another chapter.

How cliché, right? Well, regardless...that is where we are. I have finally come to the end of a ridiculous 8 month long job search. This will be my new home until further notice:

Maryvale hospital, about 7 miles from the house, has offered me a job as part of the Abrazo Health Care new graduate program in the Intensive Care Unit.  I'll train for 12 weeks until I begin taking on some patients of my own and will be precepted until I feel comfortable! Anywhere from an extra month or two to six months. I love this cushion of comfort they're giving us...such a necessity when you're a new grad! Some of you may be realizing that ICU is not quite the direction I hoped to go with my nursing career, but I am so thankful for the learning opportunity I've been presented with and cannot WAIT to master the ICU! What better foundation to build a diverse nursing career on? Then someday, I'll be here and it will be perfect. It's only a matter of time. :)

Of course I have to say thank you to everyone who has been so incredibly supportive of both me and Christian the past 8 months. From graduation, Christian's master's defense, engagement, moving to a new city, planning a wedding, and having said wedding, I know I personally have been an emotional wreck and probably not the best friend/sister/daughter/fianceé/wife that I could or should have been. But through all of this, you all never stopped supporting us or picking me up after every rejection and set back. Your confidence in me is relentless and humbling and I am so grateful to have you in my life.

But above all people and all things, I have to say (while trying not to make you all puke) how my partner made it possible for me to stay sane during all of this; how he was there for me at every step and every turn, encouraging me, cursing the new grad climate with me, laughing with me, crying with me, and ultimately pushing me to not give up despite the OBVIOUS obstacles and their obvious affinity for beating me down! I learned to delete rejection emails instead of holding onto them, cry and kick and scream when I was upset and then move on, and most of all I learned to count my blessings every day and realize that no matter how sorry I felt for myself, there was someone out there dealing with something harder. Counting your blessings helps every time. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I can't wait to be the MASTER OF NURSING (which ICU will inevitably prepare me to be). 

Love from Phoenix (and doggy kisses. and doctor kisses.)

Ash