Update On Our Life

This semester I have been preparing to take my Qualifying exam for my PhD. It is a test that graduate students in Chemical Engineering are required to take in order to pursue a graduate degree in Chemical Engineering. In order to pursue a PhD you have to achieve a "high pass." In order to pursue a Masters you have to achieve a "Pass." It was a three day test 3 hours each day and three problems to solve each day. I took it February 24-27. I found out on Wednesday that I got a high pass! I was so relieved. I have been nervous about this test for so long. So in about 3 to 4 years from now I will have my PhD! Joanna's job has been going good. She is learning a lot and is becoming a great PA. She is the Young Women's camp first aid specialist and she is also the secretary in the Young Women's. So she has a lot of meetings to go to during the week and on Sunday. I am the secretary in the Elder's quorum so that keeps me busy too. We are learning a lot being in our new ward and we really like it.

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Favorite cheese

This is my favorite cheese in the whole world, literally. I have been eyeing it at the store for over a year, but it a little expensive. I finally bought it after my first week of work, celebrating the fact I was finally earning a paycheck. It is the best cheese ever, served spread on a crusty baguette. It takes me back to when I lived in Belgium. For lunch in high school, my friends and I would buy this cheese and a fresh baguette from the GB (grocery store). And that was lunch. SO good.

This cheese is like a little piece of home. MMMMmm. You should try it.

Job, School, Cruise and Hike!

Well Joanna has graduated and started her first job as a P.A. She is doing great. She is catching on quickly and is excited to use all of the skills that she has been learning through her schooling. She works at a family practice clinic in Orem. I have been working on research for my PhD through the summer, but I just started my graduate classes here at BYU. They are going to require a lot of time and effort. Luckily my professor has assigned some undergraduates to work with me so I have time to do good in my classes and still continue my research.

Before Joanna started her job and I started my classes, we went on a 5 day cruise to the Bahamas. It was so fun! We left out of Miami and went to Key West, Nassau, and then to Coco Cay island. We did a lot of snorkeling. We also went para sailing in Key West. Then just yesterday we climbed Mount Timpanogos. Neither of us had climbed it before and we decided it was time. We got up to the base of the mountain by Aspen Grove by Sundance and started hiking. It took a really long time, about 9 hours. Towards the summit it was kind of scary, there were a lot of cliffs and loose rocks. But we made it! There are some pictures of that below also.


Here we are on Love Beach in Nassau


Going up para sailing


Joanna snorkeling


This is us in front of our ship.


Now for the hike...

At the top of Timpanogos looking down on other peaks.


Us at the top with Utah Lake behind us.

Well we have moved into our new apartment! We love it. It is so nice. I love that it has real carpet and a shower head that I don't have to duck under. Not to mention the washer, dryer and dishwasher! I started my PhD in May and have been working on research. I will do research through the summer and start my graduate classes in the fall while continuing my research. I really enjoy it so far. It is a PhD in Chemical Engineering, but my emphasis is in Biofuels; specifically, using bacteria to make fuel. Also, Joanna recently had her graduation ceremony for PA school. She officially graduates in August, but she walked with the school of medicine on May 22, 2010. I am so proud of her! She has worked so hard these last two years. I know she will make a great PA!

Here I am loading our first load of dishes into the Dishwasher.



Here is Joanna and some of her classmates.



Here is the true blue cougar!



Me and Joanna!

Graduation!

Jimmy Joe graduated this week! I am so proud of him. He has done such a great job throughout his education. He has supported us through both of us getting our degrees, going to school full-time and working. He is starting his PhD work in Chemical Engineering at BYU this spring term. Thanks to everyone who came out to support him!












































































Thanks to Rochelle for the pictures!