So, What's Next?

It seems that Mike and I have reached a crossroads in our life and find many people asking us, "What's next?" Our last two years and eight months of marriage have been spent as college students. But as of this last weekend, we have officially lost the title of college students and are now college graduates! WAHOO!!! For those of you who don't know, Mike graduated in Business Management, with an emphasis in Finance, and a cluster in web design. I graduated in Biology and Health Education. For those of you who are wondering, here is what is next: (...and keep in mind, that like usual, we only have the next six months of our lives planned. After that, who really knows?)

For Mike: Michael was offered a second internship with World Minerals in Lompoc, California. It is a huge company, the largest open-pit mine in the United States and is owned by the largest mining company in the world. Mike doesn't actually work in the mine, he works in their corporate offices punching numbers and figuring out problems. But, he does now own a hard hat, steel toe boots, and can technically be called a miner... It is for six months and after much thought and prayer, we have decided to accept their offer. The people there absolutely love him and Mike completely loved his job there, as well as the people and the beautiful beach! This time around, he will be working in the Customer Service department, rather than the logistics and supply departments, because he didn't have time to get any experience in that area last summer. He's a little worried about that because he will be dealing with more customers directly, who sometimes can get really irate, but it can't be worse than pest control, right?! He has already signed up for a class to help him prepare to take the GMAT within the next few months, because he wants to go to Grad school in about 2 years. I'm voting for grad school in the east coast, another adventure! He plans on spending his free time studying, playing golf, basketball, and soccer, learning more about web design, playing his xbox, and just enjoying life like he usually does!

For Brit: I am doing my student teaching at Bountiful High School in Utah. Yes, this means that Mike and I will be separated for about 2 1/2 months, but it just couldn't be avoided. We feel that it is the right thing to do. For some reason, the Lord wants us in Santa Maria, California and this is the only way to get us there. I am excited for this challenge, but I will miss Mike more than anything in the whole world! I will be living with my parents and working so hard to make my cooperating teachers happy. I am actually going to be teaching my major and my minor, which hardly ever happens, and means twice as much work. But, I will have a rockin' portfolio by the time I am done, which will hopefully help me find a job in California...which seems impossible for most people to do, except for Mike, so wish me luck!

For both of us together: When we are reunited once again in Cali, we are going to spend more time sight-seeing in that beautiful area, enjoying each other's company! We have several trips planned that we are looking forward to this next year. For graduation, Mike's parents surprised us with a trip to anywhere we wanted to go in the world. We have decided to visit where Mike served his mission, the Dominican Republic, in June! We are so excited! Also, we have my family reunion in August, at my most favorite place in the whole world, Catherine Creek Lodge. Mike's Colombian family is having a reunion in Idaho sometime during the summer and his dad's family is having a family reunion during October on a cruise (last I heard, we're probably going to be cruising the Panama Canal-so cool!) So many adventures!

I know that the next six months are going to fly by in a blur. I will try to keep everyone updated on where we are going after that! Hopefully, we will be able have plans that extend past six months, but we just seems to love moving, making new friends, and having adventures. I want to thank everyone, most especially our families, for all of their love and support. The last few years have been hard work and we are so grateful for all the help we have received along the way. I know that we are going and doing what the Lord wants us to do and that gives me great confidence that we will be given great opportunities to help build His kingdom and become better disciples. If you work hard and are obedient, YOU WILL BE BLESSED, we have definitely been!