Who Am I ?

I was completely inspired by Maria Shriver today. She wrote a book called Just Who Will You Be?. I think I really identified with her. It is so easy after 3 kids and 13 years of marriage to easily find ones identity stripped away. I am now referred to as Cade's Mommy, Seth's Mommy, Isabella's Mommy and Damien's Wife so often that this is the only Norma I know any more.

At the same time I find myself struggling with this because I love being identified as their Mommy and Damien's wife. How does one find a balance? How can I manage being a good mom and wife and maintain my own self identity? Is it possible to find a balance in this area?

Well I got to thinking and questioning. Who Am I other than the obvious wife and mother and friends of ?

and this is what I came up with:
*I am a Dreamer
I remember learning to love to read. One of the hooks was that it feed this need to dream of far away places and possibilities. I don't think I have changed a whole lot. I believe I truly am quite the optimist because I am a Dreamer

*I am an Artist
Besides the obvious love I have for scrapbooking I love all the Arts. I luv photography, I luv to draw, I luv painting, I love to sew, I really enjoy to crotchet. I remember growing up and watching my mother crotchet and sew. These memories bring me comfort.

*I am a Student
One of my greatest hearts desires was to be able to attend college. I never had the opportunity to go but I was able to go to a trade school instead. I still am that little girl inside and hopeful that when my Kids are all grown up I just may have to make this a dream come true. So in the mean time I am SAHM but it does not mean I can't learn and grow. I make it a point to learn something everyday.

*I am Funny & Outgoing
I enjoy laughing almost to the point I can pee my pants at times. My friends can hear me a mile away coming because of how hard and loud I can laugh.
I sorta chuckled not to long ago when I was introduced as "This is my Crazy Puerto Rican Friend".Thus my aka on most boards and forums.

*I am (in my own head )a want-a- be Chef hehehe
Only because I luv to cook. I luv all food and I luv to create with food. I can tell you however I am am not a baker nor do I like deserts just food and lots of it!!!!!!!!!!!

*I am my own Legacy
One of the greatest gifts I believe Latin family's give their children is a legacy built on love. I love that I have been given this gift but I want to make sure that I build my own to leave
for my children. At the same time teaching them that its just as important to have ownership of their own story.

*I am a Christian a lover and follower of God
I left this one for my last note only because its the obvious one in my life. If I could only choose one to identify my life with it would be this one. I found Christ not as a young child but as a grown women full of despair & shame. God has given me a new life, new hope and a new identity that holds no shame. For this I will eternally be grateful for.

I of course gave a quick and short version here of what I came up with. I think I will try to maintain this mentality in all that I do. Keeping a perspective of who I am is very helpful. This week I was becoming very bummed out because I started submitting my work recently for publishing and DT work. Well Ive had a few e-mails with questions about my work and style. So I started thinking OK. what can I do differently, how can I change to fit what their looking for?

Well I decided NO-! I will not miss- identify myself to be something Im not and nor will I allow myself to get discouraged.It is so difficult to deal with rejection and not knowing what ones identity is when it comes can really be hurtful. I know who I am as an artist and I must maintain and be true to myself above all. I am what you see and what you see is what you get. Whew ok. I got that all out :' )

Well here are some of this weeks work that I can up-load. I have a few things like a mini-book I created that's killing me not to be able to post and show off. So I will show you what I can.

I can never get enough of Pink Paislee. I luv creating with it and I luv their colors but I have told you guys all this before :' ) O.k. here I made a wall hanging to go with the card recipe box I previously made.

Last but not least here is another sketch. Its a layout this time and one my son found in my scraproom as we were cleaning it out. I had forgotten about it and never did anything with it but I thought I would share and see what you all could come up with. So Enjoy !