My One-Way Ticket

The decade of decision. Thats what they call it, you know. The 10 years of your life where you're making decisions about what college to go to, what to major in, what career to pursue, who to date and who to marry and when to have kids and where to live. The number of life-altering decisions that you make between the ages of 18 and 28 is pretty astounding. At 21, I feel like i'm doin' alright so far. BYU has been the college of my dreams. The nursing program has fulfilled me more than i'll ever be able to express. I will graduate with a Bachelor's degree, pass the NCLEX, and then be ready to begin my career as an RN. Best believe i'm going to finish out my BYU experience without a ring on my finger, so some may say that I never really graduated... but you know i'm feeling pretty okay about all that (...successful career... real income... imma just be a hot single lady and bask in the glory of that for a while!). So as a soon-to-be grad, the next decision for me is this: where am I going to start my big girl grown up life? Remember how I said that I made some big life decisions while I was home last weekend? Well friends, this is it.

I, Jannette Elaine Perry, am moving to McKinney, Texas.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is no joke. This is real life. Can you believe it?!

This decision has been a really, really big one for me and believe me when I tell you that I did not make it lightly. I came to the conclusion that this is the best move for me after months of pondering, conversation, prayer, and fasting. What started out as a joking idea turned into a real question, and then a legitimate possiblity, and then a wonderful opportunity, and then the right choice. Going home and thoroughly talking through all of this with mom and dad was what finally sealed the deal. Before I knew it, final decisions were made. Plans were drawn up. My future officially has a geographic destination :)

It is no coincidence that my big sister (slash best friend) and her family also live in McKinney. In fact it was definitely one of the deciding factors. The Kenealey clan moved to Texas almost 7 years ago, and in that time, I have been there... 15 times? Maybe more? All I know is that i've been there a lot and sometimes for more than 3 full weeks. And yet, when it comes time for me to leave, i'm never ready. I always long for more time there. Initially after my move, I will be living in their home in a spare bedroom. Transitioning from temporary apartments with roommates of all kinds (no offense to any of the roommates i've ever had, I really do love you all) to a home filled with framed pictures and curtains and real carpet and a kitchen with matching dishes (*swoon*) is going to be a dream. Not to mention the people with whom I will share this home. Brayden, Ella, Rachel, and Katie are 4 of my favorite humans on the planet. Being a part of their everyday lives by driving to soccer practice, picking up from school, dancing in the living room after dinner, tucking in at night, and helping with homework is going to fulfill me in a way I can't even begin to explain. One of my main goals while I live there will be to help ease some of the burdens in their family's hectic life by making dinners and chauffering children and babysitting on date night. Then there's Kirstin and Ty, who have both grown to become some of my closest friends over the years, and I SO look forward to the merciless teasing, movie nights, and many good conversations that we will have. Kirstin and I have exchanged texts, phone calls, emails, and pictures DAILY for years, and now finally we will be in close proximity to one another for the long-term. We don't have to be depressed as we mark off the days until I leave Texas, because this time i've got my one-way ticket.

With all that being said, I also want to emphasize that I understand the importance of establishing my own roots for as long as I am there. I will be attending the singles ward, making friends, and looking for girls (or guy...eternal roommate anyone?) who I could eventually share an apartment or house with. As soon as I get down there, the job hunting begins. McKinney is conveniently located near many large hospitals, as well as smaller medical offices and urgent care centers. I'm also happy to report that nurses are treated quite well in Texas! After I take the NLCEX around the beginning of June and become officially registered and licensed as an RN in the state of Texas, I will be ready to officially begin my career. Honestly, I can't wait!

For so many years, the next step in my life has been obvious. Turn 8, get baptized. Turn 12, start young womens. Turn 16, get my license and get a date :) Graduate from high school. Go to BYU. Get into the nursing program. Graduate from college. Pass the NCLEX. Really i've never had to think too hard about what my next step is, because the plan is so clear. For the first time in a long time, i've had to make a difficult decision for my life's path. I've had to step into the dark and try to find my own way. I feel really, really good about going to Texas. In my process of trying to decide where to go, everything about Texas just felt right and good and comforting. Everything other option I considered made me feel fuzzy and panicky and scared. I believe that personal revelation and answers to prayer come in many forms, and for me the feelings of relief and joy that washed over me when I thought about and then decided on Texas was all I needed for confirmation that it was the right move.

I am right in the thick of my decade of decision. I have found so much happiness and fulfillment thus far in my life, and I cannot wait to find out what my future holds... in Texas!

Fake Spring Break For Real Spring Training

BYU doesn't have a spring break. It just doesn't exist, and its quite the sore subject for many BYU students. However, some of us choose to take matters into our own hands and make a fake spring break happen anyway. This last weekend, I did just that with my friends Taylor and TJ. We all grew up in the same stake in Kirkland, and despite their families moving all around to different places, we are true Seattleites at heart and die-hard Mariners fans to boot. Well baseball season is fast approaching and spring training is well underway, and there was no way we could pass up a weekend in sunny Arizona to go watch our guys get ready for the most wonderful time of the year! With round trip airfare for $89, a couple of cheap ballgame tickets, a SA-WEET rental car that Jolly talked the price wayyy down on, and a free place to stay, it was literally the best deal we possibly could have gotten for a weekend getaway. We may only have escaped Provo for less than 48 hours, but every moment was so jam-packed with fun and adventure that it was WELL worth it!

And now, for the pictures. Brace yourselves, for there are many.

Flying out of the teeny tiny Provo airport!

Chrysler 200. Oooh that baby rides real smooth.

There was no time to waste between landing in AZ and jetting off to our first ball game!

We made it!!!!

Welcome to our heaven.

Love dem boys ♥

Okay seriously, I couldn't have picked two better people to do this trip with. These crazy guys are such a hoot to be around! Also, their dance moves are quite impressive :)

 

Is it weird that even brushing our teeth together was great? And that I missed them when I was back in my own apartment brushing my teeth by myself? Yes it is. But its also true.

We stayed in Chandler at the home of some family friends of the Jollys, and everything about it was perfect. They were extremely generous and provided us with way more than we needed. Their kindness was overwhelming and very much appreciated. And also their house was BEAUTIFUL. This is their backyard... They picked oranges off a tree and made us fresh-squeezed orange juice to go with our breakfast. I mean, come on, how great is that?

Game #2! TJ had to fly up to Seattle early Saturday morning so it was just Jolly and I from there on out. Believe it or not we enjoyed watching the game despite the Ms losing and the fact that we basically cooked to the point of well-done in the afternoon AZ sunshine.

I may not be an Oakland supporter, but ooooh my i'm this man's new #1 fan. This was right before we made eye contact. In those 0.3 seconds I looked deeply into his eyes and our souls connected and I saw our future together. Mostly likely it consists of me watching him from afar if he happens to play against my Mariners... 

After the game we paid a visit to the new Gilbert temple. Honestly, one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. And we didn't even get to go inside, but I hear thats even more stunning. I've made a resolution to come back and go inside someday!

Back at the house we took in the results of our day in the sun without sunscreen... ouchies.

After a little rest and some March Madness, were off to Joe's Farm and Grill. Did you know that everything sounds/tastes better when you put the words "farm fresh" in front of them? Mmm, how 'bout this farm fresh BBQ sauce?! And these farm fresh ribs?? And ooohhh don't even get me started on the farm fresh BBQ bacon burger. 

The place was amazing. But the bathroom with the glass encased barbie dolls... kinda weird.

With our last few non-sleeping AZ hours we ate cheesecake by the outdoor gas fireplace while we listened to music and soaked in the starry sky. Guys, LIFE IS SO COOL.

And then just a few short hours later it was time fly off into the gorgeous sunrise and get back to our busy lives of school and responsibility. 

This baseball girl's heart was so very filled this weekend. With good friends and good fun and a heck of a lot of Bastille (eh-eh-oh-ehoh, eh-eh-oh-ehoh!), I feel so renewed and refreshed! I am ready to take on the next 32 crazy busy days until graduation.

You know i've been craving adventure lately. Well, LIFE is an adventure! I just have to take it day by day even with the ups and downs and twists and turns. I have the power to be excited and to be happy and to be adventurous, even on the days that are made up of homework or long training runs or donating plasma. And of course when opportunities like flying to another state with friends for a weekend come along, I take them, I enjoy every second of it, and I make memories that will last a lifetime. 

And then I blog about it. 

Duh.

 

 

Aligned for Adventure

Sometimes the stars align just perfectly and the universe gets a little bit more exciting as wonderful things all start happening at once. My stars aligned last weekend, my universe got more exciting, and many wonderful things all happened at once.

Two of my lovely friends from my old ward got married in Washington on Saturday. A group of friends decided to carpool up to the lovely Evergreen State for the wedding celebration, and you better believe I jumped on that opportunity. Thursday night 5 long time buddies crammed into a little car and made it all the way to Walmart before wondering are we there yet? Turns out we still had 14 hours, one run-in with the po-po, persistent car trouble, and a whooooole lot of goldfish to go before we made it. But boy oh boy, when the car pulled up in front of my house, it was all worth it.

Hunt and Riri

Two of my great friends who I got to know separately at different times under different circumstances. Now, 3 years later, they are married... TO EACHOTHER. I mean, its pretty exciting. It was an honor to be able to attend their reception and drink the world's best chocolate milk and dance with no shoes on and of course take some weddin' selfies.

Baby Quinn Lenae Perry (and her fam too!)

One of my major motivating factors in making the trip home was the fact that Kevin and Carli's baby girl #3 was born last weekend and I was dying to see her. Folks, she is perfect. Okay okay I know I say that about all of my favorite little humans, but still. At one week old she is still pretty much a blob, but blobs don't get any better than her. All I wanted to do was hold her and cuddle her, so I did just that every chance I got. Is there anything more peaceful and heartwarming than a baby that snoozes in your arms for hours on end? Nope! Now, I can't say what the consequences were of her sleeping all day after I left and her parents were left with her all night... oopsie. #sorrynotsorry, it was totally worth it. I love that I have siblings with permanent residence in Seattle. I love that they have 3 of the most darling girls who hug me and watch Frozen with me and sneak out of bed to come downstairs to tell me that I am their best friend. I love that the attempt to get a picture of me with all 3 wiggly energetic little girls quickly turns into an impossible joke and it ends up being a great memory anyway!

Sorely tempted to become a kidnapper... probs just a sign of how wonderfully squishy she really is.




Try try try try try try try try try try try try try and try again.

Then give up and filter the heck out of one of those suckers.

Mallory Jan

Oh how I love her. I've gushed about her before and how grateful I am that my experience in Tonga yielded such great friends, but here I am ready to do it again. The fact that she lives in Seattle is so beyond perfect. I go home = I see a best friend. She drove on down to see me on Monday and we ran on my favorite running trail while gossiping about all the things we haven't gossiped about since we saw eachother at Christmas. Our visit also involved new running attire and the world's most delectable chocolate peanut butter shake.

My Parents

I'm not even going to say much here, but my parents are literally the best parents in the whole world. I made some big life decisions while I was home last weekend, and my parents were right there with me every step of the way with nothing but support and encouragement. Also they decided they wanted me home for a few extra days, so they bought me a plane ticket for later in the week. Mom made some of my favorite meals. Dad let me wear his big sweatshirts. Nobody stopped me from raiding the food storage room until my suitcase was bursting at the seams. Being home was exactly what I needed, and my parents' ability to make me laugh and cry and jump for joy in all the right ways was purely icing on the cake.

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I was in need of an adventure. No doubt, my trip home fit the bill. However my craving for adventure hasn't quite been fulfilled yet... soooo i'll be in hot and sunny Arizona by nightfall tonight, wearing shorts and a ball cap as I watch my Mariners play a nice game of spring training baseball. "Can life get any better? I submit that it can not."

My Oreo Aspirations

In the quiet, meditative moments of your day have you recently found yourself pondering the thought: "I wonder what Jannette Perry has been doing with all her spare time this semester..."?

Well, today I am here to answer this question for you. And the answer is this: In my precious last days as a student I am using my energy to make plans to fulfill some of my biggest, deepest, most personal life dreams and aspirations. Today after a heart-to-heart with a wonderful friend on FaceTime, I decided upon something that I must do; something that I believe will change my life forever:

I MUST TRY EVERY FLAVOR OF OREO THAT THERE EVER WAS.

{if you weren't expecting something along those lines after all that... you must not know me very well}

Once I set my mind to something, I make it happen. So you better believe I am going to turn this dream into a reality. The Oreo research has now begun. I have scoured the internet for lists and pictures of all the different kinds of Oreos that have ever been made. And boy oh boy, there are a LOT, most definitely more than I expected. My excitement over this has only continued to escalate all afternoon.

From the Sugar Free Reduced Fat Oreo to the Triple Double Neapolitan Oreo and everything in between, Nabisco definitely has not been shy about Oreo experimentation. Did you know there is a Watermelon Oreo?! And a Creamsicle Oreo?! And a White Fudge Covered Oreo?! And a Golden Birthday Cake Fudge Creme Oreo?! And then there are the most recent additions to the Oreo family: The Cookie Dough Oreo and the Marshmallow Crispy Creme Oreo. 

Like I said, the research has begun.

Ideally, i'd like to throw an Oreo party. Each guest would be assigned to bring a certain flavor of Oreo, and then we'd all join together to celebrate the wonders of such a magically delicious* and originally very simple cookie. Guest requirement: no looking down on me for the fact that I definitely will be trying at least one of every kind of Oreo, which would mean eating like 20+ cookies over the course of one party... believe me, i'd do it. 

The challenge is this: a number of the Oreo varieties were/are limited edition, or they are holiday specific and thus only sold at certain times of the year. I'm still trying to work out the kinks... it may end up that I just have to buy one kind at a time over the course of a year and taste test them all on an individual basis (and then most likely eat the whole package myself... which is why the party option would be so much less fat-girl-ish).

Heh heh, this is funny because I remember one time in 4th grade we had to write an essay on how we eat an Oreo. I complained about how ridiculous it was because I could explain in two short sentences my methods of Oreo consumption, and it did not require a five paragraph essay. It seems now that i'm in 16th grade, I could ramble on about this particular delectable snack for days!

Once upon a time (aka last year), my girl Christie and I went to Walmart and bought Oreos. I tried to see how many different kinds I could hold at once. I only walked out with one pretty little package of cookies, but clearly I felt it that day that eventually i'd try them all.

Soooo, anyway, I guess this is what I did today.

Please don't judge me.

Did I mention that I have two more weeks of the M5 Fitness Challenge which requires that I consume no refined sugar? 

Yeah... maybe doing this today wasn't such a good idea.

I'm gonna go eat a salad.

*Speaking of magically delicious, its also on my bucket list to win a cereal eating contest. Because seriously, I can put down extreme volumes cereal like a champ!

Oh right, salad time.

Capstone Olympics

Sometimes, the last semester of college can be pretty boring (i'm not complaining).

And sometimes, its NOT.

Last Thursday, our instructors decided to switch things up a bit, and they organized a capstone olympics activity. We were split up into groups and then set loose to compete against one another to see which team could complete a variety of nursing tasks the most quickly, efficiently, and correctly. If you know anything about nursing students, you know that you've got a big group of type-A personalities. Must win. Must be perfect. Will accept absolutely nothing less. These olympics could have turned ugly. Thankfully we were all able to keep it light and fun, while every group still insisted they were the winners. BTW, WE were the winners!

It kicked off in the lab. Start four IVs, change an occupied bed, and program a med pump as quickly as possible while still doing it correctly. Thankfully, we had mannequins to complete these tasks on, otherwise i'm pretty sure the patient would have bled out or been seriously injured or something... lets just say we don't typically frantically rush to stick four IVs in one arm or flail a patient back in forth in order to change their sheets! :)

Speaking of mannequins, meet my new boyfriend.

Best bridging group!

Next we headed upstairs and occupied the entire hallway on the main floor of the SWKT to answer some NCLEX questions. As if doing that alone isn't already difficult enough, an extra challenge was added: we had to be doing some kind of physical exercise while we answered the question: jumping jacks, jumping rope, hula-hooping, skip-it, etc. Eventually, a few of us got a tiny bit distracted and just ended up messing around. Who needs more NCLEX practice anyway? Oh wait, that would be me. Woops.

Professors spared no expense. Real gold right there my friends.

Basking in our glory. Because as I said, we of course were the winners... along with every other team.

And then there was that terrifying moment when a foot slipped and my life flashed before my eyes and I almost went plummeting face first to the ground... and it was captured on camera. What a shame it would be to die right before graduation. At least i'd be reppin' the gold medal though, right?

Honestly, I cannot even begin to describe what a blessing it has been to be a part of BYU's nursing program. What an amazing education I have been able to receive. I remember a moment at the beginning of last semester when I was just struck with the thought of how cool college is. There was a small group of us nursing students down in the lab, gathered around an instructor as she demonstrated a new skill that we were to learn, practice, pass off, and then apply in our real life clinical the first chance we got. I remember thinking that right in that moment that there must be hundreds of groups of students all over campus who were having very similar experiences, except in their own fields of study. Chemistry majors gathered in a lab, breaking down and building up new compounds. Theater majors in costume, acting out and perfecting scenes. Engineers and architects building and constructing whatever it is they build and construct. Graphic designers making new ads and commercials and stuff. Education majors working on their lesson plans and learning how to communicate effectively with children. The list goes on and on. This is not high school, where you take math and science and health because its a requirement. I have chosen what I want to do with the rest of my life, and my education is geared specifically to that. I have been taught to insert IVs, give shots, administer medications, draw blood, and so much more. I mean honestly, isn't that just cool?! And to think that there are roughly 30,000 other students at this university alone who are pursuing their own fields of study, learning new great and exciting things every day.

"Enter to learn. Go forth to serve."

I have entered to learn. I have learned AWESOME things day after day for four years. I know that I have taken so much of it for granted, but as my days at BYU are now very numbered, I am becoming hyperaware of the blessing that my education is, and how amazingly cool college really is. I excitedly anticipate the opportunity to go forth to serve as a nurse, well-educated and capable because of the time that I have spent at the Lord's university.