So where is this school you ask? Well, we'll be moving to... Colorado!! Trinidad, Colorado to be exact. Mike starts classes the second week of January. So we have two months to find some where to live, get everything in order, pack up, and move. It's going to be a bit crazy, but I'm so excited! Next week we'll fly out for a few days to hopefully find a home. After that I think it will feel more real and the craziness will begin. We currently only have eight weekends left until moving day and with all the holidays in there as well, it's definitely going to be action packed.
Gunsmithing is something that I've heard Mike talk about here and there for several years. I think for him it was one of those things that you wish you could do, but you never actually get to do it. Mike and I graduated with our bachelor's degrees in 2010. My degree is in Environmental Science and Policy and Mike's degree is in Criminology. We both thought we would easily find our "grown-up" jobs. Well, it wasn't so easy. For me, after applying to easily over fifty positions in the environmental field with no luck, I decided I needed to search elsewhere. I ended up taking an Office Manager position with a small business in the staffing industry. Three years later, I'm still working here and actually really like it. More than that, I love the people I work with. It's been a great experience and I'm absolutely going to miss them! Mike's story is a little different. He also didn't find work right away using his degree. He ended up getting his security license and taking a security job. He didn't mind the work, but he knew it wasn't a forever job and it definitely didn't pay what you would think a college graduate would earn. About a little over a year ago Mike was itching for change. He thought the military might be a good option. He began the recruiting process with the Coast Guard. Mike scored really well on the ASVAB and things were looking good. To make a long story short, we found out Mike was permanently disqualified from service due to a medical condition. He was a little disappointed, but we moved on. Last January Mike decided he had finally had enough of working as security guard. He quit his job to focus on getting one he would truly enjoy and grow in. He then began the application process with the Florida Highway Patrol. This is quite a long process that takes several steps over several months. (A little side story...We have been very blessed that while he was going through this process Mike began working at the same company as me. It's been a fun experience to work in the same building. I don't' think many couples get to experience this and I'm grateful we have had to opportunity to do so. I'm also very grateful to the owner's of the company for giving Mike the opportunity to work here while still focusing on other goals.) The first step in the FL Highway Patrol hiring process is just turning in a long application packet. Once that packet gets approval another more extensive packet is mailed out along with a date to take a physical test. The physical test consists of several obstacles that must be completed in a predetermined time. Mike passed the test with no problem. Next, a polygraph was scheduled. Mike went and took the polygraph and also passed this with no problem. The last step in the hiring process is take a psychological test. Mike had to go Miami to take this test and then we just had to wait to hear back. I was convinced he would be a highway patrol! However, one Saturday morning we got a letter saying he could reapply in one year and better luck next time. I think we were both pretty shocked. I cried...it wasn't pretty. At this point, I was feeling pretty discouraged. Thankfully, Mike and I have supportive parents that reminded us God has plan and it might just take longer to unfold than we'd like. After a little time had passed, Mike decided to go ahead and research some gunsmith programs/schools. He first applied to a school in Pennsylvania. He was accepted, but put on a waitlist of about two and half years. Again, we were a little discouraged, but then he started really looking into this school in Colorado. He decided to apply, however, the competition would be fierce. This program only accepts 15 students per semester and there is no waitlist. Well, at this point you know how the story ends. We found out last week that Mike got in and have been celebrating and planning ever since. I feel that this truly is the right step for us. This will be a career that Mike will be passionate about and will be proud of his work. Sorry for such a long post, but I felt I needed to explain what a long journey this has been. We will miss not being close to our families, but we can't wait for the adventure to begin and see what more God has in store for us. Thank you to all of our friends and family members who supported us through this!!!
