Liz's 2012

The years seem like they're flying by these days! I can't help but feel a little pensive as we send out the old year and welcome a new one. How will I remember this one?

2012 was a year of science!

I had two papers published this year! I am the first author on both and they will be the first 2/3rds of my dissertation. 

2012 was the year I completed my comprehensive exam for my PhD!

Completing the written portion was probably the most stressful month of my life, and completing the two hour oral portion was probably the best feeling EVER.

2012 was a year of travel!

SEATTLE with Diane to see our dear friends John and Rosemary sealed in the temple!

ST GEORGE and VEGAS with Steph and Kelli for my birthday! This one was a mystery until we were in the car on the way there.

SAN DIEGO with my lab to present at a conference.

BEAR LAKE with William, Mitch, and Alyssa for some intense four-wheeling and jet skiing.

SAN ANTONIO to see Jenny, Jonathan, James, and Ella!! This included a night camping on a beautiful beach...such a sweet visit.

HELSINKI, FINLAND with Mom and Dad! It was my first time out of the US and a wonderful place to see my Papa for the first time in a year (Mom traveled with me since she came home for Grandma's funeral).

A brief but exciting layover in MOSCOW, RUSSIA!

And a fantastic 3 weeks in NOVOSIBIRSK, KRASNOYARSK, TOMSK, and BARNAUL, RUSSIA with my amazing parents! There are no words to describe how incredible this experience was.

And lastly, DISNEYLAND with Steph and Marissa! This one was also a surprise! They didn't tell me where we were going until we were about to enter security at the airport. I am so lucky.

2012 was the year I lost Grandma Glenn.

I'm so grateful I know I will get her back someday!

2012 was the year of Darrell!

I was the lucky girl who got to date this guy and thus catch my first fish, go to my first RSL game, discover the exciting world of podcasts and homemade salsa, and experience all kinds of other adventures.

2012 was the year I became the activities cochair in my ward!

This has been a lot of work, but I have had so much fun and made so many wonderful friends! I've also learned how to feed 150 at a time and how to grill the perfect hot dog.

2012 was a year of some firsts!

First time dying my hair.

First time being a soccer coach.

First time running a half marathon without really training.

2012 was the year I got to team-teach PDBio 120 at BYU!

Loved. Every. Minute.

2012 was the year Annie, Abby, Ryan, and I bonded! A lot.

Holidays, birthdays, random hang-outs, the good times never end. Ron sure is a champ to put up with 3 girls all the time.

2012 was the only entire year I was Josh-less.

Man I miss this guy.

What's coming up in 2013? I will get 2 new nephews. Josh will come home. I will graduate with a PhD. I will get a real grown-up job teaching college (hopefully). I will likely move. Seems kind of intense eh? I guess I'll git 'er done the same way I did 2012, one beautiful day at a time!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Grateful

Today I am grateful for...

*Technology! It connects me to the people I love :)

*FAMILY far and near

*Fantastic Roommates

*Good friends that are always there when I need them...whether it's to fix my car, listen to me, or just enjoy life with me!

*A great ward!

*Prayer, the scriptures, and Latter-day revelation that invite the Holy Spirit and bring peace. Here's my recent fav:

*My best friend and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is as real to me as all of you!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! (or as we say in my family, Happy Thanksgibbons!)

happiest place on earth!!

This post might as well be titled "luckiest girl on earth" because I am! Months ago, Steph started talking about how we needed to go on another epic trip together like we did last year at this time. I replied how fun it would be but that I'm a poor graduate student. :( Next thing I know, Steph is telling me I need to make sure to get September 21st off of school and she and Marissa start plotting a lot behind closed doors. I had no idea what was going on. So for two months, they would talk about the epic trip the three of us were going on, but wouldn't tell me where...not even how we were going to get there. Steph isn't the best about keeping secrets from me, so she almost caved a whole bunch of times. She would even tell EVERYONE I know EXCEPT me haha. Finally about a week before, I got a text from Steph late one night telling me that she couldn't keep the secret anymore and that she was taking me to Reno (her sister lives there) but not to tell Marissa she told! So the next week and a half was full of me pretending I didn't know where I was going around Marissa.

Finally it was September 20th! Marissa and Steph told me that we were going to be flying the next morning so I needed to pack in a carry-on size bag. They gave me a general idea of what to pack, and I was racking my brain trying to figure out what we'd be doing in Reno they they were so excited about. We got up SUPER early on Friday morning to head to the airport. They checked us in without me so I wouldn't see our destination. Finally, right before we got to security, they handed me my boarding pass so I could see where we were going. I mentally prepared myself to pretend to be surprised when I saw it was to Reno. I look down at my ticket and realize it says our final destination is Orange County, CA...wait...WHAT?  I was so surprised!! Then Steph handed me an envelope with some money in it and a disney pin and said, "Girl, we're going to DISNEYLAND!" WHAT???? Reno was a lie all along! I was pretty much freaking out like a 9-year-old in the airport and trying to stop myself from telling all kinds of strangers that I was going to DISNEYLAND!! I had only been twice in my life and not since I was 17.  This was moments after I found out our destination! Note that it was like 5 am so looking cute was not a priority:

It was pretty much a magical weekend. We spent 2 full days in Disneyland, stayed at MarisIsa's parents' place in San Diego, and came home Sunday morning. We played hard core...rode practically every ride, shopped, ate WAY too much food, and just soaked in the magic. My highlights were...

SPLASH MOUNTAIN! It had been closed both times I went to Disneyland before, so I'd ALWAYS wanted to ride it.

It did not disappoint! Favorite.

TOWER OF TERROR. I was seriously terrified.

My yoda shirt.

Spending time with my fabulous roommates...

Eating WAY too much.

And stalking Disney characters.

Biggest regret? Not getting a picture of Flynn Rider's smolder. Life-changing.

No words for how much I love this girl...

THANKS STEPH!!!