The Decision

Yes, THE Decision. Most of my other real-life-adult decisions until now (basically: attend Texas A&M and marry Travis) were sort of no-brainers. However, as I have expressed before, my seminary decision has not been so easy. (Read a more detailed post about that here, if you're interested.)

I detailed my trip to Candler here and here. Exactly two weeks after that trip, I hopped on another airplane, this time to Durham to visit Duke Divinity (love all that alliteration, right?). My flight got in a little later than the one to Atlanta, so unfortunately I wasn't able to see much of the town. However, I was able to have dinner with a friend who attends the school and ask her some questions, which was very helpful. (Hi, Brandi!)

The next morning, I headed up to the (duh) beautiful campus for my visit day! It was an interesting mix of people from different backgrounds, places, and denominations. We started off with a whirlwind tour of the Divinity School, then heard from the Admissions Office. Next, we got to choose one of five classes to attend, so I went to the first-year New Testament class (two of my friends were in it, and I'd also heard that the professor was pretty awesome).

After we heard from the Financial Aid Office (talk about an awesome staff), we got paired up with a current student for lunch. It was a really nice day, so my person (not sure what to call her?) and I sat outside and ate. She was able to answer a lot of my questions about the school and the surrounding area. Lastly, we heard from the Field Education department representative, who also addressed a lot of the questions I'd had going into the visit.

Unlike last time, I did take a few pictures of the campus...

Pretty hallway in the Divinity School.

Duke Chapel.

GIANT organ. 

Ceiling and stained glass.

Duke Divinity.

Overall, the visit to Durham was exactly what I'd been praying for. All I'd wanted from God was to be able to feel which place was right for me and for Travis. Duke was beautiful, it's a wonderful school with great programs, and my visit was enjoyable, but I could tell in my heart that it wasn't where I belonged.

So, since most of you already knew anyway...Atlanta it is! :) Wow, we're really moving, aren't we? Crazy. Travis and I both feel confident with this decision, and we're very excited for what's to come.

A moment to breathe

Next up in my new posting-every-two-weeks trend: a mental breakdown.

Not really. But I have had an interesting morning, and I thought it warranted a post.

Is anybody else one of those people who can have a bunch of stressful things happen and take them fairly well...up to the point where one small thing happens and you completely collapse? Because that's me. Hopefully some of you can identify.

I don't have to go to work until 1 p.m. today, but I got up really early because we're going to New Orleans this week (yayy!!), we're taking my car, and the oil needed changing. Not really, though, because I have this oil leak that's been going on for months, so the oil actually changes itself and we just add more in. We haven't gotten the leak fixed yet, because it would require removing the transmission to get to the valve. Which costs a LOT.

But anyway, the oil ostensibly needed changing. I left the house at 7:20--having already showered and breakfasted and pulled the furniture away from the wall so the pest control guy could come--to get to the place right when it opened. I even brought my Bible study book with me so I wouldn't be sitting there idle for 30 minutes.

When my car was done, the guy called me out there and pointed out that the oil leak is getting pretty bad, and needs to be fixed really soon. (Goodbye, savings account...) He also pointed out that right now, my tires were fine, but I'd need new ones within the next couple of months. Whoop?

So, that's a bummer, right? Travis and I try to live simply. We're grateful for our jobs, and we definitely have enough to get by. But we're not engineers like a lot of our friends, and we don't make enough to put very much (if anything) into savings at this time. Thus, big spending occasions like the ones I just mentioned can be pretty stressful. I was beginning to feel a little stressed driving home, but I didn't realize just how much until later.

While getting my oil changed, I noticed I didn't have my phone with me, and realized I must have left it on the table. When I got home, it wasn't there. I dutifully trooped upstairs and downstairs to every room I'd been to this morning, checked in my car, checked in my purse, my backpack. Couldn't find it. And I seriously started bawling. Worse than bawling. Sobbing? Anyway, I was making a ton of noise and I was sort of worried that the neighbors would think I was dying.

And I wasn't even that upset about the phone! I knew it had to be at home or in my car somewhere and I would find it eventually. But my brain was all, "I have errands to run before work and the LISTS are on my phone! What will I DOOO?!?!?!" and "What if I don't find it?? I can't buy a new phone right before we go to New Orleans!!!" My brain uses really excessive punctuation.

It was just the straw that broke the Ginny's back, I guess--on top of getting ready to go out of town, then hearing about those impending car costs.

However, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because I had the idea to call my mom on Skype and get her to call my cell phone (Travis was at school). They've done some studies lately that hearing your mother's voice has a calming effect, and I think that's true for me. So Mom called my phone 5 times, and the last time I found it in the trunk of my car (yes, weird). I'd been putting my reusable bags away and I guess I dropped it in there at the same time. I was able to laugh at the whole situation, and I felt a whole lot better after crying. Also, I was starving.

So I guess I'm grateful for my freak-out moment because it ended with a mom conversation, a feeling of peace, a second breakfast, and a moment to breathe and count my blessings. Because there are truly so many.

Candler, Day Two

If you missed Day One, click here!

I was looking forward to my day on campus, since all the activities were planned out by someone who wasn't me. We started out with breakfast (obviously these people know the way to my heart), and people gave short presentations about worship, Student Life, etc. I enjoyed talking with my potential classmates; the group seemed very diverse overall.

At breakfast, I was extremely surprised to see a girl I knew from my hometown! Our youth groups used to do a lot of events together when we were in junior high, and we went to the same high school. It was pretty crazy how that worked out, and it was comforting to know one other person there. [Hi, Sara S., if you're reading this. :) ]

Next, we got to choose from one of five classes to attend. The prof for the class I originally chose (History of Theology) didn't know we were coming, so he'd planned a short lecture and then discussion groups to review for an exam. We had the option to stay for discussion, but he told us it probably wouldn't be very enlightening. So, with about 45 minutes left to kill, another visitor and I decided to slip into the back of the Systematic Theology class, which was being taught by this awesome German guy. I guess I ended up getting a two-for-one deal, which was pretty cool.

Class was followed by worship, which on Fridays is just a Eucharist service with no preaching. The worship at Candler is student-planned (overseen by faculty), and so you get a varied mix of styles and religious traditions, which I think is awesome. The chapel was neat, architecturally. There were lots of curved lines integrated into the design, and the space is definitely flexible...by which I mean that they're able to move the altar around to different positions, etc., so it doesn't look the same all the time. Not really your traditional chapel (although there was still an organ). I liked it a lot.

After chapel, we were able to have lunch with current M.Div students (the degree I am pursuing is a Masters of Divinity). They were all very friendly and informative. Afterwards, they gave us a brief tour of the campus...or at least the parts we'd be likely to use.

I seriously didn't take any pictures on campus. None. I know, I know. But we were moving from activity to activity so fast...and I didn't exactly want to yank out my camera in the middle of worship, either.

So here are some photos from the Candler website... :)

(source)

That building is Cannon Chapel. See the curvy lines I mentioned?

(source)

Inside the chapel. 

Unfortunately, I can't find a pic of the ceiling that isn't copyrighted. :( You should google it.

To prove my point, the set-up looks nothing like the day I was there! Nor did we have a choir.

Candler's building

(source)

The last part of the day consisted of presentations about curriculum, financial aid, etc. Unfortunately, we were all super full from our delicious lunch, and everyone seemed very sleepy. But I think I got the highlights. :)

And that was the end of my whirlwind visit! After that, just a short trip to the airport and a short plane ride home. I had an awesome time in Atlanta, and I'm looking forward to visiting Durham tomorrow and Friday. I'm hopeful that after I visit both, the choice will be clear.

Candler, Day One

To get things straight: Candler is the school of theology at Emory University. Don't get confused if I use them interchangeably!

Before my trip to Atlanta, I was blessed to be able to stay the night in Houston with my friend/former pastor Jason, his wife Lauren, and their kids. Jason went to seminary at Candler, the school I was about to visit. Since he and Lauren were already married at the time, they were able to tell me a lot about the area and give me advice on things to do, which helped to set my mind at ease.

I was going to be there all by myself, so I was a little nervous! Not so much about flying, but mainly about finding things to occupy my time that first day.

That, and getting lost in the airport and missing my flight. Though I'm a generally intelligent person, it's an unfortunate truth that I mostly lack a sense of direction.

However, I made my flight in plenty of time, and shortly arrived at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Which I really liked. They have a little train to take you everywhere. It just makes sense. No way could I get lost on a train.

I was met by Mary Lou, the Admissions and Financial Aid person with whom I'd been communicating since February about my admission, scholarship, and travel plans. I was glad to get to ride with her back to campus, since she was able to tell me a lot about the different areas we were passing through.

Emory isn't located in the heart of Atlanta. It's on the edge of Decatur, which is sort of northeast. That afternoon, I got to wander around campus by myself for about half an hour, trying to blend in. The campus was beautiful, and pretty different from what I was used to. Even though I had no idea where I was wandering, I felt very comfortable there.

After that, Mary Lou dropped me off at my hotel in downtown Decatur. I was supposed to have a roommate, but she never came (I found out later she was ill). This always happens to me at events like this one. I'm bad luck for temporary roommates.

Not that I minded having a room to myself...

My window looked down into the lobby.

Cool lobby chandelier.

I waited around for my alleged roommate for a while to see if she might want to go to dinner. But after a nap, I was too hungry to wait anymore. So I went out exploring. Here are some pictures of downtown Decatur:

This used to be a gas station, but is now a really popular taco place. 

You can see how they enclosed what used to be the pump area to make outdoor seating.

I seriously wanted to eat at about every restaurant I saw. I finally chose the Farm Burger, a place with burgers made from organically-fed cows. Honestly the best burger I have EVER had. With locally grown collard greens on the side. Mmm.

I loved that they had the silverware in Mason jars at the tables.

Mmm burger. 

I tried to stealthily take these pictures with my phone so I wouldn't look too weird. :)

I couldn't refrain from going into a couple of shops that were still open...

This store was called Heliotrope. I pretty much wanted to buy everything in it.

My conversation with the owner went like this:

"I love this store. I would come here all the time if I lived here, but I'm from out of town."

"Oh, we have even more online! Here's a business card..."

Oops.

I haven't looked at the website yet. I think it would be bad for our bank account.

Next store! I cannot resist a windowful of brightly colored kitchen accessories. 

I meandered around some more and ended up in this plaza, which I later figured out was on top of the MARTA (bus) station.

Historic courthouse.

Somebody put flowers in her arms :)

On top of the bus station...I really had no idea, haha

I finally made my way to a local coffeeshop, where I sat for a while and journaled about my day. Upon reaching the bar to order, I was surprised to look around the corner and find a wine bar. Best place ever?

I ended the evening with an hour of the Big Bang Theory and finally went to sleep, drowsily hoping that my roommate didn't have a flight that got in at midnight.

Next up: Day Two!

Like the Energizer Bunny...

...I've just been going, and going, and going.

Seriously, sorry for going MIA on here for the past two weeks! Unfortunately, all my craziness isn't over yet (and won't be until the end of April), but I'll try to do a better job at updating my poor neglected blog. Some exciting stuff is going down this month!

Here's a taste of what's been going on:

• Two-day trip to Atlanta to visit the Candler School of Theology at Emory
• My parents coming to visit
• The craziness that is Holy Week. If anyone reading has ever worked or frequently volunteered in a church, I believe I can get an "amen" on that. This year, for example, our small church with three paid staff persons held a Maundy Thursday service, a Good Friday service, and two Easter services (sunrise and normal)!

And here's a preview of what's yet to come:

• Two-day trip to Durham later this week to visit Duke Divinity School
• Co-hosting a bridal shower next weekend
• Attending Jazz Fest in New Orleans the weekend after that!

Other random things that I would like to fit in there: Laundry, sleep, exercise, decorate our house for spring before spring ends. Oh, and working. I suppose that might be good for our finances. :)

I'll definitely want to say more about my trip to visit Emory, but I think that deserves its own post. This is just a brief catch-up and apology. But I hope you now understand the reasons for my silence as of late.

I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter with family and friends! Our household certainly did. In our normal worship service, three people were baptized and four joined the church! It was a beautiful day for our little congregation, and I was so thankful.

Afterwards, the hubs and I napped for two hours, ate homemade fajitas (cooked in the crockpot overnight), and saw The Hunger Games (second time for yours truly). So, our Easter was truly a day of joy and a day of rest. :)

What was your favorite part of Easter? Is your spring starting to get insanely busy, too?