I got a job! And I got bangs!

 I FINALLY FOUND A JOB!!! YEA!!!

After my long job search I learned that getting a job is ALL about WHO you know. I had the degree and I was qualified for lots of jobs, I even went to several interviews and second interviews and one time even a third interview, but I kept getting passed up because I didn't have any connections. All of those interviews didn't go to waste though, I learned some great interviewing skills and if anyone needs some pointers on interviewing I'd be happy to share what I found. When Andrew started law school there was a big beginning of the year BBQ for all the law students and their families. I got to meet some of his law school friends and it was a good time. A few weeks later one of the girls I had met at the BBQ asked Andrew how I was doing and Andrew told her I was still just looking for a job so she asked what kind of a job I was looking for and Andrew told her I was looking for something in the social service field working with children. WELL.... it just so happens that the girls mom is the CEO of a company called The Home of Possibilities which is a company that works with children who have mental disorders. Perfect for me, right?! Long story short I emailed my resume to her mom and the next week I had an interview! It was a group interview which you would think would be intimidating, but it was a nice change from all the other interviews I had been to. The CEO who interviewed us told us that they had 150 applicants for the job and they narrowed it down to the 5 of us in the group interview. (I'm telling you its all about who you know that is the ONLY way I got an interview with them).  After the interview I realized that it would be an amazing job, but I didn't think I had a chance because I was barely qualified for the job and I had no experience unlike the some of the others who were being interviewed who had a masters degree or years of experience. Well... a few days later they called me in for a second interview. !!! Yeah I was excited. The second interview went well and at the end of the interview they offered me the job! 

So... I am an Independent contractor for the Home of Possibilities. I work as a basic skills trainer (working on learning how to tie shoes, how to shave, how to brush teeth, how to comb hair, etc.) and also as a psych social rehabilitation worker (working on behavior management, communication skills, social skills, problem identification and resolution, etc.) I work mostly with children and most of the children I will be working with are autistic, but I could work with a wide range of other mental disorders. Being an independent contractor means that I get to work from home. I have meetings every week a the office, but other than that I work with the kids in their home or neighborhood and I do all the paperwork at my house. I am really excited and grateful to be doing what I am doing. I am sad that I can't do child life like I had planned and hoped, but this is the next best thing and who knows I may like it so much that I stay in this field the rest of my life, or if the opportunity presents itself one day I may have the chance to do child life work and this job would be great preparatory work for that. What I do know is that God did answer my prayers in a way that I could never have imagined, and with a job that will be great for me and I see myself truly enjoying.
Now onto bangs! During conference weekend Andrews sister Velynn who does hair cut me some bangs! It took a bit of getting used to when I would look in the mirror. I liked them, it was just so different. But I LOVE them! So here are some pictures.

Bangs swooped to the side

Bangs and curly hair

What we've been up to lately

First of all can I just say how much I LOVED General Conference this past weekend? I love the spiritual boost it brings into my life, and I am so grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. There were so many good talks, I don't think I could narrow down ONE favorite, I had many favorites. For conference weekend Andrew and I went up to Salt Lake. For those of you who know Andrew you know of his OBSESSION with cars and since he worked at Hertz he has loves renting nice cars. Since Andrew has been working so hard at law school and I've been working so hard trying to find a job we thought we deserved a little reward so Andrew rented us a car to drive up to Salt Lake in. A 2011 Mitsubishi Spyder. Here are some pictures of our fun ride.

Driving a convertible was a lot of fun!

Andrew driving thinking he is pretty hot stuff. My sister made Andrews day when she told him that he looked at home in this car

We stayed a night in St. George on our way up to Salt Lake. While driving through St. George down the Boulevard on our way to my sisters house to say hi Andrew thought it would be fun to blast the music with the top down. It was so embarrassing! I'm not the type of person who likes to draw that kind of attention (the kind that shouts 'Hey! Look at me and how cool I am in this cool car!). I slouched over and tried to hide my face so no one I knew would see me. Andrew thought that was funny so he blasted the reggae music even louder as I slowly died of embarrassment. Here are some pictures of my sister and newphew having some fun in the car.

After our drive up to Salt Lake my hair was in knots! It was worth it though. The whole reason Andrew and I went up to Salt Lake was to go to his the 20th reunion of his mission. Generally there is a mission reunion every six months on conference weekend. My husband served his mission in Kiev Ukraine and this past month happened to the the 20th year since the mission opened. In honor of that the mission had a 20 year reunion where everyone who has served in Ukraine go together for a big shin dig. It was a lot of fun to see some of Andrews old mission companions. I am lucky to have gotten to know a few of them and their wives and they are great people we both love lots! Since Andrew has been home for his mission the temple in Ukraine was completed and dedicated. It was great to hear how the temple is blessing the lives of the members in Ukraine. Temples are amazing. Here is a picture of the Ukraine temple.

Beautiful isn't it!

Saturday and Sunday we spent most of the time hanging out with Andrews Family. It was fun to spend some time with them since we don't get to see them as often now that we live 6 hours a way. Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention that while we were up there I had Andrews Sister cut me some bangs! As soon as I get some pic of them I will show you, lets just say I shocked my mother speechless. Our drive home was just as fun as the drive up with the wind blowing in our hair and listening to conference. We stopped in St. George for a little while on our way home as well. When my mom saw what we were driving she fell in love. We went for a drive and I decided that my mom had more fun driving the car for 10 minutes than anyone else including Andrew. I was laughing so hard because she was so in love it! It was a lot of fun to drive, but it was even more fun to see how happy it made my mom. Driving through the gorge with the top down and the sun setting was AMAZING! 

The pretty sunset we saw on our drive back to Vegas

I realize that this is turning into a long post, but bear with me and I will try and speed through the rest of what we've been up to lately.

A few weeks ago Andrews brother Spence and his Wife Cyntha and their two kids Kesley and CJ came to vegas for a visit. It was so great to see some familiar faces! We toured the strip with them and had a blast just hanging out and playing the tourist in our own city. Here are some pictures from their trip.

Andrew and I at M&M World

Spencer, Cyntha, Kesley & CJ checking out the M&M World

Saying hi to Yellow

The strip at night. The camera on my phone isn't that great, but this looks kinda cool.

Here are some other fun pictures to update what we've been up to lately.

Slip and Slide at Grandma's House. I eventually put on my swimming suit and joined them at the request of my newphew  "Swip and Swide Aunt Jesswin" You can't say no to that.

I went up to St. George for my nieces birthday party. (I don't have a job and Andrew's busy with law school so why not?) My little niece looked SOO CUTE! 

Prancing around like a princess in the skirt and shoes her mom made her.

Hanging out with Grandpa

She may have only turned one but she knew all those presents were hers

Her favorite present she got was a toy pet dog her parents gave her (she LOVES dogs!)

 Hugs...

...and kisses

I think that basically sums up what we've been up to lately. Hanging out with family and having fun!