Sleep, How I miss Thee! (I guess this could be renamed "Confessions of a Sports Fan: Part 1")

If you are reading this you are most likely fully aware of my love of sports of all kinds. From Basketball to Golf to Tennis to Olympic Figure Skating (don't you dare confuse this with Ice Dancing, that is about where I draw the line!) I will watch just about any sport on TV, especially if it is a good game or match.
For those of you that aren't as aware of the sporting world, last week and this week the Australian Open (Tennis for those of you who were just about to ask.) The hardest part about it being the Australian Open, for me, is that they are 18 hours ahead of us, so live matches begin at 7:00 p.m., MST and go through the entire night. There have been days that I watch right before I go to bed and live matches are still going on when I wake up at 5:00 a.m. the next morning. This tends to be a problem because I enjoy watching and more than once I've found myself on the couch realizing that it is 11:00 p.m. or later and I am awake watching tennis.
Tuesday night Serena Williams was playing her match (very poorly, I might add) and was down 1 set to 0 and was down 4 games to 0 in the second set. For anyone who knows anything about tennis they understand that the match was all but over. Then Serena refocused and all of the sudden started playing like the #1 ranked women's tennis player that she is. She ended up winning the second set and easily won the third set to win the match. I can only imagin the physical and emotional drain this was to her.
Fast Forward to Wednesday night. Serena Williams finds herself playing in the semifinals (yes, this is the next night. What bright person scheduled her to plays singles matches on back to back nights when she is still playing in the doubles bracket with her sister?) She looked 100% drained and seemed to be struggling throughout the match. I couldn't pull myself away from the TV because no matter how tired she was she was playing like a champion. She was still hitting amazing shots and tracking down returns that I most people would never get to with fresh legs. Serena Williams put on a display of the heart of a champion last night and that is what drew me in. Then, to top it off, a few hours after defeating Li Na (China) she had to get back out on the court and play in the doubles semifinal with her sister.
I could go on, because the second women's semifinal has a really good story behind it, as well. Justine Henin, former #1 ranked woman is coming back from retirement and is unranked. She has beaten many of the top women in the world and looks like she will be a worthy opponent for Serena Williams in the final.
I sure do enjoy sports!

The Climb

Preface: I am one of those odd people that listen to the words of a song, not just the beat. I was having a rough spell in life when I had the following experience. It isn't much, but it made a difference in my attitude and perception of the situation.
Rachel's warning: I am admittedly NOT a fan of Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana (come on, you are the same person, make up your mind already.) Her voice just grates on my nerves and I do not enjoy most of her music At All.
That being said... I was driving alone in the car and station surfing on the radio. A song came on and I started listening to the words, not really paying attention to who was singing those words. (Imagine that, someone actually listening to the words of a song.) The words were uplifting and inspiring (songs like that don't come along very often) so I made sure to pay attention to who was singing The Climb. When they said The Climb, Miley Cyrus, I couldn't believe my ears. I have not let the fact that it is Miley Cyrus change my opinion of the message of the song and I will leave the radio on to listen to The Climb whenever I hear it come on. No, I am not a Miley Cyrus fan in the least bit; I am a fan of a motivating, inspirational piece of music that inspired me on a day when I was down.

"The Climb"

I can almost see it

That dream I am dreaming

But there's a voice inside my head saying

"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking

Every move I make feels

Lost with no direction

My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying

Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be an uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing

The chances I'm taking

Sometimes might knock me down

But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it

But these are the moments that

I'm gonna remember most, yeah

Just gotta keep going

And I, I got to be strong

Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be an uphill battle

Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb, yeah!

There's always gonna be another mountain

I'm always gonna wanna make it move

Always gonna be an uphill battle

Somebody's gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there

Ain't about what's waiting on the other side

It's the climb, yeah!

Keep on moving, keep climbing

Keep the faith, baby

It's all about, it's all about the climb

Keep the faith, keep your faith

A Brand New Year!

I wish that I could remember enough to do a recap of 2009, but I am lucky if I can remember last week so that isn't going to be happening. I do know that 2009 was better than 2008, but that was a pretty sure bet. I am looking forward to 2010 with excitement and anticipation of what will be happening in my life and the lives of my family and friends. I don't have any idea what is in store, but I am optimistic about what lies ahead.
I was sitting at the New Year's Eve party we attend every year just thinking and reflecting and as I was doing this I got the feeling that 2010 is going to be a good year and I choose to believe that impression (and believe me, I am due for a good year.) 2010 is going to be a GREAT YEAR!
Happy New Year!

'Tis the Season...for my yearly Christmas Letter

Christmas 2009


The Warmest of Holiday Greetings to you all! It has been far too long since I have been in touch with many of you. Thank heaven that Christmas comes around every year so that I will make myself sit down and write an update of what is going on in my life.


An update on my life: I continue to teach Medical Anatomy and Physiology at a high school in Davis County. I am enjoying my job and most days I like teaching! The Master’s of Business Administration program keeps me very busy, but is a rewarding experience. I am learning new things every single day and I am very grateful for the opportunity I have to follow the prophet and get all of the education that I can. I am truly blessed to be in a situation that I can attend Graduate school and further my education. As far as my love life is concerned, I continue to try to Love Life. I have seen a lot of friends get married this summer, and I am truly happy for each one of them. Sometimes I just wonder if I will ever be blessed with that opportunity. I am sure it is one of Heavenly Father’s ways of trying to teach me Patience! I update my blog every now and then.


This summer found me taking a road trip to Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington. One of my mission companions was sealed in the Portland, Oregon LDS Temple and I had the opportunity of being there for this wonderful occasion. I also had the privilege of serving as a Stake Girl’s Camp leader again this year. I have always loved Girl’s Camp and I am grateful for every chance I have to help out.
I am very excited for next summer. I have already purchased my ticket to fly to Japan in June of 2010. I will be spending 15 days in Japan visiting the wonderful friends I was blessed to meet when I served a full-time mission there 4 ½ years ago.


This year has filled my life with many new experiences and plenty of excitement. I have had the opportunity to make new friends in the Master’s of Business Administration program and through my Church callings. I have had trials and challenges that have reminded me of the importance of relying on our Heavenly Father. Through those challenges I have also been reminded of the wonderful, amazing, incredible friends that I have been blessed with in my life. I hope and pray that I am being that kind of friend to those I know and love. Our Heavenly Father truly does take care of us and answer many of our prayers through the friends we have.
I am grateful for this life that I have been blessed with. I have a wonderful family, the best friends anyone could ask for, a good job, the chance to further my education, safety, opportunities to grow, and most importantly, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.


I know that God lives and that Jesus Christ is His son and our Savior, Redeemer, and Friend. I am grateful for that knowledge every single day of my life. I know that through the Gospel of Jesus Christ each one of us will be resurrected with a perfected body and can live Eternally with our families if we live worthy of that blessing. I know that Joseph Smith restored the Gospel in the Latter-days and that he translated the Book of Mormon. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, written for us in our day. I am grateful for the knowledge that families truly are Eternal and I look forward to the day I can be sealed in the Temple to a worthy priesthood holder. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true Church, and it teaches us the will of our Heavenly Father.


I hope and pray that each of you is happy and doing well in all aspects of your life. I hope that your families are happy, that life is treating you well, and that you are happy. I hope that each of you are able to find the simple joys of life each and every day of your life and that when times get tough you are able to trust in our Heavenly Father to help you through.


I love each one of you and am grateful that you are a part of my life. Have a very Merry Christmas!


Love,
Rachel

Attitude of Gratitude, Days 21-30 (Finally)

Day 21: Good Teachers
Day 22: Priesthood Leaders
Day 23: Men who still know how to be a Gentleman
Day 24: People that can always make you smile
Day 25: 5 Day Breaks from work
Day 26: Opportunities to Serve others
Day 27: Games Night
Day 28: A good movie that when you leave you feel motivated, uplifted, and want to be better.
Day 29: My Parents
Day 30: My Job

An Attitude of Gratitude

Day 1: Dear Friends that have touched my life
Day 2: The Gospel
Day 3: Opportunities to further my Education
Day 4: Missionary Work
Day 5: Free Time
Day 6: Divine Guidance of the Holy Ghost
Day 7: Sleeping In
Day 8: A Peaceful Sabbath Day
Day 9: The Support of a Loving Family
Day 10: My Health
Day 11: Those who valiantly and faithfully have served, are currently serving, or will serve in the U.S. Military.
Day 12: My Mom
Day 13: Friends that are family. Love you guys!
Day 14: Wholesome, worthwhile Entertainment
Day 15: Eternal life and Eternal Families
Day 16: A Good Job
Day 17: Laughter
Day 18: Temples
Day 19: Hopes, Dreams, and Possibilities
Day 20: Good Examples and Heroes. All of the amazing people I learn so much from and look up to.

Dear Federal Government

About this economic stimulus package that has supposedly "saved" 1 million jobs, what about the millions of others that can't find a job and are losing jobs because of the economy that you are "saving." 10% jobless rate and likely to go higher. It couldn't possibly have anything to do with the government and their policies and practices.... I didn't think so.