30 for 30

Today is my birthday. It’s not just any birthday. It’s my 35th birthday. That means I’m halfway through my 30s. Ugh. I can’t believe I’m that old.

Five years ago, I made a list of 30 things I’d like to accomplish in my 30s. Since I’m feeling a little nostalgic tonight, I’ll recap the things I’ve accomplished on that list and the things I haven’t:

1. Visit Lucille Ball’s hometown (Jamestown, N.Y.) – Not yet! But this definitely is still at the top of my list.
2. Go on a second honeymoon cruise with Chris – Completed in 2010.
3. Find a job I love at a place where I love to work – Completed in 2010. And I’m happy to say that I still feel the same way today!
4. Have two children – Half of this was accomplished when our sweet Avery entered our lives in 2009. The other half…well, who knows if that will happen!
5. Scrapbook our “every day” life – I completed Ali Edwards’ Week in the Life challenge in 2011, which definitely helped me document our every day life. But I’m trying to be better about this all of the time. I want Avery to see what life was like at this stage of her life.
6. Proudly cheer for Chris at basketball and soccer state tournament games – Completed every year! I’m always so proud to be Chris’ cheering section at games.
7. Buy a “fancy” camera – Completed in 2008 just before Avery was born.
8. Take a photography class – I completed an online course in 2010. But it only inspired me to take more classes and learn more about my camera!
9. Go to at least one Steven Curtis Chapman concert – Completed in 2008.
10. “Graduate” from BSF – Completed in 2011. But since BSF will add another study soon, I guess I’m not an official graduate yet!
11. Continue to make our new house our home – Completed every year! Since I made this list, we have decorated Avery’s nursery, put new flooring in the laundry room, remodeled the main bathroom and completed several minor projects.
12. Participate in more Bible studies at church – BSF takes up so much of my time, that I haven’t been able to participate in Bible studies at church like I want to.
13. Volunteer in new ministries at church – In progress. We are blessed to volunteer once a month in Bibleopolis, our church’s children’s ministry.
14. Submit at least one scrapbook page for publication in a magazine – To do
15. Attend a basketball game with Chris at IU’s Assembly Hall – Completed in 2008.
16. Lose 10 pounds – Instead of losing weight, I’ve gained a little. So now I need to lose more than 10 pounds!
17. Start (and maintain) a blog – Completed in 2008. And thanks to you, dear reader, I’ve been pretty good at maintaining this blog!
18. Go to one tennis grand slam – Still a lifelong dream.
19. Learn how to be a better cook – You’ll have to ask Chris if I’ve improved in this area!
20. Improve my gravy for Chris’ favorite meal, biscuits and sausage gravy – I think I finally completed this in 2011, but it’s always a work in progress.
21. Beat Chris at tennis, XBox, Trivial Pursuit…anything! – Completed in 2008. I beat Chris in miniature golf while on a vacation in Florida. Booyah!
22. Make basketball career scrapbook and a soccer career scrapbook for Chris – I want to make more time for all kinds of scrapbooking, especially a book just for Chris.
23. Attend a St. Louis Cardinals game at the new Busch Stadium – To do
24. Attend any event at the new Lucas Oil Stadium – Completed in 2011 when I humbly watched my Ball State Cardinals whoop on Chris’ IU Hoosiers.
25. Hear Beth Moore speak in person – To do
26. Watch all 179 “I Love Lucy” episodes…again! – Believe it or not, I haven’t done this yet!
27. Decorate and organize my scrapbook room – Completed in 2008.
28. See Third Day in concert – Completed in 2008.
29. Attend a marriage conference with Chris – To do
30. Complete Donald Davidson’s Indy 500 History class – To do