlier, I became a mom to a wonderful son at the age of 21. I read all books from what to expect when your expecting to how to raise toddlers. Hoping to the best single mom I could be at the age of 24. Starting over again. Searching.

Working as a per diem nurse, I took the shifts that paid the most. Nights and weekends and days that were needed. Always keeping in mind, my number one job was raising my son. I was fortunate that I had that American dream of owning a home, as when searching I was also introduced to a realtor who encouraged me to get my real estate license. Starting over again. Searching.

That per diem nursing paid off, as after becoming a realtor, my discussion in our nursing area would be of what homes were for sale. One of the doctors mentioned that I would be a great pharmaceutical representative in which her husband worked and they were hiring. A resume dropped off at her office brought me into a Fortune 500 Pharmaceutical company and my financial world became easier. Starting over again. Searching.

14 years after having my son, being molded into the management area within the pharmaceutical company, I found myself still single and expecting a daughter. So a shot gun wedding it was and my daughter was born and management at that time was not in my future. Starting over again. Searching.

A wedding on a beautiful golf course before the golfers reached the 18th hole started a journey of togetherness. Several years went by as I continued to work at the Pharmaceutical company, sell real estate as the opportunity came, become a mother to a new baby girl along with my son and became a step mother to two boys. Unfortunately I became a golf widow and found myself raising a teenage son, two step boys, and baby girl while trying to hold onto my careers. Starting over again. Searching.

Raising my son and my daughter I wanted to be strong and relied upon God to give me the strength, knowledge and wisdom. Attending church was not only an expectation but became our family. I truly was favored with people that provided guidance and grace. Enjoying each step of my children’s growth and realizing I was not alone on my journey. Starting over again. Searching.

My son graduated from high school and went off to college. The day of his leaving my home will always be in my heart. As a single mom, I was maintaining my work schedule and when I came home that day, I came home to an empty room and a note. A note of gratitude and love and a cleaned out bedroom. At first, I was upset that he did not wait for me to help move him out. Then realized that he knew this would be the easiest on me. I also came to realize that this is life. God blesses us with His children to raise and let go. Starting over again. Searching

It was just my daughter and I now as she finished high school. I was her mom but also her friend. We would see movies, go to concerts, travel every chance we got, we were there for one another. It was time for her to select her college and move away to campus. Starting over again. Searching.

Still searching

She has graduated from college, my son has gotten married and I have two beautiful grandchildren now. Life is always changing. It is never to late to start over again. So January is here and I am still searching. The one thing I know for sure that God is still writing my story. He meets us were we are and uses whatever faith we have to accomplish His purpose.

Re reading your life’s story can bring out your purpose. I am so thankful for mine and the continuation of what God has for me, my family, and for you as you read just a part of my plan in hopes that your story will emerge too.