Maria Appleby on HubPages

I live in Champaign, IL, USA with my husband.  I dislike "about me" blocks, a space to "sell myself" in the fewest, most effective words possible. What I can say is this: everyone matters, to someone, it's wise to remember that. Everyone has their own battles, try to be kind. 

I was raised on a family-owned produce farm in Bear Lake, Michigan, the youngest of five children and the only daughter. My father is a veteran, and he met and married my mother in Germany during the post-war occupation. We were not raised in a church so much as we were raised to believe in God. Strong work ethic, loyalty to our friends, and making your word count: these were all things that were important to my parents.

My husband and I are also both military veterans. We met and married in Germany as well (although my mother was from there). My husband is a Desert Storm veteran. We were married two weeks before he deployed.

Recent circumstances have left me in a position to care for my husband and home...from home, and I now have the time to devote myself to a beloved hobby. I hope to grow as a writer, and "self-improve" in a few other arenas during this down time. With exception of about one year after my husband returned from Iraq and I got out of the Army, I have worked outside the home earning a living. This will be a new experience for me, one that I hope is good for the both of us.

We have an Alaskan Malamute named Sasha and cats. They are our joy and considered part of the family. I like to read, write, garden and cook.

 I can't offer any fancy degrees nor big titles. I'm just an average person who was taught how to think for myself. Not that I haven't made irrational mistakes, because I most certainly have. Some things I am not proud of, but all I can do is learn and continue plodding forward.

I am a wife, sister, daughter, aunt and friend. I have strengths and weaknesses. I have thoughts and feelings. I'm just like you.