3...2...1...Happy

At the end of last year, I lamented the fact that I didn't have much to look back on. I resolved to do more this year. I think I succeeded. I look back on a very full year, and I feel like I was really living.

I'm a little too tired and brain dead to think of a creative way to summarize the whole year. So, in absolutely NO particular order or format, here's what was superlative about 2012...

Kilimanjaro--Obvi. Glamping at 19,000 feet is pretty memorable. I even enjoyed training for it. It was a physical, mental, spiritual challenge, awesome time with the fam, totally outside my comfort zone, totally brag-able (that's a word now), and lots of other wonderful things.

Lots of good food, new beers, new restaurants, happy hours. French toast in Portland, Tank 7 on tap, homemade mini apple pies, wine and cheese, KC BBQ, diabetes cake.

Building and deepening friendships, having people on speed dial, seven second hugs, coffee dates, funny cards, dinner parties, being in the right place and the right time, making myself at home, YouTube videos, nights sitting on the balcony, pick-me-up texts, having visitors.

Finding my groove as a resident, knocking out the PICU, 2 Professor Rounds, committee work, and learning to run a tight ship (or at least a ship that can stay afloat) as a senior.

Having the best job in the world, even if it does wear me down. Getting to take care of some truly amazing kids that I will remember forever, and their midnight birthday celebrations, colorful beads, tearful faces, painted toes, and sticky hugs.

Checking half the things off of my 30 before 30 list, and loving it. Except "Tinkers." I didn't love that book. In fact, I didn't finish it, so I'll have to find other Pulitzers to count. But the rest of it has been great.

My crazy family. Zapapas should be an adjective, and it can mean a lot of things, but it's all us.

Laughing out loud at movies, crying at a good book, live theater, Castle, Rizzoli and Isles, belting a song out over and over and over.

Sitting and praying in the quiet, wrestling with God, feeling overwhelmed with blessings, and overwhelmed with grief, finding the perfect verse, or the perfect prayer, seeing God work miracles.

Here's to lucky 2013!