St. Louis Arch

Near the end of March, Bruce and I traveled to St. Louis for the weekend. We drive down to St. Louis once a month, but the only thing we do down there is go to the temple. This is not a bad thing at all; infact, we love going to the temple. However, St. Louis has so many other cool things to see that we wanted to do something else in addition to our temple trip. We left early on Friday morning, played in town all day, stayed over night, and attended the temple on Saturday. Although we enjoyed what we did in St. Louis, we realized that some things take time, and we need more than just a day to do everything.

The gateway to the west is a landmark commemorating Lewis and Clark and all the other explores and settlers who opened up the west. Nothing can quite compare to the experience we had while trying to make our way to the top of the arch.
We got to the arch visitors center pretty early in the morning, and rushed to the ticket line. After standing for only a few minutes, we were told that the south tram was not currently working so they weren't selling any tickets to the top until they could fix the tram. We browsed through the Westward expansion museum and decided to buy some tickets for the Lewis and Clark movie. Just before the movie began, they started selling tickets for the top again. We quickly jumped in line and purchased tickets to rise to the top immediately after the movie ended. At our appointed time, we jumped in line eager to find our way to the top.
Instead, all we did was

WAIT!

WAIT!!

WAIT!!!
2 hours after our original launch time, we were moved to the north tram line where we waited for an additional 45 minutes. The south tram broke down again, which made everything delayed. Finally our moment had come. . We crawled into the small pod, rode the 3 minutes to the top and saw....


The view was actually quite spectacular. We enjoyed the view and enviornment of being at the top of the arch. It is one of those things that you should do once and only once. I didn't mind the ride, I didn't mind the view, the cost wasn't even that bad, it's the wait I can't stand. Granted that we waited longer than most people to get on the tram, it still took all day which left no time to do anything else we wanted to do in St. Louis. Our tram was supposed to leave at 1:30, and we didn't actually take off until 4:30. 3 hours of time we could have spent at the zoo, the botanical gardens, or the science museum. I can say that I have been to the top of the arch.
Enjoy the pictures.

P.S. I didn't choose this music. It automatically started playing when I pasted the link to the slide show! Sorry! Don't judge me, it was an innocent mistake.

Yes, Success! Music is off. Thanks Tannie!

Race pictures

This picture was taken after we arrived home with our medals still on.
I mentioned earlier that I would post some pictures and blog more about our marathon race. It was the first marathon race in the Champaign/Urbana area. They had over 9500 participants in either a 5K, half marathon, or full marathon. People from all over the world came to run. Some were qualifying for the Boston marathon.
Although I don't like running, the environment of the marathon race was awesome. It was really neat to see the stampede of people running in front of me, and hear community members cheering us on throughout the entire 13.1 miles. I can't speak for Bruce, but I actually had a lot of fun running it.
The first 6 miles went by really fast. At mile 7, my calves started hurting and cramping. This made me nervous since I was only half way finished. I kept pushing forward, and they eventually stopped. At mile 9 my thighs started cramping. Mile 10 and 11 were extremely difficult. I honestly didn't think I was going to make it through since I hadn't ever run this far. After I passed mile marker 12, I knew I only had 1 mile to go and I picked up the pace a little. When I saw Memorial Stadium and was near the finish line, I started sprinting. I entered the stadium and realized I had to run the full 100 yards of the stadium, then circle back to the 50 yard line to the finish line. At this point I was actually running out of breath, but I pushed forward and sprinted as fast as I could. With 10 yards to go, I heard the announcer call my name as coming across and I saw myself actually cross the finish line on the big screen. I ended up crossing the finish line 3 seconds ahead of Bruce, and the announcer didn't call his name. I'm sorry Bruce!
It was a neat experience for me. I thought about training harder and doing the full marathon next year, but that is still under careful scrutiny. I haven't run since. It took me a couple of days to get over the stiffness, and then I haven't had much free time to run. I don't feel like I have to sacrifice things anymore since the race is over. Hopefully next week I will start running again. Even though it is not my favorite past time, I feel like I am in pretty good shape.
Enjoy the pictures. We didn't have a camera. Here is a link to the pictures taken of me by the marathon group.

Here is a link for Bruce's pictures

Here are some pictures our friends took of them running.

New Calling

As some may know the boundaries for all 3 Champaign wards were reorganized. This boundary change affected all 3 wards in this area, and we lost a lot of our friends to the other ward. All 3 wards had their names changed, and 2 of the wards had new bishoprics put in including ours. It has been crazy since we had a joint fast and testimony meeting to sustain the new boundary changes, then general conference, then stake conference. Last Sunday was the first Sunday we met in our new wards. As you can imagine a lot of changes needed to happen since every organization except the Elder's Quorum lost presidency members. 3 weeks before the ward change I was called to be a nursery leader. I really enjoyed being in the nursery. I could take my shoes off, sit on the floor, and play with toys and kids. Even though it was fun, it was the shortest calling I ever held. I was released from that calling last week.

I was called to be the first counselor in the Young Women presidency. At first, I was kind of surprised because this is an important calling. I remember what my young women experience was like, and I sometimes still talk to my old young women leaders. They actually played a significant role in my life. They are the ones who convinced me to attend Utah State University where I ended up meeting my husband. I imagine that I will do the same for some of the girls I will work with. This can be an overwhelming thought. However, I know that through the Lord's help, I will be able to reach out to the girls in the way that He wants me to, and serve to the best of my ability. I am excited about my new calling and hope that the girls can be strengthened by my testimony of the gospel.

Something I hate!

I don't actually hate very many things in life, but even though sometimes this makes you feel better, I still hate throwing up. I hate it even more when it happens at school, and I am at the mercy of others.
Yesterday (Thursday) at 2:30 during study hall, I suddenly got very lightheaded/dizzy and pale. Wyatt (a student who sits as close to my desk as possible) turned his head and said, "Mrs. Richards, you don't look very good."
"I don't feel very good," I quickly replied.
"Are you going to blow chunks?"
"I think so...."
Wyatt immediately pulled the closest garbage can to the side of my desk. I ended up putting my head on my desk and holding off the urge until 2:45 when the students were dismissed.
As my students left my room, they mentioned to the principal that I wasn't feeling well and was about to puke. She came in, wondering why I was at school all day. I felt great all day - I even played soccer with the kids during P.E. (I taught P.E. for Mr. Richards during 1 and 3 hours since the 7th graders were on a morning field trip.) I taught all my afternoon classes, walked around answering questions. I was even joking around with some of the kids at 2:25. This illness was definitely sudden. She told me I should go home - I felt way too dizzy to even be standing up yet alone driving. Right as I opened my mouth to tell her I was too dizzy, I lost it. I was glad the garbage can was right there because otherwise I would have had a disaster.
It took about 30 more minutes and 2 more times throwing up before I felt well enough to stand up. Thankfully, Mrs. Armstrong took the garbage out for me and gave me some Sierra Mist to help calm my stomach. She also called in a sub for me on Friday (today). I decided to take a bucket with me in Beautiful Bobby just in case, and it's a good thing I did.
I was actually able to drive the full 25-30 minutes home without stopping on the side of the road. There were moments when I thought I would need to pull over. As soon as I pulled into the parking lot and turned off the ignition, the bucket became very useful. (This would be the 4th time in less than an hour).
I called everyone I had meetings scheduled with and canceled them. I called Mrs. Armstrong to tell her I made it home safely, and I crashed on the couch.
After sleeping most of the day today, I feel much better. I must have had a slight case of food poisoning because I felt better when my stomach was completely empty of everything that could possibly be inside it.
I guess I can laugh about it now, but I am grateful no students were actually in my room when I lost my cookies. That would be a moment of ridicule for the rest of the school year.

10 Years Ago Today

Ten years ago today I received my mission call to the Spain, Barcelona mission. At the time I received my call, I was living in Logan, Utah, going to Utah State University. My call was sent to my home in Erda, Utah (two hours from Logan), so my parents called me when it came in the mail and I drove home that afternoon. This picture is of me with my call, my brother, Luke and sisters Jenifer and Kendra (11 days old).
As I read to my family the letter from President Hinckley, then president of the church, calling me on my mission, my rebellious eyes skipped down a couple of lines and read Spain, Barcelona. In that instant I knew that was the mission the Lord wanted me to go to and I couldn't read anymore, so my dad took the letter from me and read it to the rest of the family. My mother and grandmother had expressed desires that my mission not be too far away or too dangerous. My mother's brother, David Smith, had served his mission eleven years earlier in Spain, Barcelona, so I knew they would be content.
I had laid awake at nights for months wondering where I would spend the next two years of my life serving the Lord and preaching his gospel.
A week and a half ago we had a mission reunion and celebrated 10 years since the dedication of the Madrid, Temple. My mission president, Clate W. Mask Jr. (pictured below with Brittney and I) petitioned the area president, Dieter Uchtdorf to allow all the missionaries to attend the dedication of the Temple. President Uchtdorf said it was unlikely, as the Temple was not in our mission and missionaries are not allowed to leave their mission, but that he would check with Salt Lake. Finally permission was given and all the missionaries in the mission were able to attend the dedication. That was in March of 1999. I received my call shortly afterwards and was able to attend the Madrid Temple while living at the nearby Centro de Capacitation de los misioneros (Missionary training center) before entering the mission field.
One of the great blessings of my life was serving under two mission presidents, each for about a year, President Mask and President Bowen. I learned that two men could fill the same calling and do a wonderful job, and be completely different. President Mask was an institute teacher and loved to show us motivational videos like "Rudy" and "Pollyanna" and constantly told us "you gotta believe" and to be "glad missionaries". President Bowen was an insurance salesman and gave us power point presentations, clearly teaching us the doctrine of the church.
My mission was an important time of my life and President Mask told us at our reunion not to hesitate to share our experiences from the mission. So, for the next two years, you can expect posts starting out "Ten years ago today..."
I have pondered whether or not I was a good missionary. Before my mission I thought all you had to do was have a lot of faith and go out and work and you could be the best missionary ever. On my mission I learned that missionary work is hard work. We had to search for those who were ready to hear the gospel and open our mouths all the time, something I'm not naturally inclined to do. I've decided to let the Lord be the judge of whether or not I was a good missionary. One of my companions used to say though that however good a missionary you were determined how beautiful your wife would be. If that is true, I was the best missionary ever, my grandmothers would probably agree.

Stiff as a...

2 1/2 hours is a long time to run no matter who you are and how well trained you are. I have stiffness in places I didn't know I had muscles. I may be sore, but I still feel accomplished. At least I have a reason for all this aching.

The race results are in....

Brittney Richards
Number: 8910
Overall: 2764
Age Division: 322/409
Gender Division: 1379/2000
Time: 2:26:43 Pace: 11:12 min/mi


Bruce Richards
Number: 8911
Overall: 2766
Age Division: 234/263
Gender Division: 1380/1571
Time: 2:26:46 Pace: 11:13 min/mi

Details and pictures and coming soon.
New mantra:
This sport would be fun if it weren't for all the running!
Running is a mental sport - and we're all insane!


Overall Summary: YEAH!!! We did it!