6 weeks already!

Good morning everyone!  I hope everyone is doing well!  It seems that I don't blog as much as I should, but what they heck, I'm a busy lady!  Somehow I'm busier in my mind then in real life!  So what's new with me?  Well, I have been in my current position here at Manteca (Man-tee-ka) Care and Rehab for about 6 weeks now.  One of those, of which, I was down in So-Cal on vacation.  I am really liking it here.  Everyone I work with is great and treat me well.  I forget sometimes that I've only been doing this PTA thing since late February.  It feels like I've been doing it FOREVER!  But I guess that means that I'm doing what I was meant to do. So what has happened since my last post??  Well, I have a praise report!  On my vacation, I took a little trip with my dad down to America's Tire so he could give them a piece of his mind.  He's better at that then I am.  Unfortunately, the one that we went to couldn't help me, BUT they did advise me to go back to the original place I went to and talk to them about it.  So while I was down in Murrieta, I stopped in to speak with the manager.  He was very nice and took copies of EVERYTHING I had and sent all the paperwork to corporate.  While on my vacation, they did call me, but I was on vacation danggit!  I was not going to deal with that, but I was quite surprised that they called me back so quickly.  So after my vacation it was phone tag trying to get a hold of them, partly because I work 8-5 and have my phone on silent all the time, and partly because they were never at their desks when I called.  Anyway, after weeks of phone tag, they reimbursed me for not only the amount that I spent to get my car fixed, BUT the cost of the rental while my car was in the shop!  PTL indeed!!

The small group that I am attending is going good.  It's a "single's group."  Usually, I shy away from those kinds of groups, but the lady that runs it is very nice.  We are going through a book called "Boundaries in Dating."  Not that I date much, but it's good perspective.  The last couple Tuesday's were "movie nights" for summer.  I guess they're good because I'm meeting people.  The only other people that go are kids college age. So I don't feel so intimidated about going to a "single's group."

One of my favorite parts of Saturday!

So here I am sitting here on a Saturday enjoying my day off!  After working so many years on the weekends, it's so nice to be able to enjoy the weekends.  I love the fact that I have a M-F job!  Thank you Jesus for directing my every step!! 

I have a confession to make!  I am becoming addicted to fruit stands!  There is a cherry stand that I pass by everyday and it calls to me.  So one day I stopped and bought an 18# box of cherries for $12!  Such the deal!!

That's like $1.50/lb

So what was I going to do with all these cherries?  I obviously can't eat them all before they go bad, unless I want to be very sick.  But it may be worth it, I do love cherries!  Wendy, the lady that run's the home group gave me a great idea.  She told me that I could freeze them but I'd have to pit them 1st.  So she taught me how to pit the cherries with a straw!  Yes, a straw!  But it has to be a big straw with a pointed end, like a Boba straw.  You hold the cherry in you left hand and poke the straw all the way through the cherry with your right hand and the pit goes into the straw/  Pretty clever, huh?  So I pitted about six baggies full of cherries to freeze for smoothies, but I still had a bunch left over.  So I took a bunch to work.  Cherries for every one!!

Everyone wins when cherries are involved!

I took a stroll down by the Marina in downtown Stockton. Looks nice nice, huh?  While I was standing on this Marina, some RANDOM guy comes up to me and tries to give me his business card.  Being a female in an unknown city, I jumped back!  He got all offended and asked why I was afraid of Black man...REALLY??  Um, sorry dude, that's defiantly not the reason.  I'm sure you would have done the same thing...

That's all for now.  Until next time!~ L

Update from Stockton

So I haven't blogged lately because A) I've been busy B) I've been on vacation and C) Not much to tell.  We, I figured since I had some extra time this Sunday, I figured now's a good a time as any!

Tomorrow marks a month that I have been in Stockton.  Work is going well, every day is the same yet different at the same time.  I am learning something new everyday and it's quite exciting.  I'm still trying to get a hold of America's Tire company to try and get them to reimburse me for the damage to my car.  I just don;t think it's a coincidence that this happened to my car 4 months after they worked on it.  I have been told that it you have your lug nuts over torqued that it can cause a shearing force on your lug nuts and bolts.  So just keep in prayer that something will happen with this situation.  It's quite frustrating!  Here are some picture of  my new apartment.

Bedroom

Dresser

Cute little bathroom

I was blessed with a flat screen TV!

Comfy couch

Dinning room table

Love this kitchen!

I am quite blessed with an awesome job that provides me with all this!  I was just thinking about where I was this time last year...It's amazing where God will take you if you just let Him!

So I worked 2 weeks in my new contract and then took a week off for vacation.  I rented a car and drove down to Southern California.  It was busy and relaxing at the same time.  I went everywhere!! But it went all too quickly!!  I wish I would have taken more pictures.  My sister laughed at me when she saw it; breakfast, lunch and dinner x 5!  But it was fun.

My schedule was quite full!!

On Sunday, Mother's Day, I had the privilege of being with my Grandma!  I love her so much!!

 I loved seeing all my friends and family.  I forgot how much I missed them until I saw them them all again, but I know that I am where God wants me right now and that's what's important.  I think one of the best parts, there were many, but one of the best parts was seeing my nieces, Isabel, Julia and Olivia, and MY FAVORITE nephew Ryan!

Julia

Julia is a ham!

Isabel is getting so beautiful

Olivia

Love that Ryan face!!

Thursday I got to have lunch with one of THE most amazing woman that I only knew from the phone until then!  We had such a great visit and I'm looking firward to the next visit!

I must say though, the highlight of my trip was driving down to Irvine to see all the wonderful people that work for StaffRehab!  I have never met any of them personally.  I got this job trough emails and phone calls.  Crazy, huh?  I love this amazing company that hired me.  I'm still trying to figure out why!!  So, if any of you fellow PTA's would like to travel, give me a call.  It's grand adventure!

On Friday, not only did I get to visit StaffRehab, but  I got to have lunch with Jasmine.  I hadn't seen her for at least a year!

Driving back was THE WORST!!  The I% is a long strip of NOTHING!!  What a boring drive!  Thank you Renae for talking with me on that long drive back.  I left at 9 am on Saturday, because I wanted to visit a friend of mine in Corona.  But that's ok.  We can always write.  I ended up leaving Corona about 11:30 and got into Stockton about 5:30.  It was a LOOOONNNGGG drive!!

I finally found a church down here!  YAY!!  It's a small body that meets in the gym of a Christian school. This morning one of the ladies asked me to attend a home bible study on Tuesday.  I'm looking forward to it.  I will keep you all updated on how things are going.  Well, that's all for now!!

Unpacked but not settled just yet

So...

To continue with my story...

Monday I got a call from Firestone .  He told me that I was quite lucky that I didn't get into an accident and that I someone looking out for me.  I told him he had NO IDEA!!!  He tells me what's wrong and all together it's going to cost $679 to get all the parts and fix it by.  OUCH!!  But I had no choice, so I told him to go ahead and fix it.  I was expecting them to have it for a couple more days, but Tuesday morning I got a call from them and they told me that it was all ready.  That day I got off early at work because two of my patients refused treatment.  What are you gunna do?  I can't force them!!  So It was 3:30 and  had to 1. Go look at this furnish studio apartment. 2. Go return my  rental car. 3.  Go pay for my car. 4. Go pick up my car. and 5 go look at another apartment in case the studio didn't work out, but I had to see her by 4:30.  So I decide to go look at the furnished studio first because it was closest. I walk in the apartment, which BTW was a renovated motel, and the smell of cat pee wafted through the air.  I had my answer right there, but thought I would take a look at it anyway.  The "studio" had one room, a kitchen and a closet.  The bed itself took up 95% of the room.  Yes, it was furnished, but there was hardly enough room to turn around.  Where would I put all of MY stuff?  So I said no to that place. I decided that I didn't quite care for it and couldn't see myself living there for three months so I called the other apartment complex and was able to go see the unit. By the grace of God, I was able to get in contact with this other lead that we had found and got a chance to look at a this two bedroom apartment in central Stockton.  I know I don't need two bedrooms since it's just me, but that's all that there was.  I walked in and it was perfect.  Tiny, but I don't need much.  Then I went to go and pay for my car.  All together, it actually ended up being $654.  A little cheaper, so I was happy.  After that I drove back the opposite direction to drop my rental off.  I was kinda happy because I didn't have to pay for the whole week, but sad at the same time because it was nice driving a big truck.  They gave me a ride back to Firestone too pick up my car and I went back to the hotel.  I had to stay there another couple of nights.  Oh well!

By Thursday, I got a call that I got the apartment and that I could move in on Friday.  I was so relieved.  The only problem at this point was that they were having trouble finding someone to deliver furniture to the apartment.  So I was asked on Friday to get a hold of them to see if they could squeeze me in on Friday.  My landlord said that she cold let them in if they came before 4:30.   But they could not.  I didn't mind because  I knew that it was very short notice.  I would just camp out on the floor for a night because they said they would be able to deliver it all on Saturday.   It was so nice to come HOME!!!  Even though it was an "empty" home.  So, all was set, I checked out of the hotel and I picked up the keys Friday morning.  I was finally going to have my own place again.  Living in a hotel can be taxing after awhile, but I guess it beats sleeping in my car!

I survived my 1st week here at Manteca Care and Rehab!  Everyone is nice and treats me well.  For the most part, all of the patients are good.  This has been the longest week or me.  I had to stay in a hotel for six days while my company (love them!!) was searching frantically to find me a place.  My apartment is on the second floor, So I get home and have to unpack my car.  I think I climbed up and down those stairs 40-50 times!!  Probably not, but it felt like that.  On one of my last trips I smashed my little finger in the door!

So after unpacking my car, I make a little "bed" out of all my blankets on the the floor.    Not the most comfortable, but it would do for the night.  It was just nice being in my own place.

So, this morning, I wake up and I'm quite stiff!!  Everywhere!  I don't know if it's because I'm getting old or because I climbed up and down the stirs so many times.  I'd rather think of the latter!  It was sure nice to make my French Press coffee again!  I missed you Starbucks!! 

I get a call while I am out grocery shopping and it's the furniture rental place.  They won't be able to deliver the furniture till Monday while I'm at work!!!  AHH!!  Well, I guess I should be thankful that I have a roof over my head!

That's all for now!

This was the verse I woke up to today:

Psalm 103:11-12

"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us."

A coutionary tale!

SO......
My day started at 8am.  I didn't realize how long it would take me to do finish up packing and load up my car.  I planned on leaving around noon.  Um, NO!  I finally got all packed up around 1:30.  I was told hat I was going to moving into a furnished apartment in Stockton and that I was to call the landlady when I was leaving so that she knew when to expect  me.   So that's what I did.  I called her and left a message letting her know that I was about to leave and that she should be expecting me in about 2 hours.   She called me back about 10 minutes later and told me that my company never confirmed with her about when I was to move in.  I knew that this was not true because my company confirmed it with me.  So here I was, my life all packed up in my car and no apartment to drive to.  Well, I told her I would drive down there anyway and stay in a hotel until it was all figured out.

So, I'm driving down.  Listening to music, talking on the phone (with my blue tooth on thank you very much.)  It took me about an hour and a half to get there.  I am about a 1/2 mile from my exit when I hear a "thunk thunk thunk" coming from the drivers side tire.  It sounded like a flat tire, so thankfully I was close to an off ramp and was able to pull off.  I got out and looked at all my tires.  No flat tire!  So I get on all fours and look underneath the car.  Mabey I ran over something.  Nothing was there.  So, I get back in the car and start driving again and there's the sound again.  What the HECK!!! 

Across the street was the hotel.  So I slowly drove over there and checked in.  I get on Google maps to see what auto shops are around here and that are still open.  One!  Firestone.  But they are about 10 miles away.  Could I make it?  Mabey, if I went REALLY SLOW!  So I get in the and start chuggin' along.  At like 7MPH with my hazards flashing!  I get about three miles and I here this really big "CLUNK!"  So I stop the car, get pout and look at the ground about a yard behind the car.  The lug nut and bolt was sitting on the ground!!  So I go look at my tire and see that there are only three lug nuts fastened where there should be five!

So I call  AAA.  It takes them about 30 minutes, but at least the tow guy is cuter then the last ones.  The tow tuck finally gets there and he asks if I would be able to move the car a couple of feet into position of the tow truck bed.  So I slowly move it in line with the bed and another bolt is sheared off!  So now the tire is hanging on with two bolts.  He slowly guides the car onto the bed and then we are off. 

We finally get to Firestone, THANK GOD they are open till 6 on Saturday!   I get out to go talk to them and tell them whats up.  They said they could take a look at it but I would have to leave it over night. That was fine, since the tow truck driver agreed to bring me back to the hotel and they were open on Sunday.  As he was guiding it off the bed one more snaps off!  So now the tire is being held on by one tiny bolt!!  Let's pray that they can fix it tomorrow and I don't have to rent a car to get to work on Monday!

So there's my story.  I'll find out the damage tomorrow!  I thank the Lord in heaven that I was in a safe place the ENTIRE time.  This could have happen in the middle of NOWHERE!!  There are plenty of places like that between Yuba City and Stockton. 

Thank you Jesus for keeping me safe!  Stay tuned, more to come!

It is now 6:30pm

The End!

Last day in Yuba

Hello all!!  Well, I have been in Yuba City for a little over two months!  Wow. how time flies!   I have enjoyed my time here.  I have learned SO many things in such a short time.  I am still in awe of how the Lord knew EXACTLY where He wanted me.  I was quite blessed with this team over at Yuba Skilled Nursing Center.  They spoiled me actually.  As a "New Grad,"  I didn't expect much, but I was blown away!!  Today was a bittersweet day.  I laughed and cried.  I got attached to a couple of my patients, so it was sad to have to sat goodbye to them.  You know, one of my CI's (clinical Instructor) from one of my affils told me that I shouldn't get attached to my patients.  But how can you not!?!  When you are working with then day in and day out!  To see such an improvement in the life of someone such a short amount of time is unbelievable.  There were many a day when I just got so frustrated, mostly with myself, that I wanted to scream!  There were days that were beyond stressful and I wanted to cry, but then I would get a hug from my coworker and she would make it all better!!  I will never ever forget you!  We are forever Facebook friends!  My last day, they had a little "party" with lots and lots of food!!

I was given a gift!!  Beautiful flowers from one of my friends at work!!  They smelled so good!!

Any excuse to have party right?  I guess I'll have to do.  I highly doubt any other facility I go to will treat me as good as these ladies...and gentleman (1)...

I even got a card from one of my patients!  She was the sweetest lady ever.  I had the privilege of witnessing her first "steps" after being in a cast for eight weeks!  It says, "Thank you for taking care of us old people."  Too sweet!!

Tonight I am finishing up some last minute packing and laundry.  I leave tomorrow for Stockton.  I will be working in Manteca, but my company got me a furnished apartment in Stockton.  I've never lived in a furnished apartment before, so we shall see how I like it.  I can give it a month, and if it turns out that I don't like it, they will just move me.  I am kinda happy about living back in "civilization."  Where there are things to do.  And you can drive 5 mile in any direction and NOT be in another town.  Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy living here in Yuba City, there just was not a lot for a young-er person to do. 

So what will me next adventure entail??  Time will only tell...Until next time!  Stay tuned, I will be visiting SoCal in the next couple of weeks and there will be lots to tell!!

Love you all so much!!  Thanks for talking the time to read my boring blog! 

I've been extended!!

Hello all!!  I hope everyone is as blessed as I!  God is so good, and I love that when He moves, He moves quickly.  Well A LOT has happened since my last post.  Like I said, there were a couple of places that I may be going if the census did not pick up.  Well, it looks like it will not be picking up so I shall be moving on to where I am needed.  They want me to start April 30.  But wait, you ask.  Doesn't your contract end May 18th?  How come you are going somewhere else.  I'm so glad that you asked. The company that I have been contracted to has another facility in Manteca.  Manteca is in the middle of Stockton and Modesto.

So that means that I have been spending the weekend cleaning and packing.  I am realizing that I have not accumulated as much stuff as I thought I did.

My company found me a nice little furnished apartment on downtown Stockton.  It's only an hour away from here, so that's a lot better then my last move which consisted of a 9 hour drive.  I am told that this new facility that I am going to be working at is about twice as big as the facility that I am working in now.  I am glad that my first job as a PTA was in a small facility.  That way I could ease into it.

So next week will be my last week at this facility up here in Yuba City.  I told all my patients Friday that I will be leaving the following week.  They were non to happy.  I love all my patients and I love that I have had a hand in their recovery.  It is a happy day when they go home.  I know that next Friday will be a bittersweet day.

I am quite excited because I will be in an actual city...a population of more then 1000!  And possibly more then one movie theater.  Not that I minded much living in a small town, it's just that there is not much to do.  My life right now consists of work, and sleep.  And on the weekends, my highlights include watching Pastor Clark on Sunday mornings.  Not much going on here in Yuba City.

New moves means vacations!!  I asked my company if I could have a week off to go back down to SoCal to see all my friends and family.  Not an unreasonable request.  So I will leave after work on the 11th, if everything works out, and drive back down south.  I'm looking forward to it.  I hope I will be able to see everyone on my list.  It's a pretty long list.  Riverside, San Diego, Newport, Palm Springs, Rancho Cucamunga, Temecula, Murrieta, Loma Linda!  WHEW!! 

So that's all for now.  More to come with lots more pictures!!

Update

Hello to all my friends!  I know it's been a while since my last blog.  So here is an update!

Words cannot express how much I miss you all.  I am doing well up here in Yuba City.  I am learning so much ever day.  I work with awesome people who are just caverns full of knowledge and I am so honored to get the importunity to work with them.  It's so hard to believe that I have 5 short weeks left.  A lot of people have asked me where I am going next, and I always answered them with "I don't know."  I know that I will be exactly where God wants me to be.

This past week I asked my boss here in Yuba City about the possibility of an extension in my contract.  That is something that I really would like to do because I do enjoy working with the elderly.  She told me that she would absolutely love for me to stay for another 13 weeks, the only problem is that census at the facility is low.  That means no work for me.  So unless it picks up, I will be moving on to the next location.

I spoke with my recruiter and mentioned to here that I would like to stay if they offered me an extension, but I had also told her about the low census.  She told me that she would be talking to some people and get back to me.  Later that day she called me and told me that they wanted to extend my contract.  I was excited to say the least. 

The next day when I went to work, I told my boss the good news and she told me that they had not mentioned it to her.  She told me that they probable just went ahead and extended my contract because my boss had nothing but good things to say about my work.  After my bos got off the phone with her boss she told me that if the census doesn't pick up that they have a need for a PTA in Vacaville. So I called my recruiter back and told her what my boss at the facility told me.  I had mentioned to her that if the facility that I am currently in can't extend my contract that I would really prefer to go back down to Southern California.  I miss my friends and family.

Now I told her that I prefer to go back down to Southern California.  I don't mind where I go, as long as there is work for me.  She she told me of a Facility in Bishop, CA that may be looking for a
PTA.  She was going to check up on that and get back to me.  So for now, I am happy and content where I am at.

I have finally found a church out here that I like.  I went to the Calvary out here, but I had a hard time with his topical teachings.  There is nothing wrong with them, I just prefer a verse by verse study.  The church is called Crossroads Community Church.  They have a Saturday night contemporary worship service.  I've been going the last couple of Saturday's, except last Saturday.  I went to visit my BFF in Sanoma county.  What a wonderful relaxing weekend, but I think I'm still recuperating from it.  This weekend was quite unproductive. 

Regardless of where my next assignment may be, I asked for a weeks vacation so that I can drive down to Southern Cal and see all you beautiful people.  I will keep you updated on what's going on.  

Well, that's all for now.  My prayer requests are for God's continual guidance in my life and for my next assignment (wherever that may be.) 

Lauren