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100x40 (almost 7 months update)

It’s hard to believe it has been almost 7 months since my birthday.  I’m in my 6th grad school class since September so between school and the holidays I haven’t had a whole lot of time to work on my 100x40.  Yet progress has been made.  I decided to conquer the Harry Potter series (both book & film).  Loved the books!  The goals in purple are currently in progress.  The goals in red are completed. Yes, I have some completed already!  And I have big plans to work on several this summer.  Yeah!

Self

1. Wear a skirt/dress every day for a week. – I haven’t done it for a whole week, but I have worn a skirt and a dress.  That’s a step in the right direction.

2. Wear a skirt/dress every day for 30 days.

3. Work to become debt free – pay off at least 1/4 of student loan.

4. Take some sort of class – dancing, painting, workout, sign language…just learn something new.

5. Get a mani and/or pedi.

6. Blog every day for a month.

7. Complete Master’s degree. – Five weeks left!

8. Complete a 5k.

9. Weigh 150 lbs.

10. Buy a cute pair of heels & master them.

11. Send a card every day for 30 days.

12. Learn to drive stick.

13. Conquer the drive to Columbus.

14. Do 40 things I’ve never done before. – I know there is at least one thing I can put here.  Bean, help me out!

15. Purchase a LBD (little black dress) & wear it somewhere.

16. Write a book.

17. Be open to love.

18. Collect all the Grace Chapel Inn books.

19. Own a pair of boots. - They aren’t fancy, but I bought a pair of brown boots on clearance at Kohl’s. They had originally been $80 and I got them for $20 or less.  And yes, I have actually worn them.  Completed March 2013.

20. Get really good at painting nails.

21. Figure out makeup.

22. Craft a personal mission statement.

23. Finish paying off vehicle. - Got the title in the mail in March 2013. 

24. Start an adoption fund.

25. Learn to change a tire.

26. Run a mile without stopping.

27. Own a smartphone.  - For Bean’s 32nd birthday I said I would buy her an iPhone 5.  Of course, I had to buy one for myself.  First new phone in like 7 or 8 years!!   Completed March 2013.

Spiritual

28. Be on staff of a church or ministry.

29. Celebrate Passover.

30. Read the whole Bible.

31. Memorize 100 Bible Verses.

32. Lead someone to Christ.

33. Read a book by C.S. Lewis.

34. Do a prayer retreat.

35. Go on a mission trip.

36. Spend at least 30 minutes in prayer for 30 days.

37. Complete 50 hours of servant evangelism.

38. Do 30 random acts of kindness.

39. Complete the 7 Challenge (based on the book by Jen Hatmaker).

40. Memorize Psalm 23.

41. Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity or another faith-based project.

42. See small group grow to 12 regular attendees (at least for 4 months)

43. Organize a prayer walk.

44. Do 5 mission projects (possibly with small group).

Entertainment

45. Watch 100 movies.

1. Eat, Pray, Love
2. Girl in Progress
3. Marriage Retreat
4. What to Expect When You’re Expecting
5. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
6. Madea’s Witness Protection
7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
8. Snow White and the Huntsman
9. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
10. Stand By Me
11. Miracle on 34th Street
12. New Hope
13. Lost & Found Family
14. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
15. Rock of Ages
16. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
17. One Day
18. Love, Wedding, Marriage
19. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
20. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
21. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
22. The Lake Effect
23. The Lorax
24. Breaking Dawn Part 2
25. Big Miracle
26. This Means War
27. Loosies
28. The Odd Life of Timothy Green
29. The Hobbit
30. The Perks of Being a Wallflower
31. Touchback

 

46. Read 100 books.

1. The Hobbit
2. Seven
3. My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife
4. Almost Amish
5. Nineteen Minutes
6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
8. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
9. The Religious History of America
10. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
11. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
12. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
13. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
14. The Fault in Our Stars
15. Finding Alaska

47. Throw costume party.

48. Host a murder mystery dinner.

49. See a play or musical.

50. Go 3 months without TV or movies.

51. Karaoke.

52. Host 80s game night.

53. Host a Girls-only Camp weekend.

54. Purchase a projector for watching movies/sports outside.

Hobby

55. Take a picture a day for 365 days.

56. Take 100,000 pictures.

57. Knit or crochet something.

58. Paint my own pottery.

59. Complete December Daily.

60. Learn to play guitar (& play song).

61. Paint a picture.

62. Make 100 things.

1. Made a quilt for Aunt J for Christmas – Dec. 2012
2. Made a blanket for Baby E – March 2013

63. Make a quilt for myself.

64. Make a quilt for Bean.

65. Finish Oh! Shoot class.

66. Complete Portraits class.

67. Sell something on Etsy.

68. Make a skirt.

Homemaking

69. Make a pizza from scratch.

70. Organize photos and get them out of my drawer.

71. Finish bedroom.

72. Finish living room.

73. Succeed in making bread.

74. Clean/organize basement.

75. Clean/organize garage.

76. Make 10 soups.

77. Try 30 new recipes.

78. Host Thanksgiving.

79. Frame & hang the cross-stitch pictures that I’ve had done forever.

80. Plant a tree

Others – this category was inspired by my cousin Danette.

81. Scan the rest of Mom’s family pictures.

82. Help Danette start a garden.

83. Take Beaner to a home Ohio State football game.

84. Scan family pictures from Aunt Bonnie.

85. Turn Jim’s slides into digital picture files.

Travel

86. Visit Wilmington, NC.

87. Visit World War II Memorial.

88. Get a passport.

89. Use passport (even if it is just to get into Canada).

90. Visit 7 states I’ve never been to.

91. Spend a winter weekend in a cabin in the woods.

92. Experience NYC @ Christmas.

93. Visit an art museum.

94. Stay in a B&B.

95. Road trip to an Ohio State game.

Emmy

96. Sleepover or camp out with Emmy.

97. Craft with Emmy 20 times.

98. Write a book for Emmy.

99. Go to a zoo we’ve never been to.

100. Take Emmy to Ohio Stadium.

Works in the Life of a Christian

(This was the basis of a paper for graduate school.)

Works are not needed for salvation. Salvation can only come through faith in Jesus Christ and the saving grace his death and resurrection provide.  But what do works mean for a Christian?  It is said that “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17).  What is the purpose of these works for a Christian?

Evangelism

Matthew 5 might be the most important reason for good works given in the Bible. Its summary is here: “Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven” (Matt 5:16, The Message).    What we have here is servant evangelism.  It is not some new, modern way of doing evangelism.  This is what Jesus taught.  Investing in people’s lives allows the non-believers to “meet” Jesus in a completely loving way.  Today, perhaps more than ever, this is an especially important part of being a Christian.  Doing good works for others may give you the opportunity to share the gospel with someone who is untrusting or dissatisfied with religion.  Showing that you truly care opens their hearts to hearing the truth.  By investing in others, you are potentially growing the Kingdom.

Encourage Believers
Hebrews 10:24 tells us that we are to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”  Another reason for works is to encourage fellow believers.  By raking the leaves of an elderly widow, bringing dinner to a grieving family, watching a sick friend’s children…by doing this things you are reminding them in a tangible way that Jesus is with them.  While it may be your body that is doing these works , it is Jesus within you that spurs you to compassion, to put love in action.

Future Reward
In 1 Timothy 6, Paul is telling better to instruct the believers to do good works. “Command them do do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share” (1 Tim 6:18). Paul continues that good works are important because in doing them they are laying up “treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age” (1 Tim 6:19).

A by-product of good works is a future, heavenly reward. Luke 6:35 says, “Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”   In Mark 9:41, we are told that if we give “a cup of water in (Jesus’) name” because we “belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.”  Matthew 6 also tells us that we will receive rewards for giving to the needy, praying for others, and fasting.  These treasures will be bestowed in heaven.

I’ve Been Reading

I have been a reading machine lately.  I guess that is what happens when you finish the term up a week ahead of schedule. So instead of just a one week Fall Break, mine is two!  Yeah for me!! 

One of my 100x40 goals is to read 100 books.  Here’s my progress so far:

1. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien – Started way before my birthday, but finished after. So it counts.  At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it, but I did.  It is interesting to pick up little bits of things that go along with LOTR.  I still have no idea how they plan on stretching this book into three movies.  But the first trailer looks pretty good.
2. Seven by Jen Hatmaker – You’ll be hearing more about this one. A lot more.
3. My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife by Sara Horn – I liked it in that, to me, it read like a novel. I didn’t like it in that I was expecting it to be more of a “How to Be" book.  But it was interesting to look someone else’s take on the whole Proverbs 31 girl.
4. Almost Amish by Nancy Sleeth - Let me tell you a little bit about that last one.  Don’t you just love this cover??  It just screams, “Pick me up and read me!”

Almost Amish is the true-story of how one Christian family took inspiration from how the Amish community lives and applied these principles in their own family. This book covers everything from technology and family to money and faith.  Nancy Sleeth shares how her family adopted practices from the Amish into their modern, “English” lives.

The main idea behind the book was Nancy’s quest for a simpler, slower life.  This led the family to downsizing their home, planting a garden, buying locally, and embracing their community.  There wasn’t one thing that I didn’t like about this book.  It actually left me wanting to be Nancy’s neighbor. 

I want to fully embrace the principles in this book.  While reading, my mind often wandered to the life I had dreamed about for myself in high school.   What I once wanted and what I now want are two completely different lives.  I once wanted a busy, glamorous life.  Now I crave an Almost Amish life.  17-year-old me never would have dreamed that I would be canning homegrown food in my 30s.  Especially not when I should have been racing with my briefcase to my next meeting on Capitol Hill.  High school me would never believe that my first sewing project was a quilt that I completed all by myself.  Not only that, but I want to learn to make actual clothes. 

Almost Amish is not about trading in your SUV for a horse and buggy (although with these gas prices, one might consider it).  It is not about unplugging completely from the grid.  It is about balancing our dependency on technology so we can engage more fully with our families and communities.  It is about taking better care of our environment.  It is about putting God in the center of our world and putting our faith into everything we do.  I encourage you to read it.  It will make you think and question and, quite possible, make some changes in the way you live.

(Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.)

100 Goals by 40

Every year on my birthday for the last few years I have set goals for myself to accomplish before my next birthday. Last year, my friend Lyndsey did this awesome thing where she made 100 goals to accomplish by the time she turned 30. Click here to view her ambitious list and the progress she’s made.  I liked the idea of taking on some goals that may take longer than a year to finish so I totally stole her idea (which I told her back in like October that I was).  By the way, Lyndsey and I just happen to share the same birthday. 

So I wrote down 100 goals for the next 7 years. They are not listed in order of importance, just the order that excel sorted them by. I did split them into categories to make it easier for me to keep track of. Did you know there are 84 months, 364 weeks and about 2,555 days in 7 years? That is the time I have to complete the following 100 goals, which I am affectionately calling my 100x40. 

Self

1. Wear a skirt/dress every day for a week.

2. Wear a skirt/dress every day for 30 days.

3. Work to become debt free – pay off at least 1/4 of student loan.

4. Take some sort of class – dancing, painting, workout, sign language…just learn something new.

5. Get a mani and/or pedi.

6. Blog every day for a month.

7. Complete Master’s degree.

8. Complete a 5k.

9. Weigh 150 lbs.

10. Buy a cute pair of heels & master them.

11. Send a card every day for 30 days.

12. Learn to drive stick.

13. Conquer the drive to Columbus.

14. Do 40 things I’ve never done before.

15. Purchase a LBD (little black dress) & wear it somewhere.

16. Write a book.

17. Be open to love.

18. Collect all the Grace Chapel Inn books.

19. Own a pair of boots.

20. Get really good at painting nails.

21. Figure out makeup.

22. Craft a personal mission statement.

23. Finish paying off vehicle.

24. Start an adoption fund.

25. Learn to change a tire.

26. Run a mile without stopping.

27. Own a smartphone.

Spiritual

28. Be on staff of a church or ministry.

29. Celebrate Passover.

30. Read the whole Bible.

31. Memorize 100 Bible Verses.

32. Lead someone to Christ.

33. Read a book by C.S. Lewis.

34. Do a prayer retreat.

35. Go on a mission trip.

36. Spend at least 30 minutes in prayer for 30 days

37. Complete 50 hours of servant evangelism.

38. Do 30 random acts of kindness.

39. Complete the 7 Challenge (based on the book by Jen Hatmaker).

40. Memorize Psalm 23.

41. Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity or another faith-based project.

42. See small group grow to 12 regular attendees (at least 3x a month for 4 months)

43. Organize a prayer walk.

44. Do 5 mission projects (possibly with small group).

Entertainment

45. Watch 100 movies.

46. Read 100 books.

47. Throw costume party.

48. Host a murder mystery dinner.

49. See a play or musical.

50. Go 3 months without TV or movies.

51. Karaoke.

52. Host 80s game night.

53. Host a Girls-only Camp weekend.

54. Purchase a projector for watching movies/sports outside.

Hobby

55. Take a picture a day for 365 days.

56. Take 100,000 pictures.

57. Knit or crochet something.

58. Paint my own pottery.

59. Complete December Daily.

60. Learn to play guitar (& play song).

61. Paint a picture.

62. Make 100 things.

63. Make a quilt for myself.

64. Make a quilt for Bean.

65. Finish Oh! Shoot class.

66. Complete Portraits class.

67. Sell something on Etsy.

68. Make a skirt.

Homemaking

69. Make a pizza from scratch.

70. Organize photos and get them out of my drawer.

71. Finish bedroom.

72. Finish living room.

73. Succeed in making bread.

74. Clean/organize basement.

75. Clean/organize garage.

76. Make 10 soups.

77. Try 30 new recipes.

78. Host Thanksgiving.

79. Frame & hang the cross-stitch pictures that I’ve had done forever.

80. Plant a tree

Others – this category was inspired by my cousin Danette.

81. Scan the rest of Mom’s family pictures.

82. Help Danette start a garden.

83. Take Beaner to a home Ohio State football game.

84. Scan family pictures from Aunt Bonnie.

85. Turn Jim’s slides into digital picture files.

Travel

86. Visit Wilmington, NC.

87. Visit World War II Memorial.

88. Get a passport.

89. Use passport (even if it is just to get into Canada).

90. Visit 7 states I’ve never been to.

91. Spend a winter weekend in a cabin in the woods.

92. Experience NYC @ Christmas.

93. Visit an art museum.

94. Stay in a B&B.

95. Road trip to an Ohio State game.

Emmy

96. Sleepover or camp out with Emmy.

97. Craft with Emmy 20 times.

98. Write a book for Emmy.

99. Go to a zoo we’ve never been to.

100. Take Emmy to Ohio Stadium.

32 Goals Wrap-Up

Times up on the 32 goals! Completed goals are in purple. Those with progress made are in red. Here’s how I finished:

My 32^nd Year Goals

1. Save $1000 – I have the $. I just need to go and open a savings account.

2. Donate blood – Got my donor card in the mail the other day.

3. Read the entire Bible – Didn’t happen. Definitely on the next list.

4. Weigh 150 lbs. – LOL

5. Dress more girly – I think I am doing this. Most days I’m even wearing a little mascara & eyeliner. 

6. Finish my bedroom – Didn’t happen. But I’ve written a list of things needed to be done to complete this.

7. Finish Oh! Shoot class – Nope

8. Finish Portraits class -  Nope

9. Visit a new state – Nope, though we did entertain the idea of going to Delaware…until we found that there is not much to really do in Delaware.

10. Make a pumpkin pie – Sure did!

11. Take 10,000 pictures –  I don’t have all my pictures upload from the camera. But I think I got close to 3/4 done.

12. Learn song on my guitar – Guitar string still broke : (

13. Fix supper 2x a week – I’ve been doing some cooking here lately. Made some pork chops last week and Chicken Parmesan tonight.  Did up the chicken for chicken enchiladas later in the week.  Progress, people : )

14. Finish Emmy’s 2nd year book – Done

15. Do Daily December book – Got plans together for this year’s book.

16. Start Project Life – Done! 

17. Read 20 books – Almost finished with The Hobbit. It’s been a much easier read than the LOTR.

1. I Still Believe by Jeremy Camp (which I read completely on my birthday)
2. Middle School Ministry Made Easy (for school)
3. Courageous
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
5. 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley (for school)
6. The Castle in the Attic (read w/ my 4th graders)
7. The Hunger Games
8. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
9. Among the Hidden (read w/ my 4th graders)
10. The Help
11. The Search Committee
12. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
13. The Lucky One
14. The Vow
15. Among the Hidden (read w/ my 4th graders)
16. Catching Fire
17. Jane Eyre
18. Mockingjay
19. Stand By Me (a House of Hope book)
20. That’s Why I’m Here by Chris Spielman
21. The Last Song
22. Safe Haven
23. Roadside Assistance
24. Among the Imposters (to read w/ my 4th graders this year)
25. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning (1 of the kids said I had to try it.)
26. Mrs. Kennedy and Me

18. Watch 20 movies – Done!

1. The Grace Card
2. Madea’s Big Happy Family
3. Little Fockers
4. 12 Dates of Christmas
5. Something Borrowed
6. Flypaper
7. Water for Elephants
8. Courageous
9. Miracle of the Cards
10. Crazy Stupid Love
11. Breaking Dawn
12. Abduction
13. The Smurfs
14. National Treasure: Book of Secrets
15. She’s the Man
16. Alice in Wonderland
17. The Hangover
18. In Time
19. Hunger Games
20. The Help
21. The Way
22. Footloose (2011 version)
23. The Muppets
24. Like Crazy
25. A Warrior’s Heart
26. Jane Eyre
27. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
28. The Vow
29. Footloose (the Kevin Bacon version)
30. Soul Surfer
31. Good Deeds
32. New Year’s Eve
33. The Lucky One
34. Mirror, Mirror
35. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

19. Complete 5/K – Going to start training

20. Try 12 new recipes – Done!

1. Loaded Baked Potato Soup
2. Homemade bread – failed
3. Apple Pie
4. Pumpkin Pie
5. Pumpkin Fudge – failed
6. Buckeyes
7. Homemade Pop Tarts – for Christmas Eve brunch
8. Green Monster Spinach Smoothie (it actually is not as bad as it sounds)
9. Hawaiian Sweet Roll Ham Sandwiches – for the Super Bowl
10. Mexicorn Dip – for the Super Bowl
11. Wendy’s Chili – tasted just like Wendy’s chili
12. Corn & Potato Chowder – it was ok. I guess I’m not a chowder girl.
13. Crockpot Pork Chops
14. Chicken Parmesan

21. Daily prayer time – Got my prayer book ready

22. Go camping – Went camping with the Fords at Dillon a couple weekends ago. We had a great time!

23. Make an apple pie – Got apples to make another one with Emmy this weekend…yum!

24. Sew a skirt – got the material to make a few, actually.

25. Build craft armoire

26. Make 10 crafty things – Ok, so I had to stretch to make this goal complete. In my defense, 32 was an extremely busy year for me.  A new job. Grad school was tough, especially five classes squeezed into 14 weeks this summer…I still can’t believe I survived that!

1. Christmas quilt for Maggie
2. Christmas quilt for Cooper
3. Christmas quilt for Emmy
4. Baby blanket for Peyton
5. Pigeon T-shirt for Emmy’s birthday
6. Glitter Christmas ornaments
7. Quilt top (that’s counting, ok…don’t judge me)
8. Emmy’s 2nd year book (yep, I’m counting it on this list twice)
9. Ohio State-M*ch*gan book 2.0
10. Made a card for Scott for Father’s Day (so counts…I had to upload the picture)
11. Mini Moo Cards

27. Do 10 things I’ve never done before – What I’ve found I love about this goal is when my sister reminds me that something could be added to this list. It makes me happy that she helps me with this.

1. Be a gym teacher & music teacher (I filled in a class each)
2. Cooked pumpkins and then froze the meat.
3. Went to a midnight movie premiere…The Hunger Games with Nick & the Schaumleffels.
4. Hair professionally colored.
5. Climbed a lighthouse.
6. Gave blood (so counts for 2 goals!)
7. Went and saw Danette finish Pelotonia ‘12
8. Purchased season ticket for high school football (brother is playing)
9. Ate at Tlaquepaque.
10. Ate asparagus that I planted myself the year before.
11. Cut nearly 10” of hair off and donated it to Pantene’s wig program.

28. Mani &/or pedi – nope : (

29. Start living room makeover – Painted the walls is as far as I got. But I’ve totally written down a plan to get this done.

30. Be intentional with my time – This I think I’ve done better with.  I think my overwhelming summer helped me see how important time is.

31. Clean/organize the basement – Bean got a little bit done. Hoping we can work together and get this done.

32. Clean out the garage – haven’t done anything since it was discussed.

I completed 14 and made some progress on 7 others. I’m happy with it. I think that was great for the crazy busy year I ended up having. And look at the book list…what I did there was not easy. The Lord of the Rings trilogy was difficult and then I also read Jane Eyre. Bonus points?  Those that didn’t get done have been moved over to my new list. And I’m so excited about sharing my next set of goals! 

32 Goals {1 month to go}

 

How am I doing on my goals, you ask?  Not too bad. Eleven are completed. I think 6 are in progress.  And like 7 could still be possibly done by the b-day. I think that’s better results than I’ve ever had in the past. I’m already working on the next list. It is going to be a 7 year list!  And it’s going to be so awesome!

My 32^nd Year Goals

1. Save $1000 – Surprisingly, this might just happen.  I won’t know for sure until closer to time.

2. Donate blood – I totally did this!  At the end of July, I gave blood for the first time.  I didn’t even feel the needle go in.  It was great…until I almost passed out at the end.  It was so hot in there and I think with the blood draining from my body it got to be almost too much. But I survived.  Not sure if I’ll do it again. Maybe??  Still waiting for my donor card so I can find out what my blood type is.

3. Read the entire Bible – So not going to happen.  I hate to make excuses, but grad school was just a little overwhelming this spring (2 classes at once) and this summer (5 total with 2 weeks off having all 5 classes at the same time).  It’s already on the next list.

4. Weigh 150 lbs. – I was hoping with all this free time I was going to have this summer that I could dedicate a lot of that time into getting into better shape.  Guess what?  I didn’t have any free time.  Most of my days & nights were spent with the laptop or a course book, sometimes both.  Now that I am heading back to a better schedule, I’m going to start working on this, including going back to the fitness center with my sissy & starting to train for a 5/k.

5. Dress more girly – I think I’m heading in the right direction with this one.  I actually have two skirts for the new school year.  I’m not calling this one done yet until I wear at least one of them to the school.

6. Finish my bedroom – Not happening.  I said I wanted to finish the finishing touches (pictures & shelves on wall, new bookcase, ceiling repainted & a rug I want to make). My wonderful sister did paint my ceiling as a birthday present. Best. Present. Ever. (so far)  It kills my neck to do that.  I did cut up the white tees I had for the rug, but I need tons more white shirts (hint, people – send me your old white tees).  I’m questioning the bookcase.

7. Finish Oh! Shoot class – Didn’t even work on the first lesson.  I really can’t wait to get back into photography again.  I love the feeling of walking into a room at someone’s house and seeing a picture I took on display.  I don’t think I will ever get used to that feeling.

8. Finish Portraits class -  I’ll be getting these classes done soon.  Maybe I can get Bean to work through it them with me.

9. Visit a new state – Didn’t happen.  We took Emmy to VA Beach for her first trip to the ocean.  Well worth not having visited a new state.  Was hoping to squeeze in a quick trip to MI or KY.  But my weekends are looking pretty busy between now and the b-day. 

10. Make a pumpkin pie

11. Take 10,000 pictures –  I think I am close to 4,000.  Can I squeeze 6,000 pictures into a month. That’s about 200 pictures a day.  We’ve got soccer games every Saturday.  Football most Friday & Saturdays.  Still need to take Emmy’s 3 year old pictures.  Have family from out of state visiting next week. They possibly are getting a family picture taken. Plus just general everyday, Project Life pictures. Don’t count me out. It could very well happen.

12. Learn song on my guitar – Emmy discovered my guitar one night and we played around with it…until a string broke. Anyone local know how to string a guitar??

13. Fix supper 2x a week – So did not happen. But with school starting up, I’m planning on doing this. If I do it for a month, it still counts, right??

14. Finish Emmy’s 2nd year book – She is getting this for her birthday tomorrow.  It’s crazy how much she has changed!

15. Do Daily December book – While I ended up not having time to do this last December, I decided that getting it ready for this year’s December would count. Well, I’ve decided on how I’m going to do the project and I have a girl who makes this great books that I love. I emailed her to see if she was doing a Christmas one this year and she is!  They are not up in the store yet, but I’m going to go ahead and count this baby done.

16. Start Project Life – Done!  And not only that, I’m pretty up-to-date on pictures.  I don’t have a week completely done yet, but I’m going to work over Labor Day to get the little things I need to do completed.  Then I’ll share some things with you.

17. Read 20 books – I started The Hobbit this summer, but I didn’t get it done before it was due back so I’ll be checking it out this fall to finish up.  There were a couple books I read for school this summer in their entirety (including the like 1,000 page theology book) but I’m too tired to look up their titles so they’re not making the list (plus, I really don’t want to remember all the work I did this summer).

1. I Still Believe by Jeremy Camp (which I read completely on my birthday)
2. Middle School Ministry Made Easy (for school)
3. Courageous
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
5. 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley (for school)
6. The Castle in the Attic (read w/ my 4th graders)
7. The Hunger Games
8. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
9. Among the Hidden (read w/ my 4th graders)
10. The Help
11. The Search Committee
12. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
13. The Lucky One
14. The Vow
15. Among the Hidden (read w/ my 4th graders)
16. Catching Fire
17. Jane Eyre
18. Mockingjay
19. Stand By Me (a House of Hope book)
20. That’s Why I’m Here by Chris Spielman
21. The Last Song
22. Safe Haven
23. Roadside Assistance
24. Among the Imposters (to read w/ my 4th graders this year)
25. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning (1 of the kids said I had to try it.)
26. Mrs. Kennedy and Me

18. Watch 20 movies – This isn’t even counting the couple times I had Twilight and Lord of the Rings marathons. They are my quilting, cutting fabric & painting walls go to movies.  And I also watched The Last Song after reading the book, but having already read it, it doesn’t count either.  But I am hoping to be one of the first ones to get a hold on The Lucky One at the library so I can watch it soon!

Here’s where the total now stands:

1. The Grace Card
2. Madea’s Big Happy Family
3. Little Fockers
4. 12 Dates of Christmas
5. Something Borrowed
6. Flypaper
7. Water for Elephants
8. Courageous
9. Miracle of the Cards
10. Crazy Stupid Love
11. Breaking Dawn
12. Abduction
13. The Smurfs
14. National Treasure: Book of Secrets
15. She’s the Man
16. Alice in Wonderland
17. The Hangover
18. In Time
19. Hunger Games
20. The Help
21. The Way
22. Footloose (2011 version)
23. The Muppets
24. Like Crazy
25. A Warrior’s Heart
26. Jane Eyre
27. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
28. The Vow
29. Footloose (the Kevin Bacon version)
30. Soul Surfer
31. Good Deeds
32. New Year’s Eve

19. Complete 5/K – Not happening, but going to start training after school starts.

20. Try 12 new recipes – I’ve found some great recipes to try this fall. Can’t wait!

1. Loaded Baked Potato Soup
2. Homemade bread – failed
3. Apple Pie
4. Pumpkin Pie
5. Pumpkin Fudge – failed
6. Buckeyes
7. Homemade Pop Tarts – for Christmas Eve brunch
8. Green Monster Spinach Smoothie (it actually is not as bad as it sounds)
9. Hawaiian Sweet Roll Ham Sandwiches – for the Super Bowl
10. Mexicorn Dip – for the Super Bowl
11. Wendy’s Chili – tasted just like Wendy’s chili
12. Corn & Potato Chowder – it was ok. I guess I’m not a chowder girl.

21. Daily prayer time – Got my prayer book done and going to build it into my morning routine.

22. Go camping – Didn’t happen…boo!  Maybe there is a weekend the Fords could squeeze it in. Or maybe they would haul their camper, set it up, come back and load us up for me & whoever I could get to camp with me.  Seriously. I’m not kidding.

23. Make an apple pie – So ready for some more this fall!

24. Sew a skirt – got the material, just need to do it.

25. Build craft armoire

26. Make 10 crafty things – Looks like I’m going to have to squeeze in a few more things.

1. Christmas quilt for Maggie
2. Christmas quilt for Cooper
3. Christmas quilt for Emmy
4. Baby blanket for Peyton
5. T-shirt for Emmy’s birthday tomorrow

27. Do 10 things I’ve never done before

1. Be a gym teacher.
2. Cooked pumpkins and then froze the meat.
3. Be a music teacher.
4. Hair professionally colored.
5. Climbed a lighthouse.
6. Gave blood (so counts for 2 goals!)
7. Went and saw Danette finish Pelotonia ‘12
8. Purchased season ticket for high school football (brother is playing)
9. Ate at Tlaquepaque.
10. Ate asparagus that I planted myself the year before.

28. Mani &/or pedi – not yet and not looking like it will happen.

29. Start living room makeover – Well, I did start it. I painted the walls this great Wild Turkey by Martha Stewart color back in November.  I’m going to be putting shelves up and I got a print for fall to frame and display in this room.

30. Be intentional with my time – I think I did ok with this. The summer threw it off a bit, but since I finished my huge paper & final I’ve been spending a lot of time with Emmy.  We spent two whole afternoons on the porch.

31. Clean/organize the basement – Bean started this a bit. Now we just need to finish.

32. Clean out the garage – haven’t touched at all though it was discussed.  That’s a step closer…lol