DONE and done.

This is the light at the end of the tunnel... graduation is only 13 weeks away!!

I am done! Not forever, but for the semester. It has been a long, long semester... too many tests, assignments, lectures and clinicals.  I am glad I will never have to do that again! Here's to not being done, but having completed 3/4 of nursing school... I am so excited to be done! YAY!!!

Happy Girl!

I just wanted to comment on my general mood of late... I am so happy!! That doesn't mean I don't have a million finals, as many worries and bad days.  It just means that when the day ends and things settle, no matter how tired or worn out I am, I feel happy!! I feel so blessed! I am beginning to see that being happy has little to do with what is going on around me, and a great deal more to do with what is going on inside of me! Yay for me! Let the axis twirl, I'm a Happy Girl!!

'Bye Buddy :-(

He's Leavin' on a Jet Plane...

     Buddy left last night :-( It was fun to see him off! I made him the brownies I owed him from losing at mini golf, and I put together a care package... playing cards, water balloons, bubbles, his favorite gum, a picture of us... all the necessities. Yes, I am super cute (he thought so, too!). We played games with his cute family, and then I helped him finish packing!

     We talked about how this is going to work with us being so far away from each other this summer. Of course we will talk on the phone, email and write letters. I think we both know I will date other people (if the opportunity arises, and if I want to) and he will play and have a good time. He was super worried that I would find someone I liked more, and it is a possibility. We have thrown around the idea of me going to visit him... we'll see. But we keep talking about what we're going to do when he gets home, and he's already naming our kids (what a goof!), so we'll just have to see. Four months is a long time. The thing is, I like Buddy. He is the greatest! He promised to come back and beat up my boyfriends... I am tempted to get one really fast just so he will come back! When his friends came to pick him up, I was doing okay.

     Then he really had to go. He said bye to his fam, then hugged me and kissed me goodbye (yep, in front of his family and friends). Then I just left, and as I drove away, I couldn't help but be sad. I really adore this kid (dang it!), even if he is a Cougar. I love that he likes me so much, that he is super possessive of me, and that he is jokingly planning our life toegther. I love how genuine he is... he won't do or say something just to say it, he means what he says. Ah! Why did I have to meet an awesome guy only to have him leave? I'm counting my blessings, though, and hopefully I will talk to him tonight!

Someone's Watching Over Me.

Wow! I can't even believe my incredible luck (let's be honest, the Lord is blessing me, it's not luck).  I was just awarded a scholarship for my last semester of nursing school! It will cover about half my tuition! I have been a little worried about how it would all end up in this my last semester... but yet again, the Lord provides! Pay your tithing! That's all I can say. It really, really pays off.

This is turning out to be an incredible last few weeks, with so many blessings! It's amazing! I am so grateful! Life is looking up! 

CAPSTONE!!!

    I finally heard about my CAPSTONE!  This is sort of a big deal... let me explain!

    The capstone semester is my last semester of nursing school!  Yay!  In this last semester, we apply for a clinical site where we will be "working" for the semester.  The big deal is usually that this placement generally ends up resulting in a job... HELLO!!!  HUGE!!! 

    This has been on my mind since I began school.  I am a huge planner, and from the middle of my first semester, I have had a career track in mind (with no way of knowing what would really happen) which has always been PEDIATRICS.  In my somewhat nonexistent nursing career, I have felt strongly that I should go into some basic unit- medical or surgical or both.  I have been trying to make myself look as good as I can in every way I can to get my desired placement. So, the little dream that I have concocted is to have my capstone on the Children's Medical Unit (CMU) at Primary Children's Hospital, and then hopefully go on from there with a job (keep your fingers crossed).  In this scary economy, all of my nursing school colleagues and I are aware that the ever plentiful nursing jobs aren't quite so plentiful anymore.  Needless to say, this capstone could be a huge blessing!

     Yesterday, I got my capstone letter!  I got the CMU!!  I am so excited!  I have so much to learn and do, but I am so excited!! Hooray for the plans working out (or at least phase one of the plan!).

My Buddy...

So, normally my blog posts are pretty general, but I thought I'd go a little personal this time! It has been a little while since my last post. I thought I should update my little world on the happenings of me! And, turns out I need to introduce my world to my Buddy. I have recently begun (and who knows how long it will last!) to date a fellow. Here's the FYI...

How we met: His nephew was my patient at the hospital a few weeks ago, and his sister decided we needed to go out. Can you believe I said yes? Who would have thunk nursing school could benefit me in ways like this?

About Buddy: His name is Chris Welcker, though his family and friends call him Buddy. He is the second of four kids in his family and the only boy (which makes him act tough- but he's really a tender fool!). He served his mission in Lubbock, Texas... and he's a little younger than me (gasp!). He is a student at the Y and a cheerleader (I know... right?). He has green eyes and brown hair, dimples and he's about as cute as can be.

Why I like him: Well, the preliminary ruling is that he is a keeper. He is a total goofball (he can just flat out make me laugh!), he is a big sweetheart (underneath the macho jock thing he's got going), he can totally handle my sass (oh man, he keeps me on my toes), and he's absolutely adorable with his neices and nephews (you should hear them call him Buddy- to die for!). Did I mention he's really quite good looking? The other highlight is he seems to like me, depite my lack of cheer skills and somewhat stubborn personality! He's nuts! I'll take it!

Drawbacks: Other than the Y Cheerleader thing? He is leaving to go to North Carolina for the summer :-( And, since you never can tell what will happen... this post is for all those who think I am a lost cause. And I may be... but we'll see what's in store for me and my Buddy.

I know there will be plenty of comments on this one! But I thought you all ask me about this part of my life anyway, so here is an actual update. No one knows how long it will last, but I am all for riding a happy wave every now and again!

I Have Been Blessed...

I was blessed to go Glacier National Park with my family when I was younger.  Isn't is a peaceful place? I love it, so beautiful!  I am truly glad that I live in this beautiful world Heavenly Father created for me.

I had a conversation last night that made me truly grateful for the path my life has taken. A friend and I were discussing life’s pathways, and how to decide as a single woman what career is really appropriate if we want a family someday.  I have been so blessed to be guided in my choices, I feel like the Lord allowed me a ton of disappointment, simply because He had a better plan than I did.  It is really helping me to put my current struggles and stresses in perspective.  I  know that if Heavenly Father knew the best for me, and guided me then, He will guide me now, and it will all turn out.  Thanks to those who are understanding and have been there for me as I have struggled, and continue to struggle.  The Lord has also blessed me with great friends and family to help me through the pain and doubt.  I have truly been blessed.