What I've Learned at 40

I recently turned 40 years old. FORTY. I was in college when my mom turned 40 and she seemed so. old. How am I already 40???

My mom and Mike threw me a surprise party, complete with fly-ins from 3 of my bridesmaids (from Houston, northern California and Wichita) and another friend from KC. It was such a great way to celebrate this milestone!

I can honestly say that I am able to look back over the past 40 years with no regrets. I love my husband, my kids, our home, our traditions, and the life we have created. 

I have discovered that it will never be perfect, whatever "it" is. I have learned to be content in...my marriage, my body, my patience level, my relationships, my communication, homeschooling, my drive to achieve...I will never arrive. I am forever a work in progress. 

At 40, there's no need for a facade. I am a positive, optimistic person, but I will be the first to admit when things get tough. What you see is what you get...I don't have the energy for manipulation, games or drama.

I am comfortable in my own skin. I've come to realize that this may be as good as I'm ever going to look! It's incredibly freeing. 

I appreciate the personality God has given me. I have discovered my strengths and I accept my weaknesses. 

At 40, I don't feel the need to "fix" myself. I stay up too late, I wait too long to leave the house for appointments, I don't take hints well, and I care too much about screwing up my children. I make mistakes, I forget to return phone calls, I respond to texts in my head, but most people who know me know my heart and that my intention is never to hurt or offend anyone.

I have learned to be more flexible and less rigid. Yet I understand that I work better with structure, deadlines, and goals. I have dozens of alarms on my phone so I don't forget what needs to be done. I like to feel a sense of accomplishment before I can fully relax, so I've learned to "eat the frog" early in the day.

At 40, I have learned the value of creating space in my life. That taking time to recharge is not selfish. That asking for help is not weakness. 

I know my priorities and boundaries. I no longer feel guilty telling people "no" because it often allows me to say "yes" to something more important. 

I strive to give others grace, assuming they are just doing the best they can with what they've been given. I hope others will assume the same of me.

At 40, nothing is more important than honesty and integrity. My values are unshakable. My faith is my foundation.

I feel older, but wiser. My body is aging, but I am healthy. I'm not as exciting as I once was, but definitely still crack myself up! I have immeasurably more than I need or deserve...I pray that I don't ever take these things for granted.

I am so very grateful for all I have. For who I am. For all that is ahead for me. 

Friday Favorites - 10 Things I'm Thankful For, Right Now

1. Salvation.  Thank you, Jesus, for dying for me.  Without You, I'd be in a world of hurt!!!  I am so thankful for God's grace, because I am an ever-changing work in progress. And I mess up.  A lot.

2. My responsible husband who works so hard.  And drives me crazy when he's changing the air filters or sweeping the pool while I'm loading the van and we should be out the door. BUT I forget that he, too, works best under pressure. And as much as I've begun to dread college football season each year, I'm thankful that he's not  this passionate about any/every other sport, like many men out there. 

3. My gigging children who love to laugh. All. The. Time. Even when it gets them in trouble (like during dinner or while getting ready for bed), they're the household comedians.  I am so thankful that they lighten the mood in our double-type-A-parents household.

4. My amazing mom.  Honestly, this parenting thing is TOUGH.  How I turned out so normal with only one parent raising me will probably always be a mystery.  Thanks, Mom, for sacrificing so much of yourself, even to his day.  And for putting up with my attitude and sneakiness from 1992-1994. And for instilling such a solid sense of confidence in me.  And integrity.  And accomplishment. And for teaching me how to bake.  And cook.  And host a party like Martha Stewart. And decorate for Christmas like Santa's workshop exploded in my family room.  I wish you would have taught me how to sew, but we will discuss that later, young lady...

5. The fact that I get to stay home and raise my babies.  Because Mike is so financially responsible, we make our dollars stretch pretty far.  I'd wait tables to help out if I had to, but I'd so much rather stay home and wipe noses/change diapers/referee fights/cook/scrub toilets/fold laundry/do dishes...you get the idea. I never pictured myself as a stay at home mom, but now I can't imagine it any other way.

6. Being debt free. Piggy backing (not piggy BANKing) on #5...if I were running the budget, we wouldn't have any credit card debt, but I'd probably still have a leased car and student loans.  Now if we could just get this pesky house paid off, Mike would be thrilled!

7. Balance.  Just in general.  I feel like I have pretty good balance in my life.  Everything's not perfect...I could spend a little more time at the gym and a little less time on the computer, but overall, I think I have decent time management.  I go to bed each night pretty proud of how I spent my day. Work hard, bake play hard.

8. Friends...so many friends, I can't list them all.  Oh, why not, it's my blog, right?  Michelle, J Dubb, Jill, Julie, Ali, Erin, April, Melissa, Cathy, Sari, Brooke, Amy, Diane, Mary, Kim, Andrea, Becky, Jovina, Wendy, Cindy, Nicky, Gina, Janna, Tiffany, Alicia, Lori, Lisa, Annie, Jen, the 327 people who call me a Facebook friend and all of the cyber-friends that I've made out there in blogland. I am positive I forgot people that I see regularly, so please forgive me.  Can I blame it on the fact that I've been up since 4:30am battling Black Friday crowds?  Why I'm blogging instead of sleeping right now (Mike has the kids and I'm home with napping Jason) is beyond me.  I need to hurry and finish this post so I can go take a nap in this quiet house!

9. The health of everyone around me.  I'm not sure how much longer I can be thankful for that, considering the fact that no one's getting any younger!  Sickness and death are sure to creep up on me one of these days...I'm a pretty optimistic person, but I'm also a realist.  Things have been too placid for too long...I have a feeling that someone close to me is going to have health issues sometime soon, and it's probably going to catch me off guard.  So today, I'm thankful for the health of those I know and love.

10.  All of YOU.  Seriously.  Not to be cheesy, but I'm so thankful that you stop by every few days to read my random ramblings.  Even if you skim each post, I still love you. (*cough* JESSICA *cough*) Thank you, thank you for letting me into your world, even though we may never meet.  Though if I ever need tourist tips when I'm traveling, I may beg my Roman reader to come out of the shadows.  Or my reader in Portugal.  Or Croatia. Or Brazil or Switzerland or Australia or New Zealand.  ;)

Have a great weekend, everyone!!! 
XOXOX

Friday Favorites - My Top 10 Favorite Songs

I have a confession: I'm not that into music.  In fact, I worked on this Top 10 list for over a week to come up with ten whole songs that are timeless for me. Well, maybe #10 isn't "timeless."  That was the wrong word...how about "10 songs that I love." Anyway, I haven't bought a CD since the 90s and I often find myself driving with the radio turned down.  And I don't recognize most of the music over the intercom at the gym.

I primarily listen to Christian radio, but even still, I don't know who sings what.  I know who Stephan Curtis Chapman is and Point of Grace and Mercy Me, but that's about it.  Oh, and Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant, but duh...they've been around forever.  I even knew who they were in high school, and back then I was into hard-core rap and heavy metal.  Before you ask: yes, really. And, why?  Well, I was obviously confused, that's why.

1. I Will Be Here, by Stephan Curtis Chapman.  That was the song that we played for the first dance at our wedding.  We changed the first dance song at the last minute and the DJ had to go buy the "Wow 2000" CD on the way to the reception.  He was so accommodating...I didn't find out that he did that until afterward.  I sigh every time I hear it...I guess it's "our song."

2. Yeah, by Usher.  I'm sure it was over-played on the radio during it's day, but it is impossible not to bob your head when you hear this song.  And I bop around a bit when I hear O.M.G. too.  What can I say?  Usher knows how to throw a good beat together!

3. Dare You to Move, by Switchfoot.  This is played on Christian and secular stations anymore.  It was from the movie A Walk to Remember, which I've mentioned, I just love.

4. Against All Odds, by Phil Collins.  He did a live album when I was in college and it reignited my love for this song. Because I was 7-8 years old when it was first released and I think I was still into Cindy Lauper or Hall and Oats back then. 

5. Revelation Song, by Kari Jobe. This is my favorite version of this song.  The link is a longer version, but it's powerful.  Love it.  Chills.

6. Round Here, by Counting Crows.  Instead of waking up to an alarm during my senior year of college, I woke up to this CD gently playing "Round Here."  I continued getting up and dressed as the next few songs would play, then I'd head off to class.  Hearing this song brings me back to my sorority room, on my top bunk, snuggled in my navy and hunter green flannel down comforter. Every. Single. Morning. Ah...memories.

7. November Rain, by Guns 'n' Roses. Listening to this song on You Tube (after searching it to attach the link) took me immediately back to high school.  I LOVED this song.  I loved that it was 9 minutes long.  I loved that the video was such a production. I loved Guns 'n' Roses from their first album in 7th grade. For some reason, as I've been typing this post, this song kept popping into my head, so I decided it must be included. 

8. Hello, by David Cook. Yes, from American Idol. Again, this version of the Lionel Richie song gives me chills.  I loved the arrangement, Dog.

9. It's Business Time, by Flight of the Conchords.  This is a comedy team, not a music group, but every once in a while I get the tune stuck in my head.  Especially when I hear the term "business socks."  This and the Toyota commercial with the song "Swagger Wagon" will pop into my head at the weirdest times.  If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you must click on the links for a laugh.

10. Holla Back Girl, by Gwen Stefani.  I realize this song was also probably over-played in its day, but a re-mixed version was on a CD that many of the gym instructors use in class. Every time I hear it, I get pumped up and work out just a teeny bit harder.  It makes me very bouncy in step aerobics, that's for sure.

So that's my list.  I could have listed many, many songs on K-Love Christian Radio. That's all I listen to, unless I'm at the gym or something's playing on the speakers while I'm shopping.  I'm pretty out of touch with mainstream music, but my kids and I can sing most of the lyrics of any song played on K-Love.

What's your favorite song???

Friday Favorites - My Top 10 Favorite Movies

Let's welcome back Friday Favorites, shall we???  Here are my Top 10 Favorite Movies.

1. Dan in Real Life.  This is currently my all-time favorite movie.  It is clean, wholesome and refreshing, yet so genuinely funny.  I just love Steve Carell.  He cracks me up.   If you haven't seen it, go rent it.  Your husband will laugh, your mom will laugh, your teenage kids will even laugh.  It's a great movie about families.  When I saw it in the theater, I told my girlfriends, "THIS is why I want a big family!"

2. The Notebook.  This is when I fell in love with Rachel McAdams.  And Ryan Gosling.  And I was thrilled to find out they were dating in real life after they filmed the movie!  Back when I used to read for fun, I would pass out copies of The Notebook to friends and co-workers, begging them to read it.  No joke: I had multiple copies for this purpose.  It was the first and only book I've ever cried through and I was giddy when they made it into a movie.  The movie did not disappoint, except the Hollywood ending, which wasn't nearly as good as the book. (I know, I know...the movie never is...)

3. A Walk to Remember.  Because once you like Nicholas Sparks, you just sort of go with it.  The Notebook is the only novel of his I've ever read, but I fell in love with this movie, too.  I think it's part of what I wanted my high school story to be.  I was a good, Christian girl who ended up going after a wrong-for-me guy, hoping to save him from himself.  But my story didn't end up anything like the movie.  For those who have seen it, that might seem a little obvious, but that's not what I meant!  My story resulted in me ending up with a nice guy who didn't need to be saved.

4. Dances With Wolves.  Wanna hear a true confession?  This was my favorite movie in high school.  Sure, I liked Singles and Pump Up the Volume and Clueless like everyone else at the time, but something in this movie stirred up a righteous indignation in me.  I even loved the soundtrack and I wasn't at all into instrumental music. The CD sat on my shelf right next to Guns 'n' Roses and Naughty By Nature.  Well, not next to...they were alphabetized, after all.  You should know that about me by now.

5. Liar, Liar.  This movie seriously cracked me up.  I'm not a huge Jim Carrey, over-the-top-for-a-laugh fan, but I loved his forced bluntness in this movie.  Plus, it had a great moral message to work-a-holic, absent parents.  Warm fuzzies.

6. Forrest Gump.  I think I saw this four times in the theater while I was in college.  I just loved so many things about it.  I laughed, I cried, it was better than Cats.

7. The Family Man. This is my favorite Christmas movie and  before you argue with me...YES it IS a Christmas movie!  Pay attention next month...it will suddenly pop up on TBS and USA repeatedly with Christmas Vacation.  Again, I think I like that Nicholas Cage is transformed into a better man at the end.

8. Hitch. Awkward, uncomfortable, honest...talk about LOL.  It reminds me why I am ecstatic that I never have to attempt dating again.

9. Notting Hill.  Wow, I'm on a streak of romantic comedies, aren't I?  Still, I love this movie.  I can't hear "Ain't No Sunshine" without thinking about Notting Hill.

10. Wedding Crashers.  This movie is wrong on so many levels, but I can't help but love it.  I far prefer to watch the t.v. version (as I do many movies anymore...because I'm a complete prude) but I have to admit that we do own a copy.  We fast-forward the boobies-falling-onto-the-bed scene every time.  Come to think of it...wouldn't it be great if movies were sold in a "made for t.v." version?!?!?  Man, if someone were to just ask, I have some awesome ideas.  I'd buy a lot more movies, that's for sure.

So that's it.  I hope you don't think less of me for my random movie choices.  Anyone want to chime in with their two cents?  What are some of your favorite movies?

Reflection Questions for 2009

I saw this list of 20 Questions to Reflect on 2009 on Simple Mom's blog and documented my answers to add to my scrapbook. It only took a few minutes to complete and will be cool to look back on in future years...you should try it!

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
Adding Baby Jason to our family!

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?

The economy has been bad and Mike has been stressed over our finances.

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?
Opening my “10 year anniversary cruise” gift on Christmas morning.

4. What was an unexpected obstacle?

Beginning the year not knowing if and when Mike would find a new job.

5. Pick three words to describe 2009.
Intentionality, simplified, uninvolved (with church for the first time in years)

6. Pick one word your spouse would use to describe your 2009 (don’t ask them).
Pregnant

7. Pick one word your spouse would use to describe their 2009 (again, without asking).
Stressful (I asked him later and I was right!)

8. What were the best books you read this year?
The only book I read was The Shack.

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?
Mike and I continue to learn how to support each other through our strengths and weaknesses and I don’t know what I would do without him in my life. I’ve enjoyed how Ryan has matured since starting Kindergarten and how I see him through different eyes now. And I love how Kaylin and I have had so much one-on-one time together during the day. My closest friends this year were Jessica, Julie and obviously my mom; I turn to them often to share joys and vent frustrations.

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
I’ve really worked on establishing our home as one full of peace and joy. It’s an ongoing process, but one that’s well worth the effort.

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
I feel that I have more self-control of my emotions than I did in January. I try to act, not react.

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
I love that we started doing Bible time with the kids this year. They learned lots of scripture memory verses (that they’ve since forgotten…we need to review them!) and I’ve enjoyed spending that time teaching them God’s word. I think that time has helped us all grow spiritually.

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?
Oh, I’ve grown physically, alright! I gained 30 pounds in 9 months and lost 20 in 2 weeks. I still have that last 10 pounds to go 2 months later…and nothing is more motivating to lose weight than finding out you’re going on a cruise in a week! I’m back at the gym and feeling good.

14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?
I’ve enjoyed deepening my friendships with friends in my neighborhood: Lori, Ali and Tiffany. I've learned to gratefully accept offers of help from others and it's caused my relationships to grow in the meantime.

15. What was the most enjoyable area of managing your home?
I loved the Spring Cleaning Challenge in May. I was able to organize areas of my house that haven't been touched since we moved in.

16. What was your most challenging area of home management?
Training the kids, for sure. I’ve been very intentional about how I respond to them and how their correction will guide better decision-making in the future. It’s mentally exhausting!

17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
The computer. I spent much of the year “bored,” and developed an unusual affection for Facebook Scrabble (Lexulous) as a pastime. I might only play my turn 10-20 minutes a day, but I could have spent that time in the Bible! And checking my games gets me to sit down at the computer and get sucked in. Wow, what an epiphany…

18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?
Taking a picture a day for Project 365 and scrapbooking our memories.

19. What was the biggest thing you learned this past year?
- When the kids know what is expected of them, they behave so much differently. I established House Rules (that Mike and I need to be reminded of as well!) and I need to review expectations before public outings, school, etc.
- Our family needs a compass pointing us in the right direction, so I am thrilled that we finally wrote out our first official Family Mission Statement. It has helped keep me on course.

20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2009 for you.
This year, I have become more intentional about my marriage, my child-rearing, my home and my goals.
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Favorite Thing about 2009:
Ryan - starting Kindergarten
Kaylin - going to the Daddy Daughter Dinner Dance at church (I clarified that she liked that even better than Disneyland and her princess birthday party and she agreed. Mike was shocked!)
Mike - taking the kids to Disneyland
Katie - having baby Jason and getting to kiss all over him all day...I just love that we're adding to our family!

Favorite Posts of 2009

A blogging friend recently posted a list of her favorite posts of the year and I am following suit. I know many of you are new to my blog this year, so if you're interested, I think these are worth a read:

January - Menu Planning Basics
February - Time Saving Tips for Groceries, Paper Clutter, your Bedroom Closet and a list of Kitchen Tips
March - Simple Teaching Tools for Parents
April - Partial Obedience = Disobedience
May - Use Soft Words
June - Time Saving {Scrapbooking} Tips
July - Our House Rules
August - Encouraging Disobedience
September - Bully Prevention
October - Seasons of Friendship
November - "The Voice" is Back
December - 25 Days of Christmas Scripture

A New Award

Rachael gave me an new award! I haven't acknowledged any awards in a while, since none of my friends seem to join in when I tag them. (*sigh* - woe is me...) But this one is fun and new and I'm in the mood to play along.

I'm supposed to write about 5 things that I love, but have decided to make my list a Christmas edition. So here are 5 things that I love about the Christmas, outside of the completely obvious reason of the birth of Christ. He is "the reason for the season," as they say, but here my top 5 non-religious reasons for loving this time of year:
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1. Baking - I love baking! Especially when it's cold outside or raining or even overcast. Christmas is a season for baking and I whip up some mean banana bread, zucchini bread, cookies and bars galore.
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2. Wrapping gifts - I have considered applying for a job at one of those gift-wrapping stations at the mall a dozen times in my life. I LOVE wrapping presents. There's something structured and orderly about it that fills my OCD spirit with joy.
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3. Christmas lights - I used to be a Christmas light snob. I thought white lights with colored lights was tacky. I hated the look of the big huge bulbs with the itty bitty bulbs on the same home. And lawn decor? Oh please. But in my adult years, I have come to appreciate all sorts of outdoor decorating styles. And nowadays, the gaudier, the better. I watch Christmas Vacation and think, "What's the problem? It's not THAT bad..." Here is the memorable Christmas light scene, for your viewing pleasure.

4. The anticipation - I loved it as a kid and I love watching it in my kids now. When I was growing up, I was never tempted to peek at my gifts. The anticipation of Christmas morning was like a natural high. As an adult, I've realized that December 26th can be a bit of a let down, so I made it a habit to take that day off work and now encourage Mike to do the same. It extends the holiday spirit a little longer and allows everyone to relax a bit more on Christmas evening.
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5. Spending time with family and friends - Cheesy? Probably. But truly...I love all of the get-togethers around Christmas. Parties, pot lucks, work gatherings, game nights, whatever. And this year I have enjoyed doing something Christmas-y every day in December. It's given the kids something to look forward to and the month hasn't seemed to zip by quite as quickly as it has in years past. I plan to do the 25 Days of Christmas Activity Calendar every year - I'm glad I thought of it!
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I hereby pass along the Circle of Friends award to...only real life friends this time, not blogging friends. I'll get some of you ladies next round:
1. My BFF J Dubb
2. Queen April at April's Reign
3. Becky, The Maid
4. Sweet Lisa
5. And my oldest friend (since middle school!) - Dutch Mac
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You can do a "Top 5 Things" list of either things you love in general or copy my idea and do things you love about Christmas. Or you can be creative and come up with your own category. (April, that was a challenge...I see a sarcastic "Top 5 Things I Love About Working with the Public" edition in your future.)

Top 8 Tricks for a Guilt-Free 2009

This great list of "Tricks for a Guilt-Free 2009" was emailed out by Hungry Girl and I thought it was worth sharing. ENJOY!

1. Get by with a little help from your friends. Following healthy eating and exercise plans can be tough to do on your own. GET SOME SUPPORT! Find a buddy to walk with or join you at the gym. Compare grocery lists with a calorie-counting pal. (Check out our AWESOME new printable list for 2009!) And if you're a little shy about this kind of stuff, a discreet approach can be just as effective. Get your sweat on in your living room with a new workout DVD (consider the video trainers your new BFFs). And hop onto some discussion boards online to swap stories anonymously.

2. Just journal. Jotting down your daily diet is one of the best ways to stay on track. Even if you're too crunched for time to record every calorie, fat gram, POINTS® value, etc., just writing a little description of each meal and snack can have a huge impact. You can always review your choices later, and see if you need to make some changes. Ooh, and don't forget that old Weight Watchers credo, "Write before you bite!" That one's a keeper, since you're way less likely to scarf down 87 jellybeans if you see it in writing first.

3. When it comes to exercise, everything counts. Even if you can't get a full workout in one day, you can always squeeze something in. Go for a few calf raises while waiting in line at the bank -- or get a walk in before dinner. Do bicep curls with soup cans while you wait for the oven to preheat. Stretch in the shower (careful -- don't slip!). Commit to doing at least SOME physical activity each day.

4. Be prepared. Holiday shopping may be over, but you can still have a spree at the supermarket. A stocked kitchen is KEY to success, so print out our latest grocery list and hit the aisles running (okay, walking). Make sure to consider all your snacking and mealtime emergencies. Do you have purse-friendly snacks? How about nukeable dinner choices for when you get stuck at the office? Make a list of all your tough-eating scenarios and plan accordingly.

5. Rethink your resolutions. One of the main reasons resolutions fall short is because they aren't reasonable. If you're determined to lose 30 pounds by the end of January, you're setting yourself up for failure. If you've never exercised before noon in your life, yet you've made up your mind to hit the 6am cycling class five times a week, you probably won't do it. Adjust your goals and make them REALISTIC. Who says resolutions need to start on the 1st anyway?

6. Keep it fun. Face it -- if your meal plan is boring and your exercise routine's lame, you're never gonna stick it out for the entire year (let alone beyond that). So add some excitement. Find great new recipes to try out and seek out exercises that you actually enjoy. If running doesn't do it for you, try dancing. You can also take power-walks through the mall, try a new sport, hula hoop, take up karate, go swimming... Whatever! You can even work out with your video console (Wii Sports, anyone?). Just do it.

7. Rely on reminders. With all that's going on, you might need some "shoulder taps" to keep you from forgetting your New Year's wish list of personal goals. So buy yourself a cute calendar and fill it with activities. Schedule workouts. If they're written in your calendar, you'll be more likely to do them.

8. Forgive, don't forget! If you slip up and miss a day of exercise or accidentally inhale an entire week's worth of chocolate in one sitting, don't beat yourself up about it. It's one thing to acknowledge where you went wrong so you don't repeat your mistakes, but it's another thing altogether if you throw yourself a pity party that lasts until Labor Day. Don't give up, letting one bad day turn into a bad week or month. Be patient with yourself while you figure out what works. Live and learn!

101 Goals in 1001 Days

The first time I saw the concept of completing 101 Goals in 1001 Days was on my friend Rachel's blog. I love lists (especially to-do lists) and goals (especially when they're attainable...you know...with a deadline of September 27, 2011!) so the idea immediately appealed to me. Well, Katy Lin just did a 101 in 1001 list and lit a fire under me again to make my own list.

Somehow, the idea of completing 101 bigger goals is pretty daunting, but I'm ready for the challenge. It took a while to come up with 101 things and I'll admit I looked at these friends' lists for inspiration. And with my mini-OCD personality, it took everything in me not to categorize these to create some order, but instead I just left the list as-is, pretty much how things popped into my head. I'll let you know as I complete items and will update this post to show what has been crossed off. If you want to make your own list, read some tips here.

1. Wake up at 6am every day for 30 days in a row (5/7/10)
2. Create a realistic housekeeping plan and follow it for 1 month (6/12/10)
3. Complete the never-ending project I’m doing over our bed (1/13/09)
4. Do a 3 day media fast (8/2/09)
5. Have another baby (10/23/09)
6. Take 2 weekend getaways with my girlfriends (5/17/09 and 3/12/10)
7. Take a short vacation with another couple, no kids allowed (3/25/11)
8. Go to a marriage conference with Mike (1/10/09)
9. See the Grand Canyon (7/24/11)
10. Take a trip back to Kansas City (10/6/11)
11. Read a fiction book, start to finish (I know, that’s pathetic, but I'm not a fiction reader) (4/6/09)
12. Start an All About Me scrapbook (1/15/09)
13. Organize the sports equipment in our garage (1/11/09)
14. Open savings accounts for the kids (6/25/11)
15. Teach the kids to tithe weekly (9/25/11)
16. Go on a cruise (1/11/10)
17. Put wood floors in my scrapbook room
18. Hike to the top of Camelback Mountain
19. Share my faith with a stranger (9/15/11)
20. Teach Ryan to read (1/16/10)
21. Teach Kaylin to write her name (1/16/10)
22. Develop a workable system for paperwork in the office (3/15/11) 
23. Keep the desk clutter-free for 1 month (6/4/09)
24. Sell my old bedroom furniture that I had as a kid (9/24/10)
25. Recycle our unused electronics (10/22/11)
26. Do 25 random acts of kindness (9/22/11)
27. Attept to make homemade cinnamon rolls (1/27/09)
28. Go to San Francisco with Mike (3/25/11)
29. Label the baskets on my bookshelves and in the linen closet (5/28/09)
30. Fast from sugar for 30 days in a row (3/25/10)
31. Put cabinets and countertops in my craft room
32. Figure out digital picture frames (9/24/10)
33. Learn how to use my MP3 player (9/9/11)
34. Post MHR every Friday for a month (1/23/09)
35. Clean outside windows and screens (6/2/09)
36. Have the kids choose a Christmas "angel" that’s their age and have them choose gifts for their child that they would want for themselves (12/15/09)
37. Volunteer at a homeless shelter
38. Sit down and pre-plan meals for 1 month out and stick with the plan (2/5/09)
39. Visit a friend in the hospital (1/27/11)
40. Figure out how to make bread starting the dough in the bread machine and finishing it in the oven (4/27/09)
41. Buy more memory for the computer (2/19/09 - we bought a new computer instead of new memory, but this totally counts!)
42. Add ads to my blog to help bring in a little income (1/31/09 and 4/1/10)
43. Figure out how to record home movies to DVD using my computer (8/10/10...kind of)
44. Call a locksmith to unlock our empty file cabinet (7/26/11)
45. Try sushi (California rolls don’t count) (1/11/10)
46. Build a snowman with the kids (9/19/11)
47. Go jogging on the beach (9/6/10)
48. Buy groceries with a weekly cash allowance for a month (2/1/09)
49. Learn to use Photoshop (5/19/09)
50. Get 25 comments on a single blog post (1/11/09)
51. Create a family mission statement and frame it (7/8/09)
52. Pray for Mike every day for a month (2/18/09)
53. Go to a concert/comedy show (11/4/09 and 8/19/10)
54. Allow the kids to have dessert before dinner (11/15/09) and (6/26/11)
55. Color my hair back to blonde again (4/15/09)
56. Purchase overstuffed chairs and a large ottoman for our living room (4/25/10 - thanks for the great deal, Mom!)
57. Get the broken dining room chair fixed (1/18/09 - thanks, honey!)
58. Hang curtains on the office window
59. Install crown molding in the bedroom
60. Take a photography class (12/6/09 and 11/20/10)
61. Get an amazing $1000 camera (6/10/09)
62. Do a cleanse (7/13/10)
63. Research buying contacts online to save money (8/24/10)
64. Start using 100% homemade household cleaners (6/27/10)
65. Make vegetarian meals 3x a week for a month (4/2/10)
66. Play in the rain with my kids (7/22/10)
67. Visit Desert Botanical Gardens
68. Go to Organ Stop Pizza with the family (7/31/09)
69. Sign Kaylin up for a dance class (3/10/10) 
70. Camp by the Christmas tree (12/10/10)
71. Figure out Twitter(4/19/09)
72. Take a bubble bath once a week for a month (3/31/10)
73. Bring Mike breakfast in bed (5/31/09 and 6/21/09)
74. Find the perfect picture for above the dining room table (6/29/09)
75. Take a hot air balloon ride
76. Plan a girls day with just my mom and Kaylin (5/29/10)
77. Clean out my bedroom closet (4/14/10)
78. Purge old paperwork from our file cabinets (11/27/10)
79. Give myself a pedicure 3 months in a row (9/10/11)
80. Buy a van with a DVD player for long car trips (3/31/09)
81. Wash my car by hand (5/2/10)
82. Take a spin class (without leaving in the middle) (9/22/11)
83. Invite 5 “new” neighbors over for lunch (4/18/10)
84. Go a whole week without raising my voice to the kids, not once (7/16/09)
85. Teach Ryan to make a full dinner all by himself (5/13/11)
86. Teach Kaylin to go potty by herself (1/28/09)
87. Attend Kick Boxing every Saturday for 3 months
88. Attend a Yoga class once a week for 3 months
89. Lift weights 2 times a week for a month (3/12/10)
90. Jog for 30 minutes straight (6/2/10)
91. Talk Mike into getting a professional massage (8/21/10)
    
92. Let the kids make most of the decisions for an entire day (8/1/10)
93. Plan an international trip with Mike (7/25/11)
94. Watch Gone With the Wind (10/6/10)
95. Do a devotional with the kids every day for 2 weeks (7/17/09)
96. Go to bed at 9:00 every day for a week straight (1/22/11)
97. Research an inexpensive, good quality skin care regimen and stick to it (9/14/11)
98. Get Lasik surgery on my eyes
99. Floss daily for one month (2/18/09)
100. Find the perfect-fitting bra (8/19/10)
101. Get 100,000 hits on my blog (1/12/10)

Please let me know if you start your own 101 list...I'd love to peek, especially now that it's too late to steal any of your ideas. Wish me luck!!!

(Update: so many of you have emailed or commented that you have created your own 101 in 1001 list...if you posted it to a blog or wrote about any kind of goals or New Year's resolutions, feel free to link to your blog post below...)

What are 3 things you wish you'd known at 20?

I got this idea from this post and it really got me thinking. Looking back, I had a pretty level head at 20 (no excessive debt, I didn't drink, and it was around that time that I finally started attending my classes at Kansas State and bringing up my grades), but I've grown an awful lot since then. **I scanned a picture of "1996 Katie" for your amusement viewing pleasure. Oh, to have that natural hair color again...

So what would you tell your 20-year-old self if you could go back in time? I'm really curious...I can't wait to see what you guys come up with. Don't be shy! I want everyone to join in on the fun. Here are mine:

1. Stop letting your ex-boyfriend back into your life. He's not worth your time and good news -you won't be the last person you know to get married.

2. Buy a car already...by leasing you're just throwing your money away every month. Someday you'll enjoy not having a car payment!

3. Quit eating cereal and Pasta Roni for dinner. Make a real meal - you're not doing yourself any favors. And wear clothes that fit you...I don't care if "baggy is in," you look frumpy.

Okay, now it's your turn. What would you say to the 20 year old you?