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25 Things at 25 List Failure

July 24, 2012 By: Shana4 Comments

Sooo remember that time that I made a list of 25 things I would do while I’m 25? Well… about that. I didn’t do so well at knocking things off the list, which is unusual because usually I’m quite the taskmaster. I think I accomplished 6 things on the list, but I’m not even 100% sure about those. There were a lot that I started – painting, puzzles, books, notes, visiting places – but didn’t finish. I’m not even going to tell you which things I did accomplish, but you can guess if you like.

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Even though I didn’t complete my 25 Things at 25 list, there are some incredible things that happened while I was 25. Let’s call it my *revised* 25 things at 25 list.

– Quit my “dream” job
– Started my own company
– Launched a new blog site
– Celebrated 2 years of marriage
– Comforted my granddaddy as he passed away
– Planted flowers that actually bloomed
– Became a mom of a preteen for a month
– Drove through the night to and from North Dakota
– Left my church of over 10 years to start a new church in Antioch
– Spent a weekend with my aunt and uncle
– Fulfilled Jury Duty service
– Survived both me and Casey having mono
– Went hang gliding

So maybe not 25 things, but it’s definitely been an exciting year full of lots of challenges, adventures and growth.

So here’s to 26! May it be as action-packed as 25!

 

My Half Birthday – 25 Things at 25 Update

January 16, 2012 By: Shanacomment

I thought I would celebrate my half birthday by updating you all on my 25 Things at 25 list progress. Frankly, I’m disappointed in my performance thus far. There are some things that I’ve definitely failed on. Next time, I won’t set recurring goals like I did before. One off week and the whole goal is shot. I have made some progress though. There are a couple of things I could use your help on if you have a minute. Take a look.

  • √ Learn 1 new skill – I wanted this to be sewing and might still learn that, but recently I’ve learned a lot about website design. It’s been frustrating at times, but fun to see it all come together! You’re looking at the fruit of my labor and that of a few friends.
  • Walk Minny at least 2 times per week – So this is definitely not happening. Poor dog. I did take her to play in the park this weekend since it was so nice.
  • Complete 3 art projects – I know what these will be, but haven’t made the time to complete them. I’ll definitely show you once they are complete.
  • Visit my grandparents 4 times – Sadly, I’ve only done this once. 3 more to go!
  • Bake 5 cheesecakes from scratch – 0 of 5 done. Anyone like cheesecake? Apparently my husband doesn’t.
  • Host 6 dinner parties – I’ve only done one of these which is very unusual for me.
  • Spend 7 full days alone with God – Haven’t even spent 1/4 a day alone with God.
  • Plant 8 varieties of produce – I’ve planted 3 with my neighbor. 5 more to go.
  • Complete 9  jigsaw puzzles – I’ve done 4 and even broke my personal record by completing one in 3.5 hours in one night. I’ve got a system. Read about it here. 
  • Paint 10 walls in my house – I’ve only painted the 4 in my bedroom. Here’s the post on that. Next is the guest bedroom.
  • Make a fool of myself 11 times in public – I haven’t done this at all. At least not on purpose. Any ideas?
  • Cook something new 12 times – Typically, I cook something new about once a month. I’d say I’m halfway there.
  • Give 13 random strangers a gift – 0 of 13 on this one, but I think this is going to be one of my favorites!
  • Learn 14 new words and use them in conversation – Hmmm… can’t think of any new words. Anyone want to enlighten me?
  • Where a hat 15 times – I’ve definitely done this 3 times. With the winter here, this one should be easy.
  • Take 16 soothing baths – I’ve taken 2. One of those was very special though. Find out why. 
  • Buy one < $17 item per month at a thrift store – I’ve done this 3 times. Bought a puzzle, a skirt and a blazer.
  • Watch 18 sunrises – Got the pleasure of doing this about 5 times while walking Minny in the morning with Casey.

A beautiful sunrise on our walk

  • Read 19 books – 90 Minutes in Heaven, The Help, Saving Savvy,Hold Me Tight are read. I just finished listening to the Old Testament. I’ve got a few in process.
  • Surprise Casey 20 times – His Christmas gift was a surprise, but definitely need to do this more.
  • √ Volunteer 21 hours – If you count all the time Casey and I have put into running Children’s Ministry for The Church at Antioch, I’m well over 21 hours.
  • Go 22 days without dairy – Once we finish the yogurt in our fridge, we’ll start our 22 day dairy fast.
  • √ Donate 23 items – We recently cleaned out our garage and donated a lot of items. Still more to giveaway.
  • Write 24 notes to those I love – Not sure how many I’ve done, but not enough.
  • Visit 25 new places – Rochester,Downtown Memphis, Collierville,Chicago, Bismarck — I’m sure I’ll visit lots of new places when we go on our Spring Break vacation.

I’m looking forward to working towards more of these goals in 2012. I’ll keep you updated on my progress.

Missing Him in Minnesota

October 23, 2011 By: Shanacomment

There’s something revealing about the time you spend away from your spouse. Soon after Casey and I were married, I traveled to Chicago for work. Alone in my hotel room at night, I found myself missing my husband. But even more, I was shockingly insecure about what he was doing while I was away. I was jealous. He was having way too much fun and wasn’t missing me. In fact, he told me he wasn’t missing me. This was one of the lowest points in our first year of marriage. Me – devastated in Chicago. Casey – relishing his freedom in Nashville.

I recently returned from a work conference in Minnesota. Casey and I were apart for 4 days. My schedule was packed while I was there so we barely had time to talk. And I missed him. Deeply. And he missed me, just as much, if not more. It was an incredible feeling. Some say absence makes the heart grow fonder, but I say absence merely reveals the fondness in our heart (or lack thereof).

The realization of our hearts’ pull towards one another while I was away confirms the work that God has done to draw our hearts closer over the last year. We have come astonishingly far since the Chicago trip, and I’m thankful that God used my trip to Minnesota to reveal just how far we’ve come.

P.S. Mark one more place off my 25 things list, Rochester, MN.

Piecing It Together

October 10, 2011 By: Shanacomment

My 25 Things at 25 list requires me to complete 9 jigsaw puzzles. I LOVE completing jigsaw puzzles. When Casey and I first started dating I had him work on my puzzles with me. I have since learned that he is much better at striking conversation while he watches me complete the puzzle. I don’t know why he doesn’t like jigsaw puzzles. Of course he is kind of color-blind.

I started my first jigsaw puzzle since making my list and thought I might give you some advice on how to best complete a jigsaw puzzle, should you be a newbie.

1) Buy your puzzle at a garage sale or thrift store, but never buy one that’s been opened.

Bought at Thrift Smart

2) Spread puzzle pieces out on a flat surface (preferably one that’s a contrasting color) in a place with good light.

3) Flip pieces over so all are face up

3.5) As you’re flipping pieces over, separate your edge pieces into a separate pile.

4) Complete the edge of the puzzle.

5) Separate remaining pieces into piles based on similar color/pattern.

6) Complete as many connections in one pile as you can before moving on the next.

You know you're jealous of my comfy puzzle completing clothes.

7) Place into the center of the puzzle, using the picture as your guide.

8) Fill in the missing pieces.

Voila!

I completed this puzzle in my personal record of 3 hours over 3 days 🙂

What do you do for fun to help relieve stress?

90 Minutes in Heaven

September 20, 2011 By: Shana1 Comment

There’s one portion of my 25 things list that I think I am going to be able to knock out rather easily. Reading 19 books. When I first made the commitment, I thought reading that many books in a year would really be a challenge for me, but it’s going by quicker than I thought.

90 Minutes in Heaven is a book about a pastor that gets in a severe car wreck on his way home from a conference. It’s so severe that they pronounce him dead on the scene and leave him in his mangled car as they patiently wait for the jaws of life to come peel him out of the car and the wreckage to be cleared.

Another pastor who was at the same conference happens upon the accident scene. He feels lead to pray for the man, the dead man. He crawls through the trunk of the car, his only way to access the dead man, lays his hand on him and begins to pray. At some point in his prayer, the pastor began to sing and was shocked and scared when the dead man began to sing with him. Sounds like something out of Days of Our Lives (minus the prayer part), but it’s the true story of one man’s return from death and his taste of Heaven.

The heaven that the author describes in the book is incredible, freeing – everything you would link it would be. He talks about the people he loves waiting for him in Heaven. Someone had told me once that we wouldn’t recognize our loved ones from Earth in Heaven. Honestly, this made me sad. To think that I could spend 60 years of my life married to Casey and then not even recognize him for eternity. This book gave me new hope that won’t be the case.

It also painted an incredible picture of the transcending peace that God’s love gives us. An ultimate joy. A freeing peace. A love greater than anything we can experience on Earth. It makes my heart melt to hear the stories and imagine the feeling.

Here’s hoping that we get to experience this amazing place with the ones we love one day.

Have you read this book? What were you thoughts/takeaways?

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Meet the Wife

Hi! I'm a semi-newlywed living in a small town outside of Nashville with my husband, Casey, our baby boy, teen niece, and hyperactive dog, Minny. I'm a new mom and marketing consultant at BeEngaging.com that loves Jesus and won't eat anything with 4 legs. I talk about marriage, pregnancy, parenting and everything in between. I believe real growth only happens through transparency. Join me on the journey. Read More…

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Ever since Casey and I moved into our house, I’ve been talking about painting our bedroom. I’ve brought home sample after sample trying to find the right color, and put the bug in Casey’s ear many times that I was ready to paint. Meanwhile, Casey was busy painting the garage and even his classroom and […]

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