My first step into blog land :)

Hello Bloggies! Let me start by saying, "I have NO IDEA what I'm doing"! And writing my very first post is very daunting, kind of like being the first to cut into a beautiful cake. So I think I'm going to babble a bit, maybe add some of my crafty ideas/ambitions, etc. I may do more than one post a day, then none for a month. I honestly don't know how dedicated to be...but who know's, maybe I'll get hooked! So, although I have NO desire to skydive, I'm ready to take this jump...here we go!

I'm starting with my 30 by 30 list. I was very inspired when reading someone else's list. I've been raising children since I was 16, so let's just say the only 'adventures' the hubs and I were on, were of the parenting variety. No backpacking through Europe, no wild college experiences, no romantic getaways to pristine island beaches..nope, none of that for us. We've never felt like we were missing out. We always knew that we were just 'trading time'. While everyone else was running around finding themselves (and having a great time doing it) We were being mom and dad. And now, while our friends and siblings are starting their families, we find that we have much more freedom :) Our kids our old enough to join in some of the adventures, too!

I wrote up a list of some of the silly things that I missed out on in my 20's. Nothing major, we still don't have THAT much freedom. Besides, I figured if I waited and put these on a bucket list I'd never do them. (BTW, I'm a bit of a procrastinator...ooops!)

1. Photography/Computer Class CHECK!! MADHOUS 7/23/11
2. Go to a concert or music festival
3. Visit a winery CHECK! COVERED BRIDGES WINERY 7/23/11 
4. Tie Dye a shirt (Julie Ramynke?)
5. Go on a tubing/camping trip  CHECK! RIVERPHEST 7/9/11
6. Learn to sew
7. Lose 25 more lbs.(keep me motivated Julie!)
8. Visit Chicago
9. Take the kids on a canoe trip...THINKING KAYAK MIGHT BE BETTER!
10. Read the top ten CLASSIC novels
11. Family Photo shoot (ANGELA!)
12. Take the kids away on my own
13. Get PLUGGED IN at our church!
14. Organize all our important papers
15. More money in savings :)
16. Mini vacation with the hubs (two birds one stone? Chicago???)
17. Load my own IPod! (anyone have a great playlist?)
18. Dress like a grown up (no more sweats!) WORK IN PROGRESS! I LOVE DRESSES!
19. Forgive WORK IN PROGRESS :)
20. Make hair accessories for the girls CHECK!
21. Write a list of things I HAVE accomplished CHECK!
    1. Married my best friend
    2. Given birth, naturally!
    3. Rediscovered my relationship with Christ
    4. Made friends on my own
    5. Bought a house
    6. Forgiven
    7. Gone on a vacation, out of state
    8. Bench pressed 110lbs....so far! (3 sets of 12 reps, no less!)
    9. I've been the best mother I could be, at the time. Hind sight is 20/20
    10. Helped someone
    11. Went white water rafting AND sled down a hill
    12. Survived what I thought I couldn't
    13. Ran a 5K (THREE of them!)
    14. Helped run a successful 'business'
    15. Went rock climbing
    16. Dipped my toes in TWO oceans
    17. Became a soccer mom, I even coached!
    18. Watched my brother serve his country
    19. Watched my ssiter walk across the stage at graduation
    20. Learned to accept my child's diagnosis
    21. Taught my children to ride bikes
    22. Learned how to french braid
    23. Quit smoking (EIGHT YEARS AGO!)
    24. Got a pedicure
    25. Watched a child (other than mine) be born
    26. Remodled a kitchen
    27. Tiled a floor
    28. Learned how to use power tools
    29. Loved beyond measure 
22. Spend a 'date' day with each of my children
23. Schedule a year of girls' nights CHECK! 
24. Let go of what I cannot control
25. Start a journal I'M CHECKING THIS OFF...BLOGS COUNT, RIGHT?
26. Get my hair did!
27. Make a farm picture collage
28. Learn how to get along with hard to get along with people
29. See a Broadway Musical CHECK! Saw Chicago with the hubs ;)
30. ****** to be determined*********