The Adventure of LIfe

Almost 10pm on a Monday night. Not often anymore do I sit on the couch at this hour trying to accomplish anything. I have been thinking about a blog post for a few days, and when I first came home at 8:30 tonight, it was my plan to have this done before I go to bed. Lots going on, lots to write about, and lots to reflect on.

Considering the fact that it is getting to be my bed time, perhaps I will try to keep this concise for now and can always expand in future posts.

I know you have all likely heard me say before that I truly believe "Life is an adventure." Here's jus a few things about my current adventures in life and how things are beginning to change. Change is a part of life. Moving forward and seeing where life takes me.

Seasons are changing. It's still a bit weird for me to think about how this time last year I was still sweating in 90+ weather in my bedroom in shorts and a t-shirt at 6am in the morning. I do love the colors of fall, but winter is definitely knocking on our door. Here is one nice photo I grabbed of the sun rising with some nice fall colors. Every day I wake up I have things to be thankful for.

My Uncle Chuck had an accident a few days ago falling off a ladder out on the farm. He shattered a wrist, which he had surgery on today, and has a bruised spinal cord. I have not had time to pay him a visit yet with my crazy work schedule, but I will be seeing him this week. Thanksgiving plans have changed, but I shall be with family. Makes you remember how things can change in an instant. My younger cousins are currently living with my parents as Aunt Paula will be spending a lot of time with Uncle Chuck through recovery. It's hard for me to picture Uncle Chuck lying in a hospital bed. Pretty much as hard as it was to see my Dad lying in a bed after a heart attack. Knowing Uncle Chuck, once his strength becomes to come back he will persevere through this. Gotta be thankful for family, that's for sure. I've been a pretty lucky girl.

For a few months now, I've found myself thinking about the idea of "Nurse Jessica". Yes, me Jessica. Jessica Boschen. I've been in a transitional phase of my life after returning from Samoa, but I know I want to be doing more with my life. Some recent things have really made me think seriously about it. I really do want to help people, and this may just be my next calling in life. The handful of people I have spoken with about it so far think I could be a great fit for it.

I've been researching programs to become a Registered Nurse on fast-track, as I do already have a Bachelor's Degree. If things continue to fall together, I will likely be working on applications for such schools over the next few months, with hops of starting school up again within a year. It's really feeling like a good thing right now, and I see so many possiblities with it. Things that are getting me excited, but once again, things can change, but it's a goal I am seriously looking at pursuing.

This led me to a new job I have accepted. I will be starting as a Universal Worker for the Good Samaritan Society in Syracuse, NE. Some various nursing assistant responsibilities beginning with a lot of time spent in the Assisted Living wing, but I may also pick up some shifts and experience in the nursing home. I am very excited about this job, know i will learn a lot, am anxious to get started, and know it will help me decide if becoming an RN is the right thing for me. Taking the opportunity, going on a new life adventure.

Yes, another life adventure. There will be some familiar faces, though. New job, new town, but old roommates! I am moving in with my good friends Andy and Karena. Yeah, you know who I mean. They own a house in Syracuse and have offered for me to move in, which all three of us are excited about. December 11th = Moving Day.

Here's their house. 1234 Walnut Street.

My new job at the Good Samaritan Society. This is the assisted living unit, where I will be spending a lot of time.

Two experiences this week, where I have that great feeling of not seeing a great friend in a while, but you talk like it was simply yesterday.

First one, Mr. Matthew Trisler. Matt and I have been pretty good friends since our sophomore year of college. Matt currently lives in Papillion, NE, which is about 30 minutes from where I currently live. We both graduated with Biology degrees and have been simply working lately and looking at moving forward. I spent Sunday afternoon at his house with his little family and some other friends for a little "Friendsgiving". I haven't seen him in a few months, and it was so great to catch up with him. We may not see a whole lot of each other, but he is still one of my best friends. He even served as a reference for me on my latest job application. We reminisced about many things and discussed our current pursuits.

Matt's son Sebastian is now 7 months old. Growing up so fast. Matt even made the comment, "Just think, Jess, in a few years we'll all be sitting around here with more kids running around." Aye, weird to think about, but it could easily be true. Little Sebastian fell asleep on my shoulder after while, and he is just one lovable little guy. He's got some great parents, too. Nicole has become a good friend to me, too, and I was so excited when they invited me over for Friendsgiving.

This was the first day I met Sebastian. He was already 2 months old by the time I moved back Stateside from American Samoa.

"Grandma Mary" is excited for me and my new job pursuit. Living with her really was one thing that got me thinking about nursing. It has been so wonderful to watch some things change in her life, while I've been here, too. We are an interesting pair, but we have been good for one anther. Although, our time living together may be coming to an end, we have no doubt built a friendship. A loving friendship. This was the photo my mom took of Mary and me the day I moved in with her.

Back to another catching up with an old friend. I have not seen Cassie in a few months now, either. We got together for some coffee and chatted for at least an hour. Was just like yesterday. What a wonderful feeling. She was one of those friends that was waiting for me at the airport when I returned from my year abroad. College really brought me to some of the best friends a girl could have ever asked for.

Final thoughts for today. There really are some pretty great people out there. People who respect your boundaries. People who go out of their way to be nice. People you enjoy spending time with. People who just seem to get you. People you want to get to know the real you. People who make you want to be even better. People you can picture in your life for many years to come. People that simply make you smile. Three here - a brother, a best friend (and soon-to-be-roommate-again), and a friend you are getting to know.

I love making people smile, and it's always fun when something brings a giant grin to my face, as well. Remember that guy I mentioned in my last post who paid for another table's meal anonymously. Saw him again this week, and we got to chatting about various things. A genuinely nice guy, and I told him how thankful the ladies were and how cool it was for me to be a part of, as well. He wished me luck on my new job, and that was a really great moment for me again being reassured about kindness in the world.

If anyone has any input on my potential pursuit of becoming a nurse, let me know. I love chatting when I can, and I am excited about my new journey. Moving to Syracuse, NE for a while, working, maybe applying for school, taking some classes, and doing good things for the world. All possibilities, but I am taking it one day at a time for now. Exciting stuff, though, no matter how it all plays out. I miss volunteering so much. Service. Life. Adventure. Journey.

Hope you all have a wonderful week! This post sort of jumped around a bit, but hey that's just how it goes. I'm a bit organized, but I also just roll with it. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!