Sometimes it is just hard to buckle down and do your homework!

Okay, so it has been a while since I have been the student and had to do homework and some days I just don't feel like doing it. I can always find something else I would rather be doing and lately too much of that has been found on the television.


Here are a few of the reasons I don't want to do my homework:


MONK: Friday nights at 10:00 p.m. on USA

Adrian Monk is an Obsessive-Compulsive Detective that used to work for the San Francisco Police Department. He works on cases as requested and his goal is to get back on the force. Monk is scared of everything, yet he is a brilliant detective.


It is a really clean show and I never miss an episode.


Psych: Friday nights at 11:00 p.m. on USA


Shawn Spencer was raised by a family of cops. All of his life he has been groomed to become a detective, but because of a rift between his father he never became one. He has been blessed with uncanny observation skills. When he was young he would call in anonymous tips to help out with big cases.


Now that he is grown Shawn has teamed with his childhood friend Burton Guster ("Gus") to open a Psychic Detective agency. Posing as real psychics they are hired by the Santa Barbara Police Department as consultants on many weird, interesting, abnormal cases. Using Shawn's observation skills they fake their way as psychics and solve many a crime.


Another fun one that is pretty clean. Hey, I watch Monk every week, so I may as well catch Psych afterwards!




Ugly Betty: Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m., ABC

Okay, so I don't know why I started watching this one. I think I was just bored one Thursday evening. I watch it if I am home, but don't panic if I miss an episode.

Gilmore Girls: Weeknights at 6:00 p.m. on ABC Family

This one I blame on Amanda, 100%. Casually she mentioned that I should watch Gilmore Girls, I put it off for a while, but this week when I was sick I found myself watching it every evening. Now I just need to track down those DVD's so I can catch up!

Jeopardy: Weeknights, 7:30 p.m. on KJZZ

This is just me getting a little bit of education every evening. I love learning new things, and interesting facts just make this show that much more enjoyable to me. I have been watching for years and the only complaint I have is that they ask too many questions about France and French as compared to other countries or languages. (Guess it helps that the host is French-Canadian, eh.)

Learning Opportunities

2008 was a long, rough, emotional, stressful, educational year for me. I am more than happy to see 2009 begin. I am not wishing that 2008 never happened, because I learned so much and grew in many, many ways. Here are a few things that I learned in 2008.
1. Whenever the Lord closes a door, He always opens a window.
After being removed from my coaching assignments I started a search for a new job. The perfect job literally fell in my lap. A call from someone I hadn't heard from in years, moving through the application and interview process at record speed, my dream job offered to me, all within a matter of 2 weeks.
2. Trials are to prepare us for what lies ahead.
It has been said: "What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger." Well, I am still here!
3. Prayers are answered in the Lord's timing & in His own way.
No matter what we think is best, the Lord KNOWS what is best for us in our individual circumstances. Sometimes what we WANT is not what the Lord has planned for our lives. Then comes the hard part of submitting our will to His, a long process in my case.
4. The Lord is mindful of ALL my needs.
It is awesome to realize that the Lord really does provide for us. When it seems like there is no way things are going to work out, suddenly something happens to pave the way for us to accomplish it. As long as we are true and faithful, He will take care of us as He sees fit.
5. The Principle of Compensation
Although I haven't seen this principle fulfilled in my life yet, I have faith in the promises of our Heavenly Father. " The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude."
6.I have a long way to go & a lot of things to accomplish.
Life is full of so many trials, bumps, and opportunities. I have a lot to do to prepare myself for the day that I will meet my Father in Heaven.
I am truly grateful for the things I have learned and the experiences I have gone through. They have made me stronger, helped me rely more on my Heavenly Father, and helped me to know more about myself.

Temporary Hiatus

I got a 2 week Christmas Break from work and I have to admit that I did basically nothing during that time. I'll hopefully get this thing updated in the next few days, but until then, be patient!

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.