Update on My Life

Hello,

Well, I don't know who's even reading this thing - probably nobody that doesn't already know what's going on, but just in case, here goes:

Saturday, May 5, I graduated from LeTourneau University. It was great to have my sister Sarah, my grandparents, my parents, my Uncle Doug and Aunt Jody, and Becky all there with me. After graduation we finished packing up and emptying my apartment. Sunday morning I went to Hope Fellowship, my church in Longview my whole time at LeTourneau, with my parents and Becky. After church we had a quick lunch, then went back to campus where I met up with three of my best friends from LeTourneau, and said goodbye to my parents and Becky. My friends Andy, Amaris, Bonnie, and I then hit the road for Florida at 2:00 Sunday afternoon. We took turns driving, with one person driving for about four hours, another person sitting up front to help them stay awake, and the other two people sleeping in the back seat. We got to the condo we had in St. Cloud, Florida at about 8:00 Monday morning, and promptly all of us went to bed until we got up and ate lunch, then bought groceries and went around the town.

Tuesday after graduation the four of us went to Sea World Orlando. Wow. The dolphin and orca shows were absolutely incredible. I also discovered that I now like roller coasters. We got to Sea World at 10:00 in the morning, and several times throughout the afternoon we talked about leaving - we were going to leave about 4:00. We ended up staying until 10 minutes before closing time, which was at 7:00. Sea World was definitely an awesome experience, and I'm glad we made it part of our trip.

Wednesday we went camping in a state park about an hour from our condo. It rained before we bought our firewood, so the wood got soaked, but with work we did have a fire that night - it only took 2 road flares, a cardboard box, and about 30 minutes to get the fire going. It was great, though, because that let me and Andy cook our main course of supper - steaks. We figured out we'd forgotten to take the paper plates we bought with us on our camping trip, and we also didn't have any good grilling utensils. So, Andy had two kitchen knives and I had a kitchen knife and my pocket knife, and we would run water over our hands then go flip and check steaks over the fire, then go re-drench our hands. While we were (literally) running around doing that, Bonnie and Amaris were cooking up the potatoes for us to have with supper, and we ended up with the best camping meal I have ever eaten.

Thursday after we left the campsite we went to Cocoa Beach - another very fun part of the trip. We were early enough in the season that although there were plenty of people, the beach was by no means crowded, which made the time at the beach even better. During one of our trips back to the car while we were at the beach my phone rang - it was Kacey, the HR rep I've been working with from PSA Airlines. She called to offer me the job I interviewed for in Charlotte! I called her back on Friday and accepted the job.

Friday we all slept in, stayed in the Kissimmee/St. Cloud area and visited various music shops, antique shops, and a flea market, before going back to the condo and taking naps. For supper we cleaned out our left overs, we packed the car, and hit the road at 10:00 Friday night to drive back to Texas. We got to Longview at 1:00 Saturday afternoon where we went to the Olson's house for Andy and Amaris to pick up Andy's car and dog, then Andy and Amaris headed to Amaris' home and I went with Bonnie to her house halfway between Dallas and Longview, where my car had been parked while we were in Florida. I was too tired to drive to Dallas without someone to keep me awake, so I spent the afternoon and evening at the Daniels' house, spent the night at my friends Alden and Rebekah's house, then got back with the Daniels for church and lunch on Sunday, then I drove to Dallas.

I've been relaxing and taking care of various small things while I've been in Dallas. Tomorrow (Friday) I have to catch a flight out of Dallas at 6:25 in the morning to go to Dayton, Ohio for my new hire orientation with PSA. I will be arriving in Dayton at 1:00 in the afternoon, and leaving Dayton at 6:09 to land in Dallas at 10:12 tomorrow night.

Next week I plan to drive to Virginia, and probably down to North Carolina, depending on when I start work. God has provided a place for me to live with a JAARS guy in Waxhaw, NC. I will have about an hour commute to work, but the deal I am getting on housing will make it worth while, at least for a while.

Let me know how I can be praying for you. Also, let me know via email or whatever if you're actually reading my blog posts - I'm trying to figure out if people who don't already know what's going on in my life are still reading my blog, so I can decide whether or not it's worth continuing to post.

Graduation Week

Wow - I can't believe that in under 36 hours, I graduate from LeTourneau.

Last week I took my oral and practical exams on Tuesday and Wednesday, then on Thursday I drove to Dallas and flew to Charlotte, NC. Friday morning I had a job interview with PSA Airlines in Charlotte, and right after my interview I flew back to Dallas and drove back to Longview. I should hear back from PSA about the job by the end of next week.

This week has been filled with activity, although classes ended last week. I had to take two aviation finals on Tuesday, and I was exempt from the rest of my finals because of having good enough grades and graduating. Wednesday there was a luncheon put on by the Aeronautical Science department for all of us who are graduating, then the Honors College took those of us graduating from the honors program out to dinner in Kilgore on Wednesday evening. Thursday morning I had my senior exit interview, then in the afternoon I had my three FAA written exams. I passed all of them, and I am now a licensed Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic.

Friday I have a senior breakfast, and will then spend several hours packing, trying to mostly finish that up Friday. Friday afternoon graduation activities pick up, and my parents, grandparents, my sister Sarah, and Becky will arrive. Saturday morning I have to be at graduation stuff at 7:30, with graduation at 9:00. After graduation I will finish packing, load my stuff into my car and my parents' van, and check out of my apartment for the last time. Sunday morning I will go to church, then will come back to campus to meet up with a few of my friends, and we will then road trip to Florida to spend a week there.

Please keep everybody traveling in your prayers, and let me know how I can be praying for you.