Goals

Hi again. Sorry for the insane long delay in updates. You see, Rob and I live a very predictable life, and little happens that falls under the "wow, I should tell someone that" category. But since it's been so long since I wrote, I will try to update you on the new news of our little family.
Rob is finishing up (as in over half way done) his graduate degree. He plans on graduating in August of 2011. He recently submitted a paper to the American Astronomical Society for a conference they hold in Breckenridge, Colorado. This conference only accepts about 1 in 4 submissions, and they accepted Robs!!!!!!! I am so excited for him. What this means is in February Rob is going to Colorado to present his paper, which is a mini thesis, to a bunch of PhD's and professional Rocket Scientists. He's a little freaked, I am way proud!
Rob's work at the Space Dynamics lab is keeping him busy as well. Right now he is helping test a sensor for a UAV for the Air Force. He loves it. He told me that he was able to find a flaw in the design his team is working on, which, if not found could have cost them at least 2 weeks backtracking, and lots of money. Go Rob!
As for myself. I am still working at the USU Bookstore. It's...well let's just say it's a job. I have started a diet that seems to be working really well, it's called eat healthier and exercise. Amazing concept isn't? I have used a diet book, the Five Factor Diet, for recipe/meal ideas, but I (meaning Rob and I) are figuring it out that fat/calorie thing for me.
My best friend Susan convinced me to try this crazy self competition called NaNoWriMo. What it stands for is National Novel Writers Month. Basically you challenge yourself to write a 50,000 word novel in one month. Susan is doing great, me... well I am trying.
Recently, as in the last couple of months, I have realized that I haven't really developed my self Intellectually, Physically, Emotionally, or Spiritually. Some of this comes from graduating school I think. I think I thought that I was done growing. I have come to realize that if you stop yourself from growing, you literally damn (as in a water damn) or stop yourself. It's not a fun place to be in. Rob is helping me grow physically, with the diet and exercise program we do together. I am trying this writing thing for the intellectual. (This is going to seem like a jump) My house is a mess, and emotionally it hurts to be ashamed to have my husband have to come home to it. Part of what I think keeps me from cleaning is the accessibility of easy entertainment, such as a Wii, a DVD player, a television hooked up to the internet or Netflix, or just the computer. SO, here is the goal. I am going to unplug the wii and have Rob hide the power cord. I am unplugging the tv and unhooking the cable. I have asked Rob to put a password on his computer and to hide the laptop. I know this sounds extreme and supposedly I should be able to just shut myself from all these distractions. But the last couple of months have proved to me that I have to try something drastic. Once I gain back my self control, then I will be able to ignore the distractions until appropriate. Rob told me he was proud of me, and that he thought that what I am doing is wise and courageous. I hope so. That is for the Emotional. As for Spiritual, I haven't figured out a goal as of yet, it's the next one after I find out if the cleaning goal works. One step at a time, right?
Well, that's about all that is new in our lives. LLAP

more to come, I promise

"I'd like to append to them the fact--and this is a true gospel verity--that everyone in the church who is on the straight and narrow path, who is striving and struggling and desiring to do what is right, though is far from perfect in this life; if he passes out of this life while he's on the straight and narrow, he's going to go on to eternal reward in his Father's Kingdom.
"We don't need to get a complex or get a feeling that you have to be perfect to be saved. You don't. There's only been one perfect person, and that's the Lord Jesus, but in order to be saved in the Kingdom of God and in order to pass the test of mortality, what you have to do is get on the straight and narrow path--thus charting a course leading to eternal life--and then, being on that path, pass out of this life in full fellowship. I'm saying you don't have to be perfect to be saved. If you did, no one would be saved. The way it operates is this: you get on the path that's named the 'straight and narrow.' You do it by entering the gates of repentance and baptism. The straight and narrow path leads from the gates of repentance and baptism, a very great distance, to a reward that's called eternal life. If you're on that path and pressing forward, and you die, you'll never get off the path. There is no such thing as falling off the straight and narrow path in the life to come, and the reason is that this life is the time that is given to men to prepare for eternity. Now is the time and day of your salvation, so if you're working zealously in this life--though you haven't fully overcome the world and you haven't done all you hoped you might do--you're still going to be saved. You don't have to do what Jacob said 'Go beyond the mark/' You don't have to live a life that's truer that true. you don't have to have an excessive zeal that becomes fanatical and becomes unbalancing. What you have to do is stay in the mainstream of the Church and live as upright and decent people live in the church--keeping the commandments, paying your tithing, serving in organizations of the church, loving the Lord, staying on the straight and narrow path. If you're on that path when death comes--because this is the time and the day appointed, this the probationary estate--you'll never fall off from it, and, for all practical purposes, your calling and elections is made sure."
-Elder Bruce R McConkie, The Probationary Test of Mortality

Why ninja's don't carry cell phones...

Today is a beautiful day. It is in the eighties here, and has a slight breeze to help you stay cool. A perfect day for a picnic. A perfect day to surprise your husband with a picnic. :) I called Rob to find out what time he was coming home from studying, so I could get the food ready, pick him up, and "kidnap" him on that perfect picnic I had in my mind. Little did I know when I called him that he was already on his way home. Kink in the plans. I didn't have time to get the food and surprise him. I asked him if he thought a picnic was a good idea, he did. I then asked him where he was on his walk home, trying to estimate how long he would be before he arrived. He informed me that he was just off. Well, the mischievous imp that wanted to surprise my husband was still upon me so I decided to walk out and meet him half way. I figured a walk would be nice in this weather, and Rob didn't know I was coming. I grabbed my keys and my cell phone, in case I missed him, and started off. I could see in my mind's eye his surprised face when he saw me walking towards him. I started to play it out in my mind. Should I run to him? Should I walk and act surprised to see him? Or should I try to sneak up on him? I had these questions in the back of my mind as I walked through the cemetery that separates Aggie Village from the main campus. I knew that I would have to stay sharp in order to find Rob in the cemetery. I started walking the route I thought he would take. In a few minutes time, I saw Rob walking on a perpendicular path about a hundred yards in front of me. Throwing yet another kink into my plans, Rob didn't turn when I thought he would. Decision made, I would sneak up on him. An impish smile shown through as I started to cut across to get behind him. I did really well too. I stayed in the shadows, kept quiet, and moved as quickly as I could. It's hard to be quiet while you run, but the birds in the trees were noisy enough to cover my footfalls. I started running a little faster, and when I got about fifteen feet from him, my cell phone fell out of my pocket and crashed to the ground. I froze in place, Rob turned. I screamed in frustration, "ARRRRRRR!!!" and Rob smiled. We kissed and continued the walk home together.
It's not the phone ringing that gets you, it's gravity. This every child and ninja knows.