this is definitely for real

so i took my last test in organic chemistry today (got a 98... everybody say a prayer for dr. cameron because he's probably feeling pretty inadequate about that). and thursday i have my final. and then-- my samford days are over. i'm loading my stuff in a uhaul saturday evening and moving to louisville sunday morning.

and for anyone who doesn't know this yet (can't remember who i have and haven't told... everything's kindof a blur these days)... i start my M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics on monday. the grad program up there that i turned down earlier this year e-mailed me back and said they had a spot open up in the master's program if i wanted it. since i'm gonna have to lay out at least a year (probably 2) before dental school, i figured i might as well pick up a master's along the way. plus, learning all that stuff ahead of time will help me make dental school "get in line" (that's for all the money mikes out there). and help me get into a DMD/PhD dual-degree track if i want to (thereby making dental school cost $0.00).

so there's that.

i guess it's my turn now to go ahead and ask for your prayers (in addition to the one for dr. cameron)... about all the same things eric and david have mentioned in their posts (excluding, of course, eric's marriage-related prayer requests). also, please be praying for my work ethic (seriously, although it should be easier with john thousands of miles away. no offense. love you, dude), because i only get a whopping 3 days off of school before i start my master's courses, and i'm feeling pretty exhausted at this point.

it's really strange finally leaving birmingham. new city, new school, new people, new church. it's kindof scary and exciting at the same time. but i'm trying to embrace it, hope for the best, and trust God with it all... because I did the leg work to double-check, and this is definitely for real.