Testing trip

So Nathaniel was able to get results from his testing trip in his last 30 minutes. Woo hoo! He had been working for 50+ hours in 3 1/2 days on getting his equipment to work properly and finally received good data for his Master's. He said in that last hour of testing, being so frustrated, put his head down not wanting to show emotions and thought "I am doing a nuclear physics experiment. What was I thinking?! I'm not a nuclear physicist!" When he told me this I told him that his testing privileges have been taken away for the next 2 years and that I am deciding on what his dissertation is going to be on. But Nathaniel had lots of help and there were many miracles that happened on the testing trip. Mike Clemens really helped out sooo much. His wife and I are really good friends and I am glad that Nathaniel and him are able to work together. Mike prepared many thing for this trip that Nathaniel didn't have time to do and went with him. It's actually really good for him too because he might pick up this same research project and do more with it for his doctorate.

Thanks for all of your prayers. I sure was praying hard.

You know, when Nathaniel and I were getting our temple recommend interview, my stake president at the time asked me,
"Why are you marrying Nathaniel?"
I was taken aback and answered
"Because I love him."
Waving his arm in the air as if I had said something silly he stated
"You don't know what love is."
Then he turned to the other 2 couples in the room and asked them why they were getting married. Then he talked to us about the importance of marriage and gave us little handbooks from the church and then took individuals one by one for their temple interviews.
To be honest, after that comment he made to me, I was appalled. I remember thinking,
"How dare he say that I don't know what love is. I know exactly what love is!"

But 2 1/2 years later with the 2nd baby on the way and unexpected turns and hardships as well as the best times ever, I realize I really did NOT know what love was as I am sure so many other couples have found as well.

And I am sure even now if that Stake President were to ask me why I am still married to Nathaniel. I would answer the same way and he would still respond with a wave of his hand, you are getting close... but you still don't know what love is.

But that's okay, it just makes me more excited for the years to come.