Spectacular!

I don't know if y'all know this but I get extremely uncomfortable when people compliment me. That said, today was an uncomfortable day.

We started training this morning about half an hour after nine and most of the day was spent in practicing with the interview, first with the hard copy and then with the computer database, which still needs some bugs worked out.

I was interviewed the first time around and by the time I got to switch roles with Joanne, we were given a break, so I didn't get to do the interview. When we returned, I got to work with Mary Beth. She's the director of the program and has a Ph.D.

Halfway through the interview (by this time, we were using the computer database) she stopped to tell me that I was doing very well. I ducked my head, said thanks and continued with the interview.

Basically, by the end of the day, the two women from New York that are working this program told me that I was really good at the interviewing process and two of my co-workers (including one of the supervisors from the Dallas EMSi division) used the word spectacular.

Basically, everyone was amazed at the fact that I was able to completely grasp the computer database (the other co-workers in training were asking me to help them with understanding what to do and where to go) and do so well with the interviewing process despite the database bugs.

Why?

Because it was my second day on the job. If this continues, then I will be getting that raise Tessa mentioned AND will probably be asked to stay with EMSI after my trial period (which is what I am praying for).

Now why is a pay raise such a big deal? Because, at the moment, I am getting payed $10 an hour. That's great money! Enough for me to move to Hewitt (which I will do at the end of January if I am still going strong at EMSI), and continue paying my bills (credit cards AND school loans). If I get a raise and get asked to stay at EMSI, not only will I be able to do the above, but I will actually have money to save for my trip to Italy, as well as taking some classes at McLennan Community College AND looking into a Master's program in Counseling.

God is definitely amazing. He continually awes me when I see how He looks after me. I am continually praying to follow wherever He may lead me...so, Krysia, Stephen...I may not be heading down to El Paso on the 6th of December as I had originaly planned...but if I get the days off and I have the money, I'll fly down for Christmas!

Just for the fun of it, here are some more pictures to share. This is a picture of Tulsa in the evening, probably after a rainy day. One thing I must say I miss about Oklahoma is the beautiful sunsets and skies I got to witness practically everyday.

Here in Waco, I can see the sun setting behind the ALICO building from my bedroom window, but it is not the same as watching the sun setting while driving West on the highway towards your apartment...and yes, this picture was taken while I was driving. I am quite adept at doing that but after my Defensive Driving Class (which cost me $30) I won't continue mobile photography.

This is a picture of Memphis skies. Back in January of this year, when I had to fly down to Austin for the Mid-Year Reflection Retreat, I ended up having to take a connecting flight (both ways) through Memphis, Tenneesse.

While in Austin, the day before I was to fly back to Tulsa, I pulled a calf muscle, which made walking extremely painful, especially after the two hour flight from Austin to Memphis. Anyway, once in Memphis, because I had to hobble across the HUGE terminal to get to my gate, I actually missed my flight by three minutes and ended up on stand-by in Memphis for six hours.

And since I seem to be having a sky and clouds theme, I thought I'd share what a Florida sky looks like with a hurrican near by. This was taking last July, while in Orlando, Florida for the LCMS National Youth Gathering.

I think this was on the second day, when the "arm" of a hurricane actually passed through Orlando, bad enough to create menacing skies but not bad enough to cause any damage at all. In fact, it had stopped raining by the time we headed back to our hotel later that night.





My time in Florida was one of my favorites. I absolutely loved Orlando and the atmosphere down there. I also got to go to Kissimee, Florida to spend the day with my youth at Cocoa Beach and then we went to Medieval Knights for dinner later that evening. This great week in Florida was started by an all day trip to Disneyland in Orlano -Or was it Disneyworld?

This is a picture of the cross at Groom, Texas. I stopped there on my way home to El Paso last Christmas to see the Stations of the Cross at Groom before reaching Amarillo, where I speant the night with Amanda (who hasn't bothered to update her blog with information and pictures of her new home and work...shame, shame, shame).

I took pictures of all the stations and several of the HUGE cross that's right in the middle of the Stations (which are set in a circle).

Oklahoma, Florida, Tenneesee, and Texas...these are the spectacular skies that I've seen and have deemed worthy of photography and sharing. Now I wrap this blog up with a good bye and talk to ya soon!