My Bucket List Revisited

Last August, I posted my bucket list.  Now seems as good as time as any to revisit this list and see how I am doing.  And even add a couple more...

1. Own a red couch.  Actually at this point, I would settle for own a couch that isn't broken. --My couch is waiting to be moved in!  It's not red, but it was free and has a matching chair.  So score!
2. Be a rock star.
3. Learn to speak Spanish fluently.
4. Be a ballroom dance diva.  (Somewhere my sister is laughing at this thought.)
5. Tour Italy.
6. Spend a month on the beach.
7. Own a pair of really great heels.
8. Fall madly in love.
9. Have my own photo exhibition.
10. Visit New York City at Christmastime
11. Throw a party to celebrate the awesome people I love.
12. Learn to hit a baseball.
13. Say what I really feel.  -- I feel like I've been doing more and more of this on the blog recently
14. Meet someone famous and take a picture with them. 
15. Go on a mission trip.
16. Go white water rafting.
17. Be able to say "I'm with the band" and mean it.
18. Be a fairy godmother.
19. Create a flower garden.
20. Go fishing.
21. Plan someone else's dream wedding.
22. Do something crazy.
23. Drive a convertible.
24. Rent a limo for the day and take my girls on an adventure.
25. Have a house with a sunroom.

 26.  Weigh what it says I weigh on my driver's license.
 27.  Run a 5K
 28.  Find the ministry God has for me
 29.  Take a pottery or an art class
 30.  Get my master's degree in something
 31.  Trace my family roots back to Europe

I think I will periodically do bucket list updates (once every 6 or 8 months).  Do you have a bucket list?  If so, I challenge you to share it and link up in the comments.  It can be your first try at one or your updated list!  I just love to see what everyone's goals are!

Prayer Monday

It seems like the prayer request outweigh the praises this week, but God is so good!  I know it with every fiber of my being and I am so thankful for it, particularly when things seem darkest.

Prayer Requests:

• Uncle James - his continued recovery and for continued strength and patience for my auntie.  I also pray for extraordinary medical care as he continues to be in the hospital.  They are having trouble regulating his heart due to his breathing issues.  The overall prognosis is still good, but the doctors have said he could be in the hospital for several more weeks. 
• For Lucy - I don't know this family, but their story and struggles have really made an impact on me.  I pray for this sweet baby girl (whose 5th birthday is Monday) and for her family. 
• My friend at work - Her father passed away last week.  I pray for comfort for family during this time.
• For all my pregnant friends, those who are new mamas, and those who are waiting and praying to become pregnant -- I, personally, can't wait to start cuddling some sweet babies!
• For those who are deployed and those who carry on here in their absence.
• For the women of our Bible study  and for Crystal as she facilitates for us--After tonight, I am even more excited to see what God's going to do in the lives of the women who He's placed in this study.  It's going to be amazing!  Let us become women after God's own heart...

Father God, it seems there are so many things to pray about, so many things that we need.  We are a needy people, Lord, wholly dependent on You.  I ask that You will be with us this week, that you will pour out Your goodness and mercy upon us.  Move in the lives of the women who are calling on Your name.  Hear these requests as we come boldly to the Throne of Grace.  Work in our hearts and lives so that we may shine Your light upon the darkness of the world.  Amen.

Kelly's Show Us Your Life: My Family

Since I'm not married and their are no kids to speak of (if you don't count the ones I have from 8-3), I decided to share a little about my immediate family.  My mom and dad started dating in high school.  My mom was a year older (scandal!) and my dad was friends with my uncle, Bobby.  (Of course, as with most small towns they probably would have known each other anyway.) 

They were married in 1976 (check out those hats and rainbow pastel dresses), and lived in a trailer just down the road from my dad's parents' house (which is the house I live in today) for a while.  My mom started working as a teacher and my dad was still working at the family auto shop.   

They built a house on my mom's family's land (where they still live today), just in time for me to be born in October of 1981.  We all know how fabulous I am (ha!), so I will jump ahead.  My little brother was born three years later on New Year's Eve.  By this time, my dad had become a teacher, too.  Six years later, they added my baby sister to our family.   My parents loved and supported us in whatever ventures we decided to try, which means that they spent a lot of years at sporting events and community theater.  We were blessed with a good example of what marriage looks like, and I think it's something that we all strived for as we grew up.

Today, my family is ever-expanding.  My brother married Melissa in June, and I couldn't ask for a better sister-in-law. 

And of course, there's everyone's favorite little sister, LuLu!

I can't wait for the day that I have nieces and nephews to spoil rotten!  (But, seriously, no rush on that, guys!)  That's my immediate family, but that's really only a glimpse of where I come from.

My dad's side of the family is small, but my mom's is big and getting bigger.  Members of my family have been here for well over 100 years, so it's hard to find someone that I'm not related to in these parts. 

Here are all of the cousins in July at my grandma's 80th birthday party.  These are just the grandkids as of July (we are about to add another by marriage this fall!).  There are now 10 great-grands, with another on the way (due the same weekend as the wedding this fall, as fate would have it).  I love being from a big family.  I wouldn't know what to do if there weren't 25 or 30 people milling around the Farmhouse for dinner!  

It's been a lot of fun to share about my family.  I can't wait to see what everyone else has to share!

Why Now and Some Goals

I thought that I would take a quick minute and let you know how things are going with my little "Movin' in March" plan.  So far, I'm two for two as far as getting out there and exercising.  It's a little discouraging to see how far out of shape I really am.  Where I used to be able to walk three or four miles at once, even jogging some of it, I am now barely making it a mile and half.  But, I have complete faith I will get there. 

Tonight is Weight Watchers.  My co-worker who told me about the group starting up has promised she will be there tonight.  Unless you know me in real life, you probably don't realize that I kind of freak out when I'm going some place where I don't know anyone.  Despite all my bravado on here, I am really kind of shy and the whole ordeal makes me nervous for tonight.  (The idea of weighing in public alone makes me want to throw up.)  But, I think my co-worker said it best when she said that she doesn't really have a choice because she doesn't have clothes that fit.  I don't really have a choice either.  It's time to do something about my weight. 

I appreciate the encouragement that I've been receiving.  I have no doubt that I will need a lot more because this is going to be a long-term (like the rest of my life) thing.  In hopes of keeping my focus on the prize instead of the long road, here are a few of my reasons to stick with my plans:

• Our annual girls' trip is next month.  To be down even 10 pounds would make me feel better, physically and emotionally. Plus I want to build up my walking endurance again so I can enjoy every minute of walking on the beach!
• It's embarrassing to be the "fluffy" track coach.  I tell my kids about how important it is to stay in shape, and if I'm doing it myself, perhaps they will listen. At the least, it may curb my impulse to trip one of the snooty, skinny coaches.
• The only thing that is meant to be fluffy about me is my hair. 
• I have a closet full of cute summer dresses that I would like to be able to wear again.  I can't even begin to tell you how much of my closet is currently on the "does not fit" list.
• Heavy Duty shouldn't be the description on my lawn chair.  I'm tired of being above the suggested weight limit on things.  My size shouldn't be a limitation on my life, and right now it is.
• I want to be able to buy baby things for my friends without someone wondering when my due date is. (Thankfully no one has ever actually asked this, which keeps me out of jail for assault.)
• I want to look fabulous for my 30th birthday party!  My goal is to be down at least 50 pounds by October 1.  I'm bound and determined my 30's are going to be the best years yet, and this is one way to make sure that's the truth!
• Sheena's getting married and I want to be preserved in fabulous pictures by DM in a way that does not make me look like a (navy) blue whale. (Insert my "speaking whale" like Dori in Finding Nemo here.)
• My body is the only one I get, and I want it to work properly as long as possible so that I can live my life to the fullest.

My dream is that someday, in the not too distant future, I will able to run a 5K.  I realize that this is a long way off, but I think it's good to have goals.  I'm excited (and yes, nervous) to begin this journey, but I'm also ready.  I've put off my life for far too long.

For Lucy

I'm an avid reader of Kelly's Korner and have been for some time.  Today, she posted about a little girl named Lucy, who is fighting medulloblastoma, a form of brain cancer. She had 3 tumors on her brain, one one her spine, as well as a "sugar coating" of cancer running down her spine.  I went to her mom's blog and read about her fight and my heart was so heavy for this family.  To one day have everything fine, and then in the next to be fighting this kind of battle is chilling and heartbreaking.

You want some perspective in your life?  Read about the trials this sweet baby girl is going through.  I guarantee whatever you are facing won't seem quite as big.  I ask that you pray for this little one, Lucy, and for her family.  I've added her button as a reminder to myself pray everytime I come to my homepage.  (If you want a button too, you can snag it on Lucy's mom, Kate's, blog!)

Prayer is the most powerful tool we have.  Let's storm the gates of heaven for this little girl!

Update to Prayer Monday:  My friend from work's father passed away last night.  Please remember her family during this difficult time, as well.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. March 2nd is Dr. Seuss's birthday so I'm wondering...do you like green eggs and ham? Okay-how about this instead...how do you like your eggs? Or don't you?

      I will only eat eggs scrambled.  I have a consistency issue when it comes to fried or over-easy.  I'm weird, I know.  But at least I will admit it.

2. Is March coming in like a lion or something less ferocious where you live?

     Today is a beautiful lamb of a day.  But we had bad storms a couple nights ago (still in February, but it was this week), so we'll have to wait and see about what March is going to bring.

3. Do you work better or worse under pressure?

      Better.  I'm a procrastinator at heart and I always do my best work close to the deadline.  In college, I once (or twice or pretty much every time) saved a huge project for my Children's Lit class until the night before the project was due to start it.  It took me all day and into the night, but I not only finished it, but got a perfect score on it.  If I had been punished for my procrastination, perhaps I would have been better about organizing and working ahead.  I fear it's too late for that now!

4. March Madness-are you a fan? It's college basketball in case you're wondering. And if you're outside the USA tell us-is there any sort of 'madness' taking place during March in your part of the world?

      I love college basketball, but pretty much only follow it in March during the tournament.  I love trying to guess at filling out a bracket and usually have a competition among my classes.  It's a good time! 

5. Under what circumstances do you do your best thinking?

      I usually get my best revelations in the shower.  I don't have any idea why.  Otherwise, I like to brainstorm ideas with a group.  I think you get better inspiration bouncing ideas off people. 

6. What item of clothing from your wardrobe do you wear most often?

     Most of the time I am perfectly happy in jeans.   Or my yoga pants.  High fashion has it's place, it's just not usually in my closet.

7. Do you use sarcasm?

    Nope.  I would never use sarcasm.  Not with my friends, and never, ever with all of the sweet yet surly teens in my life.  I would never do something like that.  In all seriousness, asking if I use sarcasm is like asking if I breathe, but I am trying to cut back.  (On the sarcasm.  Not the breathing.)

8. My random thought: 
How did it get to be March already?  Am I alone in thinking that the last two months just flew by?  There are a lot of great things that are going to happen in the coming months.  I just hope I can slow down enough to really enjoy them!

Buckling Down

It's Fat Tuesday, if you visit Taylor over at The Lumberjack's Wife, which makes this announcement feel especially appropriate.  I know I've said it before, but I've finally had it.  I'm overweight (to put it mildly) and I'm ready to do something about it.  When I say that, I don't mean a fad diet.  I also don't mean pills.  (Been there, done that.  They made me crazy.)  What I mean is that it's time to actually do the two things that work for me, eating like I have some sense, and exercising.  I've decided to join Weight Watchers, but I have to do it in person.  I am not disciplined enough to do it online.  I have to know that someone is going to be weighing me each week, whether I like it or not.  I also feel like it makes it more like The Biggest Loser, and while I don't watch the show, I do love competition. 

I'm also challenging myself to move.  In March's thirty-one days, I am going to exercise every day.  It can be a couple mile walk outside, a workout video, whatever.  But I have to do something every day.  I'm tired of not fitting into a closet full of cute clothes.  It sucks to have only a few things that you know fit, and I don't want to buy anymore clothes at this point.  This isn't about my own vanity or self-worth.  I have that covered. I don't hate myself and I never have, thankfully.  This is about feeling comfortable in my own body again, because right now, I don't.   And that kind of disconnect is so much worse. 

So, I'm saying it right here for the world to see.  Don't worry, this isn't going to become some health and fitness blog, but I will keep you updated on my progress (probably on Fridays, as WW is Thursdays).  Consider yourself my accountability partners, too.   Off we go...