Cuz I've been waiting all my life for a chance like this, it's a chance of a lifetime, I just know it is. "I gotta go and find my dreams" was the last thing that I said. And then I did. --Rascal Flatts.
This was my song just over a year ago... When I took my job in Santa Barbara. Which is what got me writing this blog, so i could let everyone know what was going on, the whole reason why it's private as well. ha ha ha. I thought I was going to find my dream job, going to be paid well, work with a wonderful family, love love love my job, that it would be bliss. And it ended up being a nightmare. The worst kind of nightmare. Where it's beautiful outside with tons to explore and do but you're trapped inside hell, not able to get out, being dumbed down by the way you are treated and the things you are forced to do.
A teensy tiny bit over a year ago I was able to break myself from the bonds of hell. Yes, I QUIT my job, not knowing what i'd do, but knowing that i NEEDED to get out. I really realized this when I came home for a week to visit my family for Nathan's mission homecoming. It felt so good to be at home, to be with family and friends, to feel loved and appreciated. It was SO GREAT! Then I went back to SB. It was awful. I was yelled at, told to my face that I was stupid for doing something that they couldn't even do themselves, but I did with no problem. I found "lists" of all the things I had done "wrong." I was furious. I was done. So I quit because I knew that UTAH really was THE PLACE for me. Brigham Young could have been never so right in saying those words, "this is the place!"
Dustin flew in on July 23rd to drive back with me. He said he would do "whatever it takes to get [me] out of that hell-hole!" So he flew in and a year ago today we left Santa Barbara. We spent last July 24th at Six Flags and then spent the night in Vegas, me at Jeanette's and Dustin at Millette's. We drove back the rest of the way the 25th and even made it back in time to see Oklahoma, watch Vanessa Sackett get proposed to, and join in the Fiesta Days festivities. It had never felt better to be back at home!
It was a little struggle to get a job after that... I was supposed to be a baker for Maceys in Spanish but that fell through, so then I took up Art City Music Academy (they had been trying to hire me for YEARS ha ha ha) and started training to be the group teacher for the new Draper location, I also finally got sick of being turned down everywhere that I started working for Macey's bakery in Provo and my first day there I got a call from StoresOnline saying they had a position open for me if I wanted it. It was starting out as an independent contractor, but it paid more, had great benefits, flexible hours, and possibility to become permanent. I had to jump at it! So my second day at Maceys I told my boss I was quitting, which she was sad cuz they liked me there, I finished out the weekend, turned in my apron and hat and started in the Preview Express department for what could possibly only be a 2 month stunt. 3 weeks later I was hired on as a real full time employee, 4 months later I was "promoted" and moved over to be a payroll/expense clerk, still in Accounting, but with a raise. :) 7 months later, I am employee of the month for the Accounting department!! I love my StoresOnline job and though it has really NOTHING to do with Home and Family Living, what I graduated in from BYU, it still is really great. I love the people I work with, I love what I do, I love the flexibility, it's just a great job.
It seems like a year ago was SO long ago! My life feels completely changed from when I left Santa Barbara! It was a hard experience, but I did learn a lot from it. A lot of how I learned though was by learning what NOT to do, which is kinda sad. I learned that people should always be treated with respect, the true value of having family come first, how money doesn't make a person happy, how much I love my family and friends, how freaking awesome I really am. :)
I would never want to do it again, but I appreciate the experience, am glad where I am today, and am looking forward to where the future will bring me in the next year.
Me and Dustin at the reception... Her colors were purple, green, and white.
Then came my brother's wedding on June 26th. Nathan Jack and Adrienne Francisco were married June 26th in the Vernal, Utah temple. 
This one we helped a LOT with! Between coming up with the theme for the luncheon, throwing her a bridal shower, doing the bride and bridesmaid's flowers, decorating the car, helping with the cake, and then serving all the food at the reception in Salem, I am SO ready for weddings to be done for just a little while! I'm sure I'll recover soon, but it was such a busy month! I love my brother and am so glad he married a fabulous girl! They are so cute and so happy! 
A close up of the flowers.... pink, yellow, and orange gerbers, green button mums, and white alstromeria. Dustin helped string pearls onto wire which i weaved through the flowers.
Here's the cake that I helped put the flowers on. Matt Clyde made the cake, I helped with the decor. :)
