I LOVE getting mail.

Badgers, I don't know if you're familiar with the Missy Higgins' song, "Going North," but it's been running through my head a lot lately. I report the the MTC this Wednesday and I am STOKED! Good things to come. I love you all and I'd love to hear from you. Write me and give me updates when you get the opportunity--better yet, just make the opportunity to write. My address info. of on the side here, and on facebook too.

I'm learned so much from you all and I wish you all the best. Seriously.

If you want, my mom is setting up a blog for my weekly mission letters. The link to the blog is listed on this page, and the url is:
http://hermanastevens.blogspot.com/
...ha. I just realized the link is Hermana Stevens (hermana is sister in SPANISH). That's cute that my mom thought she knew where I was going :)


KRD 999 clear...well, just for a while

THE Most epic Soccer game ever played in the History of man (Except for the mud one)

So I just wanted to let the badgers know that During Quest, Sarah and I took the Questies in to Jackson and we played a game of soccer...It was not near as legendary (that's for you Abby) as our game. But I will say that given what was taught to us through our time at Badger we used out processing skills to make it a surprisingly more fun game than it started off. Sarah and I played hard and the kids started to catch on all because of the lessons of having fun that we learned at Badger.

An addition to that experience at the end of our staff training. Sometimes I tend to go through phases in life where I feel alone. Before I came to the ranch I was going through a similar experience. The whole week we trained, these feeling were disappearing. I had many of these moments but I specifically remember feeling the excitement during that game of being around people who cared about me. They were having so much fun with me, ME! And they are all such amazing people. Not one was lesser then another. I truly felt and still do feel a part of something great. I can't explain the feeling that took my heart over as we had so much fun. True pure fun. I can only trust that this was a feeling felt by all then or many times over throughout the summer.

Thank you so much.

P.S. As I recall, All of those who actually played soccer were on the same team! But I was really glad about how well I held out. And on the way to Playmill, I remember riding in the vans and I looked through Tiffani's music selection. She was one of few people I knew who had Five Iron Frenzy music. She also introduced some of us to Stephen Speeks which many of the Girls in the car attested to would woo any mortal woman.

Getting Sentimental...

I don't believe I ever said “thank you” to all the Badgers who made such a difference to me. I'm feeling sentimental and emotional right now, and I thought I'd attempt to write some “thank-yous.”

Here are a few things I remember from Badger Creek:

Pam, I still have the sweet note you gave me the week my dog died. That meant so much to me at the time. So many people say things like, “It's just a dog!” But he was more than that to my family and I. Thank you for that bit of comfort during a hard time.

Ben, I remember the day I lost my family's other dog at Badger Creek. While I wanted to go look (and do a ropes course...) you grilled all of those steaks...quite a task. I really don't like grilling steaks, and I'm certain I would have burned them all with my mind elsewhere. So, thank you, thank you for making sure I didn't make carcinogenic steaks for the people of Badger Creek.

Megan, thank you for yodeling for my family. They still remember that, and talk about the beautiful, blonde yodeler. You really made their day, and, in so doing, made mine. I also thank you for taking it well when I hid in the fridge and scared you.

Sarah-Willi, thank you for going canoeing with a bunch of little kids. They needed it, and they remember “Sarah-Willi! The bestest canoe driver at Badger Creek!” I am also thankful that you took my immature comments about “opportunities” and “thanking my leaders” well during the testimony meeting. I am glad that you are good at covering a laugh with a pretend cough.

Ashley, I am somewhat of a slave-driver. I am glad you took it so well when I wanted to deep-clean the kitchen during that last week, especially since I remember you not feeling well. I also thank you for the times that you called me to go on trail rides on Saturdays. That was very helpful to me, and I really appreciated it.

Christian, what can I say? Even when I felt like a pile of mud, you made me laugh, especially when you didn't mean to make me laugh. Thanks for watching the kitchen while I was gone, and for moving all the drink coolers during that week I was a slave-driver (or was that every week?). Thank you for eating all the leftovers I piled on your plate, and with a smile, too!

Sarah, all I can say is: “I wanna be with you!” Seriously, though, I'm glad you and Lark were there for me on my first day back. I'm glad I came back in time to tell you that you didn't have to scrub all the pans; I still can't believe you guys did that! I value our friendship, and I will never forget you coming to my family's home with “Badger flowers.” Thank you.

Abe, though you are on your mission and may not read this, I am thankful for the opportunity to work with a foreign-exchange student. I don't know if this is the correct spelling, but: I love you, Chon-hee! (I'm half-asian, too, don't you know... :) )

JP, although I was really terrified of getting water poured on me, I had a lot of fun trying to stay away from you after I had poured water on you. Seriously, though, I felt like I was in a war zone. I'm glad you took it well when I did soak you. And, to Jodi (I think it was), I am sorry that I accidentally got a ton of water on you that one day at the lodge. You poor, innocent bystander.

Max, you are the kindest mafia-man I've ever met. Thank you for making kitchen duty so fun, especially when I really didn't care to be there and was being a real sulky-sue about it. I am also thankful to your mom for labeling all of your belongings; it made kitchen clean-up easier. And, after Badger Creek, it sure was comforting to see a familiar face at a BYU-I ward. :)

Jason, thank you for being “Greg Wiggle” for my siblings, for keeping the kitchen in order while I wasn't there, and for generally being an all-around good guy. I have to say, I was unsure how my “Motab in the Mornings” would be received. I'm glad you liked it! You and MacKenzie were wonderful to have that first week in; although, I wish I hadn't eaten so many pies! Thank you.

Abby, I lament that I never did get to work in the kitchen with you while using British accents. I think that would have been great fun. I really would like to get to know you better, especially since I now realize we share the same excitement at having clean teeth. :) I hope they have good toothpaste in Norway.

And...

Dearest Jodi,

You do not yet have an email account. I hope you get one soon, because I love you. This is a very sad attempt at saying something to you “Jodi-style.” Please forgive me.

With love and affection,

Rachel

Also...

I know I did not get to everybody. For one thing, a lot of what happened during that summer gets all jumbled in my mind, and I can't seem to remember who said what or who was there, et cetera. All of you have made a difference to me; words seem pretty inadequate whenever I try to think of something to express my gratitude. Plus, it is very late. I'm not sure why I'm still awake at this moment. I also realize that this post is getting very long.

All in all, Badger Staff of 2008 was the best staff Badger Creek had ever seen!