Hooray Finals! (Gerrit) (Archive)

This week I started finals. I only actually had one today, but next week I have three... on tuesday.

This semester has been ridiculously busy. Some say I should have guessed that by the fact that I registered for 21 credit hours worth of classes and was holding down a part time job. Trust me... I guessed it, but there's no way I could have predicted how crazy the last few weeks have been.

Between three group projects worth around 25%-30% of my grade in each respective class, scores of tests, and starting training for my internship I haven't hardly had a chance to breathe... much less blog.

Despite all of the business, there have been some incredible events of various life-change that have happened over the past few weeks.

• The Dan Mullen Era at Mississippi State ended its first season with a victory over Ole Miss


• I secured A's in two classes in which my average was below 90, just by talking to my professors and explaining why I deserved an A


• My systems design team tied for first in best system of the semester (we built a website called "beerforbully.com"... I wish I could devote a whole post to explaining its awesomeness)


• I started training for my internship with Garan Manufacturing. I'll officially start in January and work full-time throughout the Spring semester.


• oh... and I got an incredible job offer from ExxonMobile in Houston, TX for after I graduate...
  

On top of all that, I've been working on re-designing the website, reading nerdy books about technology, and trying to figure out how to be an accountant for a semester...

I'm so looking forward to getting done with this semester and heading home for christmas! Almost there!

It's Great To Be An Auburn Tiger (Erin) (Archive)

This past weekend I went to my first Iron Bowl ever. I know this is kind of hard to believe, considering how I have grown up being indoctrinated by Auburn everything. But it was my first (and hopefully not only considering our move to Houston) Iron Bowl and it was a fantastic experience.

I really don't think I have ever been so proud to be a part of Auburn.

First of all, even though we lost we played amazingly. Really better than anyone thought we would.

Second of all, I have NEVER seen the student section so excited and crazy. I actually had to sit down because my stomach was starting to hurt from all the jumping and screaming.

Third of all, after it was over no one wanted to leave. We all stood around and then someone started the "It's great to be an Auburn Tiger" chant, and then when the football players went back to the locker room from the field we just cheered and cheered for them. And I swear I almost started crying.

The day just really exemplified why I love Auburn so much. Time with my family. Being around other Auburn families. Watching the team play, and cheering even when we loose because we played a good game.

Even though we are moving to Houston, I hope hope hope that I will still be able to come back to the Plains occasionally. Auburn has always been such an important part of my life, and I don't intend on letting that change just because we're moving to Texas.

Exciting News! (Erin) (Archive)

It's official today! Gerrit and I are moving to Houston next year! He officially accepted the job this morning.

Gerrit went to Houston at the beginning of this month for interviews at Exxon, and came back so excited about the job possibility. He heard back with an offer within a few days and we pretty much knew that we would take it. It's a great offer with great benefits (they really take care of you), and Gerrit is so excited about what kind of work he would be doing (computer stuff that I couldn't explain haha). But even though we felt really sure about this we decided to wait to make it official because he had another interview with another company later in the month.

But now he has accepted the job and we are so excited and I am so proud of him! It's quite scary still, and there are lots of details to be ironed out, but we know it will be a fun adventure. We of course have been doing lots of research, and I have ordered some books about Houston.

Sometime in May probably we are going to be going to Houston to look for somewhere to live. Exxon is wonderful in that they are going to help us out with all of that. I'm excited to go and see the new city we will be living in!

Weekending With Erin's Family (Gerrit) (Archive)

This weekend has been a wonderful time to hang out with Erin and her family. I came down on Friday evening and helped Erin get her trailer clean for company, then her parents arrived and we had a nice time just hanging out, visiting, and catching up. We talked about the possibility of Houston and I described what this coming Thursday and Friday have in store for me on my site tour.

On Saturday, we got up pretty early to head to the Auburn v. Ole Miss game (which kicked off at the odd time of 11:21am). Erin and I had to be there early to get good seats in the student section. We met up with one of Erin's friends and her boyfriend before the game at a tailgate, then we headed into the stadium. Due to the threat of rain and the early kickoff, we didn't expect to struggle to find seats. I was surprised at how many people were there already, but we got great seats to the game! We were four rows up in the corner of the end zone (here's the link to a pic -> http://twitpic.com/noojc) and actually made it on TV (here's the link to two pics my dad took off his TV -> http://twitpic.com/nvop0 and http://twitpic.com/nvoim). It was a really fun game... and it was good to watch Auburn have some success on offense. There were some HUGE hits laid out yesterday... it was a very exciting game to watch.

After the game was over we headed back to Erin's trailer to get ready for the big fiesta. Family, friends, and significant others all piled into her living room for feasting (no seriously... there was so much food), chatting, and more football! I was really pleased that the Mississippi State game was on TV... and I really enjoyed getting to watch us play a great game too :) We beat Kentucky 31 - 24, making my day a perfect three for three. 1. getting to watch auburn win 2. getting to watch Ole Miss lose 3. getting to watch State win.

That deserves a big smiley :D

Now we're gearing up to head to lunch with Erin's family and grandparents... and are hoping that all parties remembered the time changed last night...

A Lone Star on the Horizon? (Gerrit) (Archive)

I haven't posted about this situation that's been brewing because: a) I didn't want to jinx it... and b) I was worried that I'd get your hopes up (and in the meantime over-inflate my own)

Anyway, now is a good time to give you a very important update on a big decision that Erin and I have been thinking and praying a lot on recently...

Around three weeks ago I went to an information session for ExxonMobil and really was impressed by what they had to say. The jobs they described that they were recruiting for in their Information Systems department sounded excellent, and the benefits even better! Only one problem... a job with Exxon would require a move to Houston.

A few days later, they invited me out to dinner with some of the other recruits they had decided to interview. The dinner brought even more enticing information to light, and I got to sit down and talk with a lady who works in their information systems department. She told me her favorite thing about working for Exxon was that they rotate you through positions around every two years. They do this to keep their employees fresh, innovative, and to constantly look for the managerial talent. A great part of this is that often, you get to sit down with your supervisor and pick your next assignment.

Very excited, I went to my interview the next day. I was relieved when the lady I had talked to at the dinner turned out to be my interviewer! Already being comfortable around her made the interview much easier. The interview went well,and she told me that I should hear back in the next few weeks.

Just over a week and a half later (now we're up to this past Monday) I got a phone call from a woman in the ExxonMobil HR department. She informed me that I had made the cut and asked if I would be available to fly out on November 5th and 6th to Houston for a site visit and a series of additional interviews. She told me that I wouldn't be competing for a position with the other recruits, that there were plenty of positions, but gave the impression that the interviews would be more designed to determine placement within the company.

After a quick call with Travel to set up my itinerary, I was all set to fly out of Birmingham on November 5!

Erin and I are VERY excited/nervous/scared/pumped/uncertain/anxious about this possible move to Houston. Even though it would be very very hard to be away from "home" and from so much of our families, it would be a fun adventure.

Please pray for us as we work towards making this big decision, that Erin would be able to find a good job there too, and that we'd be able to find the perfect place to live (if this is what we decide).

Nothing is set in stone yet (I don't actually have an offer... and won't hear official until the beginning of December), but Erin and I are doing a lot of research.

Your prayers are appreciated!