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