THe ARUV DaYS

Just a HEADS UP, this post will probably be pretty LONG. 

But read on and enjoy anyways :)

Just over TWO YEARS AGO, I was down in PROVO visiting my sister. 

I had been looking for a job for a couple months, 

and really didn't want to go back to 

AEROPOSTALE. 

Well on my way home that day, 

I drove past the same building I had passed several times before. 

What I really wanted was a job in 

Health Care. 

This was a 

Reception Center.

Or so I thought. 

There was nothing to loose, so 

without much thought, I went inside to see what this place was about.

I walked in the door, still trying to figure out what this place was.

That's when 

FRED 

walked out of his office and asked if he could help me.

"What is this place?"

He went on to tell me about it, and what they did there. 

POST SURGICAL REHAB: PHYSICAL AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY & 24/7 NURSING CARE. 

It was exactly the kind of job I was looking for!

(not to mention it was the NICEST Nursing Home-type building I had ever seen)

"So, are you guys hiring?"

Before I knew it, I was on the couch filling out my application.

Then I was turning it in. 

Then I was in Fred's office interviewing.

(literally though, i hadn't even left the building before all of this happened)

After we finished, I met 

JEFF, 

the Director of Nursing.

THREE DAYS LATER 

MaRCH 15, 2010

I HAD A JOB!!

and for future posterity's sake, I called them when they offered me the job :) 

I started off on the PM shift.

Occasionally I would work a graveyard shift, but it was rare. 

Then I started picking up a Morning Shift here and there. 

Within a couple months, I was half AM/half PM.

Then all of a sudden I was 

ALL MORNINGS, 

FULL TIME.

Fast forward TWO YEARS, and a WHOLE LOT has happened. 

The girls I have worked with quickly became some of my

BEST FRIENDS. 

NOT BECAUSE WE SPEND ALL OUR TIME AWAY FROM WORK TOGETHER, 

although we have been known to do that from time to time.

THINGS LIKE:

Applebee's

BACHELOR/ETTE PARTIES

Olive Garden

HOBBY LOBBY RUNS

Bridal Showers

WEDDINGS

Stake Activities

MANY HIKES UP THE "Y"

Roadtrips

Texas Roadhouse

PUMPKIN ROLLS

Red Robin

SHOPPING TRIPS

Concerts

PRANKS GONE SOUTH..Meg... :)

Annual Christmas Parties

JAZZ GAMES

MAYBE WE HANG OUT MORE THAN I THOUGHT..

Oh well, we like it :) 

What I was saying though, is that 

they are like my best friends because 

we all know way more about each other than we want to.

I blame it on the nature of our work.
Not much phases as person when you do the work a CNA does.  

Aside from the AMAZING PEOPLE I work with, 

this place has been the ABSOLUTE BEST company to work for! 

 They sure have it right that when you treat your employees right, they'll treat your customers right. 

From weekly STAFF LUNCHES, 

to monthly MEETINGS 

(complete with prizes, everytime)

Yeah, we put out fires at our last meeting :)

I'll admit it, 

THEY SPOIL US :)

Baseball Teams

Ragnar Teams

Movie Nights

More Gift Cards than I can count.

ARUV DIRTY DASH TEAM

LAGOON TRIPS for EVERYONE and their FAMILIES, EVERY SUMMER

It's all an 

ABSOLUTE BLAST

They may let us get away with way more than we probably should.

HaLLoWeeN: costumes, pumpkin decorating contests, and trick or treating for the family. 

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS DAY '10

and again in 2011. After making 15 t-shirts, I'm going to say it's probably everyone's favorite :)

Wanna know a secret,

and one of my favorite parts about this job?

95% of the time 

we think we are far more funny than we really are

(and they still haven't fired any of us for it

or even cut any of our hours for that matter). 

:) 

Like the time we switched all the highlighters on April Fools Day.

OR

the time we replaced all of Jeff and Jinger's family pictures with pictures of us. 

WHO DOESN'T WANT TO WORK AT A PLACE WHERE YOU HAVE 

FAR TO MUCH FUN?

I couldn't finish this post though without saying something about all the amazing patients that have come through.
THEY HAVE TAUGHT ME, LAUGHED WITH ME, PUT UP WITH ME, AND EVEN PRETENDED LIKE THEY LIKED MY ACTIVITIES :) haha
There are a few that have really made a significant impact on my life.
Even though I may not always show it,
I'm grateful for every last one of them, and the lessons they've helped me learn.

NOW FOR THE WRAP UP.

It's

MaRCH 15, 2012. 

(Ironic that it was exactly 2 years after my starting date?) 

I walked in on my day off, and "calmly" paced around the building,

WAITING FOR JEFF TO GET A FREE MINUTE. 

I finally caught him in the hallway and spilled it all. 

AFTER MY TRIP TO THE PHILIPPINES,

I WOULDN'T BE COMING BACK :( 

Can I say how grateful I am for such an understanding boss? 

Seriously! 

Not only was he supportive of my decision, 

but 

he was more encouraging than I ever thought someone in that situation would be!

Did I mention we have more people quitting in the next few months that we have staying?

Then he said if I'm around in the fall, the job is still mine :) 

DID I MENTION I WORK FOR THE BEST COMPANY EVER?

I felt terrible for doing it, but I knew it was the right thing to do.

And I'll say it again,

THANK YOU JEFF

for all the support and advice :)

and

THANK YOU EVERYONE ELSE

for and AWESOME TWO YEARS!