A beautiful day...

Today was more than lovely.  I turned 30.  Spent time with great friends.  Was spoiled by my husband and kids.  AND was reminded for the gazillionth time how truly blessed I am. 

If the next 30 years go as quickly as the first, I'm going to be sixty before I know it!  :)

**For those of you wondering about my 30 B4 30 list, I have a few things left to check off, most that require reading and quiet... I'll try to update soon!**

In 29 days...

I will be 30!!!  I have been working on my 30 B4 30 Project for the last few months.  I want so badly to finish strong!  HOWEVER, I am one of those people that makes a list every day thinking that I can accomplish everything on the list, when in reality, it is only humanly possible to finish 6 of the 9.  I am coming to my senses that everything may not be finished by the 8th... but I'm going to work to make a significant dent in it.

Here's what's left...
1. Learn to make homemade lemonade.
2. Teach Sadie to tie her shoes. Still practicing!!! 
3. Complete reading through the Bible. Continued progress... This is one that is not going to be completely done by then.  I will be really close, though!
4. Hike a new park we've discovered and Coronado Heights.
5. Take the kids fishing. 
6. Take Eric on a surprise date.
7. Get photo albums updated - this could take an eternity. (I have almost updated the past year... this is another one that won't be completely done by June!)
8. Bake cinnamon rolls like Cooke. (I'm not sure it's the exact recipe, but it's pretty darn close, and I could eat the entire pan.)
9. Save for my 30th Birthday cruise getaway with Eric. - We are officially completely saved... however, we are thinking about something other than a cruise now... we might be doing a spontaneous getaway.  I'll keep you up to date.
10. Get pictures secured in Cole's baby book.
11. Invite 30 people to CrossPoint.
13. Get 6 hours of college credit to renew my teaching certificate. I'm in my last class session now and am filling out my paperwork today!
14. Read 5 books every season. I need to post my spring book list!!!
15. Plant annuals at our new home - Lord let us be in our new home by the time I'm 30! Praise the Lord we are here!!!
16. Get a good picture of a Kansas sunset.
17. Participate in Beth Moore Scripture Memory Challenge.  Doing good here!
18. Make plans to travel to CO to be with Brady, Janelle and Katelyn in December or January.
19. Take 20 minutes every month to just be still. (This is probably going to be the hardest thing on my list.) - I stink at this... I told you so!
20. Learn to make homemade bread without using the bread machine.
21. Take cookies to our neighbors.
22. Play a board game I've never played before.
23. Search Goodwill for a glass cake cover for my cake plate. My friend, Shauna, actually gifted me with one from a garage sale!!!
24. Find the address of where my grandpa grew up and then find the house.
25. Take treats to the fire station and police station.
26. Research photography and picture editing.
27. Build a snowman with the kids (normally I make Eric do this because I HATE the cold).
28. Have family pictures taken.
29. Get a good photo of a church I've been wanting to take pictures of off of the highway.
30. Send two packages to our World Vision child, Vilma, this year. (Sent one off for Christmas!)

The purpose of all this isn't to say, "Hey!  Look at everything I've done in the last year."  It's more for me to be more intentional in living.  It's easy for me to just get in the routine of caring for my family, cooking, cleaning etc. and forgetting to take time to add other stuff I enjoy.  I'm not planning to make a list for the next year, but I am thinking I will choose one thing a month to accomplish... whether it be a new recipe, extra time with a friend, finish the photo albums or just relax.  It's good to live intentionally.

You'll never believe this...

but... I played in the snow again this winter!  Sadie and I spent some time outside this last week making this Mr. Potato Head snowman.  Accessorizing her snow people may be one of her favorite things.  Meet Smiley.  I think he's cute.

Sadie with Smiley.

We can now bring on spring.

Winter Book List

Oh, how I love a  stack of books!  I've officially borrowed and collected everything I'm planning to read over the next few weeks until the groundhog decides that spring is here (Oh, Lord, may it come quickly!).  :)

Here's the run down:
Yesterday's Embers by Deborah Raney
So Long, Insecurity by Beth Moore
Prodigal God by Timothy Keller
Do You Know Who I am? by Angela Thomas
Each New Day by Corrie Ten Boom

Proof that I indeed DID play in the snow...

Cold weather makes me miserable.... but I had to stay true to my 30 B4 30 plan to build a snowman with the kids. We had a beautiful snow (if those two words can be written together) last week and when we went outside to play.

The snow was too fluffy to build an upright snowman, so we constructed a snow angel.


We also celebrated because this is the first snow that Cole was able to walk in!!! He enjoyed it very much... and was thankful that it wasn't too cold because he's as wimpy as I am when it comes to unpleasant weather.


Our morning was finished off with a ride on the sleigh through the neighborhood. Good times... hopefully memories that they will remember!

30 B4 30 Update Edition 2 + a change

I didn't really make any New Year's Resolutions this year because I've been working hard at completing my 30 B4 30 list... it has really been A LOT of fun and caused me to be more focused in different areas than normal (apart from cleaning, cooking and keeping kids alive). I'm considering making a similar list at every Birthday in the years to come. Here is the list of some simple things (and not so simple things) I want to accomplish before my 30th Birthday. In case you're wondering... what I have done so far is in gray scale!!!

1. Learn to make homemade lemonade.
2. Teach Sadie to tie her shoes. (We have been working on this... slow going, though... her kindergarten teacher will be so happy next year when she can do this!)
3. Complete reading through the Bible. Continued progress... changing my reading schedule up a bit since our Church is doing B90X (a 90 day read through the New Testament.
4. Hike a new park we've discovered and Coronado Heights.
5. Take the kids fishing. I did find a fishing pole on sale for Cole this week at Target... won't be doing any fishing in the Midwest for a while, though!
6. Take Eric on a surprise date.
7. Get photo albums updated - this could take an eternity.
8. Bake cinnamon rolls like Cooke. (I'm not sure it's the exact recipe, but it's pretty darn close, and I could eat the entire pan.)
9. Save for my 30th Birthday cruise getaway with Eric. On our way and getting passports this week! Woot!
10. Get pictures secured in Cole's baby book.
11. Invite 30 people to CrossPoint. Making progress, but I'm afraid I've lost count on where I'm at!
12. Take a trip to the Great Wolf Lodge.
13. Get 6 hours of college credit to renew my teaching certificate. 3 are complete!
14. Read 5 books every season. (Summer season DONE and Fall season with 20 more pages to go! Will post new books this next week!)
15. Plant annuals at our new home - Lord let us be in our new home by the time I'm 30! Praise the Lord we are here!!!
16. Get a good picture of a Kansas sunset.
17. Meditate/Memorize 5 segments of scripture: This is the one I'm editing! :)
Daniel 2:20-23
Psalm 131
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Isaiah 30:18
18. Make plans to travel to CO to be with Brady, Janelle and Katelyn in December or January.
19. Take 20 minutes every month to just be still. (This is probably going to be the hardest thing on my list.) - I stink at this... I told you so!
20. Learn to make homemade bread without using the bread machine.
21. Take cookies to our neighbors.
22. Play a board game I've never played before.
23. Search Goodwill for a glass cake cover for my cake plate. My friend, Shauna, actually gifted me with one from a garage sale!!!
24. Find the address of where my grandpa grew up and then find the house.
25. Take treats to the fire station and police station.
26. Research photography and picture editing.
27. Build a snowman with the kids (normally I make Eric do this because I HATE the cold).
28. Have family pictures taken.
29. Get a good photo of a church I've been wanting to take pictures of off of the highway.
30. Send two packages to our World Vision child, Vilma, this year. (Sent one off for Christmas!)

_________________________________________________

Okay... so about #17... I have issues with changing things up. For some reason I feel like every little thing must be set in stone... but I think I need to get over that. I am loosing motivation on the verses here for a couple reasons - I feel defeated by their length AND while at one point these were verses I was passionate over, I have now moved into a new season of life with new scripture that is meaningful. I feel the more meaningful a certain verse is, the more apt you are to take it to heart through memory... so, maybe it's better to choose a verse right before you are ready to memorize??!!

Anyway, all that to say... I love reading Beth Moore's blog and this year she is doing a Scripture Memory Challenge, so I've decided to take part. Basically it's memorizing 2 verses every month... they are sharing them on the Living Proof Ministry Blog on the 1st and 15th every month, but it's better accountability for me to post them here every month. I have already memorized one and have selected my second for January... I will share them with you on Monday!

So... #17 will now read: Participate in Beth Moore's Scripture Memory Challenge! :)

30 B4 30 Update

Last June I made a list of some simple things (and not so simple things) I wanted to accomplish before my 30th Birthday. In case you're wondering... what I have done so far is in grayscale!!!

1. Learn to make homemade lemonade.
2. Teach Sadie to tie her shoes.
3. Complete reading through the Bible. I am making progress!
4. Hike a new park we've discovered and Coronado Heights.
5. Take the kids fishing.
6. Take Eric on a surprise date.
7. Get photo albums updated - this could take an eternity.
8. Bake cinnamon rolls like Cooke.
9. Save for my 30th Birthday cruise getaway with Eric.
10. Get pictures secured in Cole's baby book.
11. Invite 30 people to CrossPoint. Making progress...
12. Take a trip to the Great Wolf Lodge.
13. Get 6 hours of college credit to renew my teaching certificate. 3 are complete!
14. Read 5 books every season. (Summer season DONE!)
15. Plant perennials at our new home - Lord let us be in our new home by the time I'm 30!
16. Get a good picture of a Kansas sunset.
17. Meditate/Memorize 5 segments of scripture:
Daniel 2:20-23
Psalm 131
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Isaiah 30:18
18. Make plans to travel to CO to be with Brady, Janelle and Katelyn in December or January.
19. Take 20 minutes every month to just be still. (This is probably going to be the hardest thing on my list.) - I stink at this... I told you so!
20. Learn to make homemade bread without using the bread machine.
21. Take cookies to our neighbors.
22. Play a board game I've never played before.
23. Search Goodwill for a glass cake cover for my cake plate. My friend, Shauna, actually gifted me with one from a garage sale!!!
24. Find the address of where my grandpa grew up and then find the house.
25. Take treats to the fire station and police station.
26. Research photography and picture editing.
27. Build a snowman with the kids (normally I make Eric do this because I HATE the cold).
28. Have family pictures taken.
29. Get a good photo of a church I've been wanting to take pictures of off of the highway.
30. Send two packages to our World Vision child, Vilma, this year.

I better get crackin' huh!!! June will be here again before I know it!!!

Fall Reading Plan

Some of you will remember that one of my goals before I am 30 is to read 5 books each season. I had a very successful summer reading experience and really enjoyed carving time out to do something I really enjoy... I'm slowly learning that Momma needs to make time for herself or Momma will get no time at all! :)

I so wish that I had a big stack of books to photo for you this fall... BUT as much as I love to purchase a stack of books, I'm taking the cheap route this season and either borrowing my books or checking them out from the library!

Here's what I'll be reading over the next few weeks! :)

For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn
Radical by David Platt
I Will Carry You by Angie Smith
Leaving November by Deborah Raney
Choosing to SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope by Mary Beth Chapman

I am taking suggestions as I prepare my winter reading list... let me know if you have any grand ideas!!!

30 B4 30

Here is a list of 30 things that I am hoping to do before my 30th Birthday! I had no idea how hard it would be to come up with 30 things to do... here's the list nonetheless!!!

1. Learn to make homemade lemonade.
2. Teach Sadie to tie her shoes.
3. Complete reading through the Bible.
4. Hike a new park we've discovered and Coronado Heights.
5. Take the kids fishing.
6. Take Eric on a surprise date.
7. Get photo albums updated - this could take an eternity.
8. Bake cinnamon rolls like Cooke.
9. Save for my 30th Birthday cruise getaway with Eric.
10. Get pictures secured in Cole's baby book.
11. Invite 30 people to CrossPoint.
12. Take a trip to the Great Wolf Lodge.
13. Get 6 hours of college credit to renew my teaching certificate.
14. Read 5 books every season.
15. Plant perennials at our new home - Lord let us be in our new home by the time I'm 30!
16. Get a good picture of a Kansas sunset.
17. Meditate/Memorize 5 segments of scripture:
Daniel 2:20-23
Psalm 131
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
Isaiah 30:18
18. Make plans to travel to CO to be with Brady, Janelle and Katelyn in December or January.
19. Take 20 minutes every month to just be still. (This is probably going to be the hardest thing on my list.)
20. Learn to make homemade bread without using the bread machine.
21. Take cookies to our neighbors.
22. Play a board game I've never played before.
23. Search Goodwill for a glass cake cover for my cake plate.
24. Find the address of where my grandpa grew up and then find the house.
25. Take treats to the fire station and police station.
26. Research photography and picture editing.
27. Build a snowman with the kids (normally I make Eric do this because I HATE the cold).
28. Have family pictures taken.
29. Get a good photo of a church I've been wanting to take pictures of off of the highway.
30. Send two packages to our World Vision child, Vilma, this year.