A New Chapter!

The new year brings a new chapter in my life! It begins with a move from Colorado to Arizona right after Christmas. On January 8, I begin my new job with Northern Arizona Healthcare as an RN in the Mothers and Infants department! I am really excited about this job and the opportunity to work in my chosen profession! I'm also looking forward to living near my sister for a while!

Hope you will follow along to see what the next chapter brings!

I Passed!

On September 13, I took the NCLEX RN exam and passed! Now I'm waiting on the state to send me my RN license and am hoping that this will speed up the job hunting process! I'm holding out for an OB job, preferably in a Mom/Baby unit and have a couple of possibilites! It's really amazing to think about this journey that I have taken to become an RN. There were times I wasn't sure I was going to make it, but by the grace of God, I've made it through each step of the way. I'm so grateful for the support and encouragement that I received from all my friends and family! Thank you so very much!

In addition to preparing for the exam and job hunting, I have been oil painting a lot, doing some sketching and getting out to do some photography now and then. In addition, I always have knitting project or two in the works and do a lot of reading! How wonderful it is to be able to read for enjoyment and not just for school!

Our big family news is that Stephen and Marsha were married on July 29 in a small ceremony at White Fence Farms. They currently are living in Broomfield and adapting well to married life! Jessie is working at Breugger's Bagels in Broomfield and enjoying it. Zach is working at King Soopers in Thornton and doing very well there. Jonathan and Amy have just moved to a new place. Amy is now working for a high end horse trainer and loving it. Jonathan gets to go along and help out at some of the Cutting Horse shows that they do. Gary is taking classes at Front Range CC and loving it. He still works with the youth group at church as well.

For those of you wanting to know about the photograph above, Jonathan and I went to the mountains on the 16th of Septmeber intending to take pictures of the changing aspen. Instead of blue skies and sun, we ended up with SNOW! This was taken at Brainard Lake, which sits near the foot of Mt. Audubon at the edge of the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area. It is one of my favorite spots on earth!

Journeys end and a new beginning

What a journey this has been! On June 30th, I graduated with my Associates Degree in Nursing! On July 2nd, I moved back to Colorado and am currently preparing to take the NCLEX (the nursing board exam) in order to become licensed to practice as an RN in Colorado. I'm also looking for a job!

Leaving Iowa has been a bittersweet. I loved the rural countryside, the lush green-ness, the amazing springs and lovely autumns. I also came to love the people there and have left many dear friends behind. Colorado seems very dry and brown and crowded by comparison. But there are more opportunities here and mostly, my family is here!

So one part of the journey is over. The next part is just beginning! New challenges to face, new things to learn! I wonder where the path will lead next?! I'm looking forward to finding out!

Four weeks and counting!

Spring continues to be beautiful and lush here in Iowa. I love how green it is! Those are wild roses under the oak trees in the picture above. Makes for a lovely landscape.

My RN year is finishing well! It's hard to believe that my two years of nursing school are nearly complete! I've learned so much. Now it's time to switch gears and think about what comes next.

The first step is that I'll be moving back to Colorado right after graduation. I'll be living with my folks for a while, which I hope will be good for all of us. Jessie is moving back too and will be at her dad's. Big changes for all of us.

The second step will be to take nursing boards and find a job. I'm hoping to find a position working with moms and baby's in a postpartum unit and cross training for labor and delivery so if anyone knows of any openings let me know! I'd love to start teaching a few childbirth classes again too.

For now, my focus is on the last four weeks of school. I think we counted ten tests still to take! Pinning ceremony is this coming weekend on Sunday June 11. Graduation is Friday June 30! Also need to pack and get ready to move! Should keep me very busy these last few weeks here.

Blessings and peace to all!

Ten weeks to go!

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!

Psalm 57:5

Unbelievable that there are only ten weeks left to nursing school! The past month has been busy with tests, care plans and as always, lots and lots of studying!

Easter was very enjoyable as my friends Bill and Sheryl came out to visit for the weekend!

Been getting a little bit of painting in when I need a break from studying. The spring landscape here is lush and gorgeous at the moment. Brilliant greens, vivid yellows and the flowering trees arrayed in glorious colors of the rainbow. Just lovely! My favorite time of year!

The next three months will be busy. Our RN Pinning ceremony (they don't do hats anymore) is Sunday 11Jun06. Graduation is Friday 30Jun06. And Stephen is getting married to Marsha on 29Jul06! Somewhere in there, I have to take nursing boards find a job! Lots to do and lots to look forward to.

Spring mid-terms

Halfway through the Spring semester! Only 3 1/2 months to go till graduation!

This semester has been busy with Comprehensive Nursing, Maternal Newborn Nursing (my favorite class!) and Anatomy & Physiology 2. The current clinical rotation is at the hospital here in Creston and it is going well.

Jessie has settled in well and made many new friends already. It is a joy to have her around. We are looking forward to a visit from Zach at the end of the month.

Signs of spring have been popping up here and there. The tulips and daffodils have pushed up through the dark soil and the pussy willow is covered in silver catkins. Earlier this week, Jessie and I saw an enormous flock of snow geese and have also seen many robins, redwing blackbirds and meadow larks that were absent a couple weeks ago. Looking forward to the greening of the landscape. Spring here in Iowa is beautiful.

I've been painting a little more in my spare time. You can see my paintings at the LPBoniStudio link on the right hand side of this page.

Grace and peace to all!

Counting down to June!

Wow! only 5 1/2 months until graduation! I can't believe the completion of nursing school is so close! Spring semester begins on Monday, January 16th! I have three classes, Comprehensive Nursing, Maternal Newborn Nursing, and Anatomy & Physiology II. It's a total of 17 credits, which is my heaviest course load to date. Will be a busy semester!

Christmas in Colorado was enjoyable. Loved the time spent with family! Was able to see nearly all my friends and also had a chance to enjoy the beautiful mild Colorado mid-winter weather! My mom is recovering nicely from her knee surgery in mid December as well.

I now have company here in Iowa as Jessie decided to move here with me for the next few months! It will be nice to have her here. We've been rearranging furniture and cleaning closets in order to give her some space of her own. We moved my study area out to the dining/living room as you can see in the above picture. It won't stay quite this neat once classes begin! In fact, I'll just about live in that corner for the next 5 1/2 months so I'm pleased that it's a bright pleasant spot!

Blessings and peace.