The Marquez Family: We did it!

So, we finally decided to jump on the bandwagon and create a family blog. Part of the reason we hadn't jumped in before now is because Danny doesn't care much for writing and I don't feel like I have anything interesting to say. BUT... nevertheless, we are doing it. Reasons why? Well, perhaps it's because a lot of friends are moving farther away and it's just easier to keep up with what everyone is doing. I (Janneke) think I will be more likely to blog, so I'll promise to keep it as interesting as possible. Another reason I've decided to blog is because I have this urge to write down experiences and the things that are happening in my life, but I hate writing with pen and paper. Sure, I could type everything up in a Word doc, but that's so plain. Maybe this will get me to write more about our life so I can do better at journaling in our scrapbook. Right now Danny is going to school and studying his brains out. Physics - wow. In his words: I hate my life (but not my wife). Just kidding! But in all seriousness, it's the hardest I've ever had to work at school. How much schooling left, you ask? Let's just say there is no light at the end of the tunnel, yet. I want to get into a very specialized field of Acoustics, but it will take a BS in Physics and a Minor in Math, then a Masters in Architectural Acoustics to end up where I want to be. It should all be worth it in the end... and he's got a great wife to support him. :) I am finally working full-time at ProPay, where I have worked in Customer Service for the last 2 years. I walked in August and will be getting my degree pending I complete an internship. It actually created some tension back in August and September when I was trying to figure out what to do. Here's the story.. I graduated in Recreation Management & Youth Leadership and really hoped to end up working with either a Parks & Rec department or with youth in after-school/day camp settings. I came across a job posting that fit the requirements for my internship so well that I thought it was heaven-sent! I applied at the beginning of September and finally got a job interview a couple weeks later. This whole time, though, I've been working at ProPay and I had informed them that I had to do an internship. They knew there was the possibility of me leaving or at least dropping my hours significantly. The YWCA job I applied for was in Salt Lake, so it would require lots of extra time commuting. Anyway, the interview went great and I realy believed I was better qualified than anyone else who applied. I had to wait a weekend before I got a call back for a 2nd interview. This time I was supposed to go and interact with the kids. I thought to myself, "Sure, no problem. I've done this before so it's a piece of cake." At that interview I found out it was between myself and one other candidate, and I was sure I would land the job. Well, the whole week passes and I still don't hear back about the job. During this time, my Manager at ProPay has an epiphany and offers to create an internship for me there helping her with corporate event planning and then the HR Director with employee activities and such. Of course, I would still be working in Customer Service the rest of the time as a team leader or pseudo-supervisor. I was hesitant and very frustrated because I didn't want to have to make a choice! I said a lot of prayers and even fasted to know what I should do. The biggest task was getting this job passed by BYU to count as an internship because it wasn't exactly with a recreation-based company. I spoke with my advisor and he thought it was a great opportunity, so it created even more stress for me! I liked ProPay but I liked the idea of working with kids even more. Both had equally great benefits and compensation. So, it would come down to what choice I liked better, and I didn't want to make it. Decision day came and I called to check on my application again with the YWCA - If I got the job, I was going to go for it. But... that wasn't how it went down. I actually was turned down for the job and I couldn't have been more thrilled! Kinda weird, yes. But.. I didn't have the stress of making the decision. So, I told my Manager I got the go-ahead for the internship at ProPay and that's where I'm at now. The event is in mid-November and there's still so much to do. But, I'm excited nevertheless and I'm very grateful to have been presented with options at a time when our country is struggling to provide enough jobs for everyone. Well, I guess that's it for today. We'll be sure to post more later about our casa, our birdie, and other stuff that's been going down. Stay tuned!