Come here You, I've got a big hug and a high five with Your name on it!!

So it was a typical Friday morning. Wake up, feed the dogs, poop and pee the dogs and then come back inside after being out in the white winter wonderland that Michigan becomes every January. However, when I returned I noticed my wife was in the shower. Odd, I thought since she typically only showers every 36-48 hours and I could have swore it had only been about 24... As I'm putting my gloves on the raising counter of a bar, I noticed the little black electronic I have been known to call "My Cellphone." I clicked the right side button and my heart began racing... "You have a new Voicemail".

Now this could be anybody but I have been anticipating a call from the interview I had the week before. With my heart pounding I skip the voicemail check and go straight to the missed calls. My blood began pumping and a rush went through my body as I saw the numerals... 7-3-4. No these are not my lucky horse track numbers... (although now they maybe) it is the area code for the Ann Arbor area. Crap.

With shaky fingers and the feeling like you have to go pee really bad, but can't find a restroom ... I hit 1 send and typed in my passcode. The verizon computer lady begins "You have..." I KNOW I KNOW get on with it!

The first words of the message begin and its Dan from Thomson-Reuters... cool as a cucumber but with the voice of a grizzly bear he introduces himself again and says he's calling about THE position. In this moment my heart stopped. Time slowed and complete adrenaline took over my body. I have been in many pressure situations in my life... Sudden death Penalty Kicks against the Cross town rival, taking the ACT, multiple interviews, busting peers with alcohol as a RA, meeting my now wife's parents for the first time in High School when we were dating, calling the pizza deliver guy... but nothing compared to the anxiety I felt in those split seconds before hearing what he had to say. This was it. Are we moving to Ann Arbor or back to Midland, in the Parents basement? Success or "Oh, we'll get em next time"? Family Video or Thomson-Reuters? Life or Death? (maybe not the last one...)

Well I know you all know what happened but it was seriously one of the first times I almost completely collapsed out of pure joy. Now, I'm a man so I caught myself and played it cool enough to tremble out to carrie while she was in the shower that I had a job. Did it go how I imagined? Not at all, I wasn't even happy... I did not shout, I did not yell, I didn't even prance around the room or do the I've got a job dance... I just trembled and staggered around like a bubbling bafoon. A HUGE, ENORMOUS, TREMENDOUS, GIGANTIC weight had been lifted and I felt like I couldn't even stand.

It wasn't until later that it truly all hit me and I realized just how much God had been working in me during the past months. He had kept me together. He had made me strong. He had carried the burden of despair and fear which without Him, would have crumbled me. I did not finally feel the weight of those feelings fall upon me, instead I felt the Love which He has for me. It was His Love which broke me. It was His Love which carried me. It is His Love which continues to Save me.

So, come here You, I've got a big hug and a high five with Your name on it!