Living on purpose.

I wish Carmelita was a massage therapist. Just feeling the "need" for a neck massage after a long day at work.

Got to thinking about the work I do. Is this the career path I was thinking of when I endured Nursing School? What is it that gets me out of bed and down the road to my place of employment each day? Is it just the paycheck? Is it because the work itself is rewarding? Was I coming up with all these questions because I had too much caffeine this morning?

As I went from one meeting to another today, I walked through the Middle School campus during lunch today. As I walked through, I was swarmed by the kids who know me ... "Nurse Ann! Nurse Ann!".... At one point I had about 10 girls around me each popping in with a question or comment. As I asked each one how their summer was or how school was going, and as I looked into their young faces and sweet eyes, I knew I was being given a look at my purpose in working there. It wasn't about coordinating health care for kids or talking with doctors about medications. It wasn't about teaching CPR and First Aid to staff members. I was overwhelmed that I was looking at my primary mission for being a school nurse: Connection with young lives.

It is an incredible privilege to be able to love my students. I have become quite aware that many of them have really tough lives. There are times where I am given the opportunity to be the only one to ever show them they are worthy of love. I might be the only one to ever show them that love! Certainly for many, I am the only person who may ever show them Jesus. It nearly brings me to tears to know that God has given me this incredible mission. He has entrusted to me these amazing young people. I get to see them and love them and teach them that they have greatness in them.

I'm grateful for my job for what it provides for my family - money, benefits, a great schedule that keeps me home in the summer. I am humbled by God's purpose for me to be there. What a privilege. What a joy.

Tonight's dinner

If there's one thing Carmelita knows, it is food. And tonight we're having some comfort food goodness called Chicken Spaghetti. Remember, "comfort food" usually means "not healthy, but really yummy food" and tonight is no different.

Here's the recipe:

Chicken Spaghetti

6 chicken breasts
2 cans Rotel undrained
1 can Cream of Chicken soup undiluted
16oz Velveeta cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste

Place chicken, Rotel and soup in crockpot and cook all day on low.

About 30 minutes before dinner time, cook spaghetti noodles. At same time, cut Velveeta into cubes and add to crock pot to melt. After Velveeta melts, mix chicken mixture with noodles. If you like things a little spicier, you can add cayenne pepper or tabasco sauce to the mixture.

Pour into greased baking pan and bake for 20 minutes at 350.

Thanks Carmelita!

That Carmelita.

My husband Dave and I have a housekeeper named Carmelita. She has been with us for as long as we can remember. She is not a very good housekeeper, unfortunately. In fact, she is quite lazy.

There have been many times over the years that we decided to fire Carmelita. She doesn't keep things clean, she never gets the laundry done. We've often discovered that she just sits around eating BonBons and watching Oprah. Yet, we just don't have the heart to let her go.

She is such a part of our lives. The kids have grown to love her as much as we do! Even though she does the worst job on their bedrooms (I think she may be afraid to go in there), even they don't want us to fire her.

I wish I had a photo of her to post here, but I guess we've never taken one. She is a bit camera shy, likely due to her weight issues. Poor thing is quite large. I think it is all the BonBons and sitting around.

Carmelita has been married a few times. Not sure what that is about, but Dave and I suspect she is on her 4th or 5th husband. We aren't even sure which child goes with which daddy! I forgot to mention, Carmelita has 7 kids. No wait, I think its 8 now.

One thing I should let you know about - Carmelita is imaginary. She is and always has been our scape goat for a messy house. You see, when the house gets out of hand we say "That Carmelita, she's fired" or "Dang lazy housekeeper, what was she doing, eating BonBons and watching Oprah all day?".

Hey, don't scoff, it helps us cope. Life is busy, houses get messy and who has the energy to keep up with it all? Certainly not Carmelita!