I'm sitting here trying to figure out where to start this blog post, but I really don't know where to start! I have so much on my mind from moving to starting a new job to getting married. I thought once I was done with school, and I had no more homework, I would have all this free time and not be stressed anymore, right? Wrong. I know all of these changes are for the best, though, and super exciting as well, so I'm trying my best to just enjoy the ride.

On November 12th, I received an offer of employment from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville and acceptance into their Nurse Residency Program for Winter 2011. I'll begin working on the 31st of January (have a nice little break to move in and study for my boards). What stood out about this program to me was that, for six weeks, we rotate and follow preceptors on different units and then have a match day where we find out what floor we will permanently be on starting on March 16th. So basically, we get to check out each unit and kind of decide where we see ourselves. The match day kind of sounds like a sorority bid day to me (ha, been there before), but of course it's like this...this is the South, right? ;)

Basically, since Matt committed to attending Vanderbilt for grad school, I have been researching this program. It has been a long term goal of mine to get this, and everything seems to be working out for me. I put my all into getting this job, and it paid off. I am so excited, because this program helps graduate nurses transition from the classroom setting to the clinical setting. I've heard from numerous people that it is so overwhelming to be a new nurse, and I'm hoping this program will increase my confidence level in my nursing abilities. We also will have classes along the way we have to attend, but hey, I get paid to go this time. ;)

So literally 30 minutes after I found out I got the job at Vanderbilt, I got engaged to the love of my life! My friend Christy had suggested we hang out this weekend. Matt had originally wanted to pop the question Saturday, but it turned out I had to work at Macy's. And he wanted to do it outside at our favorite park, but it gets dark super early. Christy and I then made plans to hang out on Friday night. My family happened to get tickets to a college basketball game that night, so I asked Christy if she would want to go to that. I think it made Christy and Matt a little nervous that I kept tweaking the plans. I should have known right there something was up, because I never thought Christy would be up for a basketball game. :P Anyway, after I heard I got the job, I tried to call Matt, and I was angry he didn't answer. Little did I know, he was already at the park and trying to not get nervous. I texted him our code words for letting him know I heard from Vanderbilt, but I didn't include if I got the job or not. Christy arrived a little after I heard the news to pick me up, and we started driving. We drove into Laumeier Sculpture Park, and I asked Christy why we were stopping here. Christy takes professional pictures and told me she was meeting a client to give them their CD of pictures. I am super gullible and of course thought this was the truth (although I did tell her going to a park at sunset is shady).

While we were walking up the hill to where Matt was waiting, I was telling her I hadn't been to Laumeier since I was there last time with Matt. It's a very special place to us. As we walked up to where Matt was, I was so surprised that I almost didn't even recognize him! When I realized it was him, I knew what he was going to do, and I froze in place. Matt had to come get me and bring him over to where he wanted to ask me. Christy captured all of his proposal in pictures, and I thought that was really neat. How many people have pictures of their actual engagement? I don't even remember what Matt said, but he looked so nervous, and all I wanted to do was tell him I got the job and everything was now perfect! I didn't really think he would be able to surprise me, because I knew it was coming soon. I didn't know this soon and that he was even in St. Louis this weekend. I also can't believe he actually kept a secret. ;)

He brought me a dozen red roses, and he gave me a dozen chocolate covered strawberries from Edible Arrangements (he knows me so well). Christy took some more pictures of us, and that was that! I love the ring. I can't believe he did so well picking it out! It's beautiful, and I still catch myself looking at my sparkly when it's being extra pretty in the lighting. After the proposal, we went to his parents' house and my parents' house to celebrate with them and then went out to eat and to the basketball game like I originally thought I was going to do! Why not still do those fun things, too?

So basically, I think it will take a long time for me to top the events that occurred on November 12, 2010. I'm feeling incredibly blessed, and I'm looking forward to Matt and my future together in Nashville and beyond!