To Do List

So, on Facebook my status says that I am supposed to be studying for a test, and indeed I am.
However ,I want to take a few minutes and jot down some thoughts and get a few people's opinions. 

I think it is a well established fact by now that I am in medical school and that I have no time to do anything.  But, the only problem with that is that there are still things that I have to do, need to do, and want to do besides school.  I was thinking about that this week when it was brought to my attention that I may be lacking in one or more of these areas.  

While I think everyone understands, ultimately it is my responsibility to make sure that I do the things that are important.  Not only for myself but for the people I love, and so that I can have a home in heaven someday.  

So, that being said, here is my to do list, i.e., things I need to be working on, things I need to do:

1.  Call Granny (and other family members) at least once every other day...she's not in good health and I want to spend as much time as possible with her before she goes home
2.   Visit my dad's side of the family more often (it's not that I haven't wanted to, it's just a time and location issue)
3.  Form closer bonds with Michael's family
4.  Read the bible every day  (I am trying to make it all the way through by May...So far I'm only on Exodus 12)...yeah, fail.  I did read through psalms, proverbs, song of solomon and Ecclesiastes this summer though
5.  Stay off of facebook.
6. Prayer...I do quite a bit of this on the go, but I need pure, undisturbed, just me and God time....to worship Him and put Him first.  
7.  Lose at least 50 more pounds by May.  and hopefully have met my goal (90 pounds by next Fall), now it may or may not go like this...depending on how my body has decided to cooperate.  I'll tell you, the first 20 pounds have been slower than I thought.  
8.  Stay in touch with new and old friends.


You see, all of these things should not be that difficult right?  Well, when you barely have time to sleep AS IT IS...they are more of a burden than they should be.  

So help me out....how do you guys stay focused on what you need to do and incorporate it into your schedules...

I don't want to let my life pass me by.  School is not the most important thing...God is and people are....so how do I be all that I know I need to be?  How do I...do it all?

Uprooted

Unexpected

Unprepared

Unimaginable

Loss is supposed to be for things unstable...for things like life, jobs, and love

Not this.

Isn't nothing sacred?

Is anything protected?  

Dog-eat-dog world

Isn't that right?

This ain't Knottingham..

No, here we steal from the poor to give to the rich. 

Another pawn knocked out of the way,

That's us.  

Big cannot see the small.

The hurt. The loss. 

And yeah we're alive,

And yeah, we ain't out on the streets,

What harm has been done?

. 

Well, I think you miss the point of living.

You completely miss the point.  

You take when you should give.  

And now, our piece of the pie is gone.  

Built with my Father's hands,

Our little spot, our little land.  

Not ours anymore, but yours.

There are some things you aren't supposed to lose. 

Like your childhood.

Like home.

"I love my life, I love my life, I love my life"

I try to repeat the phrase in the title over and over again because I know deep down it is true.  I do love my life...I'm just very exhausted.  I do realize that some day all of this exhaustion will pay off, but really....I just need some sleep. 

Anywho, I always update this thing when I'm supposed to be studying...it's a temporary distraction from the impending doom on test day Friday.

In the past 5 weeks, our class has had 4 tests and we have another one this Friday.  It has been so crazy.  Also, we have had countless small groups and case studies and anatomy labs and microbiology and ICM and projects, quizzes and reports and the list goes on and on and on. As if studying for one of the FHT's of medical school wasn't difficult and time consuming enough (freaking hard tests), they have to add more to our plates.  You know, I know I signed onto this...I knew it would be hard, but do we really have to make it harder than necessary?  Come on people.  And yea yea, I know that it's supposed to prepare us for rounds and working in a team environment and making real life correlations between what we are learning but my goodness! 

Ok I am done. Really...I just needed to vent a little bit. This has been one of the most frustrating modules of medical school so far due to the insanely ridiculous schedule and work load.

Now, on to more good stuff.  This past weekend Michael and I went to the Miranda Lambert/Blake Shelton concert on the Redstone Arsenal.  It was my first country music concert, oddly enough, and I got to share it with Michael...it was a nice experience, especially with him.  Then, we went to IHOP...haha...the only restaurant open really late ( well, pretty much) in H'ville.  Saturday was also a nice day spent with him and  my family.  So was Sunday.  I was really blessed this weekend.  I have missed home a lot, especially since I've been so stressed. Oh, my brother, Jonathan was home for a visit which was awesome!  And, I went running with Colton every day of the weekend, which was fun (and difficult!).   I enjoy spending time with both of my brothers.  They are a big part of my life

So now to update on the weight loss situation:
I've lost 12.4 pounds so far (in about 6 weeks).  I had a few weeks where I only lost like 0.8 and 0.2...slowed me down a little bit, but I think I'm back on track.  I had a health issue that prevented me from exercising for about 3 weeks.  Now I'm exercising again and it really helps me.  I'm excited.  I can start to see the change and my pants are getting all loose and stuff.  I just can't wait for more of it to come off of me. I'm really anxious to have this done with.  I know I'll still have to eat right and exercise for a lifetime...it's just the anticipation of the weight loss getting to me.  Maybe I should work on my patience.  I just can't wait to be who I was meant to be.  I feel that this is just another step in that direction.  :) 

Ok, I really should study now. Goodnight all.