Maybe it is just me...but I feel that right when I am feeling comfortable with my current circumstance my life takes a complete 180. And. Well. I guess that time has come again. This past Friday I was offered a job at the Center for Change in Orem, Utah. I am so excited about this new adventure in my life. I love that my nutrition knowledge and skills will be challenged by working with a totally different population...I am excited for the opportunity of professional growth. I feel that with my personality and skill set I will be able to be apart of some amazing transformations. If anyone knows me...you now I am a major foodie. I love to cook and I love trying new restaurants. One of my favorite things about grad school was teaching little picky kiddos how to enjoy fruits/vegetables/grains...It was so rewarding to see their face beam when they tried something they loved! I feel that the job at the Center for Change will be very challenging but will have similar results as the little kiddos. I cannot wait to work closely with an interdisciplinary team to help these girls learn to eat intuitively and have a good/healthy relationship with food.
One year ago I moved to Twin Falls, Idaho. Although I was nervous about my new adventure and certainly not ecstatic about moving to Idaho I knew it was the right thing to do and I felt at peace. After living there for a month things started to fall apart...or so I thought. I was devastated. I was angry and I kept asking myself why Heavenly Father would send me to this place. There was many times one week in particular where I almost threw in the towel. I kept telling myself that Heavenly Father had a plan for me and He had never let me down before. I also recalled moments when I ignored/looked past promptings and well...Life didn't go so well for me. I knew without a doubt that I was supposed to move to Twin Falls and really that was the only thing that kept me there at that time. I decided that I needed to change my attitude and just trust that things will work out. Due to unforeseen circumstances, after living in Twin Falls for 1 month I moved to a new apartment, got a new roommate, and started attending a family ward. I was extremely skeptical about trying a family ward...I didn't want to be the odd one out or the "different" one. However, I have never felt so much love in one ward as I have felt in the Twin Falls 12th ward. My roommate and I were immediately welcomed with open arms by the whole ward. They quickly got us involved. I have truly learned how to reach out to the one after being in the Twin Falls 12th ward. Thank you for getting to know me, inviting me to sit by your family in church, inviting me to game nights and gourmet food nights, temple outings, and just being my friend. Over the course of the last year I have also built strong friendships with my co-workers. I am going to miss all 10 of the ladies I have worked with in the Clinical Nutrition Department. We play off each other's jokes and always have something to laugh about. When I first started working I didn't think I would ever get to know everyone for all the different disciplines...however I was wrong. I love being able to walk down any given unit and getting stopped by nurses/physicians/pharmacists/therapists to discuss a patient with me or just shoot the breeze. I enjoy attending IRU interdisciplinary rounds and hospitalist rounds and participating on our nutrition support team. I love the trust that the physicians have in the dietitians at Magic Valley Hospital. I have fallen in love with the patients in this valley...They really know how to put a smile on my face. Not a day goes past where I don't have an "this is why I love my job" moment. A few months ago I was asked if I have ever figured out why I needed to move to Twin Falls. Although I don't know for sure...I believe that my move to Twin Falls has taught/given me:
1. Independence: I know that I need to be a very independent gal for my future family. I have always considered myself independent. However, I prefer to be out and about with other individuals. I have now mastered how to entertain myself and be comfortable in my own shoes. Heck...I would even go to the movie theater by myself now. Before a little quiet time would have killed me...but now I have learned to enjoy my own space/down time. I know that becoming more independent will help me when I have a family of my own.
2. Timing/Order: I have learned that in the Lord's plan everything must happen in the right order and time. I have also been reminded that the Lord's timetable does not match the timetable I have outlined for myself.
3. Friends: I have met the most incredible people while living here and many have become some of my closest friends. My roommate and I have had some good times kayaking, hiking, crafting, singing Disney at the top of our lungs, eating popcorn, etc. My friends have taught me so much about life/gospel/my profession and have given me a lot of confidence in myself and my abilities.
4. Love: I have never been the recipient of so much love from individuals outside my family as I have living here in Twin Falls. Whether it be my co-workers stressing about me driving through the blizzards, co-workers bringing me meals when I was sick or working the weekend shift, heart attacking my door, faithful home teachers/visiting teachers, temple outings with RS presidency, co-workers/friends/roommate with an open ear and great advice, gratitude/smiles from patients, or hugs/sincere acknowledgements from ward members at church functions...believe me nothing went unnoticed or unappreciated.
5. Inner Strength: My move to Twin Falls has reassured me that I can do very hard things...I guess grad school wasn't enough of a lesson in this area.
It all seems a little strange that almost a year ago I was on the verge of quitting my job and moving back to Utah with no job prospects because nothing was working out like I had wanted them to...and now today I am crying because I know I am going to be leaving behind the people and place that have had such a huge impact on who I am today.
