Update.

So, you may not realize this, but today is the last day of June.  Crazy.  Half of 2011 is over.

And because of this, I figured now is probably the best time to do an update of sorts on how my year has been going [this means I'm going to reference my start of 2011 post].  

Okay - let's begin!

"I'm excited for 2011!  So far I have continued my re-read/completion of The Chronicles of Narnia and I've started a 90 day study of Paul."

The Chronicles of Narnia took up a lot of my January.  I must say, I love C.S. Lewis even more after this series.  And I dislike the people making the movies even more after my re-read.  I feel like the movies are getting further and further from the books, making them a separate entity.  Maybe that is the goal?  I don't know, but it makes me sad.  But, if the movies stood alone, I must say that I love them.

I also mentioned a 90 day study of Paul that I was working on.  It was awesome, which led me to start another Beth Moore study [90 day study on Jesus].  I'm in the beginning of the study of Jesus, but it's pretty great thus far.  These studies have definitely caused me to be more reflective on my walk with God and how I am living my life.  

"In 2011, I'm going to take more pictures, sleep less, volunteer more, try to learn how to cook, laugh more, and pay more attention to politics and current events."  

Well, I haven't taken enough pictures.  I think I'm going to start carrying my camera with me everywhere so I can stay true to this promise.  As for my sleeping status, I am definitely following through with this one.  This was especially the case during the semester...I pulled too many all-nighters for my liking, but I had a nice semester, so I can't complain.  I have kind of decided that if it comes to doing things or sleeping, I'm going to choose doing things.  Living life, you know?  For volunteering, I am doing more of that, but I think this is something that can always be improved.  I want to give more and take less - my time  and myself included.  For cooking, this is actually comical.  I still have the culinary skills of a four year old with an Easy-Bake Oven.  But, I have participated in a few cooking adventures with some friends of mine.  Baby steps.  For "laugh more", that's covered.  And in relation to politics and current events, I am embarrassed.  This area needs a little work.

"I'm looking forward to a road-trip to Colorado and hopefully flying to Oregon in the summer." 

As for my traveling, the Colorado road-trip did not happen (I feel good about this decision) BUT the Oregon road-trip of amazingness happened.  I don't really have more to say about the trip, but it was beautiful.  

"And at the end of this year, I will be half finished with my junior year and preparing for the MCAT."

So, I guess there really isn't much for an update with this one.  Haha, I'll still be a junior at the end of this year.  But, I can say that I'm doing a large amount of my MCAT prep this summer [I can assure you that it is rather difficult to study for something that is really far away, but I press on].

Some other happenings and updates with my life:

I guess the first thing is that I found a place to live this summer.  My aunt and uncle are super awesome and letting me crash with them.  Blessed.
I spend my days doing research and nannying a four year-old girl.  [A little note on my research:  I was thinking today about how I used dream of becoming a physician that both practiced and did cancer research.  Over the years and through my experiences, I came to realize that I did not want to do research for the rest of my life.  But, I want to do it while I'm in college.  Anyways, while riding in the elevator up to lab this morning it hit me that I am doing cancer research - kind of like a dream come true?  That's really cool.  I'm really blessed.]

I play on a softball league with my church.  Now, we aren't that good, but we are that awesome.  It's pretty safe to say that we're in it for the fun and the fellowship rather than the competition.  

At the end of July I will be spending a week at Camp Joy as a counselor.  My heart breaks because I'm not there this summer, but it should be pretty great to get back there for a week.

In the fall, I will be a TA for the physiology course that I took this last spring.  I'm really looking forward to it - I think it will be a good experience and I'm excited to both continue to learn and help other students figure it all out.  I also had big plans to write a children's book this summer.  I'm being completely serious, but I must admit that it hasn't gone anywhere yet.  I refuse to write a book without being inspired and so I'm simply gathering inspiration.  And playing with a four year-old everyday is sure helping.

And Twins game and the fourth of July in Wisco this weekend.

Oh, and it's my birthday next week!