The Year of the Bucket Lists

The last few months the hubs and I have had some intentional conversations about some of our hopes and wishes for our lives...  I've always had a sketchy, unofficial wish-list of sorts in the back of my mind, but I decided to actually sit down and identify a few top things I'd like to do, to accomplish, to achieve, in this lifetime.

It was time to intentionally identify, and then it was time to pick a few to actually try cross off this year.  "The Year of the Bucket Lists" as my husband has recently referred to it.

Dream, identify, achieve, dream again.  Dream. Do. Delete. Replace.
I think I'll call it my "Intentional Dreaming and Achievementing" list (I like making up words that aren't actually real).  aka ~ The Bucket List.

#1- Half marathon.
Register for one.  Train for one.  Cross the finish line at one.
I will not require myself to run the entire distance or complete in a certain time to cross this off my list.  I just want to complete - not compete.

#2- Write a Book
I'd love to actually say "Publish a Book" - but I probably better just work on "writing" it first ;-)

#3- Photography & Travel
a) Photograph and witness a hot air balloon night glow
b) Photograph and tour a lighthouse
c) Photograph a bald eagle in the wild

#4- Guns & Hunting
a) Shoot a handgun.
b) Complete a gun safety course.
c) Go out bow hunting with my husband.
d) Shoot a deer bow hunting.

#5- General / Misc
a) Get a passport (although I'm not going to put "get a stamp in it" on my list ~LOL)
b) Downsize and get rid of 1/2 of my current life possessions.
c) Pay off all my debt and live loan free for 12 consecutive months.
d) Live at a lake 60% of the year by the time I'm 60.

Those were the current top five things I identified, but then started adding subcategories... So I'm actually not sure how that quite all works, because then five actually became thirteen ~ which just HAPPENS to be my lucky number and the apparent theme of this year! So, now I had some concrete, black and white items in which I can start working on crossing off.

And then I chose five to try cross off this year.
#1- Half marathon.
I am currently registered to run a half marathon in Des Moines on October 15.
I am officially half marathon training again.

#2- Write a Book
Well, I guess it's just a blog for now: Journey To Faith, and that's probably as good as it's going to get in my dreams to be a published author.  I'm just a self-publisher, and that's ok, I am in fact... writing something.
I used to say I wanted to write a book, but was never really quite sure what to write about.  God has a funny sense of humor doesn't He?  Oh He gave me a story to write about, one I could have never ever come up with on my own. :-)

#3- Shoot a handgun and complete a gun safety course.
I am currently registered for a class in a few days, which will potentially accomplish both of these.

#4- Get a passport.
I have no desire to travel outside the country, but I have talked about doing this for eight years now.
This year I will figure out where to go and what to do to actually get one.

#5- Currently unidentified at this time.
Well, I have nine months and nine other items to pick from at this point.
I will just have to see what opportunities present itself and go from there.

My hubby and I have decided this is the year.  2017, the year to grab just life by the horns and intentionally strive, achieve, and do.  Whatever it is God is calling both of us to dream of and strive for, I hope this is the year for accomplishing great and mighty things.

To "The Year of the Bucket Lists" ~ cheers!