Mini Minnie

 

I snagged these from Laura's Blog... I just couldn't resist posting the pictures of darling little Minnie Collard. 

It looks like Lance is going to toss her like a hot potato!

At Last.

I have always been a firm believer in that everything happens for a reason. Lately I haven't been feeling as if everything happens for a reason.  I have been feeling extremely lost and without a purpose in a lot of ways.  I've been constantly praying for guidance and haven't felt like I've gotten many answers... until now.

A few weeks ago I was hating working nights @ riverton hospital.  I decided to look for a new job and in doing so I was offered a job as an admissions representative at Eagle Gate College.  The pay was good and it seemed like I might possibly like it so I took the position and went to only working one weekend a month at the hospital (I was going to quit all together, but something made me stay).  I started working at Eagle Gate last Tuesday and everyday I was more irritated and unhappy with my position, but I kept trucking along hoping things would get better.  My first week all I did was watch other people talk on the phone... for 20 hours watching someone talk on the phone is less than entertaining.  This week things were getting a little better.  My first two interviews decided to enroll in school and I thought I was making some success until the following day I had 3 no shows.  My second day on the job a fellow coworker asked me how I came to find this position and I explained that I had previously applied to Eagle Gates nursing program, been accepted, and she suggested we look into reapplying.  She made a phone call to the nursing director and he said that there was a chance I could be in the program beginning in two weeks. I followed up with Dennis throughout the week and long story short YESTERDAY he told me that I would be accepted into the program.  I went to my boss trying to work out the two schedules since my work and class schedule happened during the same hours.  I had a feeling they weren't going to be flexible so I called Riverton and my boss there told me that I could have my full time job back if I let her know by Monday.  

TODAY: I went into work and my boss told me I'd have to choose between nursing or working there.  Nursing was my choice and today was my last day there.  I called Riverton back and they gave me my full time job. 

The best of both worlds.  Strangely enough- if I hadn't gotten upset about my schedule and applied for this new job I wouldn't have known they had an opening in their nursing program.  If I hadn't stayed prn at Riverton I wouldn't have a job any longer.  It is crazy how things have the most ROUND ABOUT way of working out... especially when you LEAST expect it.  

I start nursing school in 9 days... I've been waiting for this day to be in a PROGRAM for so long and that day is finally now.  

Finishing up

One of the most exciting things about having a 95% finished basement is this... a CLEAN ROOMY UPSTAIRS!!! The very same day we got the carpet installed I was at work, but when I came home Lance and I grabbed the couches and brought them downstairs and out of my dusty cluttered upstairs.  NOW LOOK AT IT!  I cleaned, dusted, organized and my dining room looks so much nicer than it ever has before. 

  

We now have our basement with molding, a strip of tile in front of our new basement door, walls painted, closet doors installed (which isn't done in the picture).

Closet in the bedroom.  I love the mini doors.

I've been looking for a sunburst mirror for months and finally found this beauty @ Kohls. 

Finished walls and trim.

The latest greatest and unfinished.

We decided to postpone finishing the bathroom until after we finished everything else (ie. carpeting in so we could move the furniture) this week the bathroom has been my project.  I finished mud and taping the majority of it and today was able to paint the walls and move the vanity into place. 

Whats left?  Odds and ends.  Touch ups.  Misc. 

All In a Days Work

In the last 2 days the entire basement has been primed and ready for paint.  Just today alone I painted both ceilings, put two coats of paint in the bedroom (FINISHEDDD!!), painted one coat in the living room.  

Before (as in Yesterday with just primer)

One of Lance's TOP accomplishments was framing out this closet to fit 4 2 foot wide sliding doors.  Robert and Lance spent a good portion of a Saturday afternoon turning the math into a tangible construction.

Today (finished!!) 

Lance's MOST FAVORITE accomplishment of our entire basement was this beauty.  A NEW DOOR!

The old door was "cut to size" and was an inch in both directions too small.  Lance had to rip out the old door and all of its existing framing and then take the framing and expand it to make room for this door.  Now we have a "window" in our living room which gives us tons more natural light (and it looks so cute!) 

WHATS LEFT???

• One last coat in the living room (ceiling and walls).
• Carpet (which is happening next week thanks to George, Robert's brother.
• Bathroom.

Starting Mid next week we will have a REAL FURNISHED BASEMENT.  Our house may finally be able to be and STAY cleaned.  I think that has been our most stressful part of this entire journey- dirt.  Lance and I are both really clean people.  We can't stand dust, dirt, gunk, nothing of the sort.  Clutter even annoys me, but here we have lived with a 1/3 less sq. footage for the last 4 months and with mopping every three days our floors are filthy within 45 minutes.  I am SO excited to finally be dirt freeee. YAY YAY YAY!!!