What's your Contribution?

This week this 50-something is changing her words... "My Purpose" to "My Contribution." When all is said and done, what do I hope to contribute to this beautiful world before my days are done? It is a game-changer and a very important question. I am sure it can only be done by being intentional.

Thankful Throwback Thursday

"In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." ~Abraham Lincoln

[caption id="attachment_1294" align="alignnone" width="560"] Angela R.D.H. (With the most supportive people in my life!)[/caption]

Recently I had a conversation with my sister about photos and how she hates getting pictures taken.

It got me thinking...Is it vain of me to post photos of myself?

Yesterday it was my mother's birthday. I did something some might think was just plain weird. I posted on her FB page, asking people to share their favorite memory of Mom. I'm pretty sure three of us shared something and they were all brief. Have they already forgotten my beautiful mother?

It got me thinking... If I died tomorrow, would everybody forget about me in four short years, especially if there are no photos of me?

This past week while I was working I realized it has been 30 years since I graduated from dental hygiene school. I wondered if it would be good or bad of me to share that fact with others.

It got me thinking... Am I getting too old to do my job? Will they want someone young to clean their teeth?

It was time for my yearly physical exam and time for the necessary tests that the doctors think are smart, considering my family history.

It got me thinking... Will it be my turn to get a scary diagnosis one of these years?

My oldest daughter just celebrated her final birthday in her 20's this week. My husband realized he was her age when he started dating me.

It got me thinking... I. am. getting. OLD!

Anyway, I probably think too much; and over-analyze too much; and worry too much. Long story- short, at the end of the day none of these thoughts/things will matter. I've been reading a book and so far two words hit me like a ton of bricks: So. What?! I decided I would post a bunch of photos that I may or may not have posted in the past. At the end of the year (and at the end of my life), there will be photos of me with people I love, and moments where I was having fun.

I only have one or two decent photos of my parents and my sister and brother that have gone before me. I want there to be enough that if those I leave behind start to forget what I was like, they can open my books. So, please don't judge me by the amount of photos I share here. They are all for the long run and they are the story of my life.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oW6vx5AOMqM&w=420&h=315]

[caption id="attachment_1263" align="alignnone" width="560"] Meghan, Jenny & me.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1303" align="alignnone" width="560"] Linc and me in Carmel, CA.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1302" align="alignnone" width="560"] Lisa and me in Carlsbad, CA.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1301" align="alignnone" width="560"] Me in Carmel, CA.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1300" align="alignnone" width="560"] Meghan and me in Santa Monica.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1299" align="alignnone" width="560"] Linc and me in Detroit[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1298" align="alignnone" width="560"] My current office (Colleen, Stacey, me, Dr. Dick Bolten, Mary, Katie, & Marty.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1297" align="alignnone" width="560"] Lisa and me on ultimate Sunday visit.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1282" align="alignnone" width="560"] Linc bike riding at Macinac Island.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1281" align="alignnone" width="560"] Celebrating Naze's Birthday at Tony's with a pound of bacon.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1280" align="alignnone" width="560"] Patty & Sue up at Lake Leelanau at Hopcian's cottage grilling hot dogs![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1279" align="alignnone" width="560"] Me & John.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1278" align="alignnone" width="560"] Love golfing with John.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1277" align="alignnone" width="560"] Family helping Dave move back to MI for his last days.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1276" align="alignnone" width="560"] Opening Day Detroit Tigers.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1275" align="alignnone" width="560"] Bike Riding at Macinac Island.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1274" align="alignnone" width="560"] Loved the Birthday Texts[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1273" align="alignnone" width="560"] Cross Country skiing with Linda.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1272" align="alignnone" width="560"] Me & Reg.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1271" align="alignnone" width="560"] Nice photo of the small group. Baylis', Rhodes', Schuberts & Nawrocki's.[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_1269" align="alignnone" width="560"] Kimberly & me at shower for Caroline & the triplets.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1267" align="alignnone" width="560"] Me & Sandy Woodmansee[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1264" align="alignnone" width="560"] Meghan and me at The Woodshop.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1265" align="alignnone" width="560"] Dinner with John & Linc.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1266" align="alignnone" width="560"] Meghan driving me in a jeep in Aruba.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1286" align="alignnone" width="560"] Oldest friends... Me, Ben & Jan.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1285" align="alignnone" width="560"] Me, Caroline (at her wedding) & Jill.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1284" align="alignnone" width="560"] Me & Meghan[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1244" align="alignnone" width="560"] SO proud of these "crafts" for a baby shower.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1245" align="alignnone" width="560"] Dance Party with Ted.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1246" align="alignnone" width="560"] Meghan & John[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1247" align="alignnone" width="560"] Me & Meghan[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1248" align="alignnone" width="560"] Matching scarves with Patty, Sue & me. Hopcian's cottage.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1249" align="alignnone" width="560"] Proud mom with John[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1250" align="alignnone" width="560"] My gift from Goose at my very happy home-made surprise 50th Birthday Party.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1251" align="alignnone" width="560"] John & Shelby.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1252" align="alignnone" width="560"] My sister, Naze & me.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1253" align="alignnone" width="560"] Our very first small group (me, Linc, Jason, Hannah, Bob, Meg, Paula & Greg) being silly & fun at our Annual Christmas Party.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1254" align="alignnone" width="560"] Pat "Sweetie" last night in my 40's.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1255" align="alignnone" width="560"] Linc's closest friends & his twin brother, Lee. Jeff (Barney), Arie & Linc.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1256" align="alignnone" width="560"] Me & Meghan[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1257" align="alignnone" width="560"] My dad really let me play with his hair.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1258" align="alignnone" width="560"] Jill & me enjoying bloody mary's Tiger's Opening Day.[/caption]

Throwback, but more importantly... Thankful Thursday

 

[caption id="attachment_1238" align="alignnone" width="560"] John in Mexico before starting to study for The Bar.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1237" align="alignnone" width="560"] Treasured Birthday Texts.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1236" align="alignnone" width="560"] Treasured photo of "The Three Little Girls!"[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1235" align="alignnone" width="560"] Aruba (Favorite photo of John & Meghan)[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1234" align="alignnone" width="560"] In NYC Meghan and me.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1233" align="alignnone" width="560"] My beautiful Meghan[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1232" align="alignnone" width="560"] Cancun.. Hated at the time, but okay now. ;)[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1231" align="alignnone" width="560"] Susie & me golfing.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1230" align="alignnone" width="560"] Last night in my 40's.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1229" align="alignnone" width="560"] John & me.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1228" align="alignnone" width="560"] Meghan sent my favorite Macarons to me from NYC for my 50th birthday![/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1227" align="alignnone" width="560"] All-time favorite "chill" picture.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1226" align="alignnone" width="560"] Goose, Stacey & me... Miss the old Stacey.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1225" align="alignnone" width="560"] Me & John.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1224" align="alignnone" width="560"] Me & Linc in CA.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1223" align="alignnone" width="560"] We made it to the top, hiked up Camelback Mountain.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1222" align="alignnone" width="560"] Ted, Sandy, Linc, me, Cindy, Dave & Barb. Love these guys; have been life-long friends![/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1221" align="alignnone" width="560"] Paddle boating at the cottage![/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1220" align="alignnone" width="560"] Meghan & John one Christmas.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1219" align="alignnone" width="560"] Patty, Jenny & me at Jenny's wedding shower.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1218" align="alignnone" width="560"] Me and my mother-in-law (Marie) up in Harbor Springs.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1217" align="alignnone" width="560"] Lauren, me and Nancy.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1216" align="alignnone" width="560"] John and his Grandpa Arthur.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1215" align="alignnone" width="560"] John's law school graduation.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1214" align="alignnone" width="560"] Meghan & Me. She was trying to make me look cool.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1213" align="alignnone" width="560"] Jan (My very first and best friend) and me standing in front of her house.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1212" align="alignnone" width="560"] Pauline & Me when we went to NYC. She was my closest friend in Clarkston before she moved home to Charleston.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1211" align="alignnone" width="560"] I was so excited that I was still able to get up on one ski (behind the wave runner!)[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1210" align="alignnone" width="560"] Linc & me out East. I hated this at the time, but now I sort of like it.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1209" align="alignnone" width="560"] Golfing in CA while celebrating my 50th.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1208" align="alignnone" width="560"] Obviously from John.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1207" align="alignnone" width="560"] Aruba. I love this shot of all of us.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1206" align="alignnone" width="560"] John & me. Proud mother.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1205" align="alignnone" width="560"] Our Euchre Gang/Dear Friends. Marty, Nancy, Jan, Connie, Kathie, Kathy, Mary & me.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1204" align="alignnone" width="560"] The Three Little Girls... Naze, me & Goose (Mary), acting silly.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1203" align="alignnone" width="560"] Cherished time with Mom & Dad in Florida when I was pregnant for Meghan. I got super sunburned![/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1202" align="alignnone" width="560"] Cancun... Super Tanned.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1201" align="alignnone" width="560"] Linda & me cleaning her dog, Bentley's teeth.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1200" align="alignnone" width="560"] Meghan's Baptism. I love this photo with Grandma & Grandpa Karnowski.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1199" align="alignnone" width="560"] Apple Orchard with Linc, his mom (Marie) and Alex.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1198" align="alignnone" width="560"] Love this photo of John.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1197" align="alignnone" width="560"] Linc & his mom up at Harbor Springs.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1196" align="alignnone" width="560"] Hualtuco, Mexico[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1195" align="alignnone" width="560"] Me & Susie in San Diego celebrating my 50th.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1194" align="alignnone" width="560"] Love this pic of Meghan at her friend, Shannon's wedding.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1193" align="alignnone" width="560"] Me & Meghan in NYC.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1189" align="alignnone" width="560"] Monkey celebration. The new dentist told us that you can teach a monkey to clean teeth; you are in sales whether you like it or not. We are Monkeys. Sheila, Sharron, Holly, Brandi, Sue & me.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1190" align="alignnone" width="560"] Hearts of Hope Golf Classic in honor of my friend, Hannah's daughter Annika. Susie, me, Meg & Paula.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1188" align="alignnone" width="560"] Linc's silly pose at The Sanctuary in Scottsdale AZ overlooking Camelback Mountain.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1187" align="alignnone" width="560"] Katie & me in Hilton Head for Spring Break.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1186" align="alignnone" width="560"] Zack and me in Hilton Head for Spring Break (Can't remember the year.)[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1185" align="alignnone" width="560"] Home made Pasta lesson at Linda's.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1184" align="alignnone" width="560"] Linc and me in London 2006.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1183" align="alignnone" width="560"] Climbing Camelback Mountain.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1182" align="alignnone" width="560"] Ulusaba, South Africa 2006. A gift from American Express.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_1181" align="alignnone" width="560"] I love this shot of my kids cracking up.[/caption]