Axiom

I picked this book up thanks to the recommendation of Judy Gregory. (an amazing woman who is changing the shape of youth ministry in our nation whom I was privileged to serve alongside for many years).

As a doctor I naturally have a leadership position in the hospital setting, but I don't want to be leading out of a title but rather by my character and example. I'm only a few chapters in but here are a few quotes that really stood out to me:

• …words really do matter. And leaders must pay the price to choose the right ones, because when they do, the payoff is huge.

• The truth is leaders rise and fall by the language they use. Sometimes whole visions live or die on the basis of the words the leader chooses for articulating their vision.

• When handled properly people are actually quite flattered to be asked to do significant things for God.

The first two quotes resonated with me as I have recently been made aware of the power of my words- both in destructive and constructive ways. I want to be a person who speaks intentionally and has the insight and control to know when to be silent.

The last quote struck me because I sense that significant things are happening in Indy right now with my church and we are asking a lot of people (myself included) to step up and do "significant things for God" (not that I'm implying we haven't already been doing significant things). Instead of the increased responsibility coming across as a burden I view it as an unspeakable privilege because of the way the vision has been laid out.

I'll keep you posted on the book, but so far I would highly recommend it!

Favorite Memories from 2008

• Graduation day- I might as well start with the obvious. This was one of the best days of my life. It was amazing to realize how far God has brought me and even more special to celebrate with so many people that I love.
  
• The first time I introduced myself as "Dr. Qualey". I wish I had it on video. It was hilarious because it felt so weird. The only time I call myself "Dr. Qualey" now is when I need to get something done over the phone or can sense that people don't understand my role, but it sounds much more natural.
• The day a patient told me I was treating him "like the Jews treated Jesus" right before Easter. It was priceless.
• Closing on my first house. It was a fun process to choose a home and I absolutely love being a homeowner.
  
• Random weekend days with my house church doing work projects/playing basketball and goofing off.
• Flyfishing for the first time. Sure my form wasn't perfect but I caught fish!
  
• Being baptized in the Jordan River. The obvious significance is that it is where Jesus was baptized, but knowing that this was where my maternal Grandparents were baptized made it especially meaningful.
• "Swimming" in the Dead Sea. It was an odd sensation, but really fun. As an extra perk my skin and hair have never been softer.
• Converting Arch and Connie's house into a Christmas wonderland.
  
• Spending what ended up being my last few days with my Grandma. She was an extraordinary woman and one of my biggest supporters. She is loved and deeply missed.
  
• Surviving a ram "attack" at the Grand Canyon on New Year's Day 2008. It wasn't so much an attack as a horrific encounter. If you desire more details click here.
  
• Meeting Hillary and Bill Clinton. For good or bad they have influenced our country and it was fun to meet them.
• Standing in line for hours to see Barack Obama speak. We almost got to meet him too but he was feeling antisocial or something.
• Riding a camel in Israel. They are much taller than I imagined and they smell horrible, but it was worth it!
• Camping at Weko beach with Tara, Amy and Erin. Beach volleyball in the rain and smores...need I say more?
  
• The night on call when three people tried to die at once. It was an experience that made me stronger and everyone survived.
• Flying to South Bend to procure organs. I've never felt more like a rockstar.
• Climbing boulders with Heather at Joshua Tree National Park.
• Countless Thursday evenings at Arch and Connie's engaging in meaningful conversations and hours of sports/games with cherished friends.
  
• Sprinkles cupcakes with Shannon on her official LA tour.
  
• Competing and doing fairly well in the TriIndy triathlon.
  

It's been a great year, full of incredible memories with people I love deeply. God is so good!

Climbing

Just for the record, indoor rock climbing is a blast! My good friend Brad and I have gone a couple of times recently and are pretty convinced that we will be professionals soon. I'm thinking of giving up on the surgery gig and going with this fulltime. It is a phenomenal workout and a blast. If you are in Indy check out ClimbtimeIndy. They have the full range of difficulty levels and TONS of walls to climb.

Angie's Favorite Things

In honor of Oprah's favorite things I have compiled a list of my favorite things from 2008.

• My bianchi road bike. It is just that good. The road becomes a sanctuary for me when I'm out in the sun, reflecting on life and enjoying the view.
  
• My sleep number bed. I probably average 5 hours of sleep per night but those hours are full of delightful sleep thanks to this bed. In addition my Homesource International bamboo blanket (best blanket ever!) and down comforter complete the triad.
  
• My Biddeford heated mattress pad. Close friends are probably sick of hearing about it, but I look forward to climbing into a pre-heated bed in the winter time. It is amazing and it allows me to keep my house at "meat-locker" temperatures- per my family's experience.
  
• My house. Not only am I thankful for a roof over my head, but a place I can come home to that is comfortable, clean and peaceful. Plus my neighbors do all the yardwork so you can't beat the setup.
• My portable hammock- when the weather was nice and I had a little time off it was amazing to lay in the sun reading a good book or talking on the phone. Hammock= immediate serenity.
• Smartwool socks- no matter what season we are in my feet don't overheat but they stay warm. They have athletic socks in addition to casual and hiking versions. They're not cheap but you can find them on sale oftentimes at the REI outlet.
  
• Nike swimsuits. Since I've been consistently swimming laps I have found they hold up much better than TYR and even speedo.
  
• Bosch dishwasher- this thing is amazing. I throw very dirty plates in and they come out sterile. It's quiet, efficient and easy on the eyes.
  
• Diet coke- I'm very addicted at this point. I'm cutting back some but this beverage has gotten me through countless call nights, early mornings and roadtrips while sleep-deprived. Mountain dew used to be my drink of choice but I've made the switch from high fructose corn syrup to artificial stuff.
• North Face glacier quarter-zip fleece tops- I have several and seem to always wear one when I'm in scrubs at the hospital. They are warm, durable, not too thick, and have stood up well despite very frequent washings. Since I fit into the little boys sizes they are fairly cheap too.
  

Life is not about stuff but these are a few things that I truly believe have increased the quality of my life. Some in very superficial "comfort" ways, but others in more meaningful ways.

Karaoke

While in Nashville we went out with a friend of Tara's from high school who is trying to make it in the big leagues as a musician. Not only was her voice incredible but she was accepting of those whose voices are not as polished. We had a good time! I was amazed at some of the talent although it makes sense in Nashville. My favorite performance was when all 3 of us sang 'Wide Open Spaces' by the Dixie Chicks. Never underestimate the entertainment value of making a complete fool of one's self. Also, these pictures don't do justice to my crazy dance skills.

Aquarium

Tara and I stumbled upon a restaurant called "The Aquarium" in Nashville where we had a fun dinner. Well, the food was mediocre at best, but the atmosphere was top notch. Afterwards we were able to feed stingrays. I have attempted this stunt in the past with very little success as it is too big of a mental obstacle to allow a stingray to place its mouth around my hand to feed. I know that the stingers have been removed and the nice fella told us that they can't hurt us but still. My disability insurance isn't what it should be yet. So Tara talked trash about how she had done this before and mocked my inability to truly feed the stingrays. Then it was her turn. She literally threw her shrimp at the stingrays. By the end of the time she came closer than I did but never truly fed a stingray from her hand. She declares that she did, but I was there and do not believe that she truly fed one from her hand. Anyways, here are the pictures...

NASHville

Tara and I are having a great time exploring Nashville. While here I was hoping to run into a well-known musician but I didn't think it would happen. Today we were hiking around a lake, taking pictures of deer frolicking around when Michael W Smith appeared. Tara, not the avid fan from a young age that I have been, didn't know who he was but thought he was too good-looking to be a "normal" person. I immediately recognized him, but was hesitant to say anything since he was deep in conversation with someone. We tried to stalk him later for a picture to no avail. Carpe diem I guess. Here's the picture of his backside that Tara captured as he was walking away from us. FYI- for those who don't know he is one of the most well-known Christian musicians and has been for many years. He's now a part of the "Freedom Concert" series with Sean Hannity from Fox News.