A new decade, huh?

Well, again - I have neglected my lovely blog for quite some time now. Another year has passed, and 2009 will be a tough year to top. In fact, i don't ever imagine having another year quite as abundant with life-changing experiences. A few that have left more than a mark on my mind are graduating from college, learning one of my closest friends from high school has cancer, helping my parents move, losing a woman to cancer who may have never known how influential she was to the faith and character of so many people whose lives she touched (including mine), experiencing hands on what it means to save a life -- I'm talking a person with no pulse flat line heart rate being rocked back to life and stabilized -- and then seeing that patient walking around a few days later (truthfully, working in the Emergency Room will do that to you).

I have once again deleted facebook in an attempt to force myself to be more intentional at spending time -- QUALITY time -- with my friends and family. I have a feeling that after spending nearly $1000 on books for nursing school my social life will be limited, and I am not willing to settle for catching up facebook style when I could be laughing face to face with people who mean the most to me. I'm sure I will eventually miss knowing what the people who I no longer keep their phone number, or those who live across the country (and even the world) are up to and will reactivate. But until then I am going to stick to my guns.

Even though several people have brought up the whole "what are you doing now?" anxiously awaiting my response to be something along the lines of marriage or landing a great job, I am satisfied living in my parents basement sharing giggles over new recipes (my stepdad's 2010 resolution: learn how to cook. Night #1 was hilarious -- "so what exactly is a medium size sauce pan?" "is there a difference between minced and chopped?" "Why don't we have a measuring spoon that comes teaspoons and tablespoons?" just a few great quotes. He's an engineer, he follows everything to the "fresh parsley for garnish" of a recipe, and we love him for it) helping Kalli curl the back of her hair, trying to show my mom how much we appreciate her and all the things she does to help keep us motivated and encouraged, and running my butt off in the ER a few days a week. While I do miss cooking meals for hungry boys in Bellingham, doing headstands in the Turtle's cozy living room, running errands with Molly, going to the gym with Nicole, trying to keep up with what the heck Ellie is doing, driving around with Gretchen just to talk, and Tuesday nights at the INN, I would say that slowly but surely I'm adjusting and finding more and more to be thankful for.

2010 - I am readily accepting your challenges and blessings, your stumbles and triumphs. I am embracing the grace I will need for my shortcomings, and will constantly strive to live a life that glorifies Christ.