iPhoto Catch Up

Two weeks down.

Many, many, I hope, years to go!

Of my new job, that is. If you couldn't read my mind. :)

Things are going really well! I am loving it... and I am sooooo tired at the same time. I am learning to be patient with myself and not put unrealistic expectations on what I should be doing, what I should know, etc. Everyday I am choosing that. Everyday I have to remind myself.

Anyway! I thought I'd do a quick recap of the last couple of weeks... although, b/c I don't have cute kids around all the time, I don't have that many photos. :) Hope you enjoy, nonetheless!

Outside of Union Station... I get the employee shuttle from here everyday.

I never buy ice cream... but when it's around, I always eat it. :)

Hawaiian day at Starbucks.

Grammy's dining room is always set. You never know when you'll have guests!

I walk buy this yummy display every morning.

Stuck in traffic.
At least the view is pretty.

Pretty morning walk.

Wine with friends.

At the winery with Sarah Therese!

Headed to Target, stumbled upon a farmer's market, enjoying some iced coffee.

Celebrated Sarah's birthday!

I love mornings like this. 

Yay! More internet friends IRL... and college friends! :)
Yes, I shamelessly stole this from Jen's IG!
#BISsisterhood

Marie Miller and L'Angelus!
So so so good.

That's a little of what's going on. :) I hope you all are doing well!

Blessings,

Patience

Unrelated pic of a winery. :)

Phew!

I am 10 days into my new job!

I AM LOVING IT!

And. I am exhausted. 8:15? The wall. By 9? Craaaaawling into bed. If I am still up around 10? Shoot... I am probably spurting out incoherent sentences. Zombie walking.

Huh, perhaps I shouldn't even be writing this right now. It's currently 8:16. Meh... I'm a rebel. What can I say?! ;)

Starting a new job is crazy, right? LOTS OF NEW. Information overload. Trying to be friendly and get to know people. And just basically trying to figure out what h*** your job IS! I say that in the most light-hearted way, of course.

Because... it's awesome. I am just so happy to be back. Genuinely happy to be there. Right now, at this time, this is where I am supposed to be. It feels good. It feels right.

With all of that, though, I am not immune to the worry or doubts. They creep in every now and again. In ways I wasn't expecting. When I start to gloss over in yet another meeting, thoughts like, will I be good enough? Will I make my old friends/coworkers AND the new ones proud? Can I even do this?

Ya know. Those.

They are fleeting. They are moments. But they are there. I try not to dwell on them. I remind myself that I am at this job for a reason. I was hired because people believe in me. I am a good nurse. I have something to offer.

And. To be patient with myself. I have a tendency to want to do ALL THE THINGS. Get involved with that. Volunteer for that. Help with that committee. Organize the new peeps.

Wait.

No. I need the foundation. I need to learn and re-learn and get the basics down (again). How will I ever be able to fully support my fellow nurses if I don't know what I'm doing? How will they trust me?

Outside of work, I find that I want to do all the things with my new parish. Go to the young adult things. Find my people.

But, wait.

It will come. There is no expectation for me to have a connection with people right away. Build awesome relationships right away. I can't... it just won't happen. I want that (NEED that), but I can't force it. I can't just make those connections happen.

I have to be patient.

I need to take a step back. There is no pressure to make things happen RIGHT.THIS.MINUTE. Nope. That's just silly ol' me thinking so.

Silly, Jen, ;)

Annnnnnd, this needs to end. Entering into crazy mode.

Oh! If you didn't notice... I went for it and bought a domain for the blog! I don't think anything special has to happen, but if you want to be safe and not miss any of my wonderful posts (*note sarcasm*), be sure to add this address into your reader. :)

Mmmkay. G'night!

Nurse + life ramblings

AHHHH!!!!! I am official, official, people!!! :) :) :)

There are not enough exclamation points that will properly display my excitement!

I am still in such awe that I am even starting this job. A job that I thought I could get "one day" but never thought it was actually a possibility.

But, man... that day is upon me. That day is Monday.

For the last couple of years, I felt a little lost as a nurse. I mean, I guess if you've been following me here you know I've been a little lost in general, I suppose. :) So, that makes sense.

But, when I left the hospital to go to Honduras, I left all I knew in the world of nursing. I left my mentor nurses. I left an amazing organization. I left an incredible boss. I left technologies and procedures and taking care of kids that would only ever be at this one place.

And I knew deep down that I would be back there again one day, but wasn't sure how or when, so I just went where I felt I needed to be at the time.

As we all know by now, Florida was that place. It was where I grew and learned so much about who I was and who I was meant to be... all the while in a job that I really didn't like. That I didn't really feel I was making a difference. That I didn't even feel like a nurse most of the time.

And maybe that's why I was in that job... so I could focus on myself and not on my job. Because when I was working at the hospital before I was all in. I was involved in many different aspects of hospital life- and I loved it. It became so much a part of me. I was busy all the time doing different things. My identity was so closely wrapped up in being a nurse.

And the last couple of years forced me to realize that I am more than a nurse.

Just as I have also realized, I am more than where I work.
I am more than my vocation.
I am more than the things that I do on this Earth.

I needed these last few years to remind myself of those truths.
I needed to believe in who I was and who I was created to be.
I needed to heal.
I needed to grow.

And then this amazing job opportunity practically fell in my lap. The timing. The interview. The people I saw again. The feeling of being back in the hospital.

It all just feels... right. And good. And awesome.

And it starts on Monday.
I can't wait to see what challenges come my way. How I will grow. What I will learn. The people I meet. The stories I can share. The love that I can give.

Please pray for me as I transition into this new role. This new job.
And thank you, of course, for the prayers you have said for me along this journey. They were felt.

Blessings and love,

#DCbound (Roadtrippin') + #HelloDC (Exploring)

As I have already stated... I have finally made it up to DC (more specifically NoVA!), and it is good and weird and awesome to be back!

I am just bored. Ha!

I was go go go from packing to the moving to the road trip to hanging out with Steph before she left. And then.... nothing. I don't know that many people yet, I don't belong to a parish and my job doesn't start for another week! So, starting all over again with building community and finding your place can be a little daunting, ya know?!

It's ok, though. I am seriously grateful for this time with my family. To just be. To pray. To drive around and get used to my surroundings again. It's all good stuff. I'm just ready to find my people.

But, I thought you might enjoy a little move/road trip/DC recap in pictures? I thought so.

Let's go!

Zuz was ALL about the big twuck... and was very helpful
getting some very important things loaded up!

Perfect way to end the evening... with my favoritest family watching the sunset on the beach.

Road Trip Day #1: Florida/Georgia

A little blurry... but the sweetest.
The morning I left, stopped by the Orams to say goodbye. It wasn't too long, b/c ya know...
it was painful enough. Those kids.
That family.
My bff.
I love them all so much.
I miss them everyday.

Ok! We are FINALLY on the road... 

This girl right here.
I am so thankful for her and her wonderful friendship.
ALL of her help.
Her level-headedness.
Her go-with-the-flowness.
Her prayers.
Her love.
Couldn't have made this trip without her.

We had to stop. We just had to.
Florida is the longest flipping state EVER.
I was emotional. I was tired. I was drained.
My car overheated (again).
Sometimes, you have to forfeit your plans just a little, so you are prepared for the next.
And we did. Stopped at a hotel for the night when we got to Georgia.
And it was glorious.
A little toe-dip in the pool. Yummy dinner. Good night sleep.

"Truck parking"

Can't have a good night without these guys... ok, and Steph, too!

Road Trip Day #2: Georgia/South/North Carolina

Woke up and went straight through SC and onto NC.
Had only a few minutes at South of the Border b/c I needed to get my car looked at.

Of course, though, we made time for a selfie.... obviously.

Ah! I was so excited to get to Fayetteville! A good friend from college lives there with her adorable family. I hadn't seen Lisa and Dan since their WEDDING 7 years ago. 7!! I love social media because we have been able to reconnect and I have seen her family grow... and now they have two adorable kiddos that I couldn't get enough of.

Another thing to note- Dan and Lisa looooooove each other. I would go on to say ADORE each other! :) It was absolutely beautiful to witness their love/life. To see my friend from college living out her vocation as wife and mom, with a man who was all about living out his vocation as husband and dad.  It was refreshing and encouraging. Not because it was "perfect," but because it was life. Their life. And they were living it joyfully.

Thank you Dan and Lisa for your awesome hospitality, for your yummy food and your cute kiddos to play with. I can't wait to see you again!!

Clare!!

Peterrrrrr! And that smile.
It slays me every time.

This was the first and best one!
Clare happened to close her eyes juuuuuust at this moment.

Road Trip Day #3: North Carolina/Virginia/NOVA

While we waited for my car to get fixed up, we enjoyed more time with Lisa and the kiddos, had lunch downtown and enjoyed our time. :) We finally got on the road, stopped for dinner and entered NOVA just as the sun was to set. What a welcome home!

WE MADE IT TO GRAMMY'S!!!!!!
Thank you sweet baby Jesus.

Steph has a thing for Cheetos.

 Exploring DC area Day #1

Because I like to take the same pic...
we said goodbye to that big, yellow, truck! It was kind of sad.
We pretty much felt like bada**es driving that thing.

Yes, technically different day... but we managed to get all my crap into storage
on the first day we were there.
Thanks to my Daddy and Steph!

Getting some much needed prayer time in.
This trip could also be titled "Catholics do DC"

Gave Steph a little tour of my alma mater- MU!

Exploring DC Area Day #2

After Mass we headed to National Harbor and it was awesome, per usual.
We had lunch.
People watched.
The good stuff.

Uncle Bob or Nick Jonas????
HA! Steph walked by this portrait (left) at Grammy's and says,
"So, your Uncle is Nick Jonas?!"
And now I can never unsee it.

Exploring DC area Day #???

It was so fun to show Steph the shrine!! :)

A yummy lunch at Busboys & Poets.

A Pope selfie Part deux.

Ah!! I was SO excited to meet Elise! I met her through #BISsisterhood.
It was fabulous! She is the sweetest!

Then off to the Franciscan Monastery.
Where we attended daily Mass!

 Exploring DC area Day #???: 

Great Falls

Love this girl.

My favorite.

This was our last night together.
Binge-watching TV.
Snacking.
Laughing.
We were always laughing. It was thee best.

Phew! Made it.

Thank you. Thank you all for your many many MANY prayers for the journey up. They were felt and appreciated. I couldn't have gotten through the trip without them.

Thank you, Steph... for everything. I will remember this time together for always. You are such an amazing friend to take time out of your life to do this with me. But, mostly that you pray for me, love me, encourage me and make me laugh. Thank you for being exactly who you are. *kissy face emoji*

And with that. I will end.
Hugs and love,