Come along for the Ride!

I am so glad you are here. Stay with us as we travel everywhere. I hope you will enjoy the ride.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Finally, joy cometh in the morning

We got up this morning at 4:15am. We had a little over 2 hour drive to Pittsburgh, but traffic backs up so badly down there we knew we had to leave early. We left the house around 5:00 and drove straight to Pittsburgh. We parked in a downtown parking garage at 7:17. The Dept. of Vital Records didn't open until 8:00 so we found a little place to have some breakfast and coffee.
At exactly 8:00 we were first in line for a birth certificate and by 8:10 we walked out of that building with a brand spanking new one in hand. Whew, I feel 1/3 happier.
We had to go down 3 stories out of the building and around the block to get to the DMV. How fortunate that it was that close by. It did not open until 8:30 so we stood outside with several other people and waited again. Two young ladies came by and asked if any of us knew where to go to get a birth certificate. I was so happy that I was able to give them that information so easily.
At exactly 8:32 they unlocked the doors and in we went. I was first in line to take a driving endorsement exam. They called my number immediately. I was more worried about handing them my birth certificate than about taking the test, but all went well. So off to the little booth to take the test.
Now Pops and I have been studying and practicing so much that I was feeling pretty confident. Until......the very first question popped up on the screen. What? It didn't look familiar to me at all and none of the answers seemed to sound right. I panicked. And pushed the skip button. I answered the next 25 questions only missing one. Hallelujah, I passed. Now I'm 2/3 happier. I really did want to do a little happy dance right there on the spot but I got myself together. lol
Now where was that parking garage? Oh yeah, I think it's this way. Traffic was much better coming out of the city. Off to Greensburg.
We got to Greensburg a little after 10:00. We had to drive around for awhile until we located the State Police Barracks. Once inside I was told that the computer was down, could I come back? Oh no!.... I explained how far away I lived and that I desperately needed this done today. Well, they said, I could drive to Pittsburgh and have it done. Can you even believe that?
No wait, we will try to get it booted up.
I prayed to God, "Please, make a way." And He did. The computer booted up and I got my prints done. Thank you, Father God. So now you would think that I would be 3/3rds (completely) happier, right? But I wasn't. I felt a little like "what next?" Where was my faith and trust?
When I got back into the car, I said to Pops "Let's call the Post Office and see when we can get an appointment to have our passports done." We need those for going in and out of Canada with the truck.
"Can you be here by 1:00?" 
"Yeah," we say. So off to Cumberland, MD. We were still in Greensburg. It was 11:30.
I told Pops that his birth certicate, which we need for passports was at the house we would have to swing by there and get it. It looked like we were going to be 15 minutes late. We called and that was ok. Good.
We got to the Post Office at 1:20 and filled out our applications, got our photos taken and wrote out 3 different checks for each one of us. I watched the lady gather and staple all of our paperwork together. Imagine my shock when I realized she had just stapled my brand spanking new birth certificate in with all of the other papers. "Don't worry," she said. "You'll get it back."
Truthfully, I don't care if I don't EVER have to see it again.
We got home about 3:30. The phone woke me up at 5:00. What a day!
Thank you all so much for your prayers, thoughts and comments.

2 comments:

Kristie @ Comfy Cozy said...

I was going to suggest that maybe you could pick up a birth certificate in China Town but it all worked out. LOL!!

Glad all your t's are crossed and i's are dotted and everything is ready to go. God IS good!!!

Anonymous said...

I was thinking about you and hoping that all went well. I'm so glad you got your certificate and passed your test. I bet you are so relieved!

Too funny about China Town!! Hey maybe that's where the president should go to get his!