2010

2010 was the first year of my life since I was... 2? 3? that did not involve any school. I got to do all sorts of fun things. So let's have a recap!

In January, February, and March, I embraced living in Colorado and went skiing 8 times. I successfully attempted my first black runs and back bowls and made significant improvement to my mogul-skiing skills (that is to say I went from terrified avoidance to slowly and un-gracefully making it down mogul runs with limited falls... I'm still not very good.)

In April, we celebrated Ross's 25th birthday and I took the MCAT. In May, we moved into the church caretaker position and apartment, celebrated my 23rd birthday, and visited Bethel for friends' graduations.

In June, I was a bridesmaid for the first time in my friend Laura's wedding. It was also my introduction to Catholic weddings. I also started a quilting class at church that lasted all summer.

I spent a lot of time in July focusing on fitness, eating very healthfully and running a lot in preparation for Ross's extended family's beloved beach vacation during the first week of August. Ross and I also began serving as junior youth leaders at church.

In September, I was happy to have several college friends visit for a weekend. We hiked, slid down a "glacier" and an alpine slide, visited the Buffalo Bill Museum, and ate good food (a must for this group!). A group of Denver friends started a homemade food co-op which is working out nicely. I started Tae Kwon Do classes.

October brought another visit to Bethel for Fall Fest and the birth of a new niece -- Ariana Marie, daughter of Ross's sister Andrea and her husband Tyson. We enjoyed spending time with Ross's extended family for Thanksgiving in November and visiting colleges with my sister, who came along.

December involved the usual Christmas festivities, which I posted about before, and two days of skiing.

Evidently I can't embrace a good year of no school without trying to get back into school, because I spent all of 2010 and a substantial amount of money applying to medical school. From January through April, I diligently studied for the MCAT, and from June through December, I submitted applications and waited for responses. I applied to 6 medical schools and ended the year with my first interview invitation - at KU in January.

2010 was a year of expanding horizons. Many of these don't fit into the calendar above - deepening new friendships in Denver, refining my beer palate, pushing my comfort zone at work as I continually learn to talk to so many people, learning to play and enjoying many evenings playing Settlers of Catan.

2010 was a wonderful year.