30 Days of Gratitude: Days 11, 12, 13, 14, & 15

Day 15: I am grateful for good friends that are willing to listen when I need to vent. They don't care how trivial things might be, they are just there to be a listening ear. I hope that I am able to be that kind of friend for all of my friends.

Day 14: Today I was able to attend the "farewell" of a good family friend. She is actually a girl that I used to babysit (which makes me feel old :)) This family is an amazing family and I know that C. is going to be an amazing missionary for the Church. Attending her "farewell" reminded me of how grateful I am for my mission I was able to serve in Japan. I am grateful for the opportunity that I had to live among and serve those incredible people I got to know.

Day 13: I am grateful for trials and past experiences that have helped me to grow and become the person I am today. This evening I ran into the parents of a former boyfriend. It was good to see them and catch up on what is happening with their family. After running into them I reflected on what has happened in my life over the past 2 years and how far I have come since that time. I know that at the time trials are difficult, but they are the greatest growth experiences I've ever been through.

Day 12: I am grateful for FRIDAYS.

Day 11: I am grateful for Utah's Fall and Winter seasons. I love watching the colors change. I love the snow. I love the cool Autumn evenings when it is "not too hot, not too cold, all you need is a light jacket."

30 Days of Gratitude: Days 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, & 10

Day 10: I'm thankful for the amazing people I was blessed to get to know in Japan. Today is one of those dear friend's birthdays. The people I met in Japan have left a permanent imprint on my life and heart. They are some of the strongest, faithful, most dedicated individuals I have ever met and I have learned so much from them. Ai shite iru yo!

Day 9: Today I'm thankful for a warm home, safety and comfort.

Day 8: I'm grateful for Reese's Peanut Butter cups. Just sayin'

Day 7: I am grateful for my personal testimony of the truthfulness of the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the opportunity to KNOW for myself, not rely on others. I know that God is my loving Heavenly Father. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, Redeemer, and Friend. I know that Christ suffered for me so that I won't have to as long as I apply His Atonement in my life. I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ in that grove of trees. I know that through Joseph Smith the fullness of the Gospel was restored in these latter-days. I know that the Book of Mormon is Holy scripture, written for us in our day. It is the most correct of any book on the face of the Earth, and by studying its pages we can know our Heavenly Father's will. I know that families can be together forever if we uphold our end of the covenants we make in the Holy Temples. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the chosen prophet to lead the Church at this time. He is inspired and counseled as to what is best for the world we live in. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church on the face of the earth. Personal revelation is real. The Holy Ghost will abide with us when we are choosing the right. I know these things, I testify of these things.

Day 6: I am grateful for family. The people that know everything about me and love me anyway. It was wonderful to see my aunt and cousin this afternoon, we don't get together anywhere near often enough.

Day 5: I am blessed to have the most amazing friends that accept me for who I am and welcome me as family. With most of my family living a pretty good distance away I have had to find my own "family" here, and I am privileged to count some pretty incredible and amazing people as my "family."
-"Friends are the family we choose for ourselves."
-"Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints on your heart."

30 Days of Gratitude: Days 1-4

Day 4: I am grateful for a warm, comfortable bed... Getting up at o'dark thirty M-F helps me appreciate it more and more each day and also makes it harder for me to drag myself out of bed every day. I really did love serving an LDS mission to Japan, but I will never miss the "beds" we had.

Day 3: I'm grateful for the young people I am able to interact with. In a world full of laziness and disrespect I am blessed to come in contact with a lot of young people that are bucking that trend. They are working hard to make an impact for good on the people around them. They are strong, courageous, dedicated youth that all of us could learn something from.

Day 2: Benadryl... I had an allergic reaction to something and was going nuts, so I took 2 Benadryl and became dead to the world. I fell asleep on the couch for 3 hours, woke up, got ready for bed, and was out cold until 5:10 a.m....
With it being election day, I am also grateful for the opportunity to vote and have my voice heard. I've always said, "If you don't take the time to vote you don't have the right to complain."

Day 1: I'm grateful for the opportunity to gain an education. Most people think I'm nuts working on a Master's while working full-time and coaching. My response is that Now is as good a time as any. I am at a place in my life where I can afford the time and money and if I don't get it done now I might not ever accomplish my goal of earning a Master's degree. I'm grateful to live in a country that allows women to gain a higher education and succeed in the corporate world.

30 Days of Thanksgiving

"All over the world at the end of day,

Heav'nly Father's children kneel down and pray,

Each saying thank you in his own special way,

Saying thank you, thank you in his own special way.

"Gracias." "Malo." "Wir danken dir."

All over the world tender voices hear.

Some say "tak," others "merci,"

"Kansha shimasu," we thank thee.

Our Heavenly Father hears them;

He understands each tongue.

Our Heav'nly Father knows them;

He loves them, loves them, ev'ry one."

-Peggy Ryskamp

I Survived...

Thanks to my wonderful family and A.MAZ.ING friends I survived turning 30. I don't know what it is about turning the big 3-0, but it was harder than I imagined.

The festivities and excitement began on Friday, the day before my birthday, when a group of students came in singing "Happy Birthday." One of my basketball girls brought in a basketball birthday cake that her dad made at their bakery. It was delicious!

I took the cake with me up to our annual ward overnighter. The reasoning behind that... take the carb-filled monster and get everybody to eat it so we wouldn't have to :)

Saturday morning we woke up in our tent to about 1/2 an inch of frost and 30 degrees. That's a bit chilly for September, if I do say so myself. I took a group of kids for a walk to see the beaver dam and to get myself a little bit of peace, quiet, and time to ponder and reflect.

I was informed that I had to be to Mamacita and Pop's by 2 so we could head up the canyon for lunch. We went to a delicious barbecue restaurant, reminded me of trips to Texas.

Then it was just me and the A & J off to the Lion King. Amanda had told me months earlier that she had a surprise planned for my birthday, so I wasn't allowed to make any other plans or arrangements... (I had a feeling it was Lion King, but didn't dare get my hopes up.) We rode the train down, ate dinner at Siegfried's German delicatessen, and headed over to the play. We had wonderful seats!!! The play was fantastic, the acting was wonderful, and the costumes were UN.BELIEVE.ABLE!!!

I couldn't have asked for a better birthday if I had planned it out myself. Birthdays have never been a big deal for me, but it was fun to go out and do something to celebrate turning 30. The day was also filled with phone calls from some of my very dearest friends and one from a member in Japan. I do have the most incredible, wonderful, loving, kind, friends a girl could ask for.

A & J, thanks for making this birthday a memorable one. Love ya!

The one picture from the day's festivities :)

Japan Trip 2010-Miyajima and Hiroshima

When I was planning this trip I decided that I wanted to try and take a day trip down to Miyajima and Hiroshima. It took some planning, etc. because it meant I would be in uncharted territory by myself. This didn't bother me, I just got online and figured out train times the night before and I was on my way.

Miyajima is a small island that has some beautiful scenery. I only knew about this place because I had seen pictures of it. The water was as blue as I've ever seen. The weather was comfortable and the atmosphere was calm and relaxing.

Getting to Miyajima meant riding the ferry over.

Miyajima is most famously know for it's "floating" Torii gate that marks the entrance to Itsukushima Shrine. Torii gates are found at the entrances of Shinto Shrines.

I splurged and paid 800 Yen to take a boat ride out under and around the Torii gate. That was a lot of fun. It is always entertaining to see people's reactions when they discover I can speak Japanese...

I thought this was a gorgeous scene, just wish the water was bluer...

I consider this my one in a million scenery pictures. Not a person in the picture. I definitely lucked out with this one...

This is Genbaku Domu (The Atomic Bomb Dome) in Hiroshima. The atomic bomb dropped on August 6, 1945, detonated almost directly above this building, basically leveling everything in the area. It was a very humbling experience to be in such a somber place.

School kids at the Children's Peace Monument

Thousands of origami paper cranes are offered at the Children's Peace Monument every day. The Japanese tradition says that one who folds one thousand paper cranes can have one wish granted.

The Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound is a large, grass-covered knoll that contains the ashes of 70 thousand unidentified victims of the bomb

The Peace Bell in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park...

Visitors are encouraged to ring the bell for world peace.

One last picture before boarding the train to head back to Osaka..

Visiting Hiroshima was a spiritual, humbling experience. It brought to mind the sacrifices of war and what we must be willing to do to maintain peace and freedoms throughout the world. It is devestating to think what happened here, and serves as a reminder that we need to do all we can so that something this drastic is never required again.

Next time I am in Japan I hope to spend more time in Hiroshima and Miyajima.



Thirty...Flirty...& Thriving...

Okay, now that you have all had a good laugh after reading the word Flirty in description of me, don't worry I was laughing out loud as I typed it (One of my students wrote "Thirty, Flirty, & Thriving on my whiteboard at work yesterday, I just laughed. I think it is from the movie "13 going on 30.")... If I were to rewrite that line to describe me it would probably read Thirty...Nerdy... & Striving... Striving to be better every day and do all I can to qualify to be eligible for the celestial kingdom. As much as my mom would like to see me out there "flirty" it just isn't me... So I'll just keep on striving to thrive!

Thinking about actually being the big 3-0 has been an interesting ride. This past week I reflected back on some of the wonderful adventures I was able to experience in my 20's. So, here they are in a no particular order:

1. Served a full-time mission to Nagoya, Japan for 18 months

2. I've since been back to Japan twice on vacation

3. I received my endowment in the Ogden Temple

4. I'm currently in my 5th year of teaching and have now taught at 3 different schools

5. Received my Bachelor's of Science degree in Physical Education from Weber State University

6. I've coached on the high school and junior high levels

7. I moved out

8. I moved back home

9. Along with moving back home I started working on an MBA

10. Trip to New York City and Assateague, Virginia

11. Trip to Seattle and Portland

12. Trip to Richmond to visit Rebecca and Nate

13. Trip to California to visit my mission president and mission trainer

14. Serving in the Young Women's

15. Trip to Denver to see the Atlanta Braves Play

16. I took myself to Chicago for my 21st birthday. We went to a Cubs vs. Braves game and visited Nauvoo. My 21st birthday was the day the Twin Towers were attacked by terrorists.

17. Worked at Macey's grocery store to get me through college

18. Went to Tennesse and Georgia to visit relatives

19. Met two coaching legends, Pat Summitt and Geno Auriemma

20. Served as an EFY counselor for 2 summers

21. Served as a Salt Lake City 2002 Olympics volunteer

22. Have been blessed to attend the temple sealings of many good friends and family members

23. Refereed high school basketball for 5 years.

24. My grandfather passed away

25.I finally got to see Michael Jordan play basketball in person

26. Made many new friends

27. Gained 2 Nephews (at least that is what I call them and I am referred to as Aunt Rachel)

28. I still have a huge love for sports

29. I love teaching!

30. I'm still alive and kicking, so here's to 30 more.