Thirty While I'm Thirty

Thirty years ago today, a week past my expected day of arrival in the sweltering and muggy heat of Houston, my saint of a mother joyfully delivered me into this world.

I cannot express to you how much I have been looking forward to this birthday! Maybe it's just me, but I feel there is a certain sense of authenticity . . . believability . . . maybe even authority? . . . that blooms once you hit the thirties decade. Whereas my sweet husband actually mourned the day of his thirtieth birthday (and still lives in denial of each passing year), I welcome today and the years that follow with great anticipation and many expectations.

I cannot take credit for the idea of creating a list in honor of my thirtieth. Sweet Friend Mandy created this one as a list of goals to accomplish before her thirtieth. Clearly, I am not on the ball as all that, but I think this one will work nicely.

Thirty While I'm Thirty
1. Write (and send!) an actual thank you note for every single gift that I or one of the girls receive.
2. Start - and finish!! - a knitting project. Something a little more adventurous than doll baby blankets.
3. Send an actual birthday card to each family member on his/her birthday. I have an embarrassing stack of birthday cards in my correspondence basket - all purchased with the best of intentions, so very few of them actually sent.
4. Keep a steady supply of stamps on hand.
5. Take my car to be serviced on time, every time.
6. Run my car through the car wash at least once a month and then vacuum it.
7. Practice at least five Random Acts of Kindness.
8. Invest time and energy into my physical health and well-being.
9. Create at least one project on my sad and lonely and seldom-ever-used sewing machine.
10. Live with an attitude of reducing, reusing, and recycling anything I possibly can.
11. Create a compost pile.
12. Garden.
13. Listen more, judge less.
14. Turn the TV off more.
15. Read at least one of The Great Books. (You know - something from the classical canon, something everyone would think a former English teacher would have read, but chances are I probably haven't!)
16. Go to my local LLL meeting at least every other month.
17. Enjoy the early days, weeks, and months of Little Sister's life instead of stressing over little things.
18. Make it a priority to spend time in Scripture reading and prayer at least five days a week.
19. Take my husband on more dates.
20. Write my grandmother a letter once a month.
21. Send my dad more pictures of D (he is computerly challenged and doesn't get email updates).
22. Try to foster a relationship with my brother, even when he rejects my attempts.
23. Complain less.
24. Choose joy.
25. Invite friends over for dinner.
26. Create an environment in my home that welcomes anyone at anytime.
27. Get more involved at church.
28. Be more intentional in the way I steward our money and my time.
29. Hold off on at least half of the unsolicited advice I offer.
30. WRITE MORE!

So there you have it. Feel free to check in on my progress at any given time - I welcome accountability!