All About Me!

As I typed "All About Me" as the title to this post, I was afraid it sounded kind of self-centered. But then I thought, "When I see a link to a new business, I want to know all about the person who is running it. Who are they? How did they get to where they are? What are their goals?" So, here it is--at least part of it--the next post will outline how Pink Flamingo Health and Wellness has been a dream in the making for several years! 

*****

The best job ever is being a mom! My kids, Cody and Morgan, are all grown up and out on their own. Daughter Morgan and her husband Levi live in Colorado and son Cody and his wife Isabelle live in eastern Nebraska. I am very blessed in that they are good at answering my texts and calls. I am stepmom to Danielle, Cassy and Ryan, who all live in Nebraska near us. It's great to have them close!

I had always wanted to be a nurse and when my sisters got tired of being "patients", I practiced on my dolls. I became a "real nurse" in 1989 and despite the challenges of the profession, most recently COVID, I would choose it as a profession and recommend it to others.

I have always also loved writing. I've self-published several books and will be using them in writing blog posts on this and other websites.

My husband of 8 years and counting, Sam, and I actually went to high school together in the ancient days of the 1980's. He went into the Navy after high school and I went to nursing school and we lost touch. Almost 10 years ago, in the midst of a divorce and several weeks after the worst haircut of my life, I went to WalMart after church to get my favorite kin

d of frozen pizza. I wanted to get in and out as quickly as possible so avoided eye contact with anybody. All of the sudden I heard a deep voice behind me say, "Hey babe, do you kiss on the first date?" I might have run from that pick-up line but I immediately know it was Sam; he was never shy about flirting, even in high school! We chatted for a few minutes and caught up on each others' lives; he was also divorced.

We made tentative plans to get together for a "family movie night" (his kids, aged 10 and 14 at the time, lived with him full-time) but I have to admit that at that time I had absolutely no intention of being alone with a man every again! However we did have our "family movie night" a few weeks later and Sam was the perfect gentleman and, I found, a kind, funny, smart, strong Christian man. Usually we talked non-stop, but our silences were comfortable too. We prayed, together and separately, about our relationship, and asked God to make it very obvious if it was not in His plan that we pursue a romantic relationship. His answer was quickly clear; we are so thankful that everything came together in a way that was obviously His plan, and we married in December of 2015.

During the last 15 years I've worked in Home Health, as a Private Duty nurse, in Outpatient Surgery, as an Educator and Charge Nurse in Long Term Care, and in an Internal Medicine Clinic. In 2018 I became certified in aromatherapy, which had a huge impact on my focus as a nurse.

My favorite part of every job is teaching--teachinng patients, families, staff members. Every day I saw (and continue to see) how simple lifestyle changes could benefit health in a major way. Every day I heard (and continue to hear) questions about the confusion that comes from misleading headlines, findings from "research", and multiple medications that are on the shelves or prescribed every day, and what people "should" or "should not" be doing.

For several years I have wanted to start my own business, incorporating education and essential oils. I have been planning and praying but it seemed no matter how hard I tried, I just could not get to the point of meaningful progress on meeting this goal. Then, suddenly, I had the time. God moved in a way I certainly did not expect, but was clearly orchestrated by Him. I am so very thankful and I pray that I will do His will and shine His light, and use the talents that He has given me, to help others.