I heard back from Mystery Community X, with some good news. In that, I basically have all the information that I need but I will still receive a brochure from them, that a particular thing I’ve been doing is very good already; and that they are holding a retreat in a couple months for people who are interested in their lay/Third Order. Sadly, I doubt I’ll be able to make it to the retreat, since it would require me missing a day of classes (including one lab class) and driving in really bad weather (think: snow). The earliest I could get over to this community is Spring Break or even the summer vacation time. I have yet to write back and explain my situation.
The priest also gave me a couple recommends for books to utilize. I’ve been hunting on Amazon for stuff but the shipping is rather pricey. Nothing too bad, but if I can get it for cheap then I will. 
One of the things that I’m most concerned about is again, explaining all of this to family mainly. Should I tell my mom before I petition or after I’ve been accepted? I can practically guarantee that she’d flip out when I do finally make a retreat (and I’m pretty sure that it will involve a celibate male = sexually repressed and will just lash out at the first female he sees 
). I do hope, pray, and wish that I’m wrong … but the track record is not the most promising. Then there is the chance that she may not understand the difference between lay religious and religious brothers and sisters, or the difference between priests and nuns and brothers and sisters. And there’s a chance she’s not going to want it explained.
And then, there’s the urge to just let it out here, right now. So I can mainly stop talking about it in code (:P) but also for me, on the inside. Like when I made my announcement about converting to Catholicism. Not looking for approval but just to get it out there.
I was intending to wait until I had petitioned and had been accepted, but the more that I think about it the more that I find it not as appealing and perhaps an avenue for pride and vainglory. I’d like to not walk down that road. Because I’m not doing this for pride or to be more pious or more Catholic than the average person. But rather because it’s something that I feel called to do, exactly like I was called to the Catholic Church.
My Mystery Community X resides in Idaho. Because of InternetNuts™ I won’t say where. But, they’re in Idaho. They’re a small monastery of monks, deeply committed to hospitality. This particular monastery has about 150-175 odd lay people associated with them, the majority of which being middle aged and older. The particular order of this monastery and these lay people is the Benedictines, and the entire trek that I’ve made in the Third Orders – starting with the Carmelites and detouring through the Dominicans, has ended up at the doorstep of the Benedictine Oblates. Just like that initial fear that came with realizing that I was indeed called to convert to Catholicism and thus, change my entire life; the same fear has settled in with the Benedictine Oblates. Not a fear of a Rule too strict, but just that fear of the future, giving yourself 100% to God and trusting Him to put you where He wants you, even if it’s not what you wanted or even dreamed of.
That’s where the fear is – not knowing much about the upcoming couple of months, except that they won’t be easy and it will require a good amount of reflection and life adjustments. But as scary as it is, I know it will be worth it. And if for some reason the Benedictines are not where God wants me, we all know He’ll let me know about it.
Fr. L has done some of his education at a Benedictine university and is aware of my desire to be an Oblate. He has not said anything to dissaude me, and has been very encouraging. I am going to talk to him in the upcoming weeks about this and see what he recommends regarding me and my inability to go on a retreat any time soon (as well as the priest at the Monastery).
So. There we go. Shaking like a leaf and a whole bunch of nervous. I’d appreciate prayers with all this. 
Latin > EVERYTHING.
It seems to me that they should be InterNuts to simplify.
Yeah for Latin.
You have prayers in abundance over here. My only suggestion would be to keep praying – try the Office if you can, and also try to introduce a small bit of lectio and reading the Rule. Of course, you’ll probably get all this in your nov, but it’s never too early to begin