Finally....

Just about two years ago, Kristen and I made the decision that I would begin to pursue training as a computer/web programmer. At that time, our local community college was just launching a Web Analyst/Programmer degree program that would be offered in an online format.

After many hours of research and seeking advice, I enrolled in the program knowing that I would have a lot of late nights over the four semesters it would take to complete the degree. If it had only been the stress of late nights, this would have been easy! However that was not the case.

In that two years I/we:

• Welcomed Natalie into our lives
• Worked extra hours at the church as the youth pastor for a season (in addition to my other full-time responsibilities)
• Dealt with some major turmoil at the church
• Lost lots of sleep with an extremely grumpy baby (Natalie, we still love you)
• Faced more turmoil at the church
• Worked as an online sales manager at a local car dealer on my day off from the church
• Made another baby :)
• Began an internship as a Web Developer at a local web development company
• Faced even more serious turmoil at the church
• Accepted a position as a full-time web developer at Foremost Media here in Janesville! (Yeah!!!!!)
• Resigned from the church
• Completed an Associate's Degree as an IT/Web Analyst Programmer with a 4.0!
  

With each semester, I can remember telling Kristen that there was no way that I could juggle it all, but somehow, we made it work and we both still have most of our sanity. God is amazing at carrying us through seemingly impossible times. I am extremely grateful for that!

For the first time since graduating from college, I love getting up in the morning and going to work! That in itself was worth all of the energy, time, and finances invested in making a career change.

Thank you for letting me boast a little about this latest accomplishment!

Here is my degree (definitely not Ivy League, but ironically, it holds more career potential than my expensive private college degree!!!!).