Monday, January 2, 2017

second year

Its here! My graduation year!!!!!! June 9th 2017 I will graduate nursing school!

Tomorrow starts winter quarter of my second year. I have come so far, but feel like I have SO far to go. I know that a lot of my learning wont start until after I become an RN and start working. But thankfully I am an Extern at Kadlec Regional Medical center, so hopefully I will have a job there once I graduate :)

The kids are getting older and TALLER. Celina turns 10 in 4 days and is less than a foot shorter than me. She is growing up in so many ways, but she is such a kind girl. She has issues like any child does. She is becoming quite the rider as well, I can't wait until we can get her riding consistently.

Afton and Anthony turn 9 this year, and are probably the sweetest caring boys I have ever met. They are so sensitive. They have a bit of attitude and do things wrong as well, but their hearts are pure gold.

I honestly can not complain about my children, they are amazing kids and I love them so much!

Jake finished his bachelors in business management through WGU and I couldn't be prouder of him! I cant wait to see what doors this opens up for him.

We ended up getting Jackie back (you can find her story further back), she was thin, but she is healthy now. We have ended up retiring her, she just doesn't enjoy being ridden. Im sure we could find something to do with her, but I think she deserves a good life of just being a horse.

So many changes have happened and so many changes to come!

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Here I am

I am still in the nursing program at WWCC, and doing pretty well. I am a week into spring quarter, even though I already feel behind. Just trying to work on my time management skills as time goes on. I definitely have days where I am wondering "what am I doing? and WHY did I sign up for this?" But it will be worth it in the end.

Jake is currently working on his Bachelors in Business Management through WGU, the kids are starting baseball next week (I think? Still havent heard about practice), Celina is in 4H, and I have doctors appts, eye appts, and dental appts scheduled over the next 3 weeks. I may or may not make through April lol.

Speaking of April the boys will be EIGHT YEARS OLD this year! Every year I say this but it still rings true, how are they that old already? Celina is nine, and I am scared of the coming few years. Not sure how Ill handle a teenager. But, like with everything, I will get through it.

Monday, September 14, 2015

NURSING PROGRAM!

So basically I know that no one really reads this, and thats ok. I post here as a diary of sorts to see where I have come from and what has changed in our life.

We have animals coming out our ears it seems lol. With 6 chickens, 4 horses, 3 dogs, a sheep and a cat that claims us as her own it can get a little crazy around here. However we kind of like it this way.

The kids started school less then a week ago and its been quiet around the house. I am still on summer break. Celina is in THIRD grade (How did THAT happen?) and the boys are in SECOND grade now. Its so much fun seeing how much they learn and how independent they are becoming. They are hitting an age where they have more freedom to make their own choices and they don't have to be watched every second. They are all becoming quite the little riders as well. Celina can walk, trot and canter without stirrups, I think its going to be difficult to convince here to use stirrups in the future. Afton is getting quite good and walks and trots really well. Hes still too nervous for cantering but hell get there. Anthony has come a long way ever since we switched him to riding dusty. As long as dusty keeps his head out of the grass (hes starving you know) Anthony can walk and trot on him :)

Celina was given Loki as a Christmas present this last year and she shares him with Afton at the moment. Anthony will eventually be given dusty. Those two hit it off like gang busters.

On the horse subject Jake has a new horse. An approx 12 year old quarter type mare named Kahlua. She was a good 300 lbs under weight and extremely timid, but Jake worked his magic on her and she now follows him around like a lost puppy.

So now back to the title of todays blog! At the beginning of August I received my conditional acceptance into the WWCC Nursing program! I was shaking really bad and was jumping up and down like an idiot. Probably gonna frame the dumb letter haha. The conditions were that I passed Anatomy and Physiology 2 (which I was currently in) and to pass my NAC state boards.
Aug 6th was my last day off classes and I passed A and P 2 with an "A". My NAC boards were on August 27th. I passed the written with no issues and waited around for 5 hours or so to take my skills exam. It was nerve wracking especially when someone I had worked closely with didn't pass. I finally got called in and my partner went first (she passed :) ) and then it was my turn. I had to demonstrate;

1. Handwashing
2. Pulse
3/ Weight
4. Ted hose
5. Peri care

As I was waiting to get my results the RN who was testing me asked me if I was going into the nursing program, I stated that I was. She then told me that "you are going to make an amazing nurse. You didn't miss a thing on this and you were very competent and relaxed." Just about then my test results came back and I had passed.

With that done I was IN! I start a week from today and I am extremely nervous and extremely excited! God opened this door for me and I am extremely grateful. The next 2 years are going to be crazy and I am thankful that my husband is supportive and ready to do what it takes to get me through!

So if you are reading this say a prayer for us that we will be strong enough to get through it :)

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Hiho Hiho its back to school I go!

Well after much deliberation , prayer, conversation and God opening doors I have gone back to school. I finished a year of schooling, including summer, about 2 years ago at Centralia College. I have 5 classes left to enter the nursing program. So here I go. I started on monday and am taking English 102, Biology 160 and Nutrition 101. All are fairly hard classes, but I am looking forward to the work and getting one step closer to finishing my nursing degree. The last classes I have left will be Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2. Add in a few classes that are more to completing my Associates and I have a full 2 and a half years ahead of me.
I am no longer working full time and now work extremely part time, IE every other saturday and maybe one weekday a week if Jakes and I schedule allows for it.

The kids are doing awesome. Celina had an amazing Christmas and Birthday (can you believe she is EIGHT this year?!?!!)  with getting both her very own horse and her very own saddle! The boys had a great Christmas too getting a Piano, a Guitar and a TON of hot wheel tracks.

My in-laws spent Christmas here and then took the kids December 26th to their house. New Years Eve was my last day of work so after I was off we headed down to Onalaska. I spent New Years Eve with Kadra. New Years Day I picked up Celinas new saddle and then Jake and I grabbed the kids and headed for Longview. We kind of spent Friday and Saturday relaxing. I did get to go spend a few hours with Lacy (weve been friends for over 22 years... how has it been that long?) Friday night catching up. Sunday we headed to church with My parents and then to family birthday dinner.

It was a nice trip but I feel like we are still trying to unpack and unwind from it.... ugh.

Hope 2015 finds you all well!

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Christmas time again!

Well here we are..... a grand 11 days till Christmas! 95% of my christmas shopping is done (I know shocking for those who know me). We have passed our 1 year mark in this house and I really like this house as much as I did when we moved in. And I have decided to go back to school to finish my nursing degree. I have one year down and only 2 1/2 to go. So back to school I go. I have to give my notice at work either tomorrow or tuesday requesting to move to VERY part time. Its scary to think about giving up my job but I cant work full time and go to work full time and be able to give either 110% without killing myself. So more big changes coming thats for sure!

Celina galloped for the first time yesterday. Made me realize that she is definitely ready for her own horse. Good thing thats already in the works. I also have to find it in the budget to get her her own barrel saddle. Ugh money money money is what it seems like.


Little does she know she's getting him for Christmas!

Jake and I are slowly getting more and more organized in our home life. I realize more and more how much older I feel compared to others I know that are my age. Especially ones that don't have families. Most of my friends are in their mid thirties instead of mid to late (ok heading more to late) twenties.

I hope you all have a merry christmas!

Monday, November 3, 2014

Halloween is come and gone and thanksgiving is on the way......

This last year and 2 months has been crazy to say the least. We have had a lot of heartache, a LOT of stress, and so many difficulties at times it felt like I was joking when I would talk to people about it. But a lot of good has come out of it and in the end I thank God everyday for the difficulties that we went through. Ill lay out what I am thankful for:

My Marriage:
This last year tried and tested our marriage multiple times, and in more ways then I care to put online. And there were times I wasn't sure if our marriage would make it. But through it all, and with a LOT of God's help, we made it to the other side. Our marriage is stronger, our communication is better (still not perfect but it is better) and I feel like we can now use this to help other couples. The devil will not only try your marriage by attacking your finances, but will show you every hole in your marriage nad make you doubt yourself on your choice! And you know what its ok to question things. It makes you realize what you need to FIX.

 After almost 9 years of marriage (has it really been that long?!?!?!) we are way past the honeymoon phase, but have definitely learned that you have to WORK on your marriage and it is HARD a LOT of the time. But the results are totally worth it!

My Kids
The last year has put a renewed focus on my kids. Coming to realize that you are so busy that you don't even get to see your kids is a hard place to come to. For almost 4 months I worked swing shift. I was gone from 2pm till 12am monday-friday. I didn't realize the impact of it until the beginning of this year. I realized I didn't remember a lot of the kids school year. I missed SO MUCH in that time I was working. Now I work at a job thats during the school day and I am home to get the kids off the bus. It is so much better.

Our Finances
Ugh with so many ups and downs in our finances through our marriage I finally feel like we are on track. We are in the middle of Dave Ramseys Financial Peace University and I think EVERY couple should take this course at least once. It is helping us realize the ways in which we needed to change, but also helped us realize the things we were doing right!

For example: We switched to an all cash budget 3 years ago and realized the debt trap we were entering and stopped it. Now we do have to get caught up and actually, you know, budget (hehe) but we were heading in the right direction.

The other thing is that we are finally Tithing regularly. We came to realize that when we tithed we always have more than when we don't. When we tithe God opens up opportunities that are weird and out of the blue! We are also regularly putting money into savings. Its not much as of yet, only about $100 a month, but that adds up. I cant wait to see where that goes in the next few years.

Our Future
I finally feel like we have one. For so long I have just felt like we are hanging on by a thread, just barely treading water, but now? I feel like we are afloat and heading in the right direction!

Now do I now that trials are still going to come our way? YES! But now more than ever I am willing to throw my hands in the air and say "God please take it! I cant do this on my own!!!" He is the one in the drivers seat, I do my part by being faithful with what He has given us, and He will do the rest!

Please be praying for us though... there are a lot of doors that have been cracked open and we are sitting here waiting to see which one God opens. If He opens it, then who am I to close it?

Monday, September 8, 2014

New horse with new opportunities

About 3 months ago I was given a BEAUTIFUL paint mare. Registered Juan Last Scotch barn name :Piper


She is an amazing horse but I have never been challenged so much in riding a horse. Its good she is forcing me to ride with extremely light hands and work off my seat. I feel honored to be riding a horse with SO much talent and potential. As soon as we do our first barrel run you can believe it will be on here!