Very Little Is Needed To Be Happy

The past 7 weeks have been a new adventure.  You know how when things change, it's exciting! But it takes a while to get used to the change and find a new routine?  I've just been waiting for 7 weeks to feel like I've found that "routine".

Here is a look at my days..

Day #1: 

5:00 AM- my alarm has already been going off 15 minutes and I've hit snooze twice.  Eric's a pro at sleeping through it now.  I get out of bed to start my wake up routine because it takes me an hour to fully wake up and eat breakfast.  

5:50 AM- I kiss Eric goodbye and leave the house.  And I don't want to face the fact this time will change when it's time to scrape of the ice and snow. 

6:00 AM- start work! 

many things happen... #imanurse

6:30-7:00 PM- I get to leave work!  I come home to my amazing husband who makes the day that much better. He smooches me,  we usually unwind with parks and rec, dinner, I get to take a mental break then it's usually to bed if I have work the next day.

I'm working full time, so only 3 days a week. Sometimes I repeat day #1 two or three days in a row.  I don't mind it, but I have to stick to a work then sleep schedule strictly because who can function on anything less than 6 hours of sleep?!


Day #2:

My off day. Where I dream of having no alarm and relaxing all day.  But I am still finishing school!  "Hey, I thought you graduated?"  After I graduated the Associates nursing program I went straight into the online Bachelors program and did one semester.  Then I took some much needed time off after that from the Bachelors program and I'm back at it again.  I spend about 6-8 hours on my day off doing the projects and papers.  So it's been quit the adjustment working full time and school full time and I struggled A LOT with it in the beginning.  I asked Eric multiple times a week to remind me I should finish my bachelors in nursing.  It's been about 7 weeks now and I feel like I've slightly mastered it (some days more than others)...  But now its half way through the semester! I'll be done in April!  So I guess I have a little case of super-senioritis. (over 4 years of college will do that to you)

Eric's in school full time as well! He's gone to campus for classes, doing homework and a cub scout leader.  I kept waiting until things felt "easier" and we fell into a perfect routine.  But the excitement of getting to see one another and getting to spend time together is HUGE.  I wouldn't have it any other way right now.  I love how excited Eric gets when he realizes and says "Wait... you don't work tomorrow!"  And we get to stay in bed asleep together just a little longer that morning.  Or when I walk into the door after a way too long day and he still hasn't eaten dinner because he's been waiting for me.  I'm very grateful for the education I've already received.  It's a huge plus I love my job and it's rewarding.  

I've realized "very little is needed to be happy".  I'm reflecting on the past few weeks right now and I'm thinking that it has actually been alright and even fun.  I'm so grateful I get to go through adventures and new changes with my best friend.

What am I doing again?

Oh where to even begin?

What I constantly have to repeat to myself when I'm studying for the NCLEX,

calm down. 

I get nervous for this test + start feeling discouraged

I have to remind myself I graduated + got through nursing school,

it's the adversary bringing me down + I chose to be a nurse

I can make that happen!

I have been dedicating all of my time to studying for this test. 

About 6+ hours of my day for studying + it's a good thing my husband works 8 hour days.

(I'd be so distracted) 

I know that time will keep moving forward + it'll eventually be behind me.

 I'll think back and wonder why I was so nervous?

But for right now this is a huge moment in my life that I'm trying to push through.

Then I remind myself the 'mantra' to my blog, be happy! 

I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who has given me so much to be happy about! 

Don't worry, we have managed to have lots of fun during our break from school!

I want to get it all documented here on the blog soon! 

I feel like stating that will make me do it? haha.

 Ending on a funnier note, here's how crazy I get while studying the worst test ever.

aka NCLEX.

College Graduation!

Jeez, my first post ever on this blog was my high school graduation. I remember the countdown, the packing and excitement of starting college. And now my college graduation? I can hardly believe it! 

My feelings were all over the place all day. I almost didn't feel ready. This was really happening? I have really given up many hours of my time, of sleep, and tears all for nursing school and it's finally paying off? Through nursing school you dream about it being done and making it. But it always seemed so far out of reach. When I would catch myself thinking about it, I would laugh and remind myself I was still trying to make it through the semester, or day. I knew it was graduation day, but I couldn't picture myself walking across the stage and being handed the degree I worked so hard for. And then, it was happening! I was wearing a gown again that was a little too big, I was trying to put on a cap that made my ears stick out, and all of our family was here! 

I walked across the stage as my name was called, shook some hands and clutched onto my diploma cover. You know how it goes :) BEST FEELING EVER! I could not of done any of it without the support of my family and close friends cheering me on. I was spoiled to have my in-laws and mother and sister here for a WEEK with us. We had a blast! Eric has always been my bestfriend. He supported me when I wanted to do nursing in high school, when I was applying to the program when he was on his mission, when he was engaged to me during the program and now married to me for my graduation! He is incredible. I also have to mention that a huge part of me did this for my Dad. He passed away about a week after I read my acceptance letter by his bedside. I know he is so dang excited and proud of me!

My time at Brigham Young University-Idaho has been amazing. I could tell a story for hours about everything that I've done, about the friends I have made and all that I've learned. Lots of people pack up their belongings and hit the road where ever it's taking them next, like a lot of my friends. But lucky for me, I get to hang out still right here in Rexburg, Idaho as my husband finishes school for himself. That sounded like a lot of sarcasm... But I really do enjoy our time here! Especially being together, making memories and new friends.

So what's up now? Things are definitely changing around here! I feel like I'm out in the real world. Although I may not get my dream job (L&D nurse) right away, I am so excited to drop the "student" nurse name, add a RN behind my name, and spend 12+ hours in a hospital but actually be getting paid for it! Nursing school is a challenging experience. As if the rigors faced during it weren’t enough, I still have to take my professional licensure exam to be able to practice as a registered nurse. So that is my next challenge + task I am tackling! Oh, I am also continuing my education and going after my BSN degree. This september I will begin mainly researching/writing papers as I start working towards it. Thankfully, it's all online class, a big difference from what it's been like and I finish July 2015!

Hitting reality a little bit

It starts to feel more and more real. A couple of times this semester it has hit me that I am graduating in July. These past couple of days I've had a new realization. I have to find a job. 

All nursing classes were cancelled, we were excused from school and our nursing class headed to Utah to tour hospitals, have mock interviews, ask questions and listen to a lot of presentations why we should consider applying to work at their hospital.

I have known for a while what area of nursing that I want to go into. But visiting these hospitals was an eye opener. I'll be put in Idaho for awhile. But seeing the other hospitals was impressive. Especially today. I had the opportunity to spend the morning at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City.

Those are some dedicated, amazing nurses. The kind of nurse that I aspire to be. The nurses who make up the patients cheer team. Who hope the best for them. Who will make it possible for them to attend their high school prom, whatever it takes. Who work hard for those parents to have their baby home by Christmas. It was an awesome hospital, with an even more amazing staff.

We got a lot of tips when it comes to being a new grad applying for positions. Let the job searching and filling out applications begin! Ahhhh it's such a huge transition!

Flashback: Some good news!

Now that I sit down and think about it, this long road started many years ago. When I decided that I wanted to be a Nurse. I got the ball rolling when I took my first prerequisite class, Anatomy and Physiology. I worked hard to get an A and had great encouragement. During my very first semester of college I applied to the Nursing Program. That was fall 2011. I thought I had it ALL planned out. There was no way they wouldn't accept me. I was going to college to get an education and be a Nurse!

Notification letters came out in the mail and I was not accepted. I didn't let it get me down. After all, I was still 19 and just finished a super fun first semester of college. It was just a huge reminder how hard that I had to work.

Second semester of college and second application. I was working on a 4.0gpa. Once I applied, I heard back middle of summer 2012. It was another rejection. The thought "What the heck am I going to do with my life?" was now on my mind. I headed straight to the academic counselor. Poor guy that helped me. He really tried. But everything we discussed I kept bringing up nursing. Finally, he suggested continuing looking at the options he set up for me and then setting up an appointment with the head of the Nursing department. I remember waiting outside her office about a week later for my appointment. The girl sitting next to me seemed on the verge of tears and then a girl walked out of her office very visibly crying. I was a little confused why they were crying... until I walked into her office and began talking to her. I hadn't really felt the frustration and disappointment of not getting in until then and I cried. And I prayed about it. And I knew that I was supposed to to be at BYU-Idaho. 

Now, after being on this road for so long, I feel as though it has only really just started. I WAS ACCEPTED TO THE BYU-IDAHO NURSING PROGRAM! 

"Why worry? If you've done the very best you can, worrying won't make it any better."

-Walt Disney

Yes, all this needed to be documented:) 

And now I'm about 4 months late on this post and I completed my first semester of the Program :) More to come on that soon!