A lot happened in 2012. It was a crazy year and I'm still recovering. I may or may not go back and post photos and actual posts of some of my 2012 highlights. But here's a summary of this year's craziness:
January
I ran my first 10k
Somehow I skipped the 10k when training. I went from 5K to Half marathon in 2011. So it was fun to run a 10k this year. It was the Hale Center Theater's "Hale Freezes Over" race in Orem. I got to run it with friends and it was good fun.
February
New Church Calling - YW President.
Apparently the Lord trusts me a lot more than I think He should. Or maybe He doesn't...this keeps me so busy I don't have time to get into trouble. :) Some wonderful friends have come from this calling though.
I ran my first (and perhaps only) marathon
This was truly a miracle. I didn't train quite as well as I should have and I had to be super careful not to injure myself. My friend and I ran this just a few days before leaving for Australia. Note to self - don't run a marathon the same weekend you leave for an international trip. I will probably do another one, but for now I just don't have the time to train for one.
January - October
I ran 3 half marathons and one Tough Mudder race
I ended up bruising my tailbone during the tough mudder race and am now convinced that those are not my favorite. I did it. I got my headband, my shirt, and the muddy photos to prove it. I don't have to do it again.
 |
| This tough mudder is so done... |
Went to Australia and New Zealand with my favorite travel buddy
Lifelong dream come true. Though...I ended up being in New Zealand more than Australia and I need to go back and visit Australia to do it justice.
 |
| Piha beach - Auckland, New Zealand |
 |
| Glenorchy, New Zealand |
 |
| Kayaking Milford Sound, New Zealand |
 |
| Hiking to Kitekite falls, New Zealand |
 |
| Moss covered world - New Zealand |
May
Got a promotion at work
Life pretty much turned upside down once I got back from the OZ/NZ trip. Work stuff changed dramatically and I ended up getting a new position and a promotion in the process. More money, more vacation days = more trips. What can I say...I work to travel.
May to November
Not much to report.
I worked.
A lot.
At my job.
In my calling.
Reached total burnout.
Time for another trip.
 |
| Playing with the sled dogs in Iceland |
Went to Iceland
I had another birthday and I needed another trip. Iceland, it turns out, is a cheaper option than most US destinations in November. While a little cold and very little daylight that time of year, it had a lot of adventures to offer, including:
- seeing the northern lights
- dogsledding
- seeing volcanos, glaciers, black sand beaches, and driving on sheets of ice in crazy strong wind.
I may post a few of those adventures and post-date them.
 |
| Hiking to some hot springs in Iceland |
Life Lessons Learned
- God has a sense of humor (and one that I don't always understand)
- Your life high's seem to have equal low's
- Life lessons repeat when you don't learn them the first time
- God does send you angels when you need them and when you ask for them
- Life just doesn't turn out the way you plan it...and that's ok.
Life List Items checked off this year:
- Run a marathon (Salt Lake Marathon - April 2012)
- Went to Australia (I was only there for about 2 1/2 days - I need to go back)
- Went to New Zealand - I've decided I need to live there for awhile.
- Saw the Northern Lights - Iceland - November 2012
- Went dogsledding - Iceland - November 2012 - I need to do this again.
TV Shows that I currently love:
Downton Abbey, Sherlock, Bones, Emily Owens MD, Grey's Anatomy
Music I enjoyed this year:
- Jenny Oaks Baker
- Walk off the Earth - here are a few favorites:
- Kelly Clarkson & Vince Gill's "Don't Rush"
Notable Natural disasters in 2012
- Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast
- Pretty much the whole state of Utah was on fire in the summer
- A few different earthquakes and floods across the earth
- The world did not end on 12/21/12
What I'm looking forward to in 2013:
- More wonderful trips and meeting more wonderful people
- At least two half marathons - hoping to run them under 2 hours this year
- Learning to drive a stick shift... (how I grew up in the country and never learned to do this is beyond me)
Here's to a great new year, new friends, staying in touch with old ones, and new adventures!
