1993 — My junior year of high school. I was section leader of the sideline percussion section and wanting to major in architecture in college. I also never fully felt at home in Florida, so I wanted to leave the state. Using these criteria among others, my mom and I researched colleges throughout the country and narrowed the possibilities down to four. One of those was Penn State, which we were plenty familiar with, so we decided to take a Road Trip to the other three.
So, my mom and I piled up in our silly little Renault sedan for a road trip to three very different places. The first stop was Blacksburg, Virginia — VTech. We were still on the road leading to town when I knew this was not the place for me. Our entire visit screamed of a personality that was foreign to me. It was quite easy to move on.
The second stop was ol’ Rocky Top, Knoxville, Tennessee. This visit was quite different from the first. I was practically offered a special scholarship on-the-spot. The facilities were excellent. The campus was beautifully positioned within the urban fabric. There was definitely a lot of positive things that UT had to offer, but we moved on.
The third stop was The Loveliest Village on the Plains, Auburn, Alabama. As we came down I-85 and got off at exit 51, God spoke. As I drove up College Street, then with giant tiger prints paving the way to campus, I knew I was home. I don’t think anyone could have changed my mind at the time. Everything about the visit instilled in me a deep navy and orange blood that will never be removed.
Several things in my life have changed since that first visit. College Street and the rest of Auburn have also changed considerably. God has totally shaken up the original interests that brought me here, but He used them to get me to where He wanted me to be — and has been changing and shaping me ever since. Despite living in Pennsylvania and Florida as a child, Auburn is the place I have called “home” for just shy of 15 years. Everything else was “just visiting” or “back home.”
My relationship with Auburn began over 16 years ago. While I will never totally leave Auburn behind, we are moving away in just a few days. As I have been driving around doing last-minute errands, I have been reflecting on my life here. As I have time over the next few days, I hope to post a few of my thoughts. In the mean-time, WAR EAGLE!
Well, as I posted yesterday, the computer system at the Prometric testing center fouled up so I could not take the last section of the ARE. They finally got everything straightened out so I can reschedule. I will be taking the exam on Saturday, July 18 . . . in Towson, Maryland.
I was hoping to get the exam totally out-of-the-way before leaving Auburn, but it just didn’t happen. So, we get to move across-country Monday & Tuesday, move in Wednesday, get settled Thursday and Friday, and I take an exam on Saturday. JOY!
This also means that it will be mid-August before I will know if I am a licensed architect or not . . . and then I’m not sure how long it will take to process the steps to get reciprocity to Maryland . . .
Still pressing for a job. We need one soon!
Yeah, that’s how the rest of the day has gone so far . . .
We have a place to live in Towson, Maryland!
BUT, we have to move in by July 15 . . . that’s next Wednesday!
We’re going to packing like mad and tying up loose ends like crazy this week!
I still need a job, and I still need to reschedule that last test . . . but it’s exciting times nonetheless.
Anyone want to help load the truck Sat/Sun or unload on Wednesday? Want to ride with me in the truck? Let us know!
Yeah, it’s only 11am and it’s been that kind of day already.
Drove 60 miles to Montgomery for my LAST EXAM of the ARE (Architecture Registration Exam) . . . Only to have the computer system totally flake out . . . so now I have to wait for Prometric to reprocess all the information and reschedule my exam . . .
In the mean-time . . . I still don’t know if we have a place to live in Towson. The application and details are taking a whole lot longer than they should . . . We’re starting to wonder if this apartment, as attractive of an opportunity as it is, is the right way to go . . .
Certain possible moving dates are going to be very difficult. The folks who were planning on helping us are not going to be available . . . so we’re scrambling to get everything done and figured out.
The Alabama Unemployment web site is down for now, so I can’t file this week’s claim. Hopefully they will fix that in the next hour or so.
Posted a bunch of stuff on Craigslist . . . I’ve gotten a bunch of SPAM emails, but not serious inquiries on any of our stuff.
All I have to say to this is, “Wow.”
http://www.planterwives.com/2009/07/ive-been-carjacked.html
In Las Vegas, even!
Well, our lease runs out here in Auburn on July 31. We have 3 good options for places to live in Towson. I think we’ve chosen where we want to live, but I am waiting on details so we can finalize and make plans. Less than a month and we’ll be homeless unless we can get this all figured out quickly.
I really would like to have this figured out today. There’s a lot riding on this decision . . . from what day we leave, to who is available to help us, to if we have to reschedule other commitments, etc. etc. etc.
It sure would be nice if I had a definite job in the works by then, too.
I got my 4th PASS letter for the ARE today. That means I’m 4 for 4 . . . I have 2 letters I am still waiting on, and 1 more test this coming Monday.
With the 4th pass letter, I am OFFICIALLY over HALF WAY!
Senioritis.
We all know that term . . . as you approach your graduation from High School or College, the ability to study and focus becomes more and more difficult. You just want it over with. You see the light at the end of the tunnel and you just want it to be here NOW! There’s also everything else going in your life that doesn’t help matter any . . . What college am I going to? What major should I choose? Will I live at home or go somewhere else? Should I dump my high school girlfriend and look for a “more mature” college girl? Etc. Etc.
Well, I am definitely experiencing a little of all of that right now. A week from today, I will be taking the last section of the ARE (assuming I pass everything). It’s getting harder to focus and study, because I just want it over with. But, I also need to continue diligently looking for a job. Plus, we’re planning on jumping out in faith and moving to Towson before the end of July, so we’ve got a lot going on with that. PLUS, Katie is cruising all over, and on the virge of crawling. And on top of all that, I FINALLY got a little bit of contract work to get started on. I could definitely use some more!
There’s just so much going on all at once, it’s hard to focus. But focus I must. I must finish the course. Seven more days, and it could very well all be behind me . . . but if I don’t focus now, I will find myself doing the same thing 6 months from now . . .
I am currently still reading through the Psalms each day. One phrase struck me today: Cry out.
Why would that strike me? Well, we tend to say, “Cry out to God” in a rather cliche way. When we say it, it’s almost like we really mean, “Go get quiet somewhere and pray about it.” In fact, prayer is the way in which we communicate to God, so there is truth in that meaning. But I think our prayers are way too civil sometimes.
David was a man after God’s own heart. As you read the Psalms, you realize that David’s prayers were often very far from civil. When David said, “I cry out to God,” I think he really meant it. David probably went off somewhere and literally cried out to God — full diaphram, top of the lungs crying out — or perhaps bawling with tears creating a mud stream down the hillside crying out. I’m not sure, but I’m sure it wasn’t simply praying like we think of praying. That just wouldn’t fit David.
Personally, I have been getting extremely frustrated over our current situation. Up until now, being unemployed has not been terrible. I’ve had time to spend with my wife and little girl. I’ve studied for and taken all but the last ARE exam. And we’ve made my last paycheck stretch for about 3 months (thanks to the help of unemployment.)
But, we are having to dip more significantly into savings now. I will be taking the last ARE exam in less than two weeks, with no real plans after that. Our current lease runs out on July 31. I have been “crying out” to God in prayer for quite some time. And I’ve followed up those prayers by doing everything I can think of to find a job in the Baltimore area. I’ve been trying to line up contract work to pay some bills while in transition . . . But I feel like I’m just not getting anywhere.
Today, after putting Katie down for her nap, I went into the bedroom, grabbed a pillow to muffle the sound, and I honestly cried out to God. I cried. I yelled. I let all my frustrations out before God.
You know what? Within hours I had an email about possible contract work and had encouraging news about a possible place to live in Towson.
Do you need to go “cry out” to God? Seriously, do you really need to cry out to God?
