What makes the difference?

This past week I interviewed twice for a nursing position and once to be a temple ordinance worker. Of course the interview at the temple went well and during my setting apart blessing the counselor prayed that I would learn through each job interview and that I would develop the characteristics that I needed. I honestly hoped that didn't mean I would have lots and lots of interviews, but I realized it was possible.
The job interviews: Why is it that sometimes you walk out feeling confident that you made a good impression and other times you walk out reviewing over and over in your mind what you did or didn't do and wishing you could do it all over again? This week I had one of each. My first nursing interview was excellent. As I left, over and over again the Human Resource partner expressed how much he would love for the nurse manager to meet me. So, the next day I met with the nurse manager. From other classmates I had heard of possible interview questions to expect and I did not hear one single clinical question. Actually for that matter, I think she only asked me one question at all. The rest of the time she talked about the facility, answered my questions and toured me around the unit. This did not boost my confidence because I don't feel like she got to know me at all. Later that night David calmed some of my fears by saying she has been around nurses for 20 years and she knows what she wants, so she doesn't have to ask tons of questions to know if I'll be a good fit or not. David is much wiser than me!

From prayer to UFOs

This afternoon I was walking home from Trader Joe's and happened to see an older man from church eating at Subway. I stopped in to say hi, and that hi turned into an hour and a half conversation with him and his friend, Howie. His friend is not LDS, so we spent a good part of the conversation talking about our beliefs, the world, self-mastery, prayer and on and on. I asked Howie if he believed he could pray and receive revelation for himself. This gentleman is antagonistic towards organized religion and he often played the devil's advocate throughout the conversation, and his answer to this question was no different. (Although he didn't really answer my question.) He said, "I can wake up and see a UFO out my window at 3am in the morning or I can wake up and see Jesus out my window at 3am in the morning. It's subjective. Only I know what I saw, no one else does."
Now remember, we are sitting in a small Subway in Boston with customers coming in and out. The two gentlemen I am talking with are both older and happen to talk REALLY loud. Next thing I know, a younger guy comes over and looks right at Howie and says, "I have seen a UFO too." I almost burst out laughing. This young guy was so sincere in his comment, but the fact that he was responding to Howie's flippant comment about seeing at UFO at 3am in the morning was a bit more than I could handle. I stayed for a bit more of the conversation which had now turned to UFOs, and then I had to leave since my frozen chicken was already starting to melt.
I did leave with a smile on my face.

Nothing quite compares to a good run.

Last week I hurt my hamstring during a run. That stinks. We have a small gym at our complex with a few cardio machines, but the recumbent bike, the elliptical and even a walk outside on a beautiful day just don't compare to the sweat and burn of a good, hard run. I hardly break a sweat doing anything else and I must admit, I feel great satisfaction when I am sweaty and stinky. I'm on day 4 of no running, so I'm hoping by day 7 I'll be back at it.
I guess I'll have to quit the "getting old" jabs I take at David when he injures himself running.

NCLEX

This week I took the national nurse licensing exam. It was awful. During the exam there were multiple times that I had to stop myself, refocus, say a little prayer and then forge ahead. I felt like a deer in the headlights and wondered where everything I had learned the past year had gone. My mind seemed to stop working and I had a hard time recalling the most basic information. When I walked out of the exam, I felt sure that I had failed. I was anxious and frustrated. Sometimes even mad. I had two days of agonized waiting to endure until I could pay to get the "quick results". (I am not the best at waiting and I have a bit of an anxiety problem that David can attest to.) Then today the quick results were available. My heart was beating out of my chest as I paid the fee and waited for the computer screen to display my unofficial results. And then it was there, Grade: PASS. Tears streamed down my face and I said a prayer of thanks. What a relief! Now on to the job hunt.

2011 Recap

2011 has been quite the year. We have been tried, been tremendously blessed and been forever changed.
1- I moved to St. Louis to begin nursing school at Barnes-Jewish College.
2- We sold our condo in Colton, California. Our 1st home together.
3- Lots of trips back to Portland to visit David.
4- David traveled to California for a conference.
5- Trip to Costa Rica with friends which included our first deep sea fishing excursion and my first time surfing.
6- My niece, Katelyn Charlotte, was born.
7- David graduated from his Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship at Oregon Health & Science University.
8- David moved to Boston to begin his Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship at Children's Hospital Boston.
9- Lots of trips to Boston to visit David.
10- David travels to Cambridge, England for a conference.
11- David travels to St. Louis to visit me.
12- David travels to Arizona to visit family and see our nephew get baptized and another nephew go through the temple.
13- At school I matched and was selected to do my senior synthesis in pediatrics at St. Louis Children's Hospital. I was in the Cardiac ICU, Pediatric ICU, the Emergency Room and a general medicine floor.
14- We sold our condo in Portland, OR. You read that right. We sold two condos this year. I told you it was a big year.
15- David, Ashley, Kari and family, Aunt Ginny, Uncle Larry and Aunt Barb came to St. Louis for my graduation.
16- I graduated with a BSN on Dec. 17, 2011. Hard to believe, but I started and ended it all in the same year. 11 intense months.
17- I said sad goodbyes to my family, especially my amazing mom and dad, who took care of me and supported me throughout the entire school year. And yes, tears were shed and are still shed when I think about it.
18- David and I drove to Boston and made two stops along the way. Our first stop was in Harrisville, WV to visit David's parents on their mission. Our second stop was to Brooklyn, NY to visit my sister Amber, Jon and Suvi.
19- On December 20th, we arrived at our home in Brookline, MA.
20- We celebrated Christmas together.
21- I received my authorization to take the licensing exam for nursing. This is my first goal of 2012: pass the NCLEX.

We're hoping 2012 is just as good.

Just a few recent pics that make me smile. Plus, what is a blog post without pictures.

Garrett, Morgan, David and I

Garrett. A man that loves his cowboy boots.

Graduation. Dad, Mom, Katelyn, Morgan, Kari and Ashley

David and I

Katelyn

Karsten picked out my graduation balloon. If you look closely, its says, "Baby Girl".

Aunt Ginny, Aunt Barb, Uncle Larry and Morgan

Then men hard at work on Dad's Christmas present.

Suvi sneaking a peek during the prayer.