My Christmas Letter for 2008

Greetings to everyone! I hope and pray that this letter finds you all happy and doing well. This year has been quite a year, full of many ups and downs. As I have taken some time to step back and reflect on my year I am reminded of how good my Heavenly Father is to me. I decided to make a career move, so I accepted a job teaching Medical Anatomy at Woods Cross High School. I am not doing any coaching right now, but that is fine with me and I may eventually look to coach again, plus, I am keeping plenty busy with teaching Science. I will be going back to school in January to start the Master’s of Business Administration program at Weber State with an emphasis in International Business. I am not sure what I will be doing once I graduate, but that is a few years away, so I don’t have to worry about that right now! As far as my love life goes, I am back to loving life. I dated a great guy for three months this summer, but it didn’t work out. I learned a lot in those three months and I am grateful for the experience. This Summer I did another four weeks as a volunteer EFY counselor and I loved it. I also spent a week in the Richmond, Virginia area with a good friend and her family. Then I took a four-day trip to Northern Orange County, California to visit my first Mission President and his wife. All in all it has been a wonderful year full of amazing experiences. I am so grateful for the experiences I have had and the wonderful people I have met. This year has brought new friends into my life that I will be eternally grateful for, and reminded me of old friends that have always been a part of my life. I have a safe, warm place to live, an amazing family, the greatest of friends, a fantastic job, the Gospel, and opportunities to learn and grow, what more do I need.
I hope and pray this Holiday Season finds all of you happy, healthy, and enjoying the bounteous blessings God has afforded you. May the peace and joy of the Christmas Season fill your hearts and lives at this wonderful time and throughout the coming year.
I love you all pray that the Lord will continue to bless each and every one of you and your families.
Merry Christmas!
Love,

Rachel

What have I done?
Yellow I have. White I haven't.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band-nope, just orchestra
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo-as much as it pains me to admit it!
11. Bungee jumped-no thanks
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea-how about from the beach, does that count?
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty-just been out to Liberty Island, but not up
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping-only if a public bath in Japan counts!
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise-what good is a boat if you can't go fishing from it?
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied-won't that be the day!
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated , platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Book of Mormon or Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Sea
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Wow, that leaves me with quite a few things I would like to do and also a few that I have no desire of ever doing!

Anne of Green Gables

So, I found myself this past Thanksgiving weekend sitting on the couch channel surfing when to my surprise I found "Anne of Green Gables" followed by "Anne of Avonlea" showing on PBS. Now, if you know me you know how much I love Anne of Green Gables (all 8 books.) You also know that I am a 100% hopeless romantic and I always love a good love story or a sappy chick flick. (Yes, I just wrote that for all of the world to know, and I am alright with that.) It had been a while since I had last watched either of the "Anne" movies (I refuse to even associate the 3rd one with anything remotely related to Anne and I will not be watching the new one when it comes out), and I had forgotten how much I enjoy the story of Anne and Gilbert. Yes, I understand that it is fiction and NO I don't remotely expect my life to be anything like the Blythe's, but I still love it no matter how many times I've seen it. Although, once or twice I have asked "Where's my Gil?" I have all 8 of the books and try to read them every summer. I can quote the movies (only the 2 I consider worth watching) practically word for word (yes, I have watched them that many times.) I have been to Prince Edward Island (P.E.I. to those of you who are true fans) thanks to Amanda! Plus, I own a set of "Anne of Green Gables" character dolls (yes, I just admitted that, too;-)) Yet, the thing I love the very most about "Anne of Green Gables" is that my Dad will sit down and watch them with me and not complain about watching a movie we have seen multiple times. When I was watching the movies over the Thanksgiving break I looked over at my Dad and couldn't help but give him a hard time about tearing up a little bit at the end. Yes, I am a Daddy's girl and I always will be.

So, here it is a list of a FEW of the reasons why I love "Anne of Green Gables":

I love when Gilbert calls Anne "Carrots" and she breaks the slate over his head.

I love how Gilbert says "Sorry" in his Canadian accent. How can you not love it?

I love how Matthew will do anything for Anne.

I wouldn't spell Anne any other way than "Ann-e spelled with an e."

I have actually read "The Lady of Shalott" because of the movies.

http://charon.sfsu.edu/tennyson/TENNLADY.HTML

You can't help but love Matthew when he comments that Rachel Lynde "deserves what she gets."

Anne dying her hair green rather than the "Raven Black" she had hoped for.

A dress with "Puffed Sleeves."

Anne playing the "Lily Maid" and Gilbert "rescuing" her as she is "Fishing for Lake Trout."

Anne forgetting to put the cheese cloth over the sauce for the plum pudding and then finds a mouse in it, and Miss Stacy laughs about it.

Every time I watch the part where Matthew passes away I am brought to tears (so is my Dad, but I didn't tell you that.)

Getting to sleep in the "Spare Room."

Gilbert giving up Avonlea School for Anne.

Anne and Diana chasing Dolly through Rachel Lynde's cabbage fields.

Fireworks in the fireplace at Kingsport Lady's College.

Anne running into Gilbert in Kingsport and he gives her the note that reads: "Congratulations on your success, Carrots. From your old chum, Gilbert"

When Anne is finally published and the inscription reads: "To Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert for their unfailing love and support, and for Gilbert, who inspired me with the idea in the first place."

Gilbert laying in bed sick and he tells Anne, "I called it off. It wouldn't have been fair to Christine. There will never be anyone for me, but you. "

Last but not least, the best part (in my opinion)...I will always love the last scene of "Anne of Avonlea," no matter how many times I watch this scene it will never grow old.

GILBERT: Well, I hope you keep on dreaming. It will be three years before I finish medical school, and even then, there won't be any diamond sunbursts or marble halls.

ANNE: I don't want sunbursts or marble halls. I just want you.

All pictures courtesy of http://greengables.tripod.com/

UConn vs. BYU Game

UCONN vs. BYU Basketball Game
I was sitting watching the BYU vs. Utah football game on Saturday, not really paying much attention when I heard an advertisement saying something about “this will be the best women’s team ever to play in the Marriott Center.” For those of you who know me, you understand why my interest was peaked. I grew up playing basketball, even won a state championship in High School, coached for 5 years, and I just love the game. So, I immediately got online and looked up the BYU schedule and found out they were playing the University of Connecticut, who is currently ranked #1 in the Nation. I decided right then that I couldn’t pass up a chance to watch the #1 team in the Country play right here in my own backyard. I bought two tickets and started trying to find someone to go to the game with me. My friends also understand that I would have had no qualms about going by myself either, but I ended up finding one of my mission companions wanted to go, so at least I wasn’t alone. She told me that she has wanted to see me in “my element” for a while, so she couldn’t pass on watching a game with me! With her being a BYU graduate I figured it was only fair to tell her that if I started cheering for Connecticut it wasn’t my fault.
The University of Connecticut ended up winning the game by 50+ points and put on quite the demonstration of what a high quality women’s basketball team is. UCONN boasts three pre-season All-Americans and sophomore guard Maya Moore was the Big East Player of the Year and All-American last year as a freshman. What a great display of athletic ability.
What a wonderful opportunity it was for me to be in attendance at this game. To top it all off I had the opportunity to meet Geno Auriemma, the University of Connecticut head coach. Coach Auriemma is one of the most successful college coaches of all time, men’s or women’s. With FIVE National Championships and an over 80% winning percentage he is a force to be reckoned with.
I am so glad that I decided on the spur of the moment to go down and watch this game. I had a great time, but I also realized just how much I miss coaching. All I know is that I am very thankful for the knowledge I have of basketball and the many opportunities I have been able to have in order to be involved with this amazing game. I know that more opportunities will come my way as I continue to work hard and keep learning.

A Season of Thanks

grat⋅i⋅tude /ˈgrætɪˌtud, -ˌtyud/ [grat-i-tood, -tyood]

–noun:the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful

I figure that this is the perfect time for me to let all of you know what I am truly grateful for in my life. This wonderful Thanksgiving Season reminds me of all of the many wonderful blessings I have received in my life.

¯ The Gospel of Jesus Christ: The Gospel of Jesus Christ and it’s teachings bring me such hope and strength, especially in this troubled world in which we are living. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice so that each one of us may return to our Heavenly Father’s presence, if we will live worthy of that blessing. The Gospel truly is the “good news” that is here on the earth today. At times of turmoil and strife I am so thankful to have a solid foundation on which I may build my life. The Gospel has taught me that I am able to live with my family throughout all eternity through the sealing power. I cherish the privilege that is mine to attend the Temple, the “Lord’s University” to serve my kindred dead. I know that I am definitely not perfect but that I should always strive to become a better individual and more like my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

¯ Family: My family is amazing. I have loving parents that support me in everything that I do. My younger brother is one of my best friends, and I have a great older brother and his wife, too. I am also blessed with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins that mean so much to me and are such an example and inspiration to me. One cousin in particular that has always been there for me and helped me through some of the bumps in the road of life. She has been a listening ear and always helped me to see that the Lord is involved in the details of our lives. Also, my dear “Other Families” that have always included me as though I were actually a member of their family. Invites to family dinner, activities, etc. Being able to be “Aunt Rachel” to my favorite little guy is just the icing on the cake!

¯ Friends: At this time I am so grateful for all of the wonderful friends that are in my life. Those that have been friends for most of my life and those that I was blessed to get to know this year. At times I am amazed to look back at the things I have gone through with my friends and how grateful I am that they have always been there for me. This year I was able to become friends with some truly amazing people that have deeply touched my life. It never ceases to amaze me that the Lord always places those people in our lives that can help us out at that very point in time. Whether you are a friend that I have known for most of my life, or one that I was able to meet this summer (yet it feels like I’ve known you my entire life), know that I love you and I am so grateful for your friendship. Thank you for your friendship, love, and example. I don’t know what I have done in my life to deserve such wonderful friends, but I am grateful and appreciative for those “Angels” in my life that have been placed along the way to help ease my burdens. Sometimes it has just been someone willing to listen, other times it is a reminder that the Lord is in control and I need to trust Him. Often it is just a gentle nudge to get up and do something for someone else. I just hope and pray that I have been able to have a positive impact in the lives of my dear friends, like you all have been in mine.

¯ Education and Knowledge: I am so grateful for the Education that I have been able to attain in this life and also for the opportunities to continue to learn new things. I am at a point in my life that I feel I need to continue gaining an education, so that is one of my endeavors right now. I know that our education is one of the few things that we will be able to take with us after this life and the prophet is constantly telling us to get all of the education that we can. How grateful I am for counsel from a living prophet that has been called to lead at this specific time in history.

¯ A good job doing what I enjoy: After all that I went through I never imagined that I would find myself in my “dream job” teaching Medical Anatomy. The only thing that is missing would be some coaching on the side. I am so blessed to have a job that I love and enjoy and look forward to every day (even if it does mean that I have to wake up every morning at 5 a.m.)

¯ Free country: What a privilege and a blessing it is to live in the United States of America. I know that this land has been blessed to always remain free as long as it’s people strive to do what is right. I am grateful to be living in this Nation that was founded by men of God who were searching for a place to worship as they pleased. God will watch over this land as long as we are faithful.

¯ Trials: This year I have had a few trials that at the time I thought were more than my fair share, yet now as I look back I realize that each of these trials has served me as an opportunity to become stronger and learn more about myself. I am not going to go into what these trials are; many of you understand what I am speaking of. Through my trials I have been reminded of the fact that the Lord is in control of my life and that I must always trust in Him. I’ve learned that I am strong enough to make it through any obstacle placed in my way. Hindsight has shown me that the outcome of each of these situations has truly been for the best. I’ve learned that I have many things I need to work on to continue to improve myself, and that I have a long way to go. I’ve also been reminded that all things will come to pass in the Lord’s timing, because He will always know what is best for me.

¯ Priesthood Leaders: Now more than ever I am grateful for a living prophet on the Earth today. A “Watchman on the Tower” that is here to give us counsel and direction from the Lord. He truly is the Lord’s mouthpiece to lead this world in times of doubt, fear, and tribulation. I just hope and pray that I will always be faithful enough to follow his counsel at all times.

¯ Health and Safety: I am truly grateful for the health and safety that I am afforded each day. To be able to do the things I want to and participate in activities that push me so become stronger. I see so many around me struggle with various health issues and it reminds me that I must be grateful for what I have been given and never take that for granted.

¯ Opportunities to Serve: Once again I was able to serve as a volunteer EFY counselor for four weeks this summer. Many of my coworkers think I am crazy to do that for free, but there is no way I would take any money for what I do. It is such a privilege and blessing to be able to serve the Lord by serving the youth. At EFY this summer I was able to meet some amazing youth and work with some incredible people. I made friendships that I hope and pray will be eternal friendships. I was able to learn so much about myself and the Gospel in those four weeks. I also have been reminiscing about my opportunity to serve a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Nagoya, Japan, some 5 years ago. In that short 18 months I was able to draw closer to the Lord, learn the Japanese language, meet so many amazing individuals that I never would have met in this life, made many eternal friends, and learned so much about myself. I look back and realize that so many of the blessings in my life have come from my full-time service for the Lord.

So, to all of you who are reading this, I hope that you will take some time to reflect on what you are grateful for in your lives. Always strive to have an “Attitude of Gratitude” and let those around you know how much you appreciate the things they are doing. Once again, thank you for being such wonderful friends and for what you mean to me in my life. I know I don’t say it often enough, I love you and am thankful to have each of you are a part of my life. Please forgive me for my faults and imperfections and know that I am always here for you in any situation. God bless each of you as you go through each and every day of life. Remember: The Lord Loves You & So Do I!

BYU vs. Utah

Well, now that the wonderful rivalry game is all over and done with maybe my classes can calm down a little bit and possibly return to close to normal! My students have so much fun arguing the BYU/Utah thing. They all got mad at me because last Thursday I wore a BYU shirt to work, but Friday I wore a U of U shirt. It is such a great situation to not really care about, just sit back and aggitate both sides.

Max Hall for U of U MVP!!! I think that might have been the worst performance I have ever seen from a quarterback. 5 interceptions and 1 fumble, plus a stupid personal foul after one of the interceptions! Okay, I'll only blame him for 4 of the interceptions, the 5th one was bobbled around a little bit.

Then again, maybe he was just getting into the spirit of the holidays a little early and decided to just give the entire game away. I am not sure who to blame more, Max Hall or the offensive coordinator, Robert Anae.

Yet another of the many reasons I love college football. Utah should be headed to a BCS game and BYU might just end up having to play Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl!

Just a Touch of Politics

The election season has settled down and yet we are still in a panic over who was elected and what is going to happen to America as we know it. I am of the opinion that I don't care who you voted for or what political party you affiliate with, America has selected it's new president and it is now our duty to support and give our respect to the office of the President. This is the leader of our country, whether you like it or not. You can live in gloom and doom or have a positive outlook because we live in the GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. Now we all need to work to keep it this way.
I received this forward from a coworker and I thought it made a great point, so I will share it here.
545 People
By: Charlie Reese
"Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don't propose a Federal budget. The President does.
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred Senators, 435 Congressmen, 1 President, and 9 Supreme Court Justices: 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated it's Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promisies, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. For instance, no "normal human being" would have the gall of the Speaker of the House to stand up and criticize a current President for creating deficits. The President can only propose a budget. he cannot force Congress to accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the Speaker of the House? The leader of the majority party. He/She and fellow House Members, not the President, can approve any budget they want. If the President vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to do so.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million can not replace 545 people who stand convicted--by present facts--of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it is because they made it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it is because they put it in the red.
Thare are no insoluble government problems."
He goes on a little more, but you get the idea. It is our responsibility to select those that represent our values, beliefs, and standards.
(Is this posting really this long?)