{30 Before 30} :: A Recap

Well, I am officially 30!  :)

This was a fun list to work through, and I am so glad I decided to do it. While I wasn't able to complete everything, I am thankful for the ones I was able to cross of my list! 

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13 // 14 // 15 // 16

17 // 18 // 19 // 20 // 21 // 22 // 23 // 24 // 25 // 26 // 27 // 28 // 29 // 30

Not too bad, considering my list was fairly ambitious for 1 year :)

The Ones I Didn't Cross Off the List {Before 30}

1. Sell Something I Have Made: I have a dream/hope to open an Etsy shop one day. Because I love crafting and DIY, and I just think it would be fun! I don't know exactly what this will look like, but it's definitely on my radar for the future...

3. Refinish a Piece of Furniture: I already have the piece picked out, I just have to do it. It's my childhood dresser that I want to paint to match a nursery someday :)

13. Take a Cooking Class: I still would like to do this, and we all know I could probably use this, as my cooking skills are not exactly spectacular. These can be expensive though, so if you hear of any good {less expensive} ones, let me know!

17. Become a Mom: I blogged about this yesterday.

18. Write My Will: This will definitely happen when we have kiddos. 

20. Pay for the Person Behind Me in the Drive-Thru: I realized that I am rarely in a drive-thru anymore. I could maybe count on one hand the number of times I have been through one since my Crohn's diagnosis. So maybe I will still do this one, if I happen to be in a drive-thru anytime soon :)

27. Go Hunting with my Dad: There was really only one opportunity for me to do this last year, but I chose to have a girls weekend with my mom instead of going hunting with the guys. But I still would like to experience it with my dad!

28. Read Through my Archaeological Bible: I made it through part of it, just not all of it before I turned 30. Call me a nerd, but I think it's SO interesting!

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I am not by nature an adventurous person. I don't have this crazy exciting and uber-interesting life. But as I sit back and look at both my reverse bucket list and my {30 Before 30} list, I am reminded of how truly blessed I am. I have had the opportunity for some really fun and amazing adventures, and I am so thankful for the gifts of family, friends, and community.

I am genuinely excited about my 30s, and I look forward to what the Lord has for us next. Every day is a gift, and I pray that I use the time I am given to love others well and praise the name of Jesus.

{30 Before 30} :: Become a Mom

This. Sigh.

No, this is not a post where I announce that we're pregnant {but oh how I wish it was!} Instead, this is a post that I write with a twinge of sadness and a weary heart. I was not able to cross this off my list like I so desperately wanted and prayed for...

This is actually what first prompted my {30 Before 30} list. While the idea of a bucket list was fun {and I enjoyed crossing these items off my list}, I really created it because I needed some projects on which to focus my attention. I really didn't care that much about the items on my list, in and of themselves, I just needed some distractions from the struggle we were facing to grow our family.

Some of the items on my list were even related to this one {Sell something I have made (for a stay-at-home-mom business)...Refinish a piece of furniture (for a nursery)...Write my will (to include children)...}   

Today I am a few days past 30, and I am still praying and waiting...

I realize that lots of women don't have their first babies until well into their 30s; it's not about checking an item off a bucket list or even worrying about my biological clock. The journey to becoming parents, for us, has been a long and heartbreaking struggle. One that has been such an intimate and arduous struggle that has rocked our world the past 2.5 years.

It has been 30 {long} months and counting. So since it didn't happen before 30, here's to becoming a mom in my 30s...

{30 Before 30} :: Go {Indoor} Skydiving

I have always wanted to go skydiving. Something about jumping out of a plane sounded absolutely fantastic to me.

And then I turned 29, felt less adventurous, and got a little more sense in my brain. {Plus I heard a horrific story about a girl whose parachute didn't open...but she survived}. So my excitement turned into hesitation. Around the same time, iFLY opened in Frisco, and I knew I had my solution. All the thrill and fun of skydiving with a fraction of the risk. Sign me up!

My sweet husband bought my flight for my birthday, and I think it was fitting to go {indoor} skydiving on my 30th birthday! :)

And because videos are super fun...for your viewing pleasure:

LOVE my sweet cheering gallery!! It was so much fun and was a great birthday present from my love! :)

{30 Before 30} :: Have a Fun Girls' Day with my Nieces

I have 3 beautiful nieces, and I thought it would be fun to have a fun girls' day. I had all kinds of fun ideas, but the busyness of the year kept me from actually planning this. While we are all in the DFW metroplex, it's hard to get everyone's schedule together! 

So while I didn't get to plan a specific girls' day {but maybe still will this year}, I definitely just enjoyed the time I had with them when I could have it. Whether it was enjoying pajamas and pancakes at a birthday party, going to see ICE!, having a tickle fight at Uncle Ben and Aunt Lindsay's house, bowling at Main Event, playing games at Granny's sleepover, or just going out to lunch, I am thankful for the time I have with my nieces {and nephews!}

{30 Before 30} :: Take Up Yoga

Disclaimer: I want to be sensitive to the fact that I am a Christian {and a pastor's wife} talking about yoga. Please understand me when I say that I am not advocating any form of yoga that pulls you away from the Lord. Some would argue that all yoga pulls you away from God, but I believe that the American adaptations of yoga, which focus on stretching, breathing, and exercise, can be separated from the Eastern spiritual forms.

While some say that "yoga is just stretching," I cannot be naive and brush off something without doing my research. Yoga has its roots in Eastern religions, and seeks {for many} to be a path to spiritual growth and enlightenment. It would be foolish to think that all forms of yoga are harmless; there are many classes and forms of yoga that I would not be comfortable in/with. I personally would not recommend yoga to a young believer. I think every individual believer needs to test their convictions and concerns against the Word, and truly seek the Lord's wisdom before pursuing anything that could run counter to things that honor Him. 

I think this is a great article on how Christians should approach their decision whether or not to practice yoga as an exercise routine.

That being said, I personally have used yoga to stretch and relax; there is no spiritual aspect of my exercise, other than taking care of my body as a temple of the Lord. To be mindful of the controversy and my younger brothers/sisters in the faith, I made the {personal} decision to not attend public classes, and choose instead to do my yoga workouts at home. I evaluate every video, staying away from any that include meditation and chanting, and stick solely to the physical exercise. My husband is good about helping me affirm truth {out loud}, in contrast to the self-seeking fulfillment and inner peace that a lot of yoga {falsely} teaches.

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I have wanted to do yoga for some time. I have done pilates for several years, but wanted to try something new. Since I have had to rethink my exercise routine anyway because of Crohn's {focusing more on low-impact exercises since I never know how I will feel that day}, I thought it would be a good time to try it.

Ya'll, I have never been flexible in my whole life. Even when I was 6 and in gymnastics, my teachers always got frustrated with me for my lack of flexibility. Haha. So I figured yoga might help with that. Yoga is also supposed to have good health benefits for Crohn's; I can even do my yoga exercises when I am having a flare. It may not be as comfortable or enjoyable {at first}, but it actually helps me feel better. Win!

I also just really enjoy the relaxing aspect of yoga. It really does help to reduce stress, which is helpful in preventing flares. And I love that I can do it at home, any time of the day, regardless of what the weather is like. 

I decided to get a few DVDs to get me started on learning the technique. I started with Easing into Yoga with Linda Howard, just so I could get a handle on what this whole yoga thing was. It helped me learn the poses and was a great beginner DVD. {Warning} :: this DVD kind of reminded me a little of Sit and Be Fit at first. Haha. But it got better, I promise! You just have to get past the fact that the average age of the participants on the video is about 50 :)

While it might be overly simplified for some, I personally needed the progressive lessons so I could 1) learn the beginner basics of yoga, and 2) literally ease into yoga. Remember...not flexible here. The best part about this DVD is that it has a long list of modifications: fatigued, overweight, elderly, pregnant, chronic conditions, knees, back, etc. So it shows you how to modify your yoga routine based on your specific {and potentially ever-changing} needs. Which is awesome.

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I then started using the workout DVDs from Tara Stiles. These have some great routines, and I have enjoyed the variety of sessions.

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I have also used some of the free yoga videos on Amazon Prime; because they were free and available on my TV at home. Just for some variety and additional instruction :)

I haven't been as consistent with it as I would like to be, and I want to be better about making it a routine. But I am glad that I tried it, and that I have the DVD's to use whenever I do have more time to be more consistent with it. I enjoy it when I do get a chance to do yoga, and I am glad I put this one on my list!

{30 Before 30} :: Memorize One Bible Verse a Month

I have never really been good with Scripture memorization. It's not the memorization part; it's the discipline part. I really need to be better at it. I didn't have a new one every month, but I did spend more time meditating on His Word.

{February} :: Proverbs 31:10-12, 20, 25-26, 30

I was doing a Bible study on the Proverbs 31 woman, so I chose a few of the verses that really stuck out to me. There is a lot in that passage, but I wanted to specifically remember these verses.

{March/April} :: Lamentations 3:22-25

This is one of my favorite passages, a go-to verse for encouragement and comfort. I felt like I referred to these verses a lot these months, so I decided it was a good one to officially commit to memory.

{May/June} :: 1 John 1:5-9

We started our study on 1 John, so I decided to pick a few verses as we went through the study. I have loved these epistles; I am so encouraged/challenged by reading John's evident love for Jesus.

{July/August} :: Psalm 126:5-6

I love that the Lord turns our tears into joy!

{September/October} :: Habakkuk 3:17-19

{November/December} :: Psalm 66:19-20

The Lord hears our prayers.

{January} :: Isaiah 55:8-9

{30 Before 30} :: Write a Letter to Myself to Open on My 39th Birthday

This was kind of a goofy one, but part of why I have a blog is so I can look back and "remember when." I figured this would be a good way to remember what I was thinking and learning as I entered my 30s. It might give me a little perspective as I enter my 40s :)

Since the point is to open the letter on my 39th birthday, I will not be posting it here. Instead I have written and sealed it and placed it in a safe place {that hopefully I won't forget in 10 years!}

{30 Before 30} :: Visit the 21 Historical Markers within 50 Miles of our House

I realize this one is completely random {and completely nerdy}, but hey, why not? Something different to do. But apparently I can't count...because there are A LOT more than 21 historical markers within 50 miles of my house. There are probably more than 21 within 5 miles of my house. I remember thinking the number seemed low, but what do I know? I navigated the Historical Marker Database incorrectly, and I definitely miscalculated on that one.

In visiting these historical markers, I also learned that there is more than one database of historical markers...which just makes things super confusing when trying to map them all out. Some are listed in the Historical Marker Database, others are listed directly with the Texas Historical Commission Atlas. Needless to say, there are A TON of historical markers, and it's almost impossible to visit them all. Oh well.

Laura joined me for the first round in Dallas County, because she's that kind of friend...the one that puts up with her nerdy friend :)  Again, I missed A LOT of markers, but it was still fun to walk around downtown Dallas with Laura!

Log Cabin Pioneers of Dallas County

Dallas County Records Building

Texas School Book Depository Building

John Neely and Margaret Beeman Bryan

Dealey Plaza National Historic Landmark

Alexander and Sarah Horton Cockrell

First Ferry and Bridge

Union Station

Dallas Morning News + A.H. Belo Corporation

John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza

Central National Road

The second round was just in our neighborhood. One of the things I love about McKinney is the rich history. We live about 10 blocks north of the historic downtown square, and just outside the historic district. So most of the markers close to our house are other homes in the historic district. And I LOVE that! 

You can't read the plaques on many of these, simply because I didn't feel comfortable walking up onto someone's front porch to snap a photo. And I had to snap these photos fairly quickly so I didn't look like a creeper in the neighborhood, but it was fun to just walk around the historic district finding so many of these homes on the Texas Historical Commission list. Again, I didn't see all of them {there are SO many more}, but you can only blog about so many houses, right? :)

The First Presbyterian Church {look familiar? this is where Redeemer met!}

Muse Academy

Burton House

Davis House

Heard-Craig House

Crouch-Perkins House

First United Methodist Church

Aron-Harris House

Fox-Caldwell House

Waddill-Morris Homesite

{30 Before 30} :: Learn to Use My Camera in Manual Mode

I will continually be working on improving my photography, but I knew that would have to start with getting familiar with the inner workings of my DSLR...including manual mode!

I started by reading my camera's manual. While you may think it was a huge snooze fest, it really wasn't at all, and I actually found it incredibly helpful {go figure}.

I found several online tutorials that were incredibly helpful, but ultimately I decided that I needed something a little more structured. I came across an amazing Groupon for an online photography course and just couldn't pass it up. 

I absolutely LOVED this course. This was the next best thing to taking an actual photography course {which I wanted to do, but didn't really have the time and couldn't really spend the money}. So this was the perfect solution for me! It helped refresh me on photography basics, and I learned a lot of new things too. And because I am a nerd, I just really enjoyed the format of lessons, homework, and interaction with online tutors :)

I also signed up to be a member of Click it Up a Notch. There are SO many fantastic tutorials, and I love getting photography tips in my inbox. The whole site is designed to get you more comfortable with your camera, prompt you to actually use your camera more often, and ultimately help you take better photos. Not to be a professional, but just to have better memories! She talks in easy-to-understand language and offers great examples.

I don't know if I have necessarily improved my photography {yet} but I at least know how to operate my camera a little better. Which can only help me as I continue to practice and work to improve my photography, right? :) 

{30 before 30} :: Encourage Another Church Planting Wife

I put this one on the list because it was something I desperately wished I had while we were planting. While my husband received a ton of support and encouragement from local church planters, I unfortunately did not. And that was hard. And lonely. The women at Redeemer were encouraging, but there is a different kind of need for pastor's wives that members of the church cannot offer, simply by nature of roles and ministry.

Acts 29 desires to be helpful to wives, but the actual implementation is a bit challenging. I went to a wives' tea the fall before we launched, and I met some wonderful ladies, but that was it. There was no follow up, and I haven't seen most of them since then. It's not Acts 29's fault, it's just difficult for church planting wives to find time to network with each other, especially since we're all spread out throughout the metroplex. And since we never achieved full-member status, we did not have access to the retreats, which is where I think most of the wives connect.

Working full time, launching the church, and monitoring my health made connecting with other church planting wives fall down on the list of priorities. I was fairly exhausted, and all of my energy was going to ministering to the women at Redeemer. I also struggled with knowing what I had to offer. I desperately needed encouragement from someone who was further in the process {and quite frankly, outside of our process}, so I felt at a loss. We had just started our church planting journey, and then a few short months later it was over. What encouragement could I offer another church planting wife, when our church plant didn't make it?

When we were a few weeks past the close of Redeemer, the Lord placed this on my heart again. And he placed a fellow sister on my heart, the church planting wife of a church with whom we have had close ties for a couple of years. We have talked often about getting together, but life and schedules had just prevented it from happening...until I made the conscious decision to not let it anymore. We had our first official hang out, and I am so thankful for this sweet gal. It was like meeting with a kindred soul. I really wish I hadn't waited so long to make the time to meet a priority.

I don't know exactly what I will have to offer her by way of encouragement, but I do understand some of the unique struggles of being a church planting pastor's wife. And that is a priceless gift that I don't want to waste. More than once, she has told me, "You just get it!" And I do :)

Whether it's just coffee to hang out and talk, or sending her encouraging emails or fun care packages, I hope that I can be an encouragement to her. Just knowing that there is someone there and available to talk and listen would have been an encouragement to me. Or knowing that someone was praying for me and the specific challenges of church planting ministry...my prayer is that I can be that for her. 

{30 Before 30} :: Grow Something Edible or Pretty

I specifically put this on my list, because I am not known for my green thumb. I keep my puppy alive just fine; plants? Not so much. It has been a miracle I have kept my boss' beloved plant alive. There have been several a few close calls.

Despite my previous failed attempts, I decided I wanted to try {again} to grow something edible or pretty. Plus, I have Mike now to help me keep it alive, so surely my odds are much better...

For Valentines Day, my sweet husband made a trip to Home Depot, talked with the plant people, and bought all of the things necessary for me to start growing some flowers. Yeah, he's pretty cute :)

We started with Morning Glories, Bachelor's Buttons, and Lavender.

 

We got a few sprouts of green, but all three plants were dead within 2 weeks. Whoops! I think I planted too soon, because I wasn't able to put them outside in the direct sunlight...

...and then summer rolled around and it was too hot to put them outside.

...and then winter rolled around {again} and it was too cold to put them outside. 

...and then I decided I don't care about plants.   :)

So this one didn't actually happen. I just don't have a green thumb, and I'm ok with it. Maybe some day I will have a desire to put forth more effort to growing something. But for now, I am ok with focusing on other hobbies :)

{30 Before 30} :: Practice My Calligraphy and Start Using it Again

I learned calligraphy when I was in middle school. It was actually a unit in my art class {how fun is that??} Anyway, in high school and college I used my calligraphy to help others with wedding invitations and diplomas. 

It had been awhile since I had practiced, so I knew I wanted to pick it up again. I actually veered a little from just calligraphy, per se, and focused on my hand lettering in general. And it's SO fun. I'm not super awesome at it yet, but I really enjoy hand lettering! :)

Making more cards for people was also a great opportunity for me to practice my calligraphy/hand-lettering on the envelopes. Here are just a few examples:

I plan to continue practicing my hand lettering...I guess it's my form of doodling :)