Where I'm Supposed To Be

Today I've been thinking about Las Vegas and all the time I've spent here. I don't remember ever planning to live in Vegas, but when the time came to sign up for student teaching, I remember feeling good about going to Las Vegas, so I put it as my numero uno option. After that, I got cold feet, so to speak, and started thinking I wanted to teach in Utah to be closer to my brother. And then I wanted to stay in Idaho and student teach with my teacher from my senior practicum. And for those of you who know me, ice and I don't get along. It's basically a hate hate relationship. There is no love. So why did I want to stay in Idaho or move to Utah? I think I was scared. I don't know anyone here, and my closest family is 4 hours away, as opposed 30 minutes in Idaho. So I did what any person would do. I petitioned to stay in Idaho. I told them I had doctors there. I told them I had family there. I told them I had a job there. (My security boss was going to let me keep my job.) Sadly, none of those excuses worked. The school told me they already had our placements set in stone and couldn't change anything. Ironic because I didn't know my placement and didn't find out until my first day of student teaching. But I was sent to Vegas. And it was HARD!!! Leaving my parents' hotel room the night before they left was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I cried the whole way back to my apartment. After that, I tried to find peace with Vegas. Not easy, let me tell you. My ward wasn't welcoming to the student teachers. They saw us as replaceable, and didn't bother to talk to us. It was ironic because most of them were in our shoes at one point or another. I didn't even know if the bishop knew my name. I had a FANTASTIC roommate though. She and I got to know each other really well. And I'm so glad that we ended up rooming together. That's one thing I love about BYUI housing. I have always had roommates that I got along great with!
Anyway, around the end of January, I was super overwhelmed. No joke, I looked up law schools and was going to apply to law school instead of student teaching. I figured I made it through college, I could handle law school. Sadly, I missed the deadline to apply. How much did I miss it by, you ask? One week. If I had had these feelings of frustrations one week sooner, I could have had a completely different life. But that's not how my life works. A couple weeks later, I got a message from my fhe dad from my first semester of college. He had student taught in Vegas a year earlier. He told me that even though he considered Vegas a desert wasteland, that he truly does love Vegas. He met his wife while living here, and they just had beautiful twin boys. It was a very sweet message. He ended it by telling me he didn't know why he decided to tell me everything he did. How could he know that I was having the hardest time in my life so far? I hadn't told anyone about how I was feeling except my parents. His message to me was a tender mercy. Today as I was thinking about why I am here, I just had this overwhelming feeling that I am right where I'm supposed to be. I made the decision to take a job here and move back, because I had this feeling that I am supposed to be here. I don't know why, but here I am. I know the Lord has plans for me, and he will reveal them in His own time. I just need to be patient.
On a happier note, I will be 21 in exactly 8 days! Party!! And in thinking how I wanted to celebrate and who I want to celebrate with, I realized something. I know people here!! I invited a whole 7 people! Not including me and my roommate. Whoo hoo! Have a lovely week you beautiful people :)

Fresh Start

Who still blogs? I mean, it's been I don't even know how long since I last blogged. Confession: I forgot I had a blog. But moving into my new apartment made me remember that hey! I do have a blog! And maybe I should write something... So here I am. Wondering if anyone actually reads this. Oh well. It's for posterity, right?
I'm living in Henderson, Nevada as of this past Sunday. In case you were wondering, I did my student teaching in Vegas from January to April, so Nevada isn't really that random. And I'm not here because I love it. Trust me. Nevada does grow on you, though. It took me 4 months to start to like it, and then I moved home to Georgia and promptly lost all love I had for this place. So now I'm starting to try to love it again. Hopefully it won't take 4 months this time.
Anyway, after I got home at the beginning of May, my dad told me he didn't care if I worked over the summer, (who hires someone for 4 months anyways?) but I had to find a job for the upcoming school year. Lo and behold, 2 days after getting home, my phone rings. It's a principal from a school right here in Henderson. He tells me he has heard great things about me from the principal from the school I student taught at, and he would like to offer me a job teaching 3rd grade! No interview, no questions, just straight up offered me a job. Obviously I took it. You've probably figured out by this point that I didn't take it because of some overwhelming desire to live in Vegas. I didn't want to turn down a job and then not be able to find another one. Also, it will be a good experience, and let me get my foot in the door.
Let me just change gears here, and say that I have hands down, no contest, THE BEST parents in the world. As soon as I told them I took the job, they started looking at real estate for me. Sweet! Even better? They bought a condo, and I am renting from them! Cherry on top? First month's rent is free. Boom. Super handy since I haven't gotten a paycheck yet, and won't get one until next month probably... Not cool. I have my interview tomorrow to get fingerprinted and have my ID badge made. I think it's supposed to take 3 hours. Not my idea of fun. Especially since they changed my appointment from Tuesday to Saturday because apparently they only do Saturday appointments now. Oh well. This just means that I can go back to the DMV on Tuesday.
The DMV. Never any fun for anyone. I was just there on Tuesday. What a treat. I spent the first part of the morning at State Farm getting insurance. Being an adult sure isn't fun... At least the expense part isn't. It helped a little that my insurance agent is attractive... :) After that, we went to the DMV where they told me I couldn't get my license because I didn't have my birth certificate or passport. Awesome. But I still needed to register my car. Once my number was called (it didn't take that long, surprisingly) we went and talked to this lady. She compared my insurance card with the title to my car, and guess what? The VIN numbers didn't match. The insurance agent had actually had my brother's car on my insurance. Whoops. So we had to call State Farm and have him fix them. The cons of driving the same car as your brother... In the meantime, we had to get a VIN inspection. Luckily we passed that one, and the fax was waiting for us when we got back inside. After that, everything went smoothly. Thank goodness. So, I have nevada plates on my car, but no nevada license. For now.
My family left yesterday. That was hard. I'm not even the oldest child, but I'm the only one out on their own. I guess that's what I get for finishing college in 2 1/2 years. I start work on the 14th. I don't really know what I will be doing, but hopefully everything works out. In other news, it is ridiculously hot here. I get headaches from being outside for too long. I'm pretty sure they're combinations of dehydration and sunburns. Note to self: Drink LOTS of water.
If any of you lovely people are in my neck of the woods, don't hesitate to come and see me :) I would love to make you dinner in my new apartment :)