As most of you know in April I graduated from college! I was fortunate to have both my parents and my brother and Cody make the trek out to Idaho with me. I love excuses to go to Utah and see the Taylor bunch. I wish it happened more often but then those times wouldn't be extra special. There's nothing better than being surrounded by the people that love you the most.
But it felt especially good to go back to Rexburg. I have and will always have a strong connection to that town and to my University. The person I became over the four years of going to school there has changed my life and I know has changed the rest of my life for the better. I had been missing that place quite a lot and just felt like I was going home. I got to see my very good friends and my roommates and was also lucky enough to spend a night in my old apartment. It just felt like everything came to a healthy and complete close. I also loved having Grandma and Papa John come out and attend the ceremonies. It was just a time that I felt very accomplished and very loved.
But it felt especially good to go back to Rexburg. I have and will always have a strong connection to that town and to my University. The person I became over the four years of going to school there has changed my life and I know has changed the rest of my life for the better. I had been missing that place quite a lot and just felt like I was going home. I got to see my very good friends and my roommates and was also lucky enough to spend a night in my old apartment. It just felt like everything came to a healthy and complete close. I also loved having Grandma and Papa John come out and attend the ceremonies. It was just a time that I felt very accomplished and very loved.
The whole graduation experience was quite surreal (I don't even believe it sometimes). I actually got my official degree in the mail a couple days ago and just stared at it for a couple of minutes not believing what I was looking at. I really miss school. I loved my classes, my friends, my professors and my life there. It has been a difficult transition, especially with a lot of plans not working out over the last 10 months how I would've liked them to but I feel like I have been blessed in many other ways.
Blessing #1 The Wadleighs (especially Olive)
After I left school back in July of last year I was sooo eager to come spend time with my new niece, and spend time with her I have! I love having another household to go and escape to when I just need a break. I especially loved being placed on Olive duty for Megan and Rusty's Sealing which forced me (as if I needed more motivation) to go spend time over there everyday for a month and very frequently afterwards. I feel like Olive is quite comfortable with me and we have a special little bond. There's nothing like getting greeted with an "I recognize that person" smile from that sweet little girl. Megan and Rusty have just created such a loving peaceful home that I always feel welcome at, which helps a lot on my down days.
an afternoon spent at lewisville park with megan and olive
an afternoon spent at lewisville park with megan and oliveBlessing #2 The Latest Job Opportunities
When you are post graduate all anybody wants to here is what you are doing for work and when you don't have an answer you feel pretty pathetic. I have always been on a great path education wise and life direction wise so when my life came to a crashing halt and I stopped having happy exciting updates about my life it got quite depressing. I learned a lot of patience and relied on my Heavenly Father and things have slowly but surely working out. I have been blessed with a very part time job that I think will open great doors for myself. I work in an after-school program called Northwest Children's Art. I worked one day a week (the downside with it being a very VERY part time job) at a school 15 minutes away with primary school aged children.
my goofy pupils
This last Wednesday was the last class of the school year so it was a little sad saying goodbye to the kids but I hope to resume teaching again in the fall. Kids are definitely a challenging group to work with but in the end I think the most rewarding. Even more excitingly (is that a word?) is that the Program Head has asked me to create the projects for the full curriculum next year. I mean that the dream isn't it? Getting paid to create art? (The answer is yes in case you couldn't figure it out). I also interviewed yesterday for a nanny job which would be I think the hardest job but also something that could become permanent (which would mean no more job searching!).
Also after many failed prospective job ideas/opportunities/frustrating dead ends Cody is embarking on a new adventure himself. Cody's mom works as a real estate agent here in the area (they actually sold Megan and Rusty their beautiful house) and her boss has offered Cody a position at the agency a soon as he gets his license. This involves an online class that we expect to take a week and then he just needs to pass a test and he's legit. We're not sure how constant the money flow will be in the early stages so he's still got a couple jobs he's trying for as more stable money in the meantime. So hopefully we can finally catch a break and the ball can start rolling in the right direction.
my goofy pupilsThis last Wednesday was the last class of the school year so it was a little sad saying goodbye to the kids but I hope to resume teaching again in the fall. Kids are definitely a challenging group to work with but in the end I think the most rewarding. Even more excitingly (is that a word?) is that the Program Head has asked me to create the projects for the full curriculum next year. I mean that the dream isn't it? Getting paid to create art? (The answer is yes in case you couldn't figure it out). I also interviewed yesterday for a nanny job which would be I think the hardest job but also something that could become permanent (which would mean no more job searching!).
Also after many failed prospective job ideas/opportunities/frustrating dead ends Cody is embarking on a new adventure himself. Cody's mom works as a real estate agent here in the area (they actually sold Megan and Rusty their beautiful house) and her boss has offered Cody a position at the agency a soon as he gets his license. This involves an online class that we expect to take a week and then he just needs to pass a test and he's legit. We're not sure how constant the money flow will be in the early stages so he's still got a couple jobs he's trying for as more stable money in the meantime. So hopefully we can finally catch a break and the ball can start rolling in the right direction.
Blessing #3 Institute
Man was I going through Rexburg/BYU-Idaho withdrawals living in Washington. Religion classes were the highlight of my weeks there and I never missed a devotional so it was really hard when everything fell on me to fill that giant gap that formed after leaving that environment where it was so so easy to get spiritually fed. Church was good I suppose but I really needed more. The first time I went to Institute here I felt like I had found the perfect piece to fill that gap. We have an AMAZING teacher. Instantly I fell in love with the class and felt just as if I had enrolled in another religion class at BYU-Idaho. The class is filled with great people who offer great perspectives. I really think it helps being around people my age in my stage of life, like it is in college, as opposed to the older generations at church that are a marriage and couple children ahead of me. We also got a couple called as a YSA Sunday School teaching combo in our world that have saved me also. Sunday School and Institute has become the highlights of my week. I know the Lord has blessed me with both these three people in my life.
Blessing #4 The Love and Support of My Parents
I know it can't be easy for my parents to have a post-grad come live back at home seemingly stuck at the moment. They know that there's nobody that wants to move out and have her own place more than me so their empathy for my frustrations really help. They express they're love and support of me at every opportunity. I am so grateful that I don't have the parents I hear about that either harp on their children for not leaving home or make them pay rent or do other ridiculous things. Having a parent's love continuously present in my life is such a strength that I take too much for granted.
No more spotty posts every couple months or so from Jessica. I'm here to stay, to share, to show off happenings in my life.... and hopefully you enjoy
