Got an apartment!

Well, it is amazing what happens when the Lord is on your side. I needed to find a place to live, preferably close to where I work. So, I looked online, found some complexes that showed promise, and sent an email out to the one that was cheapest and met my other criteria. Within 14 hours, they had called back. Within another 24, I had been approved for the only apartment available that was the size I wanted. So, I take possession on March 7, and move in on the 10th.

Here is my new address:

2323 NW 188th Ave #713

Hillsboro, OR 97124

Phone # stays the same, cause it is my cell. Now I all have to do is pack (and I am only in Corvallis for a total of 5 days between now and then) paint my new apartment, and move! Wow, at least life is never dull.

For those of you who come up to the Portland area, give me a call or drop by! I love visitors. I will get pics taken when I am all moved in.

update!

Okay, okay, okay. I know it has been a LONG time since I last posted. That is because I haven't really had anything to say. But, decisions have finally been made, and now I can fill everyone in.

Most important : I am moving to Hillsboro, OR. For those of you who don't know where that is, get a map! No, it is a suburb of Portland, OR. I have been working up in Hillsboro with Metro West Ambulance since January. I haven't moved yet because I was waiting to hear on a conditional job offer for the City of Eugene.

For a quick recap: I applied back in Sept or Oct of last year. I tested in the end of October for a 991 call taker position. Nov 1st I interviewed with the city. Nov 3 I turned in the background check information. Dec 27th I passed the background and went on to the psychological exam. (yeah, I tried to just tell them up front that I was crazy, but it didn't work.) The psych eval was 4 hours of answering inane questions with true/false and varying degrees of the same test. Jan 11, met with the psychologist to discuss the answers to said inane tests. And finally, last Monday, found out that the psychologist deemed me "profile not right to enter academy at this time."

Basically, he profiled me, and then compared my profile to those who have been successful in the field. Apparently, I am crazy! But hey, y'all already knew that. Really, apparently the Lord has a different idea of where I should be right now.

So... this means that I am now apartment hunting...again. I have amazing friends in hillsboro who (for some strange reason) let me crash at their house while I am working. They have 2 adorable kids, and I love being able to come home to them! They make this transition time bearable. Anyhoo, I am looking for an apartment. I have decided to take my time and make sure that I am getting into a good place. I want this to last for longer than 6 months, so I will be wary in what I choose.

Also, I received a promotion (of sorts) at work! It is a promotion, but really without a pay increase. My hourly wage goes up, but my paychecks stay about the same because the hours are different. Beginning March 3, I will be working M-F 1030 to 630. (now I work 3-12 hour shifts one week, and 4 the next ) It is really fun to be in an office where my talents are appreciated, and that appreciation is expressed. It is a new experience, as the office where I previously was did not do any of that. But that is a whole other story that would take hours to tell.

Here are some of the bonuses...
* Hillsboro is where I lived for the first 8 years of my life, so this is sort of like coming home.
* It is only 30 minutes away from the Portland Temple
* I have awesome friends currently in Hillsboro
* I work with a great bunch of people
* I have relatives (both immediate and extended) within a few hours of me
* I get to babysit Keegan and Kayden anytime I want (which makes their parents go out!)
* Shopping! (Ikea, malls, jewelry stores, yes, I have an addiction)
* My best friend's family is in the area, so I get to see them more

Okay, enough of that for now. As soon as I get my new address, I will let you know!

reason to pause

A few days ago, I was visiting with friends, and had an interesting experience. They asked me if I might be interested in getting to know one of their friends. He apparently would have asked for my phone number, except for the fact that I am a Mormon. This turned the discussion to whether or not I would be happy or interested in dating someone not of my faith.

My friends commented that they thought I was the type who "could be happy marrying a Mormon boy and living the Mormon life" but could "also be happy marrying a nice christian boy, and let go of the Mormon cult." This statement made me stop and think. These friends have known me for a few years, and they have seen me go through many changes. However, it made me stop and reflect how I present myself and my beliefs to others.

I am an endowed member of the church. I have chosen to be actively involved in the church. I will not marry anyone who cannot do so in the temple. While I admit I am on the more liberal side of the "perceived Mormon beliefs," I am still a practicing Mormon.

So, I put it to you, readers of this blog... how do I convince these friends that I truly am committed to my faith? I have tried to share my testimony, but they try to tell me that I will change my mind. I do not know how to handle this. I love these friends, but they seem intent on basing my beliefs on past actions, not on my current and professed beliefs.

I want to share with anyone who may read this : I am so grateful for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. I love the Saviour, who is my elder brother and my friend. He gave His life for me, and for everyone. The Church is true. I KNOW this. My life has been incredibly blessed. While I have challenges and trials, I know that the Saviour is there to buoy me up and take my burdens. May I live my life in example of Him.

I'm going to be an Auntie!

Yep, that's right. I am going to be an Aunt! My older sister is having TWINS! We have known since day 1 that she is prego, cause they had a really hard time getting there. They finally did artificial insemination. They implanted two, and two are still there!!! Yay! They went in yesterday to find out what they were having, and...

Meet Cooper ( a most precious little boy ). My bet is that he will be a sports nut, and his parents will have a really hard time getting him to keep his clothes on.

and here is Lily ( a beautiful little girl ). She is quite active. I think she will be the first one out, and probably won't stop moving her entire life. They couldn't get too many pics of her, cause she was moving around so much.

If you can't tell, I am so excited for these babies! My sister is doing great. The babies are healthy, and mom is too.

They aren't due until May, but my guess is that they will grace the world with their presence early.

My sister senior pics...

Well, I had my surgery, and it came out well. I am back at work, in Portland now and so far liking it. I am working 12 hours days right now. Whew, it takes a lot out of me. I will be headed to bed shortly.

Anyhoo, I did my sister's senior pics this year. (I am definetly not a professional, but we all seemed to like them. Here are a few...

This is one of my favorites. We had a hard time getting a genuine smile out of her, so we had to make her laugh.

Isn't she beautiful? I can't believe she is already 17 & getting ready to graduate High School.

Those are just a few of my favorites. We got quite a few great shots. These were all shot at various locations in Oakridge.

An a different note, I have been staying with some friends this week in portland, while I am up here working. She had been burning some candles in here kitchen, and just a few minutes ago, we looked back to see big flames on the counter!! She had put the candles on a paper plate, and somehow the plate caught fire. NO worries though, we (they) got it put out before any damage occurred.

Alright, I had headed off to bed! G'night!

Here We Go Again...

You know the saying "When it rains, it pours."? It so aptly describes my life right now. Let's see, where to begin? Let's go back to last wednesday...

Remember I have no job beyond Dec 18th. I had arranged to have my last day be Friday Dec. 14th. Keeping that mind, let me relate what happened during my last few days at Metro West Eugene. Wed. evening I received a phone call from my surgeons office. We had done a CT Arthrogram of my shoulder on monday of that week, and they had the results. They weren't good. First, let me review the surgery. I had torn the Labrum, which is the cartiledge in the shoulder. They went in arthroscopically ( a little scope) and repaired it by anchoring 2 metals thingys (very technical term) into the bone of the joint. They then stitched together the labrum, and stitched the repair to the anchors.

The scan showed that one of the anchors they had set in my shoulder was coming out. I don't know why the anchor is coming out, but in order to fix, they have to go in again and pull out the faulty anchor and set in a new one. (Basically, they have to do the exact same surgery over again.) Now for the fun part. I have no job. Which means that I have no insurance beyond Dec. 31. I explained the situation to my surgeons office, and they said they would try to get extra OR time to do the surgery before the end of the year.

The Next Day: Our company christmas party, and my second to last day. My bosses boss (the second in command of the company) came down, and requested an exit interview. The very first thing she said was "I was so surprised to hear you were leaving." Apparently, the idea was not to fire me, but to "encourage me to heal my shoulder and get off of light duty." I explained to her the news I had received the night before about a second surgery. She asked if I would be interested in transferring somewhere within the company. I had tried to transfer up to the Portland office a couple of months previous. Nothing had ever come of that effort, so I had given up (after two solid months of trying.)

Friday: my last day. My boss asked to speak to me, and informed me that her boss was trying to find me a position in our portland office. She also told me that she liked me, but that I "am simply inneffective." Hmmm, interesting, since HER boss told me I was very valuable to the company. So now I had a choice. I could take my final check, and take my chances, or I could not take the check, still be employed with the company - thus keeping my insurance.

I didn't take the check. Apparently, the portland office really wants me. SO, I still have a job, I just have to drive to Portland (actually Hillsboro) to do it.

Oh yeah, I am having my second surgery on Wednesday, Dec. 19th. I never thought I would be grateful to have a surgery. Yet strangely, I am. I am grateful that my Surgeon was able to get extra time to do my operation. I will be starting in Portland in 2 weeks. Yay!!

Wow. Sorry, that was long.

Catch Twenty-Two Weeks Notice

So, I wasn't planning on posting again so soon, however, there have been a few updates since just yesterday. Crazy, huh? Alright... here goes.

Yesterday (Wed) my boss showed up at our Eugene office. She had been on vacation for 2 weeks, and we weren't expecting her. (She works in our office, as well as a Newport office.) She took care of some general paperwork, and then when I got back from lunch, she closed the office door and handed me a letter. The letter informed me that my light duty position was being taken away. I was also informed that I have until Dec. 18th (two weeks from the date the letter was written) to provide her with a complete work release from my doctor, as well as a current EMT-Basic certification. In other words, I'm fired.

Now, here is the problem. I am nowhere near being able to return to active duty. I cannot get my certification back, because I cannot do the physical work. I cannot work as a Basic unless I get my cert. back. And, I can't afford to do the PT unless I have insurance, which I get by working. See the catch 22?

I have decided to not make any decisions right now. If you are the praying type, I would appreciate your prayers. I am sure that the Lord has some plan in mind for me, but I don't have any idea what that might be.

On another note, I had my second visit to the torture therapist today. And yes, the second treatment was as bad as the first. I only got an ugly greenish hue on my shoulder from the first treatment.

Alright, I am off to eat a gigantic bowl of ice cream. Comfort food, ya know?