Christmas 2012

Christmas 2012

Dearest Family and Friends,

Once again the Christmas season is upon us and I am grateful to be able to take the time to reflect on the past year. I must admit that 2012 has been a challenging, yet wonderful year. I have been blessed beyond measure and have been able to make memories that will last through the eternities.

I am in my fifth year of teaching Medical Anatomy & Physiology at Woods Cross High School and continue to love what I do. My students are great kids and have high expectations. They are motivated and determined to succeed in order to give them any possible advantage as they pursue their career goals.

June found me on vacation in the Los Angeles, California area visiting some friends. I had been to LA before, but hadn’t really done the “tourist” thing. This time I went and saw the Hollywood sign, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, LA Memorial Coliseum, and spent some time on the beach just relaxing and enjoying my Summer Break. It was a wonderful chance for me to spend time with friends, get away from everyday life, and enjoy the sun.

I was also able to go to Moab for a few days in June. I have always loved Southern Utah, and it had been far too long since my last trip down there. The highlights of the trip included going up to Dead Horse Point and spending time in Arches National Park. We didn’t have a lot of time in the park, but we did make the hike up to Delicate Arch in the arid heat of a Utah Summer. I am always grateful for opportunities to spend time enjoying the beauty of the world we live in. It is a constant reminder to me of the love our Heavenly Father has for His children.

In August I took advantage of a cheap airfare and took a little trip to Denver to visit a good friend I grew up with. I have visited her and her family in Virginia and Las Vegas, so it only made sense to visit them in Denver, too. We spent a lot of the time just visiting and catching up on each others’ life. We did get the chance to go to Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, went to the Denver LDS Temple, and also did a tour of Coors’ Field, where the Colorado Rockies play baseball. You all know how big of a sports nut I am, so that was a lot of fun for me.

November 10th a member that I was able to teach during my full-time mission in Japan got married in the Tokyo LDS Temple. I was lucky enough to be able to make a “brief” one-week trip to Japan to attend the wedding and also visit some of the amazing people I love. I would not have been able to make it to Japan if it hadn’t been for a wonderful supervisor that encouraged me to go and got me a buddy pass, parents that support me in my crazy ideas, students that put up with a substitute teacher for a week, and friends that always welcome me into their homes in Japan. This is the fourth time I have been able to return to Japan, but the first vacation I’ve been there in the Fall. I had forgotten how beautiful the Fall is in Kyoto. This trip I went to the wedding in Tokyo, spent some time in Nara, Nagoya, and Kyoto. Not a day goes by that I don’t reflect on my full-time mission serving in Japan. I am eternally grateful for the experiences I had, the friends I gained, the memories made, and the blessings I received.

This year has been a busy one filled with a wide array of emotions and experiences. I have been able to see the hand of the Lord and felt the comfort and peace the Spirit can bring into our lives as I’ve watched dear friends and family struggle through the experiences life places in their path. I have witnessed people that are very close to me go through the Refiner’s fire and stay true to their testimony and the Gospel. I am strengthened daily by the faith, love, and support of these wonderful, dear people in my life.

I am truly grateful for each of you and the wonderful people you are. I am the person I am today because of the incredible people I am blessed to have in my life. You are each a special light in my life and I will never be able to repay you for all that you have done for me. I hope and pray that I can be the kind of friend to others that each of you are to me.

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Rachel

Christmas Letter (A Little Late :) )

December 2011

It is hard to believe that another year has come and gone, and it seems that the time passes faster and faster with each year. It seems like we were just barely celebrating Christmas 2010 and ringing in the New Year. This year has been a busy one for me and full of some unique adventures along the way.

I continue to teach Medical Anatomy and Physiology at Woods Cross High School, and really do enjoy my job. The students that take my class are most often working toward becoming professionals in the Medical field. They are motivated and enjoy learning about the human body. I can safely say that when there are 20-35 high school students in a classroom there is rarely a dull moment.

In April I graduated from Weber State University with a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA.) It took me 2.5 years to complete my degree while teaching full time and coaching some, too. It was definitely a huge time commitment but worth every bit of the work and struggle. Now, to decide if I want to stay in the teaching profession or look into moving into the business world.

As a way to celebrate graduating I was able to take another trip to Japan. I spent 16 days in the country and was able to go see and do a few things that I’ve never done. The most memorable part of the trip was getting to go up to the Sendai area and participate in a service project helping clean up from the Tsunami that occurred on March 3rd. It was very humbling and sobering to see all of the destruction that the ocean did to the countryside of Japan. It is also very uplifting to see how resilient the Japanese people are and how hard they are working to take care of themselves and their country. I also got to spend time with some of the eternal friends I met while serving my mission there 7 years ago. I love you guys!

This December I was able to go visit a friend that has moved to Brooklyn, New York. I spent the days sight-seeing by myself and then met up with friends in the evening. It was kind of nice to go at my pace and see and do the things I wanted to. Some highlights of the trip include: Wicked (Broadway musical,) 9/11 Memorial, Staten Island Ferry, FAO Schwarz, Ice Skating in Central Park, Manhattan LDS Temple, good food, Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, Christmas windows at Macy’s department store, and a lot more. I’m grateful for good friends that welcome me into their home. Thanks!!!

Upon returning from Japan I was asked to work with the 12-18 year old young women at Church. It is a fun, rewarding, fulfilling assignment. I work with some incredible women and young women that teach me new things on a regular basis. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve in this calling right now.

Life is good. I have an amazing family and incredible friends that enrich my life. I am blessed to have so many things in my life. Thank you for being an influence for good in my life. Hopefully next year will bring me to some of your hometowns.

May the Lord’s choicest blessings come to you and your family during this Christmas season and throughout the New Year.

Love,

Rachel

Gone Fishing

Graduation

Helping Hands-Sendai, Japan

Tokyo Temple

Tsunami Clean-up

The Big Piano at FAO Schwartz, NYC

Ice Skating in Central Park

An Attitude of Gratitude

20: I'm grateful for the opportunity to teach, both in my profession and also in a church setting. I probably learn more than those I am instructing. I hope I am living up to the responsibility placed on my shoulders.

19: I'm grateful for uplifting and inspirational music. Music is able to convey feelings that might otherwise go unshared.

18: I am grateful for people who are willing to selflessly give of themselves and their time for the benefit of others. Hopefully I am able to serve others in some small way.

17: I am grateful for trials and challenges. It is at times when we are being tried that we tend to grow the most. Remember that we will be strengthened enough to meet our challenges and overcome trials and setbacks.

16: I am grateful for prayer. The opportunity I have to pray to my Heavenly Father and the strength and help I receive through the prayers of others.

15: I am grateful for supportive and inspiring friends. I truly have the most amazing, incredible, fantabulous friends. Love you guys!

14: Today I am grateful for modern emergency medicine. My grandfather had a heart attack yesterday and has to have open heart surgery tomorrow or Wednesday. Without modern medicine he probably wouldn't be with us any longer.

13: I'm grateful for over-the-counter cold/flu medications. Without them I think my head would explode.

12: I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to work with the Young Women in my Church. They are such incredible individuals. I learn so much from their examples.

11: "How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!" ~Thomas Jefferson

I am grateful for this great country I live in and the men and women who have sacrificed, and continue to sacrifice, to keep it the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

10: I'm grateful for my energetic, happy, fun "nephews" that enjoy playing cars and treating me like a human jungle-gym. I love those boys.

9: Grateful for a good job. Grateful for job security. Grateful for the entertainment my students regularly provide :)

8: I am grateful for a country in which I am allowed to have a voice in my government.

7: I am grateful for a warm, comfortable bed.

6: Today I am grateful for wholesome, quality entertainment. I'm watching one of my all-time favorite movies, "Anne of Green Gables."

5: I'm grateful for snow. Without snow we don't have water needed to shower, water our lawns, etc.

4: I am grateful for the peace and calm that comes during snowfall. There is just something tranquil in watching snow fall.

3: I am grateful for a gas fireplace and hot spiced cider. Add a good book to that and it makes for a pleasant fall/winter evening.

2: Today I am grateful for my health. I am having to watch too many people I know and love struggle with various ailments. I wish there was something I could do for them.

1: I am grateful for Chocolate!

Graduation Day 2011

April 22, 2011 was a wonderful day for me. I was able to realize the culmination of 2 1/2 years of hard work, tests, homework, late nights, and stress as my name was read and I walked across the stage at graduation.

Master's Hooding Ceremony

  A hood is a symbolic garment, which is worn draped around the neck and over the shoulders, displayed down the back with the lining exposed. The hood’s length signifies the degree; with the institution's colors in the lining and a velvet trim in a color that signifies the scholar’s field. The hood is a part of traditional academic dress whose origins date back many centuries. Today, the hood is considered by some to be the most expressive component of the academic costume. Today’s hoods have evolved from a practical garment to a symbolic one.

My Hood 

 I started graduate school in January 2009, and I had no earthly idea what I was getting myself into. I am far from being a business undergrad, so this whole MBA thing seemed a little far-fetched at times. A lot of my co-workers thought I was crazy and told me I should just go for a Master's of Education because that would be a lot easier.

.... If you know me you know that I considered it a challenge and pursuing an MBA was the final decision.

I had the full support of my parents, friends, extended family, employer, and even my students. Since I was a non-business undergraduate I had to take a few courses that would get me up to speed on the whole business school thing.

As I went through graduate school I tried to make some time for myself and those I love while I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Trying to find a balance when you find yourself in the middle of a semester of full-time school, coaching high school basketball, and teaching full-time, can be difficult. I am happy to say that all persons involved survived that semester and nobody was hurt in the process.

Mom, Dad, Me, Mamacita, Pops

 In the process of surviving graduate school I was blessed to meet some incredible individuals and form some strong friendships with both classmates and professors. These individuals have left an indelible mark on my life that has helped shaped me into the woman I am today.

This is my favorite professor (I know, we shouldn't have favorites...) He encouraged me and helped me feel like I belonged in the MBA program as much as anyone else.

We started out in the program together. Over the 2 1/2 years I got to know his wife and four kids, too. He helped me through some of the most difficult classes. Thanks!

My younger brother also graduated the same day. He received his Bachelor's degree! It was fun to share the day with him and make it a big family event.

Me, Baby Brother :)

Sister-in-Law, Brother, Me, Mom, Dad

2 1/2 years later I have graduated and nobody can take it away from me. What will I do with my  MBA? That's a very good question that I have no answer to. We'll see where the future takes me!

In the words of Elle Woods, "We Did It!"

Where have I been???

Wow, it has been a while since I posted... Il'' be back soon :)

New Year's Resolutions

1. Graduate with my MBA (I'll walk on April 22nd and have my final class in the Summer. Can you say EXCITED?)

2. Get a life (I know that is broad, but get a boyfriend didn't encompass the sentiment. Between work, coaching, and grad school there is definitely a major lack of a life.)

3. Move out of my parent's home(I love it here, but once grad school is done, it is time...)

4. Trust more in the Lord and lean less on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6)

5. Smile more

And I'm sure there are plenty more where this list came from... I'm sure you could all come up with a few for me :)

Why blog???

Why blog? I don't have the time... I don't have much going on in my life... What to do, What to do...

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.

Japan Trip 2010-Part 1 (2 1/2 months later...) Brace Yourselves!

Ready, Set, Go...

Day 1 (June 8)... I left bright and early from Salt Lake International Airport bound for Los Angeles. From there it was a 10.5 hour flight to Tokyo. It didn't matter how long the flight was, I was happy to be headed West!

Day 2 (June 9)...Arrived in Tokyo and took a train to Elder and Sister Stevenson's apartment. This is the view from the Stevenson's roof. That is the spire of the Tokyo Temple.

An evening view of downtown Tokyo. It was a clear evening (very rare) so we could see most of the city.

Day 3 (June 10)...Mt. Fuji on a basically clear morning. It is very, very rare to see all of Mt. Fuji. Within an hour of taking this picture the top was covered in clouds.

We went to Fuji-Q Highland, an amusement park close to the base of Mt. Fuji. This roller coaster is called Fujiyama (meaning Mt. Fuji). The entire ride lasts 3 minutes+ and the height of the coaster is 83 meters. Let me just say it was an incredible coaster!

This is Ee janai ka? This roller coaster turns you upside down 14 times... Yes, you read that right 14 TIMES! Definitely the best roller coaster I have EVER been on.

Day 4 (June 11)... I went over to the area office to see Elder Stevenson's office and meet everyone over there. This is Elder Nishihara, he was one of my dad's mission companions.

Sister Stevenson, Me, Elder Stevenson. I love these two!

Day 5 (June 12)... Okazaki. This is me and the Iwase Family at a park in Okazaki. They are an incredible family!

Yoshiki and Me!

Yuka Sugiura and me at the park.

Maria Anan and me at Nagoya Castle. She had a stake assignment for Church the next day and knew she wouldn't get to see me, so we went to Nagoya to do some sightseeing and visiting. Maria is an incredible member of the Church!

Day 6 (June 13)... Church in Okazaki. This is me and Brother Miura. He is holding some pictures that Lester Lee gave me to give to the members. I used to work with Lester at the High School. Brother Miura is an amazing priesthood holder and leader in Okazaki.

Sister Kamoshita, she is incredible and always so willing to help out. When I was a missionary she would do anything to help us in any way.

Day 7 (June 14)... This is me and Sister Morigami with her 4 week old son Tairo. Last time I went to Japan I stayed with her family. The Morigami's are an incredible family.

Day 8 (June 15)... Kyoto, I went to Fushimi Inari Taisha. There is a trail here that is about 2 miles long that goes up the mountain and there are these orange Torii gates all along the trail that families have placed there to honor their deceased family members. Fushimi Inari is a beautiful place.

Things I've Done...

Things you have done during your lifetime:

(X) Gone on a blind date
(X) Donated Blood
(X) Skipped school
(X) Watched someone die
(X) Been to Canada
(X) Been to Mexico
(X) Been to Florida
(  ) Been to Hawaii
(X) Been on a plane
(  ) Been on a helicopter
(X) Been lost
(X) Gone to Washington, DC
(X) Hugged a homeless person (I may or may not have already known them)
(X) Swam in the ocean
(  ) Swam with Stingrays
(X) Been sailing in the ocean
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Played cops and robbers
(X) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Ran a marathon (Lower-case x because I've run a half marathon...)
(X) Sang Karaoke
(X) Volunteered at a soup kitchen
(X) Paid for a meal with coins only
(  ) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
( ) Seen the Northern Lights
( ) Been Parasailing
(X) Been on TV
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(X) Made prank phone calls
(  ) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(X) Fed an elephant
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) Fired a gun
(X) Been to the Opera
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X) Serenaded someone
(X) Seen a U.S.President in person
(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) Watched the sunrise with someone
(  ) Driven a race car
(X) Been to a National Museum
(X) Been to a Wax Museum
(X) Eaten caviar
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Gone ice-skating
(X) Gone to the movies
(X) Been deep sea fishing
(X) Driven across the United States
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
(X) Gone snowmobiling
(X) Lived in more than one country
(X) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(X) Seen a falling star and made a wish
(X) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
(X) Seen the Grand Canyon
(X) Seen the Statue of Liberty
( ) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
( ) Been on a cruise
(X) Traveled by train
(X) Traveled by motorcycle
(X) Been horse back riding
(X) Ridden on a San Francisco cable car
(X) Been to Disneyland OR Disney World
(X) Been in a rain forest
(X) Seen whales in the ocean
(X) Been to Niagara Falls
(X) Ridden on an elephant
(  ) Swam with dolphins
(X) Been to the Olympics
( ) Walked on the Great Wall of China
( ) Saw and heard a glacier calf
( ) Been spinnaker flying
(X) Been water-skiing
(X) Been snow-skiing
( ) Been to Westminster Abbey
( ) Been to the Louvre
( ) Swam in the Mediterranean
(X) Been to a Major League Baseball game
( ) Been to a National Football League game
( ) Swam with sharks
(X) Been White Water Rafting
( ) Written a book or screen play

MBA

psychology.uwo.ca

As a matter of great rejoicing throughout the land (okay, just me, myself, and I)... I passed Statistics II. No, it was not the best grade I have ever received in a class. Yes, it was a tougher class. No, I did not like the course one bit. But... I PASSED. I never have to take statistics again in this round of college studies. I just find it kind of funny that I can get A's and B's in my MBA courses yet I struggle with and undergraduate Statistics course. Just sayin'.

Trip Update (Sorry, no pictures)

Okay, so it's not even really an update. I just want to let you all know that I am having an absolutely incredible time and I am not really wanting to go home. This vacation is exactly what I needed right now. I promise a full posting with pictures, etc. sometime shortly after I return home. Until then, Ja mata ne!

Leavin' On a Jet Plane...

In case any of you didn't already know, in about 8 hours I will be boarding a plane headed West to the "Land of the Rising Sun." I will be spending 15 GLORIOUS days in the beautiful country of Japan. Visiting the incredible people I met when I served my full-time mission there 5 years ago. This trip has been a long time coming and I can't believe that departure day is already here. So for now I bid you all sayonara! See you in a few weeks :)

Love, Rachel

Utah Weather: AKA Snowing on May 24th

Warning, this is a bit of a venting session...

Dear Utahns,
You live in Utah, most of you have lived here for many years, and yet you act shocked, surprised, and startled by the drastic swings in Utah's weather. Yes, today is the latest day that recordable amounts of snow have been recorded at the airport, but come on... we live in UTAH, wait five minutes, it'll change.
As for me, I don't mind the rain and snow up until the last day of school. The cooler weather keeps my students a little less antsy, and more willing to focus on school. If I had it my way it would rain/snow every day until the end of the school year! Hate me for it, but it makes teaching so much better.
Plus, I really enjoy having plenty of drinking water, bathing water, and even water to keep our lawns green in August and September. We have to get our water somewhere, and last I checked this is how Utah gets most of it's water.
Finally, history has proven that the cooler and wetter our Spring is the cooler our Summer is. I personally am not a huge fan of 100+ degree days all Summer long, so I am more than willing to deal with Snow/Rain when I am cooped up at work.
Most of those complaining about the snow and rain now are likely the ones that will complain that it is too hot come summer, anyway!
So, for now, Bring on the Rain!