This Man

This man is the best grandpa I could of ever had. 

When I was little he used to come over and cook the best dutch oven dinner you'd ever eat.

His cows would always get out, and he'd come get us grand kids (Trent, Hunter, Myles, and myself) and have us help him get them back in. He took us 4 everywhere. From rodeos, to bull sales, to the coffee shop, to the mountains for a ride, to feeding cows, to anything. We loved it. We paired up and always fought with each other. Hunter and I vs Trent and Myles. The best part was when Trent and I would fight, grandpa would ALWAYS yell at Hunter and say quit irritating. (We died laughing, but Hunter always got mad :))

He used to spoil me. Whenever we were at Rodeos or anywhere I'd ask him for some money and he'd give me a $20, then one of the other four would ask him and he'd give them $5. He gave me a horse, a car, a heifer but most importantly he gave me his time.  I stayed with him summer after summer when my family moved to Oregon. I spent every day with him. Riding horses, going to the feedlot, playing solitaire, taking naps at the park and checking the cows. I loved it. 

He loved taking us kids and pigs to the fair. One year him and I opened probably 1,000 nasty old cottage cheese containers and feed to the pigs. 

He taught us four kids how to work, we chased cows, and cows chased us. He taught us how to have patience, he would expect us to read his mind and when we didn't he'd get mad at us. He taught us to enjoy the simple things. 

Today he turns 80 years old! I wish I was there to celebrate...

 Just so you know GRANDPA I LOVE YOU. Happy Birthday.

                         

     

The Job HUNT

After graduating college I gave myself a couple weeks to find a job. I wanted to wait till after the Holidays to start looking so that I could spend time at home for the Holidays. Well boy.. that was dumb. Everyone else started before the Holidays so when I went looking I found nothing.  Living in Rexburg is very difficult. I look at other towns like Boise,  Utah,  California or anywhere ELSE and there are TONS of opportunities. In Rexburg maybe like 5 options.. So I applied everywhere almost. it didn't even matter what it was for.. 

I got interviews.. I got job offers. But nothing I really wanted.

First offer.. Alfac. 

ME sell insurance.. I could of done it..

 Did I want to? No. So I turned it down.

Second Offer... Home Care Pulse.. quality control center.. 

Did I want it.. no but it payed decent and was in Rexburg. So I decided to take it. 

First few weeks.. TERRIBLE. 

I hated sitting at a desk all day.

 I hated not being able to be social with my coworkers.

 I hated being stuck inside.

I hated talking to rude people.

I hated it. PERIOD. 

It got better. 

I got a $50 bonus one pay check. That was nice

I always got my Average for Interviews. 

It was an easy job. 

Still didn't love it. 

 But I went to work because I needed a paycheck

I have a DEGREE I should be able to get a good job right?!

So I kept looking.. 

I Interviewed at..

 Pain specialist of Idaho

Alpine Dermatology

Sleep Inn Suite (got the job here.. the pay sucked and it was far away, so I turned it down)

Then I got an interview at Nauvoo House Apartments. I used to live in these apartments. I had one interview and got called back for another. I thought it would be perfect to get this job! Free rent, utilities and everything plus a paycheck. Two days later I got a phone call. I GOT THE JOB! I was so excited and happy. Then I mentioned Sampson my puppy and everything came tumbling down. I wasn't able to keep him if I wanted the job.

Koop and I decided we would give him to my parents for the year.  That night I came home and Koop was out of town for the weekend and Sampson was the only thing I came home to.. I couldn't do it, I cried. I couldn't give away my baby. So unfortunately I turned down that job.

At this point I gave up.. I thought that I would just stick it out at my job now..

BUT THEN...

I saw a post online that Rexburg Community Care Urgent Care was hiring. They needed a Full Time Admissions Clerk working with Mountain View Hospital. I applied.. Only to find out they already filled the position. :( A week later I got a call about the same position available in Rigby, I never applied but it seemed to be perfect. I had an interview, the lady was so nice and said she would hire me right now. It wasn't her place to hire, so she said she would tell them and I would get a second interview.

The next day I got a call to come in for a second  interview in Rexburg, the position opened up again! Lucky ME! 

Long story short... 

I GOT THE JOB! 

It is perfect! It pays great. I work three 12 hour shifts and have four days of the week off! I get benefits! Its flexible! And best part.. I don't have to dress up! (For those of you that know me, I hate dressing up, and wearing normal clothes, I like sweats!) I get to wear scrubs!

BUDGET

This year I decided to be more organized with budgets! So I made a budget checklist. Some of these don't apply to us right now, but eventually they will.. so I took everything into consideration.. If anyone wants a copy please let me know and I will send you one! I'm kind of excited to start using this! 

We started doing our taxes and I just thought.. Man life would be easier if I would of kept track of things!