Welcome to San Marvelous

Hello, oft-neglected blog. Once again, a busy life has kept me from processing through my keyboard the past month’s events. I think it can be summed up in this:

In the span of 11 days, I graduated with my master’s degree; went home to Arlington to celebrate my brother graduating from high school; drove back to College Station, packed up my apartment, and moved to San Marcos; met my new roommates in my new house; unpacked; was a bridesmaid in one of my best friend’s wedding; said goodbye to Greg for the summer; and started a new job.

My parents and I at my master’s hooding ceremony

My brother and cousin as little kids. This photo was part of their senior banquet display.

Putting up some decorations in my new room

One of the only photos of my from Jen & Kyle’s wedding… hopefully more will surface soon!

Greg & I at Jen & Kyle’s rehearsal lunch. He left for Colorado shortly after.

Arch in the UAC overlooking the San Marcos square, the building where I work at Texas State.

Whew!

So far I am enjoying the new chapter of my life in San Marcos.

I’ve been on the job a week, and although it’s been a whirlwind of training and “Math 1316 is useless,” and “Just follow the core curriculum,” and prepping for 5000+ freshmen to come through our office this summer, I think I’m going to love it.

My house is adorable and my roommates are great.

Greg’s (my?) church has been so welcoming. I’ve already played with several babies, and been invited to watch movies, play games, and to an Arrested Development Season 4 marathon tonight! I also talked with our pastor about officially coming on as associate volunteer staff, and I’m excited to see that role unfold.

So far, life in San Marvelous has been pretty marvelous! I’m enjoying my three-day weekend and looking forward to finally unpacking/organizing the last few boxes, meeting new friends here, and learning how to live this new full-time job lifestyle sans homework!

Last week was bananas, b-a-n-a-n-a-s

This morning I am taking a breath and trying to comprehend what happened in my life this past week. In the last seven days I…

• Got a job offer
• Changed my summer plans
• Officially decided to move to the city where my boyfriend lives (“Life’s too short for it not be about the [boy] sometimes.”)
• Accepted a job offer
• Applied for an apartment in said city

It just all happened so quickly! One day I was getting excited about a summer in the mountains with Greg, hanging out with college students and applying for more jobs, hoping to eventually land one in San Marcos for the fall.

The next day I was crying and debating as I tried to figure out if this awesome job I was just offered in San Marcos was worth missing my summer in the mountains. I felt in my gut that it was.

The next day I accepted that job and then proceeded to tell all the people and sort out all the details about me changing my summer plans.

The next day I cried and felt sad about losing Colorado, but also excited about my new job.

The next day I went to San Marcos for the weekend and started realizing, this is my new life. I just signed up for this for the foreseeable future. What??

The next day I continued to feel a little like that, but I also applied for an apartment.

The next day I helped 2.42 Church set up for their Sunday service and thought, this is my new church home. These are my future friends and “family.” I also reflected on the past two years in College Station and with my Fellowship Church family and cried (with joy, but also sadness) about that.

So basically I felt all the things.

I am excited to start a new job doing something I love.
I am proud of myself for having a job lined up before graduation.
I am grateful for all the support I’ve received from my friends, family, and mentors during grad school and this decision.
I am thankful to God for this opportunity.
I am sad about not being in Colorado this summer.
I am disappointed that it all didn’t work out perfectly for me to go to LT and have a job.
I am dismayed that Greg and I will be hundreds of miles away from each other this summer.
I am nervous about starting a new life in a new place.
I am worried about making new friends all over again.
I am afraid I will never get familiar with the layout of the roads in San Marcos.
I am pumped about a summer of working on personal projects like cooking, exercising, crafting, and nesting in my new apartment.
I am hopeful about joining a new community of believers in San Marcos.
I am happy that Greg and I will be able to be in the same place in the fall and onwards.
I am glum about leaving College Station and my “family” and friends here.

I have a lot of feels to sort through, it looks like. But in the end, I think the positive emotions outweigh the negative. Yes, I am grieving the loss of my summer plans and the loss of my life in College Station, but I know it is time to move forward to new adventures, and I know this summer will be best for me in the long run. But it’s still good to sit in those emotions and feel them out as I give them to the Lord. However, I do hope this coming week is a little less emotional, because I’ve got enough stuff in my emotional cup to work through for now!

I got a job!

So most of you who follow me on Twitter or are friends with me on Facebook know, but I’m employed! With like, a big girl job!

Texas State University is located in the beautiful, hilly San Marcos, Texas.

Starting in mid/late May I will begin my new job as an academic advisor at Texas State University’s PACE Center!

The PACE (Personalized Academic and Career Exploration) Center is the first-year advising center for all incoming freshmen at Texas State. The first few months on the job will be a whirlwind of training and new student orientation as Texas State welcomes thousands of new students to San Marcos. And I’ll be in charge of advising hundreds of them! Crazy. I’m super excited to combine my love of freshmen with my master’s degree education and my interest in academic and career development through this position.

Literally. (Meme courtesy of the guys in my homegroup last year. This was part of a Valentine’s gift they gave all the girls.)

Taking this position was very bittersweet. On the one hand, I am so incredibly blessed to have a full time job lined up before I graduate. Plus the job is in San Marcos (my ideal location) and working with freshmen in an academic capacity (potentially my dream job, at least for now). On the other hand, taking this job meant I had to give up my summer internship at Colorado LT, which in turn meant giving up experimenting with full-time ministry, potentially giving up a large sum of money I worked to support raise, and a summer with Greg.

Thankfully (praise the LORD!), God is blessing this decision and redeeming many of the things I “lost” by choosing this job. Although Greg and I will be apart for 12 weeks this summer, there’s a good chance we’ll get to do a few visits back and forth during the summer. (Plus there’s the whole “We’re going to be in the same town for the foreseeable future when he gets back from Colorado” thing.) As for the ministry opportunity, I will still get a taste of ministry through volunteering with 2.42 Church, the GCM church where Greg works with a bunch of our friends at Texas State. And the money? GCM is allowing me to keep the account I am responsible for open to help assist with some ministry expenses in San Marcos!

2.42 Church Intro Video from 2.42 Church on Vimeo.

I seriously can’t believe how smoothly this all really worked out. I’ll be looking for apartments in San Marcos in the new few weeks and trying to piece together a new home (gotta find some furniture) for me and Scout!

Although I am definitely not looking forward to super-long-distance after 9 months of long distance, I am looking forward to familiarizing myself with “San Marvelous” and establishing some of my own friendships there this summer. I also have grand plans to learn to use my sewing machine and make a quilt, but we’ll see if that actually happens.

In the mean time, I’m wrapping up my life here as an Aggie in College Station. It’s been a good two years, but I guess now it’s time to trade in my “Gig ‘em, Ags!” for an “Eat ‘em up, Cats!”

Fun fact: Texas State’s colors are maroon and gold. Mizzou + A&M, anyone??

Raising my expectations

I used to pray when I was in high school or so that someday God would give me a tall boyfriend. But I had minimal expectations.

“God, I mean, just make him taller than me when we’re barefoot. Like, give me half an inch taller even if I’m just in flats. That’s all I’m asking! 6’1″! Can we make that happen?”

I had these low expectations because, guys, I’m 6 feet tall.

I was told by the photographer that I could not stand next to the bride in this photo, lest it be even more awkward than it already is!

This past week several of my good friends and acquaintances were in Michigan for a ministry conference. This conference hosted people I know from churches across the country: my church from Mizzou, my church at A&M, my future church at Texas State, plus friends from other churches I met at LT 2010 and friends who planted a church in Pittsburgh. It was a collision of my worlds in some ways, which is why I saw these two photos:

Greg & Mazvita

Greg & Amanda

It was funny to see my Mizzou friends excited to meet (or “remeet”) Greg now that we’re dating. But it was also funny to get these pictures because it emphasizes how tall Greg is!

Because compared to me…

…Greg isn’t that tall.

I mean he’s got six inches on me, but that’s the national average height difference between most couples, according to The Tall Book.

So it just goes to show you that sometimes God gives us more than we could imagine asking for. Or even fathom possible! My 13-to-22-year-old mind would have never have thought myself lucky enough to date someone who is a “normal” amount taller than me. And so together, I think we help one another feel “normal,” which is nice for some freakishly tall people like us.

Ms. Lindsay Cochrum, M.S.

Today I officially passed my master’s degree comprehensive exam and qualified to graduate in 39 days with a master’s degree in student affairs administration in higher education. I’m trying to take it all in.

Honestly, passing my comps was sort of given. I don’t mean that in a flippant way; I just mean that our program prepares us well for our field, and solving and presenting a case study using all the skills and knowledge I learned in the past two years was more of a natural culmination than a grueling test. So it was a big deal, but it also wasn’t.

I guess it’s just strange for me to think that in a little more than a month, I’m done with College Station. I’m done with homework and reading and writing papers (for now.) It’s a little hard to grasp after being in school full-time for 19 years. (NINETEEN YEARS??)

It’s a little hard to grasp because two years here FLEW. I remember this time last year looking up to my second-year-friend Erica and thinking she was so grown up and accomplished and professional, and she is. But so am I! I am that second year that Erica was applying for jobs and going off into the real world. When did that happen?

So much as transpired over the past two years here. I’ve grown so much. I am constantly astounded by much growth occurs in such short spans on time. God works quickly! Two years ago preparing to graduate from Mizzou seems so long ago. I thought I was mature then, and I was, but I’ve grown even more since then.

I joined a new church and a new homegroup.
I made an entirely new set of friends.
I lived with roommates for the first time since I was a freshman.
I wrote 20-page papers like it was nothing.
I read and read and read for class.
I read for fun some, too.
I advised student groups.
I counseled students.
I went through heartbreak and conflict with friends that ended well by the grace of the Lord.
I got a cat.
I left the country.
I lived in Oregon.
I experienced the Lord in new and intimate ways.
My love for worship and my skills in that area blossomed.
I had my first date.
I had my first kiss.
I entered the stage of life where close friends start getting married.
I had bed bugs.
My first close relative passed away.
I shared the gospel with someone and then got to baptize them!
I somewhat conquered my fear of biking.
I was reunited with wildflower season in Texas.
I went to my first professional work conferences and met people in my field from across the country.
And so much more.

The next two years of my life are pretty hazy, but I am PRIMED for some BIG life transitions again. I’m not entirely sure where I will be and what I will be doing and with whom I’ll be doing things, but I know it’ll be good and that the Lord will continue to provide for me and grow me.

It all goes back to my blog title that I picked when I was just a wee-little 20-year old half-way through her junior year of college.

I am in progress. And I’m excited to see the progress that occurs in the next two years.

200,000 miles*

I’ve traveled and will continue to travel most weekends this semester. Here’s what I’ve done so far and what is to come (loosely estimated)…

Winter Break Trip
Galveston Port to Houston Hobby Airport: ~40 miles
Flight from Hobby to Love Field: 225 miles
Dallas Love Field to Fort Worth Apple Store to Arlington to San Marcos: ~286 miles
San Marcos to College Station: 125 miles
Total: 676 miles

Trip to GCM Intern Training
College Station to San Marcos: 125 miles
San Marcos to Austin airport: ~37 miles
Flight from Austin to Detroit: 1,165 miles
Detroit to Ann Arbor: ~43 miles
Ann Arbor to Detroit: ~43 miles
Flight from Detroit to Austin: 1,165 miles
Austin airport to San Marcos: ~37 miles
San Marcos to College Station: 125 miles
Total: 2750

AMCF Women’s Retreat
College Station to Fort Parker State Park: ~80 miles
Fort Parker State Park to College Station: ~80 miles
Total: 190 miles

2.42 Women’s Retreat
College Station to San Marcos: 125 miles
San Marcos to College Station: 125 miles
Total: 250 miles

Spring Break
College Station to San Antonio: 172 miles
San Antonio to College Station: 172 miles
College Station to Columbia, MO: ~760 miles
Columbia, MO to Arlington: ~600 miles
Arlington to College Station: 186 miles
Total: 1890 miles

Birthday Weekend in San Marcos
College Station to San Marcos: 125 miles
San Marcos to Austin to San Marcos: ~60 miles
San Marcos to College Station: 125 miles
Total: 310 miles

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED IN 2013 SO FAR: 6063

Galveston Wedding Weekend
College Station to Alvin: 124 miles
Alvin to Galveston to Alvin: 60 miles
Alvin to College Station: 124 miles
Total: 208 miles

Arlington Weekend
College Station to Arlington: 186 miles
Arlington to College Station: 186 miles
Total: 372 miles

Den Reunion in Houston
College Station to Houston: ~97 miles
Houston to College Station: ~97 miles
Total: 194 miles

The Rocket Summer Concert Weekend
College Station to San Marcos: 125 miles
San Marcos to Austin to San Marcos: ~67 miles
San Marcos to College Station: 125 miles
Total: 317 miles

Homegroup Trip to San Marcos
College Station to San Marcos: 125 miles
San Marcos to College Station: 125 miles
Total: 250 miles

TOTAL ANTICIPATED MILAGE FOR SPRING 2013: 7404 miles

And that doesn’t count any more job interview travel or summer travel! I’ll be interested to see what I rack up for 2013 by December!

*This post’s title is a reference to a Rocket Summer song. Google it.

24

I’m on a blogging roll! I think I may be a certifiable binge-blogger… nothing for WEEKS, then BAM! Four posts in five days!

Anyway, last week was my 24th birthday. I figured I needed to blog about it because I blogged about 23 and 22. I really can’t believe I’m 24. I’m officially in my mid-20s. It’s weird that I am anywhere from two to six years older than most college athletes. I am one year away from being a quarter-of-a-century old! But I don’t really feel depressed or old or anything. Part of this might be because I shared my birthday week with my now-28-year-old boyfriend. Nothing like a little perspective to make you feel young and spry!

The Monday of my birthday week my roommates threw together a small surprise part with about 5 of my friends, which was really sweet. Thursday, on my actual birthday, my roommate Megan took me to Chuy’s for apps and happy hour margs. Overall, it was a simple birthday!

Birthday Tex-Mex with Megan!

But because Greg’s birthday is three days before mine, we celebrated with a sickeningly adorable joint birthday party in San Marcos this weekend.

Lighting the candles on our shared cake! He lit my pink candles, and I lit his blue candles because everyone knows you can’t light your own birthday candles.

Happy joint birthday! It’s hard to tell in this photo, but the pink and blue candles spelled out both “24″ and “28″ because I am super clever.

We had a bunch of friends from Greg’s church over for cake (that recipe pretty much, just minus the cream cheese in the icing), food, games, and then we watched Brave because Greg associates me with blazingly ginger heroines. How sweet!

Greg got me a Texas State T-shirt (Eat ‘em up, Bobcats!) and an ADORABLE kitty coin bank from Japan, which is slightly broken now due to some party guests wanting to see if the kitty would take chips and toothpicks as well as spare change… And now Greg’s ordering me a new one, haha.

I got Greg the card game Bang! and five Bill Cosby CDs because he loves Bill Cosby. I also made him a jar with date ideas for our summer in Colorado.

Not my photo, but it’s the same concept. I colored coded the sticks for various types of dates (day trips, things in Estes Park, things on the Y grounds, hikes, etc.)

Overall, it was a really fun birthday that I did not mind sharing at all. Hopefully there will be more shared birthday week events in years to come!

Greg sporting the Mizzou T-shirt I mentioned in my spring break post at our party. Doesn’t he look great in black and gold?? Go Tigers!