TWO PRETTY BIG CHANGES...

First. This hair.

As most of you know, I chopped off six inches about a month ago. I was feeling frustrated and stuck in life and was longing for a change, any change...so hair it was! It was literally a decision I made one day and the next day it was gone. I loved it at first, but within a few days I was bugged that it had no shape and felt heavy everywhere.

So I went to Pinterest, again, and found myself pinning a lot of long bobs. Then I came across this one of Reese Witherspoon and seriously looked at it at least 5x a day for the next week. I asked a lot of people about it and then I found this one and it sealed the deal. 

When I had short hair over five years ago, I hated that I didn't have options. I'm a girl and I like feeling feminine, so after seeing those two images: one curly and one straight, I knew the long bob was for me. (Long story about a haircut, but, too bad.)

Second. This job. 

Last week I accepted a designer position at VCBO Architecture in Salt Lake City. I'm pretty sure it's going to be my dream job! Ever since working for a temple designer on church headquarters, it has been my dream to work for a consulting firm that is contracted with the church to work on temples. Since September, I have kept in contact with friends that work at the different firms around the valley, hoping a door might open...and it did!! 

Just in time too! I haven't been at all satisfied at my current job and both Thomas and I started looking for work elsewhere...mostly out of state. We had a few leads in Las Vegas and were trying to make it happen, but it just wasn't and we couldn't figure out why. 

I know that it's going to be a lot of hard work and a lot of late hours, but after a lot of pondering and praying, I know it's the right place to go next...and I couldn't be more excited. Seriously, every time I think about it I get all giddy inside and can't stop smiling. 

- - - - - -

I'm so grateful to have been given a chance to pursue my dreams and opportunities to learn, both good and bad, things about myself and my industry. It's honestly been a really rough past six months for me. I started at CCG Howells mid-September and joined the team in the middle of a remodel for a showroom expansion. The work nearly tripled because of it. Then, November came and we were preparing for two huge furniture installations the week before Thanksgiving. On the 13th, as you may recall, I was hit by a car in a crosswalk. It was much more of an emotional trial than a physical one. I felt a lot of guilt and anxiety when I thought about going back to work. December was slow going as I spent nearly every day shuffling around at work in a neck brace, trying to be helpful, but also trying to stay out of people's way. January came and so did the blues. It wasn't until the end of that month that I realized something needed to change. 

I started reaching out to people that might know of any job openings. We were up for a move, for a change, for a challenge. I interviewed at two places and neither felt right. So we started to pursue Las Vegas more. After a second interview at VCBO, I had a lot of mixed emotions. I wanted the job so badly, but the confidence in my abilities and in myself had been pretty bruised. I wanted to be sure that I could fulfill their expectations. I stressed and worried for days. I talked to friends in the field and got even more confused. It wasn't until I decided to place my fears and my anxiety in the hands of my Savior that peace came and my mind became clear.

I can't lie and say that I'm not nervous or even a little anxious about starting another new job, but whenever I focus on it, it's almost an immediate feeling of peace. I'm ready to be challenged and inspired in new and trying ways. I want to find the good they see in me and do my very best to be the person they need me to be. Wish me luck...and stay tuned!!