A Year in Review 2012

 There’s nothing particularly magical about flipping the calendar to the next month. However, the start of a new calendar year causes me to stop, reflect on the past 12 months, and make some specific goals for the next 12 months. The last week or so I’ve spent some significant time evaluating what I’ve done and learned and how I’ve grown as well as what I hope to have accomplished and where I hope to be when I’m thinking about turning the calendar to 2014. Check out some of the highlights from this year.

Physical – At the beginning of this past year, I used some of my Christmas money to invest in a gym membership at Ozark Fitness. I remember the rep I was talking to at that time ask me what my fitness level was. He asked, “if I said let’s go for a mile run, would you have to walk, make it easily, or run 3 miles instead?” Haha! Now, I’ve always been somewhat active, but never would classify myself as an athlete. So, the one-mile category definitely described me best.

Fast forward 12 months. Since then, I’ve gotten involved with several group classes including a sports/endurance-inspired class as well as a step-aerobics class. In addition to the group classes, I try to make it in 2-3 times a week for my personal running/weight time. In August, I ran a 5K for our church’s local adoption/foster care ministry, Cherish Kids. And then in October, I ran/walked a 10K for my hospital’s outreach. (At that point, I had been sick for two straight weeks, therefore the walking part. It’s hard to run if you can’t breathe well. Hehe.)

Cherish Kids, 5K

Mercy Sunshine Run, 10K

My only other goal in this category was to drink more water. Yeah, yeah. I know. That one’s on everyone’s list…every year. At least it was on all the lists I recently Googled to get ideas for 2013. Anyway, I started recognizing I drank more water when I did so with a straw. So, step numero uno…buy a water bottle with a straw instead of using the one I currently did with a screw top. Now, that bottle doesn’t leave my side. And I actually can recognize when I’m thirsty. I’ve never been good at doing so before…only drinking with meals or when exercising…never having a dry mouth to trigger thirstiness. But since I’ve increased my water intake, I’ve learned to notice other signs from my body that I’m not riding high on my H2O intake. That’s certainly a success in my book.

It’s amazing how far one can come – makes me excited to set my goals for the next year.

Mental – In this category, I included anything that involved thinking, reading, learning, or investing in academics. So, with that in mind, the top highlight was preparing all necessary components and applying to physician assistant programs via CASPA. The preparation process took several months (not including my undergrad prep), but I was determined to have my application in the first mailing so I could make it into the first rounds of interviews. (For all the details, check out the blog post I wrote previously.) Let’s suffice it to say, it took a lot of time to get everything ready including 32 hours of shadowing at urgent care and 8 hours in general surgery, having three people write letters of recommendations, participating in a mock med school interview, writing and re-writing my personal narrative, researching schools, and preparing for questions.

By the first week of June, my application was submitted. The last week of June the first mailing went out. The middle of July I was contacted about my first interview. On August 15, I had my first interview followed by three more in September. My first notification of acceptance was August 21, then the other three notified me throughout September into the first week of October. I officially accepted the University of Iowa on September 20, 2012.

Working as a technician in the ER

Acceptance Letter from University of Iowa

In addition to the PA application process, I have an annual goal of reading a certain number of books. My usual default is one/week or 52/year. I never make this goal…I guess that’s why I always recycle it. However, I did read 30 books this year, which is a decent amount in anyone’s book. Haha, get it? Anyone’s book. (That’s my joke font. Hehe.) I also finished a Great Courses dvd course on architecture. Never thought I’d pick that subject first,  but it was fascinating. I’ve learned so much about towers, bridges, and buildings this year. In fact, I even purchased a 2013 calendar displaying some of the most recognizable man-made structures on the planet such as the Great Wall of China and the Eiffel Tower.

Spiritual – My goal was to read the Old Testament through this year….which lasted until about April, when I decided I needed to incorporate some of the New Testament for variety. So, four months into the year, my goal quickly changed to reading through the entire Bible in two years. It seems like it gets more difficult to be diligent in this area as I get older. When younger, it was all so new and I felt so important finishing each book. All through homeschooling, we made it a habit of reading the Bible through yearly, which I did for about six years. Then college hit and the massive amount of reading of everything else….then life after college with no daily structure. Anyway, this particular goal will take another year to complete, but I have a good start.

Besides my personal reading, I’ve “adopted” a couple of missionaries this year. Although I continue to give monthly support through my local church for general missions, I have picked a couple people I know personally to pray for, follow their work, and support. I love missions, and this part of my life is one of my favorites. I’ve continued volunteering off-and-on all year for Healthcare Ministries as well. In addition, I volunteered with International Ministries (through MSU’s Chi Alpha) for the spring semester where I met students from all over Asia and Africa, and where we ate meals together, worshiped, and learned.

In September, my mom, sister, and I all attended the much-anticipated Designed for Life (DFL) women’s conference through James River. I loved hearing the inspirational speakers and having fun with other women. Speaking of James River, I love my home church. Although it has an overwhelmingly large feeling at times, their heart for the things of God and their unrelenting desire for truth is what keeps me going back. I hope when I move to Iowa I will find a church as equally spirit-driven and people-outreaching.

Mother and daughters, JRA DFL

A Love Story, theme for DFL 2012

Personal – This is my catch-all category. Anything that doesn’t fit in the others goes here. Like finishing my scrapbooking through events occurring in 2011. (I don’t like to be more than one year behind.) Or like attending the Hunger Games and The Hobbit midnight showings at the theater. Another instance would be the spontaneous decision to donate 12" of my hair to Wigs for Kids. Also included in this area would be trying new foods – this year I tried Lebanese and Korean and learned how to peel a pomegranate.

Hunger Games premiere.
May the odds be ever in your favor.

The "after" pic of my haircut/donation

Korean food, hot rice bowl. So yummy!

And who could forget the travels from this year? Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Dallas/Houston, TX; Bloomington, IL; Columbus, OH; Buffalo, NY; Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada; Louisville, KY; Philadelphia, PA; Bear, DE; Kansas City, KS; Jefferson City, MO; Chicago, IL; Wauwatosa, WI; and Iowa City, IA. If I could travel all the time, I probably would…at least for a while. Such wonderful memories from all of these places. Some were for weddings, others for PA interviews, and some just for fun or family.

Beautiful airline ticket. Love traveling. 
Even early morning departures on 3 hours of sleep.

Mexico. Sporting classy plastic rain ponchos.

4-D Movie at the Museum for Health Sciences, Houston, TX

Niagara Falls - American and Bridal Falls. Sister trip.

With all the amazing, wonderful things that have occurred these 12 months, it’s hard to imagine what the next few months here in Sgf will hold. And although I have some idea of what the PA program holds for the next 25 months (after it starts in May), it’s hard to know what new experiences are in store. I guess it will just have to remain a surprise. Here’s to the New Year. May you embrace what’s important, disregard that which is not, learn to love Jesus even more, and be blessed.

Happy New Year!