Resolutions for 2012

I don't usually make New Year's Resolutions because I feel like it's a formula for failure. Everyone seems to get caught up in the idea of new beginnings and people vow to make changes that they aren't ever going to follow through on. So while I have weekly or monthly goals that I want to accomplish, I don't typically set goals for the year.

This year, however, I started to think of what I want to accomplish in one of my last years as a student. Hopefully in 2013, I'll graduate from PT school and get a real job, and then life will be different. So I asked myself what I wanted to accomplish this year while I have the opportunity. I thought a lot about it and added things to my list all throughout January, I just haven't posted it until now.

Here's my list for 2012:

1. Run a marathon
2. Read 12 books (one a month)
3. Become a member of my church
4. Eat more fruits and veggies
5. Run a sub-2 hour half marathon
6. Drink more water
7. Read through the New Testament
8. Memorize James 1
9. Do outdoor activities at every opportunity
10. Discover more of what Richmond has to offer.

These are the things I truly want to accomplish this year. I'm excited for it instead of daunted (the way I usually feel when I make resolutions). I love this list and I can't wait to do all of these things in 2012!

Here's what I've done so far:

• Read 12 books- I've read Anna Karenina and all the books in the Hunger Games series (Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay). Total = 4.
• Eat more fruits and veggies- I've been packing lots of fruits and veggies as snacks to take to school. Also, I've been buying the Steamfresh veggies to make with dinners.
• Drink more water- Thanks to an awesome water bottle I got for my birthday, I've been drinking about three 20 oz bottles of water a day. Big improvement from before!
• Read through the NT- I've read Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and James.
• Memorize James 1- I've got the first 11 verses down.
• Do outdoor activities at every opportunity- I've gone hiking once so far. I'm hoping to do a lot more as the weather gets warmer.

I'm off to a good start, I think. It's hard to believe that almost 3 months have gone by since this year started!

The Hunger Games

During Spring Break, I read all three books in the Hunger Games series. I'm obsessed with them! The story of a future world in which the evil Capitol keeps all the districts under its control by sending children into an arena to fight to the death is intriguing. There's plenty of action, suspense, and bravery. But what really makes it good is the love story. When Katniss and Peeta are sent into the arena against 22 other children, Peeta is determined to protect her, to die for her, because he loves her. His love is the kind I love to read about in books- it's brave, sacrificial, unconditional love. He wants what's best for her no matter what that means for him. I love it, but it also makes me a little depressed. Because it's so unrealistic. What guy would really do that? What man would be willing to die for a girl who didn't even know him? What person would sacrifice everything for the one he loves, even if they didn't love him back?

Then it hit me. There is a love story like this. It's real, and I know because it happened to me. There is someone who loved me long before I even knew who he was. There was someone willing to die for me long before I loved him back. There was someone who wanted to protect me from a fate worse than death. He was willing to suffer, to be tortured, to be charged with crimes he didn't commit, and ultimately to die a horrible death. It didn't matter if I loved him yet or not. He loved me.

Of course I'm talking about the only person capable of that kind of love- Jesus. There are so many love stories that contain pieces of this kind of perfect love. I think that's why I love to read them- because I want a love like that. What I need to realize is that I already have it. And it isn't obtainable through anyone else but Jesus. Love stories are great because they can remind us of the greatest love story of all. Every time we read about a love that's selfless and pure and good and abundant, it should remind us of the only One who can display that kind of love. There's a reason people are riveted by anything that comes close to describing a love like that. It's what we all desperately desire, yet we can only find it in one place.

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge" (Ephesians 3:17-19)

"The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: 'I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness'" (Jeremiah 31:3).

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:9-10).

Cancun

I just got back from Spring Break in Cancun!

The weather was gorgeous, the sand was fine white powder, and the ocean was a beautiful cerulean blue! We had a great break and thoroughly enjoyed the time off from school!

The Hardest Step

"The hardest step for a runner is the first one out of the front door." Still true. Probably always will be. I thought that once I'd been running for awhile, it would get easier to motivate myself. Not true. I still find it hard to get out and start running!

Last Saturday I was supposed to do 8 miles, but I woke up with a headache, so I put it off until later. Then I had so much to do around the house. I did some spring cleaning. I did laundry. I browsed the internet. Finally it got to the point where it was 4pm, and if I was going to get my run in, I had to leave! I only did 6 miles instead of 8 because in addition to the headache, I had developed a terrible knot in my back (it actually got better while I was running!). It wasn't my greatest run, but at least I got out there and did it, even if I got a super-late start.

This weekend I scheduled myself to do 10 miles. I really needed to run a long distance because it's the last weekend for a long run before I start my taper for the Cherry Blossom 10-miler. I knew I had to get my run in on Friday, because Saturday is Alicia's wedding and I'm leaving for Cancun on Sunday. But when I woke up, I was lazy. I didn't feel like running right away, so I did other things on my to-do list. I did some laundry, I cleaned, and I took my online Pharmacology exam. Before I knew it, it was late afternoon, and I still hadn't run! I considered putting it off till the next day and running the morning before the wedding, but I just didn't know when else I'd be able to find the time for it. Plus, I looked out the window and it was a GORGEOUS day- and I'd spent all of it inside! I decided to go for it, even though it was past 5pm, which meant I'd be running the last few miles in the dark.

OMG! It was so worth it. I had an awesome run. I felt great the whole time. The weather was beautiful, even when it started to get dark. All of the stressfulness of these last few weeks before Spring break started to melt away. I felt fast. I felt like a runner. I can't even tell you what I was thinking about for most of the miles, because I was "zoning" (my made-up term for being in the zone so much that everything is thoughtless and natural). My face got salty with sweat and still my legs didn't feel tired. I kept waiting for the wall, and it never came. It was the best 10 miles of my life (okay, I've only run that distance twice).

I'm so glad I ran! But man, was it hard to get started. I probably took thousands of steps on my run today, but I can say without a doubt that the hardest one was the first one out the door.

Upcoming wedding

One of my best friends from PT school is getting married in two days!

Audrey, Alicia, Me, Jake, Bettina, and Charity at Alicia's bridal shower

Alicia is my lab partner and study partner. We've been friends pretty much since the first day of school. We sit next to each other in class, which can be a problem since we love to talk together! Alicia is fun, energetic, and totally honest with me. I tell her all the time that she makes class interesting because she makes me laugh every single day!

I'm so happy that she found a wonderful man like Jon to marry. When the two of them are together, their banter is hilarious! They're perfect for each other. I wish them both the best on their wedding day and in the years to come!

Cookie Exchange

Last week my friends Bettina and Becca hosted a Cookie Exchange. It was a great idea for a get-together! Everyone made their favorite cookies and we all took home a bag with all the different kinds of cookies.

Bettina and Becca made these cute fruit kabobs. They were so colorful.

They also made these little raspberry cheesecakes as party favors. It was like Pinterest happening in real life!

I love fellowship with good friends!

Bettina, Audrey, Me, and Alicia

A day of rest

Both of my roommates are gone this weekend, so I have the apartment to myself. It's been just what I needed today! Lately I've had so much going on that I feel like I haven't had two minutes in a row to myself. Today I got to rest and by "rest" I mean that I had loads of time to do what I needed to get done.

First of all, I got to sleep in. I don't know why, but I've been so tired lately, all the time. It was good to finally get enough sleep. I was going to go for a run in the morning, but I decided to postpone it so I could get some cleaning done. My apartment has been a mess lately and it's been driving me CRAZY. Today was the perfect day to do some major spring cleaning. I cranked up the music on Pandora and got to work. I started with vacuuming and mopping the floors, which took the longest. I'm talking move the furniture, get every inch of dirt off the floor, get in every crevice and crack vacuuming. And when I say mopping, I mean that I was on my hands and knees with a sponge and a bottle of 409. As much as I love my Swiffer, sometimes it doesn't do the job well enough. We had several hard-to-remove spots on the floor that took a lot of scrubbing to get clean.

Next I tackled the fridge and counters. The fridge definitely needed a good cleaning. I took all the food out, cleaned the shelves, then removed the drawers at the bottom and cleaned those out. I loaded the dishwasher and wiped down all the counters. I dusted the baseboards. I took out the trash and recycling. I even cleaned the trash cans because they were looking pretty gross.

Next was the living room, which was the easiest room. I put away anything that was left out on the coffee table, then I gathered all the blankets that were strewn about and folded them. I reorganized my room and vacuumed in there as well. I did a load of laundry while I was cleaning, too. Lastly, I got started on the bathroom. I cleaned the toilet, the sink, and the bathroom counters, but I decided to leave the bathroom floor and tub for another day.

I had plenty of time later in the afternoon to get my run in. The weather cooperated and it was really nice out during my run. When I got back, I took a nice long shower and made dinner. Then I packed for Spring Break! I love packing. My suitcase is all ready to go, except for a few last-minute things.

This evening I got to just relax. I made a huge mug of hot cocoa and got caught up on my Bible study. I watched a little tv. I read my book. I had time to blog, yay! I realize cleaning and doing stuff around the house might not seem like a very fun day, but it was just what I needed today. I feel like I accomplished a lot. It was so peaceful and relaxing not to be on a schedule. I didn't have anywhere to be at a specific time or anything pressing due; instead, I got stuff done at my own pace. It was wonderful!

Bible and hot chocolate- a great end to my day!