The greatest man on earth

Maybe I'm a tad bit of a daddy's girl, but I think my dad is the greatest man on earth. (hmm, maybe that's why my first word was dadda?...) He is such an incredible example to me in so many ways. I just adore and look up to him so much! He has impeccable work ethic and has worked hard to provide for our family, allowing my mom to stay at home with us while we were growing up. He loves the Lord and is more knowledgeable about the gospel than anyone I've ever met. When I was younger he was called to the stake high counsel, serving with the spanish branch. (he learned spanish on his mission to Madrid) He went to graduate school while working full-time and raising 8 kids. He is a quiet, pensive person, but has a flair for adventure. He loves riding his motorcycle and a couple of years ago, he got his private pilot's license. He's crazy smart and has his bachelor's in chemistry, MBA and he's been working on his doctorate in international business. He's been working as a "senior principal scientist" for the ATK Thiokol for the last 37 years. Unfortunately, our country's recent cut-back of the NASA program has really been taking its toll on the Space-Science industry, and my dad lost his job today. My parents have known this was coming for the last 2 years, so they've been financially preparing for it, but it's still a heavy blow. My dad is only a few years away from retirement and I am just so sad for him. he's been working for that company since the early 70's! They're smart, resourceful people and I know they'll be fine, but I just feel for them right now and I want my dad to know that he is my hero in every way that counts. Love you dad!

In 2008 my dad was given a very prestigious award from NASA for his contributions to space exploration. This photo is during the awards banquet they had at Cape Canaveral in Florida


My dad and his motorcycle


Me & my dad at my cousin's wedding last summer


Here's an interesting article about the problems at ATK Thiokol
http://salttvnet.com/articles/20100617/layoffs-loom-thiokol-more-jobs-chopping-block

Reality

I was recently inspired by my dear friend Sarah Shaw. She posted a blog titled "A Good Dose of Reality", in which she talked about her current struggles and frustrations with being a wife and new mom. I found it to be a breath of fresh air to read something so real, and I felt like I was really talking to a good friend about what was going on in her life. I started thinking about my own blog, and realized that all I really do is post about the fun things going on in my life. Yes, I am loving life right now and I do get to do a lot of fun things, but in all reality, there are a lot of un-fun things too. So here's my own little dose of reality.

Life is CRAZY BUSY! I've talked before about the fact that I'm working 2 jobs right now and going to school at UofU. It's great, but some days it's really hard! Some days I doubt myself and it feels like I'm never going to get through school. Then there are the days where I wonder how it is that I'm working 2 jobs, and I still can't afford this, that or the other. This semester I'm taking a Political Science and Business Philosophies class. I'm getting ready for mid-terms next week and I'm terrified. My Business Philosophies class is kicking my trash! I'm having to read these works from philosophers and political economists such as Thoreau, Emmerson, Karl Marx, Mandeville, Aristotle, Plato, etc. It is tough reading!! I find myself having to read through the essays several times to even understand what they're saying. In between all of this working and studying, I'm trying to fit in time to work out and time to be with Jake. It can get hectic! Here's a quick snap-shot of my schedule this week. It's very typical of how things have been for the last 2 semesters. It makes me dizzy just looking at it!

Monday: Work at my office from 7:30-4:30
Work at Williams Sonoma 6pm-10pm
Hit the library for some studying til midnight or so

Tuesday:Work at my office from 7:30-4:30
Political Science class 5:45-8:45
Work out at my gym 9pm-10pm
Homework 10pm-midnight

Wednesday:Work at my office from 7:30-4:30
Business class 6pm-9pm
Work out at my gym 9pm-10pm
Homework 10pm-midnight

Thursday:Work at my office from 7:30-4:30
Night Off! Use the time to work out, be with friends, date with Jake???

Friday:Work at my office from 7:30-4:30
Work at Williams Sonoma 6pm-10pm
Homework, or some other friday night activity

Saturday: my saturdays are more flexible. I usually work a 4 hour shift at Williams Sonoma, but the times vary. So the time when I'm not working is used to work out, study, and play with Jake or friends

Sunday:Yoga class at 9am
Ward choir practice: 12noon
church: 1pm-4pm
then the rest of the day is spent making sunday dinner, sometimes visiting teaching, cleaning house, homework and catching up with things before the week starts.

Geeze, I'm exhausted just typing that! Life is crazy to say the least. Yes, I would like to have more time to work out, yes I'd like to be able to work less and sometimes I do have down days when I feel like I will never get everything done. But overall, life is great and it just keeps plugging along.

Sshh.....

For some odd reason, my family has a fascination with road sings. Or rather, for stealing road signs..... This trend began with my older sister Becky, she really is the one to blame. She "found" her first road sign sometime in college and now several years later, her special ed classroom at Sky View High School is completely adorned with the large, brightly colored signs. Felony? maybe, but for some reason, the trend stuck and there have been several sign-snatching culprits in my family. Even my mom has participated in the illicit acts! Well last week I was on my way to class at UofU and I decided to park in a different lot than usual. I parked in the end stall, gathered my books and much to my surprise, right next to my car was a sad, broken stop sign. Man Down!!


Someone had hit the wooden pole and just left it there. I had to get to class and I didn't really want the evidence sitting in my car for the next 3 hours, so I decided that if it was still there when I got back, I'd take it. Well lo and behold, at 9pm it was still there, sitting sad and lonely in the parking lot. It was a sign (no pun intended!), that stop sign was fair game! It took a lot of finagling to get that thing in my car, as about 6 feet of the post was still attached. If only I took after my dad and kept tools in my car. A socket wrench really would have helped me! Anyway, several minutes of struggling and a few splinters later it was in! The sign was in my trunk, with the pole running over the back seats (they fold down) and all the way up to my gear shift in the front seat. It was still too long for the trunk to shut, so I improvised and just tied it down for the ride home. My roommates probably think I am insane, but I was giddily excited to be among the ranks of the Coates family Capers and bring this baby home! Now, the question is just Where to put it?!

Home

This past weekend was Labor day. I really think we should have three-day weekends more often! Jake is working in LA for 2 weeks and by some miracle I wasn't scheduled at Williams Sonoma, so I left work on Friday and headed straight for Logan. I spent the weekend helping my mom with some things around the house, hanging out with my family, visiting with old friends, and just having a fabulously lazy time!

Making Star Wars sugar cookies with Jenny & Christopher

Having lunch with some of my best friends in high school. Shari, me, Jessica & Jocelyn

This Labor Day was rather significant though....it marked the 5-year anniversary of when I left my beloved Cache Valley and moved to the great Salt Lake City. In the beginning, it was a very rough time in my life, but I am so grateful to live in such a beautiful place. Growing up in such a small town, this really felt like "the big city", but now I feel like I get to call it "my city". I'm officially a local and I have a love affair with this wonderful place, nestled in the Rockies. I've developed new friendships and found my own little world here, but if I ever want to go home, I'm only 90 minutes away. Pure perfection! So, this post is dedicated both to my current home:

and my true heart's home: