The wedding is over and life has started to return to some sense of normalcy. We were blessed with beautiful weather, a wonderful ceremony, and tons of family and friends who were able to join us for the very special day. For those who were able to attend, it was wonderful to see you! We honeymooned in Niagara Falls, Canada, and enjoyed the short vacation immediately following the wedding. Back in Maryland, we found a nice, cozy apartment as our first home and are working to figure out all our commuting and work schedules. Once the planting season is over, my travel schedule will being to pick up. So far I will be visiting St. Louis, Louisville, and possibly Tampa and Nashville.
I have now been working in DC for eight months. Since I am technically an intern, I spend quite a bit of time in training in addition to my responcibilities at work. As elections approach, life gets quiet in government, everyone waiting for the election results to be announced. I am not sure how much my job will be affected, but we will soon see!! Life is absolutely wonderful with Chris. Chris and I are best friends and we are very happy to finally be married and starting our lives together.
The job... I work as an Agricultural Marketing Specialist for the USDA Livestock and Seed Program. Our office oversees producer checkoff programs for beef, lamb, pork, and soybeans. If you hear a commercial on TV or the radio about "Pork, the Other White Meat," or "Beef, It's Whats for Dinner," then you have seen something that has been approved by my office. I spend my days approving advertisements, news releases, budgets, projects, and almost any other expenditure by one of our Boards. Most recently I have started working fulltime on the Soybean program, which has been a very exciting learning experience.
Life before Work.... I moved to Florida a few short weeks after I finished my bachelor degree at Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo (2003). In August 2005 I received my masters degree in Food and Resource Economics, where I did research on low carbohydrate diets and the US Orange Juice Industry. From then until I accepted my current position, I worked as an adjuct professor at City College and a research assistant at the University of Florida. I would like to eventually earn my doctorate, so I may return to school in the future. For now, I am excited about the prospect of earning a real paycheck and finally working as a career woman!That wonderful guy.... Chris, my husband, was in the Navy and most recently stationed in Jacksonville. His job was as an Electronics Technician--he really enjoys taking things apart and unlike me, reads the directions before putting stuff together! He will start his new job for Beretta USA as an Electronics Electrician after the wedding. He is a worthy debater and avid news junkie, enjoys cartoons, and believes that I can cook anything. Chris is also an avid car enthusiast, spending many hours looking for car parts online and dreaming about his favorite car, the 1969 Pontiac GTO "The Judge." We have especially enjoyed the extra time spent together as my research duties were completed. We spent Thanksgiving at his parent's house in Cocoa Beach and then traveled to Las Vegas in December for the Grand Canyon, Tom Jones, comedy shows, all-you-can-eat seafood bars, and meeting my parents.
While in Gainesville I was active at Oak Park Baptist Church and served as the Youth Director for 1 1/2 years. August 2004 I felt called into youth ministry and have been serving for the last year as the Youth Director at my church. Constantly amazed by the love God had given me for teenagers, I enjoyed (almost) every opportunity I had to share my joy in Christ with each of my students.
