Philadelphia

At the end of July I was invited to attend a Financial Literacy Summit hosted through Drexel University and the Math Forum in Philadelphia, PA. I do teach Financial Literacy and I couldn't believe I got an invitation for an all expense trip paid for through a grant. I was among 20 other people chosen to attend. I was so excited to go but I new NO ONE and I had never been to Philadelphia needless to say there was much trepidation getting on the plane in St. George. I knew I would be fine once I got to the hotel. We were staying at the Inn at Penn on the University of Pennsylvania campus. I was a little nervous but I did finally make it to the hotel and met my new roommate Marian from Beaverton, Oregon. She was a nice lady and I was so glad that we roomed together. The first night we ate at Bobby Flay's Burger Palace and it was really good. The walk to the restaurant was hot and humid but still lovely. I also discovered the there is a Business building named after Jon Huntsman (the dad). Apparently both he and his son attended Business School at the prestigious Ivy League school.

The second night we were all invited to the Math Forum director's home for dinner. I rode my first train while I was there and truly came to understand the phrase "commuting to work". Wow I am so grateful I live where I do and it takes me three minutes to get to work. Dinner was great!  There was so much food! We went back and by the time we got home it was pretty late.

The third night I was there we went to an Italian Restaurant in the hotel and that was good food too. It was a little different but it was still really good. We did a little shopping that night and walked around and looked at things but nothing too much.

The last night we were there the summit ended and a few of us jumped on the subway and headed down town. I ate my first Philly Cheese Steak and a place called Sunny's. It's true what they say about Philly Cheese Steaks...they are awesome! After that we walked around Penn's Landing and I got to see the Jersey Shore, we looked at statues and monuments and saw all the old buildings. We were too late to make any tours but it was need to see Independence Hall and walk the same streets that our founding fathers did. We headed back that night and ate gelato and sat at a coffee shop and talked. It was so much fun. The next morning a few of us had a plan. We wanted to get up early mad dash around downtown and run back to the hotel jump in a cab and make our flights out. We didn't have to be to the airport until 3:30 so we had plenty of time. We first needed breakfast so we hopped a trolley this time and went down town and landed at a farmers market and we had breakfast at an Amish dinner. The food was wonderful, they even had homemade butter. After that we headed up to Independence Hall to get tickets for the tour. We lucked out and got an early tour. We were able to tour the Liberty Bell museum first and then headed over to catch the next tour. I can't say enough how neat Independence Hall was. I've taught history now for 12 years and my favorite part to each is about the U.S. Constitution. When I finally walked into the signing room I almost burst into tears. There was such a spirit there I can't describe. I know with every fiber of my being that the Lord had his hand in the creation of that document and in the lives of the men who had the courage to sign it. I couldn't take my eyes off of George Washington's chair. It was the original chair and I was feet away from where Ben Franklin sat and gave his compromising speech that saved the convention. I really wish I could put into words how that moment truly felt. It was AMAZING!!!

I know I went to this conference for the math part and I survived that part, it really wasn't the funnest thing I've experienced but I did learn a lot and I met some great people. I truly feel blessed that I had the opportunity to see the City of Brotherly Love.

Well that trip pretty much wrapped up my summer. As you can read it was pretty busy. Of course I've just jumped right into the next thing and that is volleyball. Volleyball deserves it's own entry and I'll write about that experience a little later but for now I'm done. I'm leaving you all with some pictures of my trip to Philly!!!

This is where I ate my first Philly Cheese Steak

Outside of Independence Hall.



The Liberty Bell...It really does have a crack in it.

The Signing Room. My pictures didn't really turn out of this room. But this is the table where Ben Franklin sat.

Broken Button Statue on the University of Pennsylvania campus

Famous LOVE statue also on the University of Pennsylvania campus.

I just realized that I mostly talked about the food in Philadelphia. I promise I did more than eat there, it's just that the math part was so not my thing that I just looked forward to the evenings while I was there. I'm so glad I got to go for the historical part of it all too.

Bear Lake---Family Reunion

Our yearly family Stoker Reunion was held this year at Bear Lake. We've been to Bear Lake several times over the years and frankly I don't really have too many fond memories of the place. I mostly remember riding in the back of the truck, in July with Brandon and Brett. Not that we didn't just love that but it was HOT and kind of miserable. One time I remember we were coming home and driving through Salt Lake on the freeway and we all thought it would be fun to get people to honk and wave at us. We were laughing and having a grand ol' time, but we didn't ask the parents for permission to do that. Little did the three of us know but dad was having a minor meltdown as to why people were honking at him on the freeway. He thought something was wrong and apparently he was raging in the front seat. It wasn't until mom looked back and saw the three of us laughing and waving to the cars that she realized what was going on and calmed dad down! Needless to say we were asked to stop.

At the first reunion at Bear Lake we went to I was probably about 8 or 9 but I went fishing with the boys. I didn't have any girl cousins close in age and when I was 9 the closest girl cousin was 14 and having NOTHING to do with me so I was pretty much forced to hang out with the boys or be moms errand girl all day long. I took my chances with fishing. Now I don't mind fishing as long as I don't have to touch the bait or the fish. I feel that is pretty reasonable. Well I caught a fish and I was pretty proud of that fish and I was taking it back to the trailer to show mom. I can't really remember how I was carrying the fish but I know that it was wrapped in something and I dropped it in the middle of the road and I wasn't going to touch it. So I left the fish there and walked to the trailer to get some help. All the adults were playing games or busy doing something and I was told to just go pick it up. My 9 year old self was pretty dejected at being ignored (common at these reunions) and I was also stubborn and mad and I wasn't going to get the fish. But Grandpa Stoker was paying attention, as he always did, and he walked over with me and picked up my fish and brought it back and cleaned and skinned the fish for me. I don't really remember much else and I probably don't even have all of that story right unfortunately that is when I started hating the family reunion. As the years have gone on I may have grown up a little and I don't really mind them now. This year we again found ourselves at the Bear Lake, mostly I think it is because my aunt lacks any kind of originality. I was only going to be able to be there for about 24 hours but going back as an adult I noticed how beautiful of a place Bear Lake really is. While we were there we celebrated Brett's birthday. His 30th birthday, with the best cupcakes in the world from the Sweet Tooth Fairy. Thanks Jana! We played around in the lake and we went on a hike to Bloomington Lake which is a glacier lake on the Idaho side of the border. That was about all the activities that I went to, you'll have to check Nikki's and Jana's blog for further details but here are some pictures of the fun!!!

The hike was short but the first climb as steep but when I got to the top this is what I saw. In white snow is actually pieces of the glacier.

Nikki, Cole, me and Warrin. LOVE that baby Cole!!!

This is the lake and the glacier. It was beautiful. Some of my cousins along with Brett, Jana, Jovie and Brock walked over to the glacier and slide down it. I'm really not that adventurous.

This is our picnic after the hike with Mom, Jana, Nikki and Cole. I left right after this!

UNTIL NEXT YEAR!!!

CHICAGO!!!

I was given the opportunity to go take 6 students to Chicago for the National FCCLA (Family Career and Community Leaders of America) Convention. These students won the opportunity to compete on a national level in their Star Event. The exciting thing for me was that when I was a State Officer in high school I went to Chicago. I was nervous to take a 14 & 15 year old girls to a big city knowing their all weren't very street savvy and that was about enough to send me over the edge at times. But I wanted the girls to experience all the things about the city that they could and I think we succeeded. We got there on July 3rd and finally got checked into our rooms at about midnight. This would have been fine but we planned our first tour for 8:00 in the morning. We all weren't loving that part but the girls were excited about going on our bike tour. The bike tour was a Lakefront tour so we rode along the beaches of Lake Michigan. This was a fun way to see the city because we saw things we probably would not have been able to see. We went into Lincoln Park and Lincoln Park Zoo and a few other places. Here is a few pictures of what I saw...don't make fun of the bike pictures...honestly I couldn't remember the last time I was on a bike.

This is the view from outside our hotel. The building in the center of the picture is the Wrigley Building. Yep that's right Wrigley name is famous in Chicago. It is a beautiful building. The building to the left that is cut off is the Trump Building and is the tallest building in Chicago.

This is me all too excited for the big bike ride. The helmet is just too sexy. I can hardly stand it.

Can you believe it!!! I actually remembered how to ride the bike and I didn't even fall off!

This was one of our stops. We started this bike ride on the other side where the buildings are. The tall building in the background is the Sears Tower and to the far left is the Navy Pier where we will end our July 4th day!

We were now in Lincoln Park. In the background is a statue of Lincoln and this was our tour guide.

Some of the things I saw.

Fourth of July Celebrations

I little reminder of home. For the 4th celebrations FCCLA had rented out the end section of the Navy Pier and they had food and dancing for the kids. The girls had a great time and when the fire works began we literally had the best seats in all of Chicago. This water spouting is actually a foundation and sprays across the Chicago River and it reminded me of the fire engine in Beaver spraying all the kids during the parade. It was so HOT and HUMID in Chicago the week we were there that if I would had been on the other side of the river I would have stood in the pathway of the fountain. It was a fun night!

This was the best firework show I've seen!

Of course I wasn't looking!

The White Sox Game

Loved it!!! We went to a Chicago White Sox game at U.S. Cellular Field. This stadium is awesome. Even though there was a two hour rain delay we still enjoyed ourselves walking around and just enjoying the atmosphere. Speaking of atmosphere..the rain DID NOT cool things down. It was still VERY HUMID!!!

Eating in Chicago

We went to some FUN places to eat while we were in Chicago! One of the most memorable was Ed Debevics. Ed's was a 50/60's style diner and all the workers there are rude and obnoxious (on purpose). It was so much fun. The is was PERFECT place to take 14 and 15 year old girls. They lived for every comment made. One of the girls got a pile of napkins thrown in her face after she said something rude to the waiter, he also announced to the entire restaurant that she would be a "Future Divorcee". They would have eaten there every day if they could. We laughed so hard. Right across the street from Ed's was Gino's which is famous for their Chicago style deep dish pizza. We went to eat there later that night but they were already closed and so we ended up at Hard Rock Cafe. I love Hard Rock Cafe! We ate there when I was in Chicago the first time. It was fun to go back. We did eat deep dish pizza at a place recommend by a local called Girogardi's. We were all enjoying our pizza until Jenifer bit into and ate half a cockroach in her salad!!! Disgusting...we all kind of lost our appetite after that. Good thing we were almost done.

It's too dark but this picture was taken inside Hard Rock

Sears Tower

Sears Tower was awesome! Again, this was another place I went to when I was in Chicago the first time. The building is so tall. We went up to the 103rd story and they have alot of history on the walls and the view is amazing. They have added a new feature to the Sears Tower and that was a Sky Deck. They have three places where you can actually step out on to a thick Plexiglas deck and look down to the bottom. My stomach literally sank to my toes the moment I walked out but it was AWESOME!!! Note to the family: If we ever go to Chicago and dad is with us. He is NOT allowed to go to the top. When the wind is blowing the building does sway a little bit. Dad WILL NOT enjoy with one bit and the Sky Deck will put him over the edge. Oh and warning if anyone takes mom beware of the elevator. It is quick but they cram you in going up. You've all been warned!!!

This is some of the history that is on the walls at the Tower.

Yes those are the TOPS of the buildings. I took this picture on the sky deck. See why dad is NOT allowed!

This is the view from the top! AMAZING!!!

The Art Institute of Chicago

This was an unexpected surprise! One of the girls read that the Art Institute was free to the public on Thursday nights and she really wanted to go there. We didn't have a lot of time because we wanted to go on a night time river boat ride but since it was free we fit it in. We stood in line for a while and once we got in we had about 25 minutes to wonder. I moved around the rooms and I was just looking around and then I rounded a corner and was slapped with Van Gogh paintings. Real Van Gogh paintings are you kidding me.  I couldn't quit staring. I simply had NO idea how beautiful some of his paintings are. Some of my favorite ones were the weirdest looking paintings. I took some pictures. See for yourself.

Nighttime River Boat Ride

Our last adventure of our Chicago trip was a boat ride on the Chicago River and out into Lake Michigan. We started out in the light and the guide told us about the buildings and history of Chicago. Of course I was completely relaxed but the girls got a little bored after the first half of the trip. The Chicago skyline was beautiful and I thought it was perfect way to end our week of crazy fun.

(Sorry couldn't get this picture to load. I'll try again later.)

I did have a great time in Chicago. There were some stressful moments trying to wrangle up six energetic girls but it was an experience worth having on so many levels. I'm glad I went and actually took pictures. I'm terrible. Other things not featured in this blog was our visit into the Hersey store. I would have bought up that entire store if I could have gotten back to the hotel without melting. I did go into Tiffany's. Yeah it will be ok to have some jewelry from there someday. I think I could live with that! We did go into Millennium Park and saw some amazing art and fountain structures there as well. The entire experience was a whirl wind but it was awesome! I'm glad I had the opportunity to go!

My CRAZY Summer

School could not end fast enough last May! I was packed and out the door before the last bell could finish ringing. The school year was packed with frustrations and successes and by the time it was over I was looking forward to a relaxing summer of doing what I wanted.  Well remember the first post I wrote and knowing what direction I would be going next. It didn't take long and my path was laid out and I was starting down the new path with trembling trepidation.

Trip to visit Megan

 I love visiting my friend Megan Busschau. We've known each other for a long time and though we were friends in high school and share some great memories it wasn't until I started at SUU that we became good friends. Megan and I, we've seen each other through a lot over the years. The thing I love most is simply going to lunch and catching up on all the happenings in our lives. In college that consisted of Taco Bell (burrito and drink) with a drive around town looking at houses, and now we have the Portland/Vancouver area to choose from. Which I'm going to have to say Burgerville is one of my new favs. When I go to Megan's house this is the view I get to soak up from her front door.

I know BEAUTIFUL right! I immediately relax when I step out of the car, and for all of you that know me you know that me relaxing is RARE! This was the perfect place for me to go and heal from my insane school year and reflect on my life and the direction it was about to take.

Another one of my favorite things when going to Megan's is a little gift her father gave her. It's a statue (wood carving) named "Crap'n Jack". You truly have to know Megan and her dad to appreciate these next few pictures.

I know right IT IS HILARIOUS!!! Megan isn't a big fan of having Crap'n Jack at her front door but her husband Dean loves him and wants other one to match to put as his guardians of his new shop. Well Dean I hope you get your wish.

While I was in Washington Megan got some pretty bad news. She found out that she had a mass the size of a baseball in her chest wall behind her heart. The plan was for her to have surgery which required sawing through her sternum to get to the mass and then to remove it. I stayed a few days longer to help Megan get ready for this surgery. I don't know if I was any help but I felt better being there. While the doctors were performing the surgery the discovered the mass was more than they had originally thought and Megan was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She is in stage 1 and is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

Words can't explain how it feels to look your friend in the eye, hold her hand and cry with her as she contemplates the journey that is ahead of her. I have to say Megan is so strong. I have no doubt in my mind that the Savior is with her carrying her through this trial. Her strength was healing for me. She gave me the courage to face the things coming up in my life. Sometimes we don't ask for things to happen to us but when they do we have to stand up and do the right thing knowing we will be blessed in the end.

My prayers and hugs are with you always Megan!!! Love you and thanks for being my friend!!!

Green Thumb?

Hmmmm...I potted some flowers. Well actually my mom potted the flowers while giving me a lesson on how to pot flowers. I know that seems so weird but honestly I've tried to keep house plants and they die. But a few friends of mine gave me some different flowers and I am determined to keep them alive. So I said the magic words to my parents..."I think I need to go to Home Depot". Surprisingly there was not one complaint and after our family funtime of bowling and lunch I started the "Green Thumb" experiment. Home Depot went quite well...I didn't get bored once.  Thank you mom for teaching me plant potting, if this goes well maybe there will be more planting in my future. Here are a few pictures of my "Green Thumb" Experiment.

Here are my two potted flowers outside my front door.

Here is a little side view. (I told you all it was a "little" experienment)

This little flower I'm trying to revive...I've nearly killed it! Hopefully that Miracle Grow will do it's job.

Memorial Weekend Fun!

Grandma Raddon's 87th Birthday

Grandma Raddon's 87th Birthday party! I gave her a plate that says "At Grandma's House there is Always Second's of Love". On Saturday we celebrated Grandma's birthday. Though she claims she is old she is still as spunky as ever. I don't know what our family would do without her. We LOVE YOU GRANDMA!!!

FAMILY PICTURES!!!

So we made another attempt to have Raddon Family pictures on Saturday as well. Now in the past this has proofed to be quite an endeavor. If it isn't the wind blowing our hair in all different directions, then it is a crying (no check that...SCREAMING) child in the forefront making things difficult and then to top it all off WHAT TO WEAR? The one family picture that we didn't plan what to wear we all came out in red and black, except for Brett's yellow tie and we looked like a family who planned the attire. The next big family picture Mom and Dad just bought every one a Red, White, or Blue T-Shirt. This time mom gave us the color range of black, white or gray with long levi's. She did say no flip flops only because she didn't want me to wear my "bling bling" flip flops. She did win that battle and I wasn't too sad that I didn't rebel since we took the pictures at an old barn and we had to walk through manure to get the pictures taken. OK Mom you win that one! I'm excited to see the pictures...hopefully they worked out. We are getting smarter and hiring photographers that use digital cameras that way we can cut and paste and maybe even photoshop out the flaws! We may have got a fun family picture.  Here are some picts. of the kids after the picture taking fun. Check and Nikki and Jana's blog to see more fun pictures when they get them posted.

Love this Jovie and her cheeser cheeser smiles!

Cort trying to pose in his best SUPERMAN pose with Gage trying to tackle him. Some things never change with brothers.

Gage "To Cool For School"

Cole is just chillin...my flash on the camera blinds him but he had a darling smile right before I took the picture. Warrin where is the spit rag?

Everyone else just eating cake and ice cream!

Thanks everyone for the fun weekend!!!

Graduation Day!!!

 

When I was young I always had a strong sense that education/school was important. Yes I had parents that pushed me to get good grades, mostly because they knew I could and did do well. I know I put more pressure on myself than they ever could have. That's probably why they didn't worry about my grades as much as I did. Though I was terrified of cleaning mom's shower if I got anything below an A- in high school the parents didn't seem to yell too much when that B+ came my way in physics fourth quarter of my senior year. I'm sure my parents were just trying to get me OUT of high school and on to college. Mostly OUT of the house...they needed a break from all my stressing. So I was off to one of the most unlikely places I ever thought I would end up and that was Snow College. I loved Snow, not so much for the academic education I received but the life education that became my turning point in the direction of my life. I had some fun times at Snow, I met life long friends and had experiences I never would have had at another school. This is where I earned my first degree, my Associates degree, and I dragged my family to their second graduation for me.

Snow College led me to Southern Utah University, the one school I said I would NEVER attend. Yep, this is where I learned never to say NEVER. I also decided to become a teacher, a profession I said I would NEVER enter. But there must have been something pretty intense happening at the bowling alley in Cedar City that night as I sat at a table with my mom on one side, the nosy bishop peaking over our shoulders and the school catalog in hand. Mom and I thumbed through every page discussing every major of course it wasn't until the "S" section that I found my major, a Social Science Composite. TAH DAH!!! There it was a history teacher...I couldn't believe that this is what felt right and I knew it and I'm sure my mom was just relieved to finally get me out of her hair so she could actually bowl with the YW/YM's group she brought to Cedar that night. As soon as I decided I went straight to work getting my new schedule worked out and started down my new path. WOW! Before I knew it I was graduating and working in Vernal at my first teaching job at Uintah High School. Oh and my family attended my 3rd graduation, and honestly this one was BORING! (Sorry Olene Walker but it was).

I found myself a little lost for a while because for the first time in my life I didn't have anything I was working towards. I was just working and that really wasn't setting well for me. One night I was spiralling like I do when I'm under stress and I sat down and wrote in my journal, mostly setting goals for my future. In there I wrote that I wanted to get my Master's degree by the time I was 30 (I was off a few years) but I just didn't know what I wanted to get the degree in and so I needed time to figure that all out. It took 7 years and a job change to Parowan High School for me to finally decide to get my Master's degree. I really wanted a degree from the University of Utah but they didn't have any programs in southern Utah for school counseling. Bless my sister-in-law Jana's heart she hiked with me through the UofU campus, talking to several people before we found the right guy and I told him about my dilemma. Well whatever I said I certainly got the ball rolling for him because he thought it was a great idea to come to southern Utah but it was going to take time and of course no promises were made. But he did suggest the University of Phoenix. I was skeptical. But two weeks after that meeting I saw a flyer in the faculty room at PHS for the University of Phoenix's new school counseling program...really? They were starting the program at the St. George Campus. The Lord was taking care of me.

On October 31st, 2007 I started my first class in St. George. I met Stacee Stratton and Robin Birmingham, who are later going to be my partner's in crime throughout this entire program. All three of us were on a team together through every single class, yes we had others that joined us and I'm sure we drove them all crazy because we are SOOO type A in everything. But Stacee and Robin got me through some tough times and we shared some fun times and became crazy about our Starbucks time. We had professors we loved and professors we loathed but somehow we made it though. I want to say we made it through in one piece but I can't...I spent two and a half years in a very expensive therapy session while gaining an diploma. But I owe these two a special thanks...without them I couldn't not have maintained.

But the biggest thanks goes out to the family. First to mom and dad...they always support me in all my crazy ideas. They listened to me whine about the papers I had to write, they yelled at me to get my homework done (somethings never change), and they cheered me on at the 3rd college graduation (4 total now)  I dragged them to and for this I will forever be thankful. Next I must send a shout out to Nikki, Warrin and Cole. I spent a lot of nights in the pink room, borrowing their laptop to do homework and shedding MANY TEARS while my sister listened and encouraged me on. Brett and Jana, Jovie and Brock get a thanks for reminding me to keep on pushing to get that degree. I know I technically graduated  7 days before Brett but we really earned our degree's at the same time and because he pushed through it made me want to get done as well. I know there is never any sibling rivalry ever! Of course Brandon and Jeanette and all the boys have always been supportive. Payton, Tyce, Cort and I could swap homework horror stories of who had it worse. Cort did think it wasn't fair that I had to go to school in the summer time...I did get some sympathy on that one. There are so many others I don't have time to name but you know who  you are and I'm giving you all a big hug right now. Thanks to all for helping me reach my goals. In a few weeks I'll be ready to start making some more goals and I'm excited to see where they will take me.

Robin, me and Christina all attended our graduation ceremony. Stacee wasn't able to come because of family commitments but I sure did miss her. Things just weren't the same without her.