Merry Christmas!!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! Jackson was able to have Christmas Eve off, so we were able to relax and not worry about him following his normal sleep schedule, at least not too closely for Christmas. Our Christmas was fantastic! Jackson got a special edition pack of all of the "Bourne Identity" movies on DVD, a tie, a book, and socks. I got a book, scarf, socks, and a new scrub outfit to wear to my new job!! Which I was so happy to see the scrubs because I kept telling Jackson that I needed to get some new scrubs as soon as we get some money from my new job because all I have is white, so that was way exciting! Then the Staley family gave us a cool, well-made ice cream scooper and yummy chocolate topping! And than Santa's gift that he gave us, surprised us both. We got a GPS! Yay! After our trip to Utah for apartment searching and my new job, Jackson and I realized that we really needed to buy one with all the traffic that goes on in Salt Lake City. There is no way that we could look at a paper map and drive at the same time, especially in that traffic. Plus this GPS speaks to us, so it will be majorly helpful as we figure out our new home in Utah! We were gonna buy one as soon as I got my first paycheck, but now we don't have to! THANK YOU Santa!! :)
Lastly, for this Christmas season, I wanted to just share my testimony of the gospel as well as many thanks to family and friends. These last 4 months, were probably the most hardest Jackson and I have ever had to face. We constantly found ourselves telling each other, in tears multiple times, "I don't know how much more of this I can handle". I found myself crying, literally all the time and getting into a big depression with everything. Life has just been so hard lately and it seemed like nothing was working out for us. Our biggest problem was financial, as I'm sure it has been for others. Yes, Jackson has a job and I appreciate all that he does for us, but his job is more along the lines of a minimum wage job since anyone with muscles and two feet can do that line of work. Plus it seemed like we just kept getting constant unexpected bills. I could probably go on and on about our problems in our life but who wants to read all that. Finally I got a blessing from a dear friend, and in that blessing, he kept saying patience, patience, patience. I counted that word and "patience" was stated at least 4 different times for so many things. So after that blessing it made me somewhat discouraged but I knew that there are reasons for everything and that I just needed to be patient, and continue being hopeful.So while we were being patient, blessings started sprinkling into our lives. My mom thought of an idea for me to start subbing in October for the Shelley schools, which that was a great BLESSING to keep me busy and not so depressed sitting at the apartment all the time. The only thing with subbing is that we needed another vehicle since it was getting to cold for Jackson to ride his bike and I didn't want him riding anymore with the weather. So my parents were so kind to let us borrow one of their older trucks that they weren't using. So that’s been a very helpful BLESSING, in fact they even filled it up with gas (BLESSING) quite often to help us out because they could see how depressed we were getting. In fact, Jackson even had it run out of gas once on accident because he was holding off as long as he could before having to pay for more gas (whoops). Luckily we were BLESSED to have family nearby and my dad came to the rescue and saved us. Than luckily Jackson's plasma card was able to BLESS us and help hold us off on food, somewhat. Than there was a night where my parents showed up with bags of groceries (BLESSING), which I just started bawling and gave them a big hug because I know they aren't rich and that they have bills of their own to take care of, but I know my parents, and they have always been the type to put all of their kids needs first before there very own. So I thanked them profusely! (I can't even type this without getting teary-eyed again from the thought of it). Than an old friend in town that I knew from years ago contacted me and we were able to get to know each other all over again. She and her husband BLESSED us by feeding us several times at their house and than they gave us like 3 huge bags of meat one night, since there extended family own cattle, so there's another BLESSING! Jackson Loved it! Than with my subbing job, I was BLESSED to get called to sub for the schools like everyday in November, which that paycheck was such a BLESSING to help pay for our new town home. And lastly, I got a call from the Hospital in Utah and was BLESSED with a job!! Which after getting to know my new boss and co-workers, we just feel so good about it and KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT that Utah is where we are suppose to be. A week later after getting called with a job, Jackson and I went apartment searching and looked at 20 plus apartments that were great looking from the pictures but just scary looking after going there to look at it. And the few that we kind of liked ended up being in dangerous locations. But than, our very last stop was at this beautiful Town Home that Jackson and I just fell in love with instantly at first sight! We were so blessed to have the money to put a down payment, right there and than. And this town home hasn't been on the market for very long at such a great price. And I KNOW that if I would have ended up getting a job months ago in Utah, than we wouldn't have gotten the town home that we will soon be renting. And we wouldn't be a part of such a great Ward, at least that’s what my LDS Land lord has told me, we'll be finding out soon enough. We have been so BLESSED!So with all those blessings being said and it being the Christmas season, I just want to bare my testimony and thank all those that have shown love to us by helping us out! I know that our Heavenly Father is watching over us and that He does hear our prayers and that there is a time and a place for everything. I know that there are reasons for what trials we have to face in our lives. As hard as these last few months have been, I know that Jackson and I needed these trials to grow stronger together as a couple and to truly realize how many people do love us and would do anything to help us! We love and sincerely APPRECIATE all our family and friends who have helped us SO MUCH these last few months! We love you all so much! We love our Savior and know that he died for us to make it possible for us to live again with him and our Heavenly Father again someday! I can't wait for this New Year to begin and only hope that we can pay it forward, like those other wonderful spirits that have helped us out in our time of need. We love all our friends and family and hope everyone had a great Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone! And we hope you all have a Happy New year! :)

A JOB!!!

I NOW HAVE A JOB! :) Yay!! I got a call last Tuesday from Cindy (my new boss) asking if I would be interested in an interview for a job in the Transitional Care Unit (TCU) at St. Marks Hospital. I said, "Most definitely!". So we got the interview set up for the very next day which I think she was impressed with how quickly I just dropped everything (which isn't much going on these days) to go to Utah for an interview. Jackson had to work the day of the interview and had to go to school and take finals so I asked my mom if she would come with me for the ride and support. This has been like my 4th interview and the interviews in the past have been so depressing lately. Plus thats a long drive to just sit and think about the upcoming interview. So my mom was great and was able to drop everything and leave work to come with me. Thanx mom!

So the next day arrived, and boy was I glad she came with me! There is no way I would have found that hospital by myself with out her navigating me through all the traffic. St. Marks is like right in the middle of everything, or so it seems that way. So we made it to the interview, my mom stayed in the Lobby while I took the elevator up to TCU. I was a bit early and had to wait about 10-15 minutes which felt like forever, constantly looking at my phone!

The interview than began with the start of a handshake. Cindy's first question was asking me to tell her a little bit about myself. So I started with school, and what colleges I've gone to and why I became a nurse in the first place (talking about my birth defect TEF). I also mentioned that I know what it's like to be the patient and how I'm the type to go the extra mile to help out my future patients as far as being able to go get a glass of water instead of asking the CNA to do it, or more 1 on 1 patient care, or just talking to the patient. Cindy seemed pretty happy about all that and said, "Oh, thats exactly what I wanted to hear!". So she than said that some of the reasons why she picked me for an interview out of the other applicants where for two reasons; 1. I had experience as far as being the patient, 2. I have worked as a CNA for the last 5 years. Which made me smile big because her focus wasn't the experience but more patient care. Cindy than said that a lot of the nurses there on the floor are kind of older and are attached to there ways of assessing the patient and than leaving to go to the nurses station and chart there. She said they have computers in the patients rooms now and want documentation to happen in the patients room so that the nurse can have more 1 on 1 time with the patient. She also said that the older nurses are use to paper charting and that they just needed some young blood there in the unit and she feels that RN's that have that CNA experience will bring great nursing to the floor cause they practice that 1 on 1 care in that type of work. Well than Cindy and I started sharing past stories of nursing experiences that have affected our lives for the better and there was no stressful communication between us at all, we were both smiling and so relaxed, even joking around a bit. It was a GREAT interview that went so well! By the end of the interview, she said "You have a really great chance at getting this job, your exactly what we want." Which made my day! Than she gave me a tour of the unit and introduced me to lots of people. Afterwards, she asked me if I would be interested in doing pre-paperwork down in HR and get a urine test/drug test done to save me another trip to Utah, which I totally agreed to do it! Just to help get me more in the system. :) Cindy stayed down in HR with me for quite a bit and helped out anyway she could. Than she was sitting by me while I was doing the paperwork and said "Just off the record, the job is most likely yours, you'll find out sometime by next week." Which just made my day even more! It was great! So after finishing all the paperwork and running around for the drug testing it was 5:00PM and ready to get going.

I got off the elevator and walked to the lobby, saw my mom, and with smiles on both our faces we hugged! My mom said that the longer I was gone the more she thought that the interview was going very well. So we left and were able to find parking at temple square. We got something to eat and than saw the Christmas lights! It was a great night and I kept thinking about the future and what life would be like to finally start working and living in a new area with Jackson. So exciting to finally feel REALLY good about an interview.

So the next 5 days were long or so it felt that way for me. I was holding onto my phone non-stop hoping for a call. I did get two phone calls from different units at the hospital in North Dakota asking if I was still interested in an interview, which they were both really nice and understood that I was waiting on Salt Lake. So Tuesday arrived and I got the call!! The best phone call yet! Cindy and I both sounded so happy on the phone as we were talking about my future job and the details, than she wished me a Merry Christmas and I said "Well, you just made my Christmas!" (Both laughed) It was great! :) So I start orientation on January 16th and have tonz to do by than. Jackson and I couldn't be more happier. Luckily there is a WinCo in Salt Lake or really close by that Jackson is going to hopefully transfer to and while working there start applying for other jobs in Salt Lake where he could possibly use his degree or get his foot in the door to a different job that could give him more experience and better opportunities.

I just want to Thank Everyone for the prayers that have been said lately on our behalf, I was honestly beginning to lose hope and seemed to be crying all the time. I know that those prayers helped this interview go so well. In fact someone called me later today telling me Congrats and she told me how she's been praying a lot for me lately, which I didn't think to realize that she as well as other people could be praying for me. Hearing that made me realize how blessed I am to know so many great people that have thought of us and prayed for us. I know that with faith, prayers, and lots of "patience" our hopes and desires can be fulfilled. I can't wait to start work and make a difference in the lives of those future patients I care for.

The New Hair!!

I don't have much to say other than to just share some pictures. I wanted a change, something to help boost my confidence since life has been down on occasion with no job. So I changed my hair color from light brown to dark brown and I LOVE IT!! It's a really pretty color and it sparkles in the light, at least the dark red highlights do. Anyway, so here are the pictures. Someone took better pictures of Jackson and I with the new hair but I haven't received them yet, so I hope to post those sometime soon as well.

Old Color...

NEW COLOR...