Welcoming In the New Year

I’ve never been one for making new year’s resolutions. It just seems silly, to me, to put off accomplishing those things that your heart really wants to do, even if it means sacrifice. The earlier you start, you’re apt to accomplish your goals that much sooner, if you ask me.

Still, there is something about taking a moment, whenever it is, to gaze off into the future and ponder what you want it to look like, what you’d like it to become.

When my birthday came to pass last year, I sat down and came up with a random list of goals to accomplish during this latest phase of life as a 27-year-old. Some of them were easy and silly, some of them are challenging, and some of them will take a lifetime to even come close to accomplishing.

It’s been nine months since I created that list. I figured now as good a time as any to look back at what’s left on that little list of mine and look forward to some of the goals that I'm still hacking away at:

· Continue learning how to respect and honor my husband and strive to be: "A wife of noble character is her husband's crown." (Proverbs 12:4)
· Continue learning to guard against negativity and what I say.
· Cultivate a more generous and hospitable spirit toward others. (Maybe throw a party?)
· Go thrift shopping / antiquing! (It’s been too long!)
· Spend less time at my computer.
· Take as many walks outside as possible.
· Use my crock pot more.
· Keep up daily quiet times and Bible readings.
· Take picnics!
· Plan a date for Michael. (He deserves it!)

It’s funny because when I look at this list now, only nine months later, I find myself thinking of all the other things that ought to have made the list, as well. If I were to make this same list today it would include things like learning to care less about stuff and things (I’ve been reading a couple of books lately pertaining to that, which I’ll share sometime soon!), finding a job, nabbing a new apartment that actually gets warm (as I type sitting next to a space heater!), finding little ways to reach out to someone every week, spending more time in prayer, among a litany of other things.

But I guess that is the beauty of making and keeping lists, in that they can freeze a moment in time and remind you what you were hoping and wanting and looking forward to back then.

So, we’ll see what the new year brings. I look forward to keeping these goals ahead of me, directing where I go and striving to make the most of each moment, each day.

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Mid-Summer Update on My Goals for the Year

Last month I just didn't feel like posting an update about my 27 goals for 27. So I didn't. Did you notice? 

Well it's okay if you didn't. I wouldn't expect you to. 

But I still feel like it's my duty to press on and persevere with them. I can't let myself give up on the project only three months in! (If you want to see my past monthly updates, they're all linked here, as well as my original list of 27 goals for this year.)

So here's the update, for June and July, aka my mid-summer update.

Goal #2: Buy more locally grown food.

While my ideal version of buying locally grown food would be from my backyard, that isn't possible right now. We've tried growing house plants in our apartment, but trees and buildings cast too much shade over all our windows, turning everything verdant to a bruisy shade of brown or purple within weeks. (At least that's what I blame it on.)

So instead, we've tried out a couple of the farmer's markets around town. All we've ended up picking up are a box of Georgia-grown sweet potatoes (though I agree that that's better than nothing). While I like the idea of farmer's markets, I have discovered I don't actually like them in real life. You see, I prefer to go to grocery stores when the aisles are empty and I can stand around and take my time figuring out whether I want this or that, compare and contrast. Farmer's markets tend to be more of the hustle-and-bustle variety and crowded with folks, which I find overwhelming. (Am I the only one who feels this way about crowded farmer's markets?!) I also really don't like when you have to ask for a price tag. Whether it's on a card table with a picnic cloth or on the Target clearance rack, I don't like to do that and normally skip it entirely.

That's why I really want to go to a pick-your-own farm, where (I imagine) things are at a more leisurely pace and the only fighting there is to do is between you and mother nature. To this end, I've done some research about these kinds of farms, and there are 2 within 30 miles from Atlanta that specialize in one or two crops.

Goal #4: Get a blog layout I like (which likely translates to another goal: Learn more HTML/CSS).

Nope, I didn't learn a lick of CSS, even though I did check a couple of books out of the library with good intentions. But I did give the blog a little facelift, as you can see. I like the bigger buttons along the side, and I added some fun "widgets," including a link to Michael's MySpace page (it's the cassette tape, on the right-hand column) and my wishlist of books to read. 

Goal #6: Continue learning how to respect and honor my husband and strive to be: “A wife of noble character is her husband's crown.” (Proverbs 12:4)

Oh, gosh. I feel like calling this one a "goal" is such an understatement. More like a mountain. (Though, Psalm 121 comes to mind when I think of it in this way: "I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip...")

Still, this "goal" is something I do want to always be striving toward. To this end, I've been reading two books, actually, regarding marriage. I already mentioned that I'm reading Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. I read this book while Michael and I were dating and am revisiting it now, to see what I missed the first time through and what I can learn and apply and recognize. I'm also reading For Better by Tara Parker-Pope, which I will review in the coming weeks, once I'm completely finished with it. It is not a Christian book, but looks at marriage from scientific studies and research. And should we be surprised to discover that almost all of the findings seem to fall in line with biblical wisdom rather than against? I love being able to see the numbers and percentages line up right alongside God's word!

Both books have provided insights and words of wisdom for me about how to cultivate healthy relationships and treat your spouse. Reading is one thing, but acting is another. Let's pray that God helps me bridge the chasm between what is and what ought!

Goal #17: Have a photoshoot! 

Yessir, we checked this one off! I wanted some more recent photos of Michael and me, now that our wedding and engagement was more than a year ago. So armed with our regular camera, a sunny day, my obliging sister and Michael's photo-editing skillz, we did our photoshoot in my parents' backyard! If you missed them, you can see all the photos here!

Have you created any "life to-do lists"? If so, link them up in the comments section below. I'd love to read them!

 

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Our Kitchen Art Gallery

For months now, I've been trying to make our apartment feel like a home. One of my biggest struggles has been with what to do with our large expanse of empty walls. I don't want to just buy something to "fill" them up, but to fill them with things that mean something to us. I've had slow success with other parts of our house, but the huge wall in our kitchen has continually eluded me, which is why I even added it to my year's to-do list (#8).

The other day, I was picking up around the house, moving and sifting papers, collecting things that belonged in different rooms, and was walking through the kitchen with a stack of Easter and birthday cards we'd received over the past week or two. I saw the bare wall and realized, even if only temporarily, we can use it as a makeshift fridge door--a place to display notes and pictures. (Our fridge door is where we post much more exciting things like bills and recipes and RSVP cards.)

I dug through our tool box (actually a cardboard box) and my craft drawer for the supplies: a level (wedding gift!), some ribbon (leftover from decorations for the wedding, I think), nails, hammer, and alligator clips. In minutes, I had the ribbon strung and clipped our latest cards in place. Then I taped up two pictures that Michael's brother and cousin had drawn of us. (On the left you have Michael playing the guitar and me sitting down beside him, courtesy of his little brother, Sam. On the right is a drawing of us standing outside, looking at each other, which we received at Christmas from his cousin Molly.)

And in about 10 minutes or less, our kitchen already feels more homey. (And feel free to send us more mail, knowing now that it could end up on display in our makeshift gallery!)

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27 things to do while I'm 27: My goals for the coming year

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27 things to do while I'm 27: My goals for the coming year

Last Wednesday, on the night before I turned 27, I decided to come up with a list of goals for this coming year: "27 things to do while I’m 27."

I’ve never made a list like this before, but thought it might be good to keep in the back of my head so that when I say, “Oh we should do that!” there’s a bit more accountability to actually do it rather than let it fall to the wayside like so many great ideas and good intentions.

So, in absolutely no particular order, my 27 for 27 list:

1. Go camping. { Update }
2. Buy more locally grown food. { Update }
3. Continue trying new recipes and learning to make things from scratch. { Update }
4. Get a blog layout I like (which likely translates to another goal: Learn more HTML/CSS). { Update }
5. Go swimming. { Update }
6. Continue learning how to respect and honor my husband and strive to be: “A wife of noble character is her husband's crown.” (Proverbs 12:4) { Update }
7. Memorize more Scripture { Update }
8. Do something with the blank wall in my kitchen. (Perhaps paint something?!) { Update }
9. Continue learning to guard against negativity and what I say.
10. Blog every week.
11. Cultivate a more generous and hospitable spirit toward others. (Maybe throw a party?) { Update }
12. Go thrift shopping / antiquing! (It’s been too long!) { Update }
13. Undertake a new craft. { Update }
14. Keep in touch with friends in Ohio and Michigan. (I'm not too fond of the phone, so too often I lose track of time and it's been months since I've talked to my nearest and dearest!)
15. (Of course make trips back to Ohio, but that’s a given, isn’t it?) { Update }
16. Watch a sunset with Michael.
17. Have a photoshoot! { Update }
18. Spend less time at my computer.
19. Take as many walks outside as possible. { Update }
20. Use my crock pot more. { Update }
21. Get my laptop screen fixed.
22. Keep up daily quiet times and Bible readings. { Update }
23. Win a vacation. (I’m a sucker for those contests where they promise you the world--literally! One of these days...!)
24. Take picnics! { Update }
25. Stop picking my cuticles. (Completely unattractive habit.) { Update }
26. Plan a date for Michael. (He deserves it!)
27. Go to a ballgame or other outdoorsy event this summer. { Update }

Monthly Updates on My Goals for This Year
As I make my way through the year, I'll share the progress I'm making on these 27 goals of mine.

Here's how I've been doing so far during the months of April, May (Part 1, Part 2), June, July, August, September, October.

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