Elijah's newest adventure

For the last 3ish years since he graduated, Elijah has been working. He worked at the Chick-fil-A in Monroe, then when we moved here, he got a job at the local Chick-fil-A.

Last November, he was having some medical issues and was fed up with his job, so he finally quit. Over the next few months he had multiple doctor and specialist visits (not my story to tell), but he is fine, and has a diagnosis, currently no meds needed. In March, he got a job at First Watch, where he is still currently working.

Elijah still hangs out with friends from Chick-fil-a and has made some friends at First Watch as well. He learned to play pickleball sometime last year and they love going and playing. He has also started making friends at the Young Adult group at Church.

Over the last few years he has been researching and talking about going to college. But, he didn't want to go until he knew what he wanted to do. He did not want to waste time and money while he figured it out. This summer, he finally decided on what he wanted to do. He will be getting an associates in Information Technology-Business Solutions, with an additional class he can also get a certificate in Data Analytics (which is the plan) at the local community college (yay for a 10 minute commute and living at home 😉).

The road to college has not been a smooth one. August was VERY stressful trying to get everything in place. It took multiple in-person visits to sort everything out (although we are still working on getting his financial aid set). However, he started classes on Monday of this week. He has three classes online, and two in-person. So, MWF he studies at home and T/TH he is at the college for classes, and works on the weekends. 

Right now, his emotions are all over the place. He bounces between thinking he can do it, to thinking he can't. Some things are easier than others and he is trying to get into the routine of everything, but obviously, this big of a change is a huge stressor. And, you all know he hates change (and hated school as well). Plus, our house is still on the market...

I caught him unaware with the first picture, these were taken at 6:30 AM on Monday, he was gearing up to start his school work!! 

On Tuesday, he came home in-between classes and told me about his first class. HE SPOKE IN CLASS. If you know him at all, you know this is huge. He said he didn't just talk, he was the most talkative in both his classes that day 😂😂.

To say we are proud of him would be an understatement. We never pushed him to go to college, we wanted it to be his decision. We are proud of him for making it and figuring out what he wanted to do. Now, we are proud of him for what he is trying to accomplish. It's not going to be easy (or maybe once he gets the hang of everything, it will), but we are hopeful it will all be worth it.

I would ask that as you think of him, send up prayers for him. Pray that he will get into the school routine again, and that he will remember what he is studying (and why). Pray that it would be a good experience for him, and that on the hard days he won't be tempted to give up.

"To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Philippians 4:20

 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17