Testimony

This is my last post before i get set apart. I want to be able to bear my testimony to the world before i am set out into the world to teach other people. My testimony is not overwhelming, it is very simple.


I know this church is true. I know it with every bit of me. Things are so great in the church and life is so happy when you follow the churches standard. I can't wait til i am able to share with others the love that i have for this church. I love it i love it i love it. I would not be anywhere near the person i am today without the church.


I know my Savior lives! He atoned for my sins, your sins, everyone's sins!! He was resurrected and he still lives today! i can't wait till the day when he will come again! it will be the greatest day ever! i can not wait til it happens.

I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet and he did in fact restore the church to what it is today! I am a true believer in the priesthood. It has bless many many lives. I love priesthood ordinances that I am able to perform, both for me and for everyone else that may need it. I love the power of prayer. God will give everyone anything they need, and he will always answer our prayers as long as it is on his time table.
I love the spirit of the temple. I know that there is a reverence there that is felt nowhere else. It really is the house of the Lord. I am a huge fan of the missionary program. It has changed lives for many many years! I know that people have changed for the better all because of missionary work. IT is very possible to do some of that work in each of your every day lives. I have had the opportunity to help a dear friend find the church. Things are going so good for this person and i can't wait to hear more about their life and the gospel!

I love this church with all my heart. i know it is true without a shadow of a doubt. I can not put into words how i truly feel about the Gospel. God lives, and he sent his son that we may be. and more importantly, that we may come back to him. I can't wait til i get to heaven. To be up there with my whole family as we are sealed together for time and all eternity! Life is great. The church makes me so happy! I encourage the whole world to find my church. To find my joy. and to build up their own testimony. I know that my testimony will grow, and I will learn so much over the next two years.
God speed, may he bless you, and be with you til we all meet again, i love you all, more than you'll ever know!
i say all these things in Jesus' name, amen.
Keep reading my blog, i think my sister will post my letters

Tribute to la familia

here it is folks. I wouldn't leave with out doing this post or the next post. But they are two of the very important posts i make. This one is another tribute. Man i love these tributes, they are so great! I feel like this is my chance to declare publicly how happy i am about something or someone. This one goes to my family. and they each get their own piece.

youngest to oldest,
Tim- what a kid. He really is such an example to me. I know he is my little brother now, but he threatens to eat me when i get back from my mission. and for now, its funny, but when it happens I'm sure I'll think otherwise. But seriously, this kid is so awesome. He is so concerned about everyone in the family. He is the glue that holds us together in so many ways. He got me really bad when he said at the last family home evening that "it will be hard not to have a big brother for two years." I started bawling when he said this. it was so bad! But really, From being my Christmas present 10 years ago til what he is now, i can't wait to grow up with him and see him excel in everything he does. I will miss watching his football games but I'm sure I'll hear all about them! well at least i hope i will.

Cassie- What a sweetheart. She is as strong in her spirit as she is in her stature. She will be taller than me when i get home. But she, like Tim, has a heart of gold. Everyone loves her. I've never met anyone that is better with animals than Cassie. She can do things with the pets that i wouldn't be able to do in a million years! Basically everyone loves Cassie, especially the dog. I will miss her a lot too, but i know she has a lot she will accomplish. I hear she is writing a book, and it'll be done when i get back, she is an excellent piano player, and most of all she is a wonderful young woman. A daughter of God. Whom is well pleased with all she is doing!

Heather- wow... sometimes quite a handful. My dad said it best one time when he said that she was blessed with her mom's looks but cursed with her dad's mouth... She is definitely one you want on your team in an argument because if she isn't on your team she will wear you out til its not even fun to argue anymore. She is so sweet too. She is stubborn til she gets her way but even if she doesn't get what she wants, she is still a sweetheart on the inside. Everyone loves to meet her, and she loves to meet everyone. It works out perfectly. She is perfect for figuring out stuff on other people because she is so beautifully blunt about everything. She is going places too, i just hope not marriage by the time i get back. She will be out of high school though, crazy! Everyone should really get to know heather if they haven't already, she really is just one of the greatest people you'll ever meet.

next is me, k that's it...

Then there is mom. wow. What an angel. She is probably the number one reason our household holds the Mel. priesthood. She turned dad around and everything went up from there! She is so strong in the gospel. So wise when it comes to life and things in it, yet not too old and boring. One of the things i love most about my parents are that they are only 18 years older than me. That makes them more like my older siblings rather than my boring old parents. We have so much fun together wherever we go! Back when i used to have a cell phone, half the time i was always texting my mom, now how many people can you say do that?! Everything from water ski-ing to scripture reading, my mom is the bomb. Definitely the bomb-diggity! Everyone loves mom, There honestly isn't anything not to like! I will miss her so much while i am gone. But i know she will miss me too. We've got a connection though that will not be broken, even if i am a few continents away! I know she'll be expecting a letter every week, and at the same time, i will not receive any more support than that of my mom. She has always been there for me, things will never be any different. She loves this gospel so much. You can see it in her eyes. She is full of the light of God, and ready to share it with whomever will listen! She is so excited for me to go, not so I'm out of the house, but so i may go out and share with others what i have and love so much.
Mom is the greatest. Please everyone, take care of my mom while I'm gone!

Dad- He's a super hero. I want to be like him in so many ways you don't even know. He is one of the smartest guys i know, well that is until l you get him to some sort of technology... lets face it, he's not exactly as tech-savey as everyone else is. But seriously, street smarts, football strategy smarts, any sport strategy smarts actually, and now, Church smart as well. He is the complete package that added up completely makes up the perfect dad. Like i said before he is more like my older brother i never had than he is my dad. One of my favorite memories was one day after a polo game he came and said that he could tell that i was frustrated about my lack of playing time, but i really was just fine.. after all it was just my sophomore year and i was still getting a lot of minutes, but he used the opportunity to go go-karting one on one with me. It was so awesome! another great thing he is good for is supporting me when i'm down. I remember my last individual race i ever swam in high school, i was fit enough to get top three in the race, until i missed the wall on one of my turns. I ended up 7th or 8th and i was furious. he came stomping down onto the deck and told me to keep my head up. I can't even tell you how many polo games i saw him up there yelling at the ref's, or coming down to tell me to just kick the guy that was guarding me or something. He was always as much into the meets and games as i was and i enjoyed that so much. The greatest thing about him though seriously, now that I've blabbed on forever, is how he turned his life around. He turned everything around, quit drinking coffee, came to church, got the priesthood, then we all got sealed, now he's the elder's quorum president and a leader both in our house and in the church. Everyone looks up to him, especially me, i hope i seriously can be half as good of a man that he is.

there you have it. I can't say enough about them. They seriously have helped me become what i am today and i am very proud of that! I will miss them with all my heart, but i know i am doing the right thing, and i will be back. Things will be fine, you'll see

Besties

I have three really really close friends. They truly are my best friends. I love them with all my heart. I love all my friends, but these three... man, they really are just something else. I have been blessed with so many great friends, they all mean something to me. But on Saturday night, i had to say goodbye to two of these my best friends.

There are four of us. its kinda weird how it all works out. Reed is my best friend. and Allison and Brooke are best friends. Turns out Reed dated Brooke, and Allison and I dated. The four of us together is really just something special. So special in fact that after reed left. The connection was still there. I have a good feeling that the connection will always be there. We will all be best friends forever, all of us will grow old, some of us will grow fat, but seriously, together we will always strive to be! Even if we aren't hitched! ha! we were talking about it one time, imagine later on in life, all four of us getting married to someone else, but we being as close as we are get together and hang out with our spouses following along... we started feeling bad for our spouses! sometimes we are just nuts... evidence... see here...

Isn't this face cute on me? wow i can't believe i am releasing this picture... and look at that creature atop my head! wow... but yeah this picture can't even measure up to the craziness we sometimes get...

But reed soon left us. That was January 2nd that he left... 8 months ago. We've been super close ever since! Its so great. But Reed's in Alaska, Allison will be in south jordan, Brooke in orem, and I in Australia. So far apart, yet so close together, i love how great friends we are!

Memories are plentiful as well, like the time we hopped a fence to climb up a weedy mountain to watch fireworks, just to have some crazy guy looking for us with a flashlight! wow that was close, but he didn't get us! all the great dinners for celebrations and achievements, swing dancing, playing on a playground in the park til a cop told us we were to old! watching ET in the park... gosh dang it i could go on forever.

Turns out though, the time has come for me to leave too. and poor Allison, she will be all alone because Brooke is moving away to college. But i guarantee the four of us will have that same connection, the one we've had for the past few years! Things are so good between us. It was such an emotionally draining day on Saturday... all three of us in tears, leading up to me driving home and them watching me leave for two years. It was tough, one of the hardest things I've ever done, but i know i am doing the right thing, and i also know that i have lots of support behind me. Especially these three best friends of mine.

No i did not ask Allison to wait for me, no Brooke didn't tell reed he would either, and who knows, chances are likely none of us will get married to each other... nevertheless, we all have made 3 eternal friends, that will last a lifetime and more!

This blog entry goes to you three. You guys are amazing. Do whatever it is you do. People will fall in love with you, just as i have. Please be good, be careful and keep in touch. Sooner than you think, the four of us will get together again, and life will be so awesome!

Sharing the Gospel

I will not name any names. Please do not be offended... But i have someone that has come into my life for a reason. I have taught him/her the gospel. I have given him/her the advice that she needs in life. I have done great things with this person. He/She is totally grasping everything that I teach him/her. It is without a single little doubt in my mind that i have waited for this long because i needed this opportunity to teach one of now my best friends! I hope things go so well for this person. He/She knows how they are. and they know that i am very proud of everything that they are doing. I have done all i can while i am still here... i will continue to teach this person forever but I see great things happening in this persons life!
I saw great things before, but now i see even more great things! Today this good friend of mine said a prayer out loud for the first time ever! He/She did so good. I was so happy when i heard it!
Life is good. I want everyone to know that I have done all i could for now, and i hope great things continue... but this person forever will have a place in this heart of mine. Good luck dude. Please keep in touch, and keep up with your testimony!!!

on my mind

so i am sitting here at the computer, millions of things running through my mind. mainly the fact that in less than 24 hours i will be set apart as a missionary! I will be called to serve the Lord in Australia! i am so excited... so i come on the computer and what do i do? i get on facebook. what a joke. Guys seriously, facebook.... let me just say that facebook is royally the most retarded thing i've ever been a part of! what a joke! Let me get online... for an hour at a time at least, so i can nose my way into what everyone else is doing in their lives. all this so others can mosy nosy right in to my life to see what i'm doing in mine! what?! why?! seriously, i am looking back on all the time i've spent on facebook in the past... 3 weeks... rediculous. frickin rediculous. facebook=evil. good thing i'm leavin...

but now that i've got that out of my system i need to make a few tributes before i leave. They will all be on different entries too.
here we go...

Almost that time ...

Well world, I've only got about a week left! I am so excited to get out there, it'll be so great! One of the things that i am so excited for is finding my good friend nate ruben. I really hope that somehow I will be able to get around to seeing him somewhere for a minute. But besides that i am just so excited to get out there and serve the Lord. It's been a long wait. I am just so anxious to get out there! I had my talk yesterday, and i thought i did alright, but i always seem to think i could have done better...

A lot of people said they really enjoyed hearing my talk, some even said that they thought i should be coming home, not leaving. Or that they haven't seen anyone more well prepared. Well they are wrong. Although I am super excited i wanted to make a tribute to some of my brothers who i think are just amazing.

Starting with Nate Ruben. He is so unreal. There are so many good things to say about this kid but i'd be on the computer all day. He was really always ahead of the gang when it came to spirituality and stuff like that. I remember his talk, --Beautiful talk-- on the atonement. I remember that one because seriously i have never heard anybody speak like he did that day. The spirit was so strong and everyone was either sobbing with tears or bursting with joy, or both. Then after his talk he wanted to go to a fireside! what a kid! and he wanted me to come with him, of course i did, and it was awesome. But there ya go, my brother nate, going to arcadia california, still in the mtc, but seriously should be out there right now, he is definitely ready.

My next brother i want to talk about is my best friend Reed. Man, what a great guy. He's in alaska doing great things. But just the way he lived his life all through high school years was just so amazing. Everyone had their slip ups, everyone made mistakes some fewer than others, but reed never did. He was the epiphany of what we all wanted to be like. He was a man among boys, no doubt about it. And i am so proud of him for what he is doing in the field.

Tommy Durrant, what a kid. You could BARELY hear him when he spoke last sunday, but because i know and love him as a brother like i have forever it seems like i could hear every word. I promise you that it will be completely opposite when he gets back. There will be no mumbling issues, and i know that he will work harder than anyone i know in the mission field, because i know he worked harder in the pool than anybody i know. He will be great, i can't wait to hear how he does.

The last one i want to talk about it Ben Furner. what a guy. I never really knew him, and i hardly ever talked to him. To be honest if i wasn't in his ward I probably would not have made it to his farewell. But to this day, he is one of the most prepared missionaries that i have ever seen. His farewell, like Nate's, was unreal! and he was a great example for me as to why am I going on a mission.

Rollercoaster of emotions

So I've come to realize a few things recently. One, i have one month left before i report. just one. but that's a blog entry all on its own, and i will get that one later. two, i haven't done anything here in almost a month... but then again, no one has said anything to me, so i guess no one really reads it anyways! ha! But here is a blog to whoever reads it.... if anyone reads it... i want to tell you about my day yesterday.

The day started out great, i woke up, went to work. worked, then came home. But this time work was just amazing. Ever since i went from evening crew to day crew i have absolutely loved my job. I love who i work with, i love the environment, i love everything about it. Yes, even the apron! no but really. i love work. and yesterday was my last day. everything went even better than normal for me. I actually hung up an Australian flag where everyone could see it on the back wall! it was great! but like i said, it was my last day and everyone there made it so gosh dang hard for me to leave!

I joked around while i was working with my boss the whole time, which was great but normal you know, then later on lunch came. Macey's paid for everyone in my department to have burger king for lunch. Just because it was my last day and they wanted to share a lunch with me before i left. Then later on it was time to go. So i went and got my flag off the wall, then headed up to go clock out for the last time. I did it. but i didn't want to leave quite yet, so i went over to my boss and we talked for a bit then he stood up, and shook my hand. Now honestly guys i didn't cry but i felt a little tender behind the eyes if you know what i mean. he told me that when i came back that he would hire me right on the spot. So i guess its good to know that i have a job that i can fall back on.... i shook his hand and i said that it had been a great 9 months.... then i left before i got too wimpy with tears.... then i went downstairs to the service desk and the ladies there were so nice. Becca was telling Robynne that it was my last day, so Robynne went right over to the company calendar and put my farewell on it. Just so everyone would know.

Later after work i went and hung out with my good friend Kathryn Parkin. She lives in Ogden, but we chose a halfway point somewhere around Davis high to meet. We went bowling and had a Wendy's frosty then i gave her probably the last hug before she gets tagged by someone else. ha! such is life though its okay. But it was at this point in my day that i realized another thing. it was a terrible, sad, depressing feeling. Starting now, i was going to start saying goodbye to people for the last time. but its a long drive home so i thought about it a little longer and decided, "what am i thinking?!?! I'm not going to die, and no one else is! Why on earth am i saying goodbye?!?!?! It's more of a see you later, than a goodbye!" so from now on it would only be a see you later rather than a goodbye.

I was so gosh dang tired coming home yesterday. But i still had to drive all the way home. And this entry is already way too long but I'll try and make this part short. Basically soon after i passed the spaghetti mess of freeways downtown, i was driving and literally trying to keep myself awake. This was not good! I changed the music to music that was upbeat and happy, and it was even 80's weekend! It was great! i would make it right?.... well i thought i would too, but after i changed the station i don't remember much of what happened, the next thing i realized was i woke up from being asleep, and i was moved from the fast lane of the freeway, across the carpool lane, and still heading towards the wall. I was probably going around 75 or 80 and about 6 inches away from smashing into the wall. Scared for my life (as i should have been) i hurry and turn the wheel the other way. but i turned it way fast. and thinking about it later, i decided there is no way i could coincidentally just wake up RIGHT before hitting the wall, and then turn the wheel like i did and NOT flip over at the same time. So when all this was really happening i was scared, and my heart was going nuts, but later on i was so happy, because i realized that i am supposed to be here for a reason. I'm not meant to leave this world yet. or even if i wouldn't have been killed, i definitely would have been delayed on my mission. I am meant to go on my mission for a reason, and i am so excited to figure that out!

But there was my day yesterday, i hope you enjoyed it. Be good world, I'll see you around. Til next time....
Rob

i know i know... this picture is very late to making it into the blog... but remember back when i talked about the ultimate sports hero?! and it was poli? well here is the scoreboard after the game was all over....

totally worth the wait though...

Meeting the Prophet!

guys, it happened. I shook hands with the Prophet of God. Let me tell you how it went down. (It's a really long one, sorry, but it is seriously so worth your time to read!!!)

A few weeks ago, Lorenz Rindlisbacher invited me to come with him to a time capsule opening. He said there was a small chance that Thomas S. Monson would be there.

you see, 50 years ago, Lorenz was in the same ward as President Monson. The time capsule was for the ward they were in 50 years ago. Well he invited me and i said yes as fast as i could!!!

Well, the day came on Saturday the 21st. We got to the church and there was already a lot of people there... maybe a hundred or so. Of those who were there however, none of them were the prophet. Not yet at least... After about 20 minutes talking with Lorenz and a bunch of old guys that i didn't even know it happened. The prophet had entered the area.

Everything was completely silent! he was walking right through the crowd up to the porch where the microphone and his chair were waiting for him. When he got half way the song arose from all of us. we sang "we thank thee oh God for a prophet." He then thanked us, and continued forward til he reached his seat. I remember looking back at Lorenz and he looked back at me. The only thing he said was, "we'll get you to him rob, we'll get you to him" Now honestly, can you seriously just try to picture my face at this moment? i could not have been happier!!! well, i could have, within the hour in fact.

There was a whole program that went on, and if you want details about the actual program just come talk to me. I'll never forget it, i just really want to get to the AWESOME stuff right now!

the program ended, and we said the closing prayer. After the prayer he started making his way back to his car with his wife. i remember thinking to myself, what a great guy. what an opportunity i had to see him this close.... Just then, i felt a push from the back. It was Lorenz! he was pushing me all the way to the prophet! we made it all the way to him and he was shaking hands, so i stood right in front of him. Now he'd either have to walk through me or shake my hand first! ha ha, or his body guard could just push me back, which is really what happened. He pushed me back and said to stick my hand out and he'll shake it as he walks past. So i do just that, but for some reason that i don't really understand, he missed my hand!!! he just kept on walking. My heart somewhat dropped at that point. How was i ever going to get this chance again?! i came within inches of the prophet of God and i didn't even shake his hand!

Just then i hear this from behind me. "President Monson!" (it was Lorenz) after he heard his name, he stopped everything, and turned around while Lorenz finished speaking saying, "I am Lorenz Rindlisbacher, son of (blank) and (blank) Rindlisbacher." Monson looked at him with a huge smile and said, "well what do you know?!?!" (Monson obviously knew Lorenz's parents well) Monson shook his hand, then Lorenz pointed to me and said, "And this is my boy Robert!" Immediately Monson looked at me, shook my hand, and said, "well that's a strange German name!"

(k now just please try to image this scene. I am shaking the prophets hand.... but i have no words to say, i am just totally lost in the moment... i shook his hand forever! i couldn't stop, i didn't want to let go! i just shook it for like ten minutes it seemed like and didn't even say a single word, in fact, i wouldn't be surprised if my mouth was wide open!)

Lorenz told him that i got called to Australia and Monson said, "really! what part?" and i told him Melbourne. (still shaking his hand...) He told me that that was where his own son went on his mission! i was so excited about that! and then i finally got the courage to ask him for a picture, and he kindly obliged. He put his arm around me, and then looked at the phone, we took the picture and then he shook my hand again, said "you'll love Australia" and he walked away.

I had tears in my eyes and a HUGE smile on my face as i walked away. My arm was tingling all the way up to my shoulder and i didn't even want to wash my hand for a bit. I came home and the first thing i did was shake my mom's hand with it, then told her all I've told you. World, it was amazing, i will never ever forget it. It seriously was a chance of a lifetime.

Bike Ride of the Century?

Under popular demand, this blog entry was made possibly by... well actually no one else suggested it but i figured it'd be a good one to do.

Coleton will appreciate this one i hope, if no one else will. well i will too i guess, but here it goes.


So Rog-dog, coleton, jimmy lee, and i were going to go do the triple challenge, however things came up for rogers and jimmy so it was just coleton and i so we postponed the triple challenge for now. (if you don't know what that is, just stay tuned for a future blog entry...)

But coleton and i still wanted to ride our bikes because why not? we are cool, we can find our own little bike ride to have fun on right? Well we did have fun, and it was a great bike ride. Let me tell you about it.


I bring up an idea for the ride that i got after hearing about it from my cousin joe. I said hey coleton, lets go ride the parkway and go as north as it does, then come back. Coleton was all for it. So i get my bike and head over to coletons place. Not too much longer after that we are heading north up the parkway. So this entry would be 6 miles too long if i gave you every detail of the ride so for now I'll just give the highlights and hope its shorter than eternity.


We're riding north and north and north and nothing really all that exciting happens... except for Travis Larson just about killed coleton by running him over! but everyone was all smiles and we pressed on. pretty soon the trail doesn't go north, it starts heading west. or northwest... but at anyrate, we weren't going as far north as i thought we would but we kept going anyways. Pretty soon we found ourselves in west valley. yeah... scary creepy west valley.


Land of gangsta music blasting everywhere and all the guys are wearing shirts 47 sizes too big. but there is one good thing in west valley though! pretty sure its hard to describe without a picture or anything like that, but basically, we went through a tunnel, (that was closed by the way) with a foot of water all the way across the tunnel. you better believe we tanked through that! waves coming out from behind us and up to the sides! it was so cool! but it was kinda hard to petal because our feet were under water half the time! but we were strong and we made it!

Whats pretty funny about it is when coleton saw the water he just stopped... but i just kept going (thinking it was probably an inch deep, no big deal...) halfway through it i hear this, "is there no other way?" yep, that was coleton! but i made it through, then coleton decides what the heck and he follows, he said later on he wish he didn't stop and he just would have kept going like i did... but now we are soaking wet, but we don't care, cause you know what? it rocked!

We kept truckin along westward.. hoping that it would eventually go north... when we found ourselves in a pickle around 21st south. we had 3 choices... choice number 1-we could go on the dirt path on our left, thinking it was the parkway just not paved on this section. choice number 2- turn left on the street and go wherever that leads us, or choice number 3- turn right on the road and hit redwood eventually and head north from there. At this point we figured out we wanted to ride our bikes all the way to the salt lake temple, and seeing how we made it this far anyways why turn around?

So we took all three choices... we did the first one, and it detoured us about a mile around this pond and right back where we started from. we did the second choice and we ended up looking right at the intersection of i-80 and i-15. We also were right in the middle of all the trucking business' headquarters... not really territory to take a bike ride to if you know what i mean! Finally we have to go all the way back to where the pickle started and turned right. We hit redwood and turned north.

We went ALL THE WAY to the 4th south street, then turned right... not too much longer after we followed 4th towards state street, we ended up finding, (believe me, we were kicking ourselves for this) the Jordan river parkway! what a joke, i swear it just disappears and ends up reappearing somewhere... anywho, we continued on til we got to the temple and just chilled outside, and looked for Australian missionaries to talk to. Coleton and I decided that if we found an australian sister, that her companion would be from where coleton is going to go on his mission. We found two. they were both way cool! and their companions were from brazil and minnesota respectively. So there ya go coleton. Brazil or minnesota! So Then the way home wasn't nearly as exciting, we took trax... but our butts were sore, we were drenched in sweat... I'm sure we smelt like the prettiest flower ever seen too! but would i have it any other way? of course not! i wouldn't take that bike ride back ever! i am so proud of coleton and i for being able to do that! we rock kolipoki, and don't you forget it!

Peace out y'all
Keep in touch

Spiritual Thought

I just got back from a little meeting with my bishop today, and we got talking about lots of different stuff. Bishop Furner seriously is the greatest man i know.  I really should take notes from what he says in the office, or even out of the office for that matter. Everything that he tells me is just so great and useful for my everyday life. 

But today in the middle of our meeting he asked a favor of me. He asked me to be available each week to step in and teach a primary lesson if someone doesn't show up. Which of course i don't exactly know how often that happens but they still need someone to back them up if someone doesn't come. So if i do teach it'll be completely off the top of my head, and hopefully spiritual enough for the little kids. 

I guess i had a message on my forehead saying something like, "how am i going to teach if i don't have a night to prepare something up first... do i really have to do this?" He went on to say that this would be great practice for my mission. And he backed up his point by telling a story, (by the way he has a story for any situation, and they all involve a church representative somehow... totally amazing in itself...) and he talked about Thomas S. Monson. He told the story which i wont get into all the details but at the end he basically challenged me to this Monson Challenge. 

This is the challenge. I am encouraged to everyday memorize a scripture, and once a week think up a talk that i could give someone. A spiritual thought that could be brought about in a 5-7 minute period of time. So i took it upon myself to do this. Monson said that if you do it for your whole mission, you'll get a photographic memory by the time your back. It is a lot to take in at once though. It might be hard to just jump into it so I'm going to probably fade my way into it and gradually get better about it. But this blog is going to help me. Each week I'll put some kind of message on it. If anyone reads this really they can give me feed back on what they think. We'll see how it goes though, I'm still not sure how i feel about pouring out my testimony onto the web. But this is what I'll be pondering for a bit... either way, i plan on writing it in my personal journal. Nevertheless, i am taking this challenge to have a spiritual message once a week, and i encourage anyone who is willing to do the same. Let me know your doing it though.

 I love you all

Peace

Birthday Bliss

My birthday is on the 24th this month... and you know, its not all that exciting for me as it used to be. I mean if you look at every kid and ask him or her what her favorite holiday is, i guarantee they either say Christmas or their birthday. Don't get me wrong, i used to be that way too, i just don't feel that as much anymore. My mom recently came and asked me for a list of things that i want for my birthday and you know i never really thought about it. Maybe its because i am leaving in august and have no need for anything way cool and fun. I told her my birthday should be pretty easy this year. Ties, scripture pencils, temple clothes, and other missionary stuff.

Everyone has their significant birthdays too. For lots of people it is 16. Driving becomes a freedom that everybody seeks out. Everyone wants it... then after you drive awhile and pay for gas and such you opt OUT of driving and start riding your bike everywhere instead! Ironic huh. If your lds, 16 is also monumental because you can actually start dating! woo-hoo! the great wonderful experience to go out, and spend lots of money on someone else's wife! Fantastic! I love dating i promise... just not now. I'm not really in the mood for dating like i was when i was 16.

But birthdays. they mean a lot to you when your younger but slowly fade away as time passes. Pretty soon your birthday is just another day. An excuse to hang out? definitely! but still it is just another day of your life, and a friendly reminder that your getting old!

How depressing is that? seriously. I want to just stay the age 17 forever. Can that be arranged? i don't want to grow older. Just another day, and tomorrow will be just like it as well... and the next day, then the next day and so forth. We are all just getting older and more boring lol sometimes at least. Lets avoid growing older though deal? lets be like little kids again. I want to play everyday.... work less, smile more, and hopefully, maybe, i might be able to get to the point where i am excited its my birthday again...

new chapter to embarrassing book

Ode to the embarrassing moments... If you know me at all, you know that i have many many of these. Honestly, my mom is always telling me i aughta just write them down into a book somewhere. So with that i've joked with a bunch of my friends of an idea of something like that. A book of rob's slip ups or other embarrassing junk. How about one of those calandars? you know, the ones that you tear off a page for each day, and there is a little message or picture of some sort one each page. I just need to write down 365 embarrassing moments and i could be a calendar!! wow, that'd be great wouldn't it.
k, well i had quite the experience today. One full of interesting stuff, allow me to enlighten you...

Once upon a time rob had some work pants that he wore to work at macey's. Well these pants had a few little holes in the backside. Rob's mom being the kind lady she is was concerned for everyone who had to look at it... yet Rob being the dumb kid just thought "who's gonna look at my butt anyways?" So Rob's mom takes the innitiative and goes to the store for more pants. She brings em home and throws away the bad pair. Well... the next day rob needs to go to work. So he gets up at 5 to get ready to go. First he takes a shower, then comes back makes his bed cleans his room a bit then finds the new pair of pants.

Well rob tried to put them on... turns out they are two inches to small in the waist. and of course the other pants are long since gone. But rob is running late there is not very much time for many options here. He had to choose to either suck it up or go get his dad's pants which would be wide enough for him, but there just is something wrong with guys wearing capris... I chose to suck it up.

I go to work... feeling so awkward. Please put this image in your head if you dare. Rob is wearing pants that are skin tight to work. If i kneel or bend over at all i am somewhat limited to how much i can do before i hear a rip in the back side. but if i was really careful... and slow... i could do anything i needed to at the job! now add this to the image. The only way to get the pants on is to pull them up clear up to my belly button, thats the only place i could get the button to work... So i get my apron on and get to work. I'm working, hard workin man at macey's... all of the sudden i just feel so sick. I'm guessing its all the pressure on my bladder. You really have no idea, i felt like i was getting stabbed in the gut. I practically was.

So My mom, being the fabulous wonderful and most awesome mom ever sends me a text saying she got new better pants and asked if i wanted them now or not. I said yes as fast as i could. So she says she'd hurry but didn't know exactly when she'd be over. I wait patiently and get back to work. So now your wondering where the embarrassing part is right? well let me tell you, its pretty embarrassing to be seen in these pants in the first place, but the worst is yet to come...

Mom shows up with nothing in her hands. I go and talk to her and i ask her where they were. (totally expecting them to come out of her purse or something...) but listen to this. This was not the answer i needed to hear. "I gave them to emily at the service desk."

Emily just happens to be one of the cutest girls i've ever met. A girl that it took me months to even get the courage to talk to. But now we talk and just kid at each other all the time. can you imagine the fear i have going up and getting the pants? "hey uh... can i get my pants?" no doubt the first thing she would say would be a question of why i need them... oh boy that'd be bad... well turns out everything went fine and it didn't turn out to be as embarrassing as i thought it'd be... but it still was pretty bad.

Thats the embarrassing plug for today, maybe i can dedicate a day of the week for embarrassing stories.. i'll think about that one, but for now, peace out world. Keep in touch. I love you all.

P.S. Congrats to matt ruben, going to perth australia!!! aussies rock! haha way cool, two missionaries in australia from the same ward at the same time!

Life, the way it used to be

So I know this is the second post in the same day and that is all sorts of nerdy... I just have a lot on my mind and I want to get it all out on this post while I've got it there. Remember back in the days where we were all so innocent? Think about it, it all starts in elementary school when you hardly know anything other than the fundamentals you learn in school. No one cares about other religions, or problems of any kind. All you care about is what your going to do at the next recess.

Lets move forward a few years now. You go to Jr. high. As far as I'm concerned, girls still were another species and nothing to really associate with other than homework buddies or something like that. But compare to elementary school, and you notice a lot more things about other people. Suddenly cuss words are coming out of peoples mouths you'd never imagine. You start hearing about kids your age going out and getting involved with sex, drugs, and all sorts of other problems. Separations start to happen. Pretty soon you don't want to be around certain people because they are "different."

Next comes high school. Relationships become normal. Everyone seems to have someone else attached to their hips. Kids get more serious about life. Religions are being all but set in stone, Friends seem to be locked in place, ideas and thoughts of the future and careers are beginning to be developed if not completely done already.

Then you graduate.

How crazy has the past year been. From a death, to a few marriages, engagements, pregnant women, mission calls, kids moving in every direction. Everyone has a different path. Everyone makes choices, and sadly many bridges that connect friends together fall apart.

I miss life, the way it used to be. I miss my friends. Now i realize a good portion of my friends are scattered across the four corners of the earth serving the lord in a great work. I also realize that i soon will be like them all. Out in Australia preaching the gospel to the people of Melbourne. But I am scared.

I don't want to grow up. I don't want people to go off in separate directions just yet. I don't want everyone to be married off, have 12 kids, pick different religions, living life any differently than the way i remember it, or even more than that... i don't want people to die. I've come quickly to having my biggest fear to be to lose the ones i care most about. Whether they be family, friends, pets, you name it. i want life the way that i liked it. Why can't we all go back to the days when there was not any stress other than high school finals.

Minus the drama of the relationships or lack thereof life in high school wasn't so bad. Can't we just please go back to that? Life is kinda stinky. You love it and hate it at the same time. Unfortunately, I do not think it'll get any different at anytime. Life is great, just make sure you look at the glass half full. Keep in touch. I love you all.

vegemite

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is vegemite. let me explain what it is real quick. Vegemite is considered as much a part of Australia's heritage as kangaroos and the Holden cars. It is actually an Australian obsession that has become a unique and loved symbol of the Australian nation. A Vegemite sandwich to an Australian kid is the equivalent of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich to an American kid - but the taste is very different! Its basically an extract of yeast with a few other ingredients... if you really want to learn more just google it up.

It has a very interesting taste... You either love it, or you hate it. Turns out my friend's cousin who went to australia on his mission loved it. Thus he sent it home with him a couple years ago and brought it with him to a party last night. I had some of it. He put it on there nice and thick for the first time, and later said that he would garuntee the other missionaries pulling a vegemite prank on me once i got there.

I was nervous a little but i sucked it up and tried it anyways. and here is what i thought of it... The smell itself was so utterly disgusting. I cannot put into words how bad it smelt, but he put it on some toast for me and i ate it... I didn't hate it, but i didn't love it at the same time. I guess I'll grow on it when i'm out there but yeah. So thats it for this blog, i just thought i'd share this new experience with ya'll... so next time you have something you really don't like, just think..."rob had some vegemite, i can handle this"

Useless trivia

k you've got to love it. Seriously, if you ever need a laugh go google useless trivia. How great is it? lets just look at a few...

The day after October 4, 1582 was October 15, 1582. Is this true? who knows? i mean really how would you ever find out? 1st you'd have to find someone that was alive back then, which obviously would be pretty tough... i guess you could dig someone out of their grave, wave some special voodoo and then ask them, but that'd be all so creepy... 1582... k this is just dumb, no wonder why its called useless trivia... lets find another one Hmm...

The letter "J" does not yet appear anywhere within the periodic table of the elements. Don't believe me? go check it out. I was surprised...well sorta, i don't really care though, whats next?...

Alaska is the most northern, western and eastern US state. this one just makes my head hurt... but sure, sounds good, if you say so...

So these aren't all as good as i thought they would be... but there really are some interesting things out there. I hope i can come up with a better blog to write about for my next one, this one was pretty lame i wont lie! haha if anyone has any ideas let me know... til we chat again. Goodbye world

the ultimate sports hero!

I wanted to make a tribute to all my favorite sports hero's. Who better to start with than Brett Farve?!?! Seriously, this guy is the man. Not counting kickers, who all play til they are about 92, the oldest any players really get in the NFL is around 30, not much longer than that and they are out of there. Of course they all make enough money to life for a whole lifetime in about 3 games but that's besides the point. This guy never played for the money, never played for the fame, never played for anything other than his love for the game. He was a high school kid every time he got out on that field...so what if he was almost 40? That itself is remarkable too! he didn't miss a SINGLE game for 275 games including playoffs... that's almost 16 whole seasons without missing a game. Sure he got hurt, and he'd stop playing for the rest of the game... but sure enough, you would see him, no matter what the injury, starting the next game. Incredible! especially for a quarterback taking all the hits for the team.

I was lucky enough to go to a game this last season (I'll have to post about that sometime), and got to see him play. I even went down to watch em warm up, i kid you not i was within twenty feet of that guy! it was so sweet! then he broke a record in the game! Great guy, great athlete, now lets move to the next one...

K the next one is a legend too, but I'm feeling like sharing the wealth so I'll put both of these guys pictures up. John Stockton. classic. Look at those shorts! that's great! haha no but really! what a guy. All time leader in steals and assists. A leader to a team that should have won championships. He is still considered one of the greatest to ever play the game. You can't say enough about this guy. I remember the good ol days watching him and Malone... horneseck and Russell. Things were good back then were they not? k the guy who is sharing the spotlight today with john is Deron Williams. He is just like John. In fact I've even heard many people comparing the two of them. Deron is definitely going places. I just hope these places are championships in Utah, it would hurt me to see him in a different uniform. He is one of the greatest guys to watch, without a doubt.

K last one, This one is great too! what a guy! but before i go there, let me pull an honorable mention list out there. Albert Pujols!, Jeff Gordon, Tony Azevedo, Wolf Wigo, Edgar Rentaria, Jason Kreis, Landon Donavon, Cobi Jones, Michael Phelps, Logan Andrews, Jared Huff, Adam Huff, Michael McBride, Chase Hardman, Chad Fong, Sara Nicponski (never did get her number...), Tyler Johnson (swimming... not so much water polo) Roger Federer, Peyton Manning, Ryan Grant, and many many others... ooh! Sidney Crosby! what a kid.... that's it for now, i know there are lots i can't think of but love to watch them play.

Now the grand finale! Not the best of them all by any means... just thought I'd show this picture...

This was great! That's me! in my glory days! haha my kids will never hear the end of this one. But i wanted to put this picture up for a few reasons, one because its awesome! two, because it reminds me of the BEST water polo game i have ever played in my life!!!! it was like Disney! they should make a movie...

State championship, Murray vs. Cyprus. Super close game, but we found ourselves down towards the end of the 4th quarter. I think the score was Murray:10 Cyprus:11, when i went off on a fast break, poli hit me with a beautiful pass and i charged to the net, i pull up and shoot this shot, i made it (didn't even know the picture was being taken then actually, my pop told me..) and the game is tied. then they scored again and we followed suit... flash forward a bit... there is 35 seconds on the clock, tie game 13-13. Larry, our coach, calls a time out. Draws out this perfect game plan to spending out the clock and scoring the winning goal... he puts in his outside shooters, takes me out.

The plan went into play, but we shot it way too early. We were planning on shooting the last shot at the buzzer, if it goes in, we win, if it doesn't we go to overtime. well someone shoots it with 5 seconds left, and their goalie catches it. He hucks it clear across the pool, that's when our goalie catches it with 2 seconds left.

now freeze! a few thoughts before i continue. 1-the only thing i was thinking at this time was "alright, get my cap ready and tight, we're going to overtime and he's going to put me back in..."

2- poli is our goalie. The entire year he couldn't throw the ball past half way across the pool if his life depended on it, so really there was no way he could shoot it, let alone make it...

Unfreeze, Larry screams "YOU!" (which was the Larry code for "Shoot it!!!"). Poli shoots it... and it was all slow motion.... the buzzer goes off while its in mid-air... all there was was silence... finally, the ball hits the very top left corner of the net!!!! we won!!!! everyone went wild!!!!! the team jumped in the pool and lifted poli up everyone was so happy!!! Nothing will ever come close to matching the greatness of that buzzer beater, nothing! so for me, the ultimate sports hero is poli slaugh! what a kid! what an athlete! my hero! haha

Sorry this was so long, i just thought it'd be good to blog about and then i found myself blabbing on and on and on! you guys take care, i hope you liked it.

Plug for the Parentials

I know i have been doing serious ones a lot lately. but hear me out on this one, and the next couple I'll promise to be more useless facts going through my head for everyone to hear. I really just want to take a minute to recognize the greatest parents ever!

That sounds a bit bias doesn't it... oh well. You heard me! no but really, I enjoy every little thing about my parents. They are the greatest. But i want to give them each some of their own spotlight. I'll start with mom.

Mom, wow. You know this is right after mothers day AND her birthday, and i promise i am not trying to get anything out of them. I just have thought a ton about them but mom. Wow. She really is the greatest. I just recently gave her a present for mothers day.. still working on her birthday present... but my mom is great because there are so many things that she deserves. Usually a vacation or other glorious things like that. Yet what does she ask for? things like a new desk chair. or some pots and pans so she can cook for us, (which doesn't make sense because she doesn't even like to cook!), and other things that would not be for her own benefit but for ours. She is so complicated, yes she is a woman, that comes naturally, but seriously at the same time she is very very simple. Guess what i did for her? I wrote her a letter. Yes a letter. That's it, a letter, added to a funny mothers day card and a dozen roses, and once she got it, there wasn't anyone happier than her.

There is nothing greater in this world than the love from your mom. She loves me so much, and i know it. She is so nice and loving and caring and gosh dang it guys if i keep going like this i wont stop. She's great. Everything all in to one word, great. Or maybe even priceless. I wish i could take her on my mission with me. I mean think of all the wonderful things... food, laundry.... wouldn't it just be heavenly? I'll go spread the word and she'll feed us all. I'm obviously just kidding but really, i will miss her so much, not just cause of the food, but for all the million reasons she is what she is and does what she does.

Lets move to dad now. This story I'm about to tell you means a lot to me. Its going in my real journal, and i just think its so great that you should hear about it. My family was without the priesthood for a little while... My dad wasn't able to baptize either me or my sister heather. Not that he wasn't a good guy though. He's still the greatest dad ever remember? he was just inactive for a bit. But eventually he came back, got the Mel. priesthood, and we all got sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. what a day that was! but lets flash forward to recent months. He is now the Elder's quorum president and a great blessing to all the men in our ward, as well as their wives. Everybody loves my dad, who wouldn't?!

This last Sunday was one of the greatest days of my life. Up until this last Sunday i had never ever in my life heard my dad speak at the pulpit. I had heard his testimony in elders quorum and in lessons and fhe's and stuff like that but i had never heard it in front of a congregation. Well this last Sunday he had the opportunity to speak. He did an amazing job. Seriously, i was so proud of him. He almost made me cry when he started talking about the example he hopes he is setting for me and Tim concerning my mom, my grandma, and our future wives. He is the greatest example for me. After his talk he bore his testimony, it was short and sweet. then later that night i got called by a return missionary who needed a blessing, it was so great to have my dad there with me. Within 5 minutes he and i were at the kids house blessing him. We are both worthy priesthood holders, we both love the gospel, and we both are excited about my mission. Life is just great with my dad!

I am really lucky to have these guys. They are almost more like my older brother and sister rather than my parents. Just cause they are only 18 years older. Its great, We get to grow up together, learn together, and most of all love each other.

World, i hope you all can find a way to love your parents as much as i do to mine. Life is great, don't waste a minute! I'm out, keep in touch!

Life

So I have been thinking a lot lately. and this is going to be another serious one, but i just feel like i should let out some thoughts, maybe y'all can tell me what you think about it. That's if anyone actually reads this...
But I've been thinking. I've come to the realization just how very precious our life here on earth is. I know this is only a blink compared to the eternities that we still have yet to come, but i still feel like this is very special. I feel like i should be living every day like it could be my last... cause in all reality you never know when your last day will eventually come. I've been thinking also about friends and family whom are very close to me. I've been thinking about their lives... What a great experience it is that i get to share my life on this earth with the people that are so very near to me. I know that I wouldn't want to lose anyone yet. Surely i sound like a depressing child after he learns about death, but i really just value this life so much. I hope everyone around me does the same.
If you think about it, you have two choices in life really, and its so simple. You either can go about life, not so happy, (we call these people the pessimistic, "half-full" kind of people) and just consider every day in life just another cruddy day. and when this cruddy day is over, then another cruddy day will come right along after. but to these people I ask one question, and one question only... why?
We have so much to look forward to, everyday brings about new and exciting opportunities. We should be happy for everything that we have, seriously. oh man, k only about 2 of you that read this will actually know who i am talking about, but i want to pull a plug for this great friend of mine that i have just met recently.
Actually, before i get to her, you all know Austin Mcdonough... and hopefully you know how to spell his last name... but seriously, have you EVER seen that kid sad? how about mad? now when you picture Austin in your mind, tell me that he is smiling. he is always smiling, always! there are only a few people like that in this world, we need so many more of them.
Which brings me to Steph. I met Steph hardly even a month ago. Can i tell you what blessing she is in my life? no I'm not married to her, and I'm not completely obsessed, i just tell you, there is no one like her that i have ever met in my entire life of 18 years!
She was on Bingham's dance company when i met her. I had the lucky experience to dance in one of their songs for their concert this year, (which is a completely different story... I'm great at dancing...anyhow...) First off, those of you who have seen Austins smile, you know it, it goes from ear to ear. literally! k now picture a girl with a smile on her face like that, only times ten! sometimes even more than that!!! Steph is the happiest girl I have ever met. Even when she is crying she is smiling! and you can tell she is the happiest because in EVERY text you get from her there is always a "tehe!" and/or millions of those girly smiles they do on the phone... and if she's REALLY happy, then that's all the text is is tehe's hehe's gollie's wow's and millions of smiley faces.
Now your asking yourself, why is he blabbing on about some girl and her crazy texts... well I'll tell you! its not the text, but the meaning behind it. She is so happy about life, everything that's in life, and she's willing to show everyone whether she knows them or not how she feels about it. We all have our grumpy days, but with steph, you wouldn't ever be able to tell the difference! we need so many more Stephanie Tobias's in this world. We need so many Austin Mcdonoughs here to.
We need to live life everyday like its our last, be happy, we were not sent to this place to be cranky old grouches all the time. Loosen up, smile, smell the roses, laugh at the fat bumble bees, let life be happy, that's the way it should be. Smile!

John Mayer

I just want to make a plug for John Mayer. What a guy. Without fail, no matter what mood i am in he is just the ultimate choice for something to listen to. He and Jack Johnson are definitely two of my all time favorite artists.

But today for example. Stressing over my last essay that i need to worry about for history. Nothing big... just 20 percent of my grade, and it needs to be at least 7 pages long for even a decent grade. Oh and add to that, my notes stink, so i need to do all sorts of research to find out more information so i can put it all in there, then gather up all the sources staple it all together and go put it on his desk Thursday morning.It all can be a bit stressful, especially when your working full time and have the attention span of about 5 minutes. I swear i have been on and off facebook about 50 bazillion times today alone and its only 1 o' clock.

But back to John Mayer. I seriously just turn on my ipod and put it on shuffle for John Mayer and all of the sudden i am so calm. Its amazing how something like that can happen. I just get so relaxed when i finally buckle down and go listen to either of them. Its so great.

Another thing that really made my day when i opened my call. Not that opening it was enough to make my life so happy, but you know what i mean... I looked at the date i report to the mtc and its a month after John Mayer's concert! I get to go! I will be there, you count on it! I heard Dave Matthews and Jack Johnson are coming too this summer but i don't know if i will be able to see them or not, I'd love to that's for sure! But at least I'll get to see john.

Life is great! Who needs school anyways? Why worry about the paper? just get it done, listen to John Mayer, and let your life just flow on by. This too shall pass.. There really isn't anything worth losing my breath about, everything is fine, its not do or die! Life is good! Don't worry, be happy! and listen to john Mayer! That should definitely be a golden rule, somebody write that down.

Tribute to the highly underrated

I have been thinking about various items and things that everyone uses in life but no one really gives credit. You know what I'm talking about! and if you don't, just follow me for a minute or two.

Lets start with shoelaces. That's right, i said shoelaces. You've got em, your mom's got em, your sister's got em, I've got em, every one's got em! Seriously, and if you don't like shoelaces i don't know if i can talk to you right now, Velcro is ridiculous, Velcro is for wimps who cant handle the coolness of shoelaces. If it weren't for shoelaces, how would we carry anything on our feet?!! and if we didn't have anything on our feet, think of all the bad stuff that could happen, i mean shards of glass, sticks and stones (no pun intended) and all sorts of stuff could just turn out to be just flat out evil if we didn't have the protection provided by shoelaces. Now i know there are the people who are fanatics of walking on live hot coals, but to them i ask one question.... why? why on earth would you put yourself through all that misery when you simply could get a pair of shoes with shoelaces to hold them on your feet. Seems logical to me, but lets move on.

Dog leashes. What kind of chaotic world would we live in today if we didn't have dog leashes to control our over-eager, highly curious dogs from running all over the place. Some kids wouldn't even come outside to play, for fear that some monster dog will come and eat them! i know i wouldn't come out! Just kidding, dogs rule and cats drool, there i said it. get over it cat people. No but thank goodness for whoever invented the dog leash. even if it was just for a walk around the block, it sure saves us some time by allowing us not to run clear to vernal chasing our beloved dogs.

Garbage Cans. This will be my last one. It'll be short too. I am so thankful for garbage cans. they always hold my trash, even if it stinks, if its wet, sticky, big, small, or any other word to describe it. The garbage can will always be there to hold what i don't want, all so i don't have to. What a good thing a garbage can is to us. Thank goodness for the garbage can.

Hopefully i got y'all thinking about the things we take for granted, because we really have so much we don't even think about. The house, the bed, the TOILET PAPER!!!! we have so much to be grateful for, and if you didn't stop and think about it today shame on you.
Hasta Luego muchachos!

The temple!

k now that I have set up this blog, I figured it would be used for humor and good stuff like that. Nevertheless, this entry will be a serious one.
It will also be very short, because i can not say too much about it other than my feelings. I want to discuss the temple. Yes! I went through the temple yesterday. It was so amazing! I can not tell you all that happens in there because we aren't supposed to discuss it, however know this. I have a tremendous respect for the house of the Lord.
The spirit was so strong! i felt so good in there, it has definitly become my favorite place to be.... and yes that means the kitchen is bumped to second!!

No but seriously, i am making it a goal to go at least once each week, and today i was looking at my week this week, i could even go maybe 3 or 4 times!!! There will never be a wasted moment before my mission. I will assure you. I honestly cant explain how good I feel, this is completly inadequate in describing my feelings. Just go to the temple, in fact, invite me to come with you. Then you'll know.
I am done now, later world!

Once Upon a time...

And so it begins! I have no idea how this will turn out or if i will use it as much as i think i will now, but i will give it a shot anyways, we shall see!

I am thinking I will just start blogging with a bunch of miscellaneous stuff to get the hang of it. My name is Rob Nelson. What a start right? yeah but hobbies include Frisbee, water ski-ing, water polo, swimming, video games, and anything else really, I'm pretty easily entertained. I am way happy right now though because tomorrow i get to go through the temple! man that will be great, I'm excited for it. I've heard there is no way to prepare for it really, you just need to make sure your worthy and ready to feel the spirit once your in there! I feel ready, and anxious actually to get in there.

I also am excited for my mission. That's right, i got my mission call! Melbourne Australia here i come!!! well not til august but you know, I'm still on my way! Right now i am dealing with all the visa stuff so i can get out there, that's somewhat of a mess to deal with. But hey! you know! whatever it takes to finally get out there right? Coleton and me are the last two to go, but i think its safe to say we are just about as anxious as anyone could be if not more to leave! Its hard watching all of your friends leave and your stuck here.... going to school...

Speaking of school, I am just about done!!! I have a paper to turn in next Thursday but I'm not going to worry about it til Sunday or Monday. But as far as lectures go i am done!! It feels so great to finally be done, now I will have my associates and when i get back from the mission i can just jump right into school somewhere, and hopefully then will i know what i want to do when i grow up! As of right now though, I'd rather not grow up! Can I not just be a kid forever and ever?!?! I would enjoy that so much!

Well world, this is it, I am finishing my first blog! Way cool right? Y'all take care and keep in touch!