The Beginning of a Bucket List

For a long time I've wanted to start a "Bucket List." I saw the movie. Hated it. Loved the concept. I think that so many of us get so wrapped up in our day-to-day stuff that we forget to live our lives. I don't want to be one of those people who looks back on my life and wishes I had done so much more.

So, I started trying to think of all the things I want to do. I'm realizing that this has to be a working list. I'm a little sporadic, and I'm always thinking of things I want to do. So, here's the plan: I'll just continue to add stuff as I live. And, hopefully, cross some of the things off too. :)

The one thing I know is this ... Every day I realize just how much I love my husband. Just when I think I can't love him ANY MORE than I already do, wham! another day comes, and I love him more. He is truly my best friend. So, as I plan/do some of these things, I really want to keep him in mind. He may not want to do all of these things with me. But, everything I do will, in some way, affect him. I do, however, hope that he will agree to participate in the majority of my list (especially #15 - he he he). Besides ... Everything is so much more fun when your best friend is with you!

1. Sky dive (I'll have to do this when I'm on my death bed though. I really don't want to break my arm again.)
2. Write a book (I'm still trying to decide what I want to write about ... )
3. Live at the beach
4. Learn to fly a plane
5. Run a marathon (start with 5K and work my way up)
6. Wear a pink stripe in my hair
7. Travel to at least 10 different countries
8. Own my own business
9. Go to a Broadway Show in NYC (I can't believe I've never done this.)
10. Take cooking classes.
11. Learn to knit.
12. Take an art class/Learn to paint
13. Take a dance class (specifically salsa, but I'd love to learn all kinds of dances)
14. Go on a mission trip
15. Adopt a child (Jared isn't as convinced about this one as I am.)
16. Take a photography class

So, there it is. There's 16 things I want to do before I kick the bucket. I'm sure that by tomorrow, I'll be able to come up with 16 more things. But, hey, it's a start. Do you have a bucket list?

A beautiful day for an AU celebration!

This past weekend, Jared and I went to Auburn for the national championship celebration. We left single digit temperatures in Kentucky for a beautiful 50 degree day ... it was like being in Heaven (especially for Jared since Auburn is his happy place). The celebration was great. The stadium was packed. There were a few empty seats behind the band, but that was all. And the field was full of people. There were probably well over 80,000 Auburn fans in attendance.

The new governor was there, and his speech was really great. Glad to know he's "all in." He He He! The quarterback from the 1957 championship team was also there. His speech was my absolute favorite. What a cool guy! He spoke to the players. He talked about what it means to be an Auburn man and an Auburn woman. He told them not to forget where they came from when they put that national championship ring on their finger (of course, he held up his ring and everyone cheered - super cool stuff). I love that he came to this celebration, and I love how supportive he is of Auburn.

This Auburn football team has faced a lot of challenges this year. And, they faced them with class, integrity and faith. We're proud to be Auburn Tigers, and not just because of the football season we had. We're proud to be Auburn Tigers every year because of what it means: 

THE AUBURN CREED

I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn. Therefore, I believe in work, hard work.

I believe in education, which gives me the knowledge to work wisely and trains my mind and my hands to work skillfully.

I believe in honesty and truthfulness, without which I cannot win the respect and confidence of my fellow men.

I believe in a sound mind, in a sound body and a spirit that is not afraid, and in clean sports that develop these qualities.

I believe in obedience to law because it protects the rights of all.

I believe in the human touch, which cultivates sympathy with my fellow men and mutual helpfulness and brings happiness for all.

I believe in my Country, because it is a land of freedom and because it is my own home, and that I can best serve that country by "doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with my God."

And because Auburn men and women believe in these things, I believe in Auburn and love it.
-George Petrie (1945) 

To watch the videos I took, click here. In the meantime, here are some pictures. War Eagle!

 

A carrot, an egg and a cup of coffee walk into a pot of boiling water ...

I received this email today, and I thought it was worth sharing. 


A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying
a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.

Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma the daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its insides became hardened.
The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Life Motto

I've been doing some deep thinking lately. I know, that's scary. But, as I was thinking about My New Year's resolution, I realized I have so many areas of my life that I want to improve. It's not that I'm unhappy with my life or anything like that. In fact, my life is pretty good. But, I know there are areas that I'm not giving 100% of all I have to be the best I can be. So, I started thinking that I needed a life motto. You know ... something that I could just quickly say to myself when I start getting off track. There are so many things I want to do, see and be that if I keep sitting around giving 75% here and 40% there, I'll never get to them. I need to embrace every second and give each one 100%. So, here it is ... my life motto:

No rainchecks! Do it, be it, try it, buy it, give it, live it, love it ... NOW!

Do you have a motto to live by?

My Love Confession

I have a confession ... a love of ... well, read on ... Tonight, Jared and I ran out to grab something for dinner. I requested Taco Bell because of their fresco menu. I track my calories, and it fit perfectly within my diet budget today. Anyway, Jared requested Wendy's. Less than half a second from pulling away from the window with his food I caught a whiff of the most scrumptious, delicious yumminess - french fries. And, of course, I said, "may have just 1 french fry please"? And, yes, just as I expected ... HEAVEN! It was all I could do not to grab his whole bag, rip it open and devour the stupid potatoes! I know that sounds dramatic, but I really do love french fries that much.

FYI ... I'm not the kind of girl that craves chocolate or sweet stuff. I'm a salty kind of girl. Valentine's Day? I don't want a heart-shaped box with truffles stuffed with coconut. That real doesn't do anything for me at all.

So, the question is why do I love these shoe string shaped treats so much? It's the one thing (well, that and Mexican food) that will make my mouth water even if I'm not hungry! Is it the actual potato? The grease? The salt? What is it? I love my husband more than life itself, but these dang french fries are ranking right up there. Someone help me explain why I have such a love for deep fried potatoes. I'm learning to resist, but I'm not going out without a fight!

There's An App For That ...

Jared and I have started attending Southland Christian Church here in Lexington. The first Sunday of the year, Pastor Mike kicked off a series of sermons called "There's An App For That." His sermon focused on temptation. In light of everyone's New Year's resolutions, it made perfect sense. Rather than giving into temptation, we need to seek the Word to help us push on through. Jesus resisted the same temptations that we experience every day. After all, He was human too. Anyway, I thought I'd share the link to the video with all of you. I hope it's as much of an inspiration to you as it was to me.

This is by far one of my favorite poems. I've shared it before, but it's worth repeating.  

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. ~Micah 6:8

Eternal Ink

I dreamed I was in heaven
Where an angel kept God's book.
He was writing so intently
I just had to take a look.

It was not, at first, his writing
That made me stop and think
But the fluid in the bottle
That was marked eternal ink.

This ink was most amazing,
Dark black upon his blotter
But as it touched the parchment
It became as clear as water.

The angel kept on writing,
But as quickly as a wink
The words were disappearing
With that strange eternal ink.

The angel took no notice,
But kept writing on and on.
He turned each page and filled it
Till all its space was gone.

I thought he wrote to no avail,
His efforts were so vain
For he wrote a thousand pages
That he'd never read again.

And as I watched and wondered that
This awesome sight was mine,
I actually saw a word stay black
As it dried upon the line.

The angel wrote and I thought I saw
A look of satisfaction.
At last he had some print to show
For all his earnest action.

A line or two dried dark and stayed
As black as black can be,
But strangely the next paragraph
Became invisible to see.

The book was getting fuller,
The angel's records true,
But most of it was blank, with
Just a few words coming through.

I knew there was some reason,
But as hard as I could think,
I couldn't grasp the significance
Of that eternal ink.

The mystery burned within me,
And I finally dared to ask
The angel to explain to me
Of his amazing task.

And what I heard was frightful
As the angel turned his head.
He looked directly at me,
And this is what he said...

I know you stand and wonder
At what my writing's worth
But God has told me to record
The lives of those on earth.

The book that I am filling
Is an accurate account
Of every word and action
And to what they do amount.

And since you have been watching
I must tell you what is true;
The details of my journal
Are the strict accounts of YOU.

The Lord asked me to watch you
As each day you worked and played.
I saw you as you went to church,
I saw you as you prayed.

But I was told to document
Your life through all the week.
I wrote when you were proud and bold,
I wrote when you were meek.

I recorded all your attitudes
Whether they were good or bad.
I was sorry that I had to write
The things that make God sad.

So now I'll tell the wonder
Of this eternal ink,
For the reason for its mystery
Should make you stop and think.

This ink that God created
To help me keep my journal
Will only keep a record of
Things that are eternal.

So much of life is wasted
On things that matter not
So instead of my erasing,
Smudging ink and ugly blot.

I just keep writing faithfully and
Let the ink do all the rest
For it is able to decide
What's useless and what's best.

And God ordained that as I write
Of all you do and say
Your deeds that count for nothing
Will just disappear away.

When books are opened someday,
As sure as heaven is true;
The Lord's eternal ink will tell
What mattered most to you.

If you just lived to please yourself
The pages will be bare,
And God will issue no reward
For you when you get there.

In fact, you'll be embarrassed,
You will hang your head in shame
Because you did not give yourself
In love to Jesus' Name.

Yet maybe there will be a few
Recorded lines that stayed
That showed the times you truly cared,
Sincerely loved and prayed.

But you will always wonder
As you enter heaven's door
How much more glad you would have been
If only you'd done more.

For I record as God sees,
I don't stop to even think
Because the truth is written
With God's eternal ink.

When I heard the angel's story
I fell down and wept and cried
For as yet I still was dreaming
I hadn't really died.

And I said: O angel tell the Lord
That soon as I awake
I'll live my life for Jesus-
I'll do all for His dear sake.

I'll give in full surrender;
I'll do all He wants me to;
I'll turn my back on self and sin
And whatever isn't true.

And though the way seems long and rough
I promise to endure.
I'm determined to pursue the things
That are holy, clean and pure.

With Jesus as my helper,
I will win lost souls to Thee,
For I know that they will live with Christ
For all eternity.

And that's what really matters
When my life on earth is gone
That I will stand before the Lord
And hear Him say, "Well done."

For is it really worth it
As my life lies at the brink?
And I realize that God keeps books
With His eternal ink.

Should all my life be focused
On things that turn to dust?
From this point on I'll serve the Lord;
I can, I will, I must!

I will NOT send blank pages
Up to God's majestic throne
For where that record's going now
Is my eternal home.

I'm giving all to Jesus
I now have seen the link
For I saw an angel write my life
With God's eternal ink. 

 

(Author Unknown)

War Eagle! Fly Down The Field ...

WE'RE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS! Wow! The game last night was intense down to the last 2 seconds! Coach Chizik and Cam Newton were so classy during their speeches. They always give glory to God, and that makes me so proud to be an Auburn Tiger! War Eagle!

 

 

 

Foodie Foto Challenge: Day 3

Oatmeal and a diet coke ... still just drinking 1 DC a day!

Stouffers soup and sandwich combo

I know ... Not a good choice.

Ended my night on a healthy note!

Foodie Foto Challenge: Day 2

Well, this has been an eye-opening experience so far. Guess what? I eat too much. Seeing how much I eat ... in pictures ... one meal ... one snack ... one right after the other. Uhm. I need to get a grip. Wednesday WILL BE different.

Breakfast:

Wheat thins and hummus. And, yes, a diet coke.

 Lunch:

Digiorno flat bread tomato pizza - the low calorie one.

Afternoon Snack:

I know they are a higher calorie fruit, but I love bananas!

 Dinner:

Soft tacos made with Laura's Lean Beef and low fat cheese

Notice there was only ONE diet coke in these pictures! There were also 2 bottles of water that I forgot to take a picture of ... Off to Wednesday! 

In the meantime, check out the challenge we're doing at work. It's called "Resolve to Stick With it." It's a 6-week challenge related to healthy eating. We've 6 great ladies participating. This is the first week, but they've already started to encourage me!

 

Food Foto Challenge: Day 1

It's Day 1 of my Food Foto Challenge. Here goes nothing.

Breakfast:

100-calorie grits with splenda and a diet coke (I know - I'm trying to quit the diet coke.).

Lunch:

Grilled Chicken Salad

Dressing on the side

Skipped my afternoon diet coke and opted for water.

Gum instead of chocolate :(

A little protein before working out

 Dinner:

Spaghetti made with Laura's Lean Beef (keepin' it healthy)

Dessert ... again, no chocolate

Well, it didn't kill me. We'll see how tomorrow goes ...

Food Foto Challenge

So, as part of my New Years Non-Resolution to be a better version of myself, I've given myself a new challenge ...

I know this is brave. My husband says I won't do it. But, I'm committing to the challenge right here in front of the whole wide world. Well, maybe not the whole wide world ... but at least the blog world.

For one solid week, I am going to take a picture of everything I put into my mouth and post it right here on my blog. I'm going to begin this food foto challenge on Monday, January 3 and finish it up on Sunday, January 9.

The reason I've decided to do this is because I've become ridiculously aware of how unhealthy most food is ... even salads, soups and sandwiches. It probably has something to do with where I'm working now. It drives me crazy when I think I'm making a healthy choice, and I find out as soon as I look at the nutritional values, that I'm NOT!

And, most importantly, I don't think I pay attention to the "other" things I eat: gum, candy, diet cokes, wine, margaritas, wine and more margaritas, etc. So, I plan to become more aware of what I'm choosing to eat and drink. I think by seeing it in pictures, in front of all of you, that it will make me think twice before choosing to consume it. Notice I say that I'm choosing it. I'm trying to remind myself that what I eat and drink is my choice, and I can change it ... if I choose to do so.

Anyone else want in? It could be fun!