Saturday, November 27, 2010

let the fun begin

Well 40 is here!  Last Sunday I was talking with a college friend and his wife in Sunday School and he said to me "Well you have a big birthday coming up."  My response was "that means yours is coming up soon too.'  He then said to me - "can you believe that we have reached the halfway point in our lives."  This was a great perspective for me as I reflect on the events of the past few years and that just 4 years ago I started the testing process that eventually revealed my hodgkin's lymphoma.  It is only by God's grace alone that I am alive today to celebrate 40 years of life.
Mark reminded me today that we have much to be thankful for today and every day.  Now I look forward in hopeful anticipation to the next 40 years of adventure if the Lord wills.
So let the fun begin related to the next year with all of the upcoming adventures.  I am looking forward sharing the adventure with you as you participate with me in this fun endeavor.
So here is the final list:
1.  Get a spray on tan just to see what I look like with a little color other than red or white!
2.  Highlight my hair because I can not because I have to!
3.  Hike in the Grand Canyon
4.  Be able to do the splits again.
5.  Attend a Penn State football game in Pennsylvania!
6.  Go snowmobiling
7.  Go horseback riding - not on a trail trained horse.  Must try side saddle and bare back too!
8.  Try Snowshoeing
9.  Make a piece of pottery - using the wheel and all!
10. Ride a motorcycle
11. Try a new ethnic food once a month - either at a restaurant, someone's home or make it myself
12. Ride a tandem bike
13. Hot air balloon ride - somewhere really scenic
14. Take some kind of class towards a new degree (not sure what yet!)
15. Dance - Something beautiful
16. Serve those in need in the community at least quarterly
17. Recite from memory an entire book of the Bible 
18. Missions Trip
19. Read at least 6 classic novels (the first will be Pilgrims Progress, then I am open for suggestions)
20. Hike a 14,000 peak in Colorado
21. Downhill ski in Europe
22. Prague
23. Catch up on scrapbooking from 2008-present 
24. Team in Training Event - I am thinking a half or full marathon - in Ireland to support blood cancer research
25. Buy a pearl bracelet
26. Attend a U2 concert
27. Hustle Up the Hancock
28. Learn to shoot a gun - gun safety class
29. Take a basic self defense class
30. Meet someone Famous
The final 10 as voted on by you....31. Running barefoot on a beach
32. Hang gliding
33. Irish dance lessons
34. Attend a session in DC of the house or senate
35.  race a car around a racetrack
36. Go for a winter swim in a body of water
37. Go to the Grand hotel or another hotel get-a-way weekend
38. Pose like Jack Vettriano paintings 
39. Kentucky Derby
40. Seder Meal
(41) My personal adventure item that only a few know.




Here are the extra credit suggestions
 Hitch hike to Chicago
20. Fly a crop duster
21.  Get arrested (but not for something that is arrest worthy)
22.  Participate in a flash mob.
23.  See a concert in a cave.
24.  Learn a new sport
25.  Try surfing

26. Cartwheels in Bethany parking ot - 40 of them
27.  Write a song to publish in Nashville


So the adventure begins.....Come along and join me for the fun!

Friday, November 26, 2010

Additional suggestions - for extra credit

Let the voting continue. I received some additional suggestions after the deadline but I thought that I would share them since they are exceptional suggestions.  In other words if I can do one of these extras - then it is extra credit for something in the top 40 that does not get accomplished.

Extra credit suggestions (those that suggestions may need to consider themselves fair game to have to do them with me for my extra credit)

19.  Hitch hike to Chicago
20. Fly a crop duster
21.  Get arrested (but not for something that is arrest worthy)
22.  Participate in a flash mob.
23.  See a concert in a cave.
24.  Learn a new sport
25.  Try surfing

The voting is getting tight for the other 18 suggestions so be sure to vote as the list is complete tomorrow am.

Holly

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Cast Your Vote to Complete My 40th Adventure To-Do List

As the suggestions have been rolling in, I have been able to spend time just plain laughing and enjoying the suggestions.  It has been fun to walk down memory lane with those of you who have sent in suggestions, comments or encouragements. 
You may vote for your favorite 3 suggestions and then the top 10 will make the cut!  The final list will be unveiled on my birthday - November 27!
I will definately need some connections for some of these but that is so a part of this challenge!!

Let the voting begin.....

Suggestions for the List
1.  Race a car around a race track!
2.  Attend the Kentucky Derby.
3.  Throw out the first pitch for the Cubs/Cards game (or any Cards game)
4.  Learn a new language -
5.  Snorkling a great reef in the Caribbean (complete with a wet suit and lots of sunscreen - you know me well).
6.  No camping!
7.  Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island, Michigan or another destination hotel weekend get-away.
8.  Run barefoot on a beach.
9.  Get a henna tattoo
10. Hang gliding
11. Take Irish dancing lessons
12. Be on the radio
13. Write a letter to the President
14. Pose for photographs like Jack Wettriano paintings "Dance Me to the End of Love" and "The Singing Butler."
15.  Ice Skate on a frozen lake
16. Attend a session of the Senate or House in DC
17. Take a winter swim in a body of water somewhere
18.  Attend a Seder meal

Sorry to those who suggested sky diving - as this would promote the need for an ear drum repair of my currently best ear drum so that one was edited from the list. 

Thursday, November 18, 2010

My 40th Adventure

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9

Life is an adventure!  Life's journey takes us places that we would never expect but that is part of the adventure.  God has marked our lives with a time that only He knows and has a plan for us that He reveals along the way, I guess milestones.  As I reflect on life, I can see God's sovereign purpose marked out on the path that my feet have journeyed.  My journey has not been what I would have expected and what I would have planned for myself but it has been good.  On 11/27, I will turn 40 so to mark this milestone I have made a list of things that I would like to do between my 40-41st birthdays in order to make this year a bit more fun! (And yes there will be 40 items on the list) You can join me for the fun and follow the journey this year. If you would like to help me with an adventure, let me know or I may recruit you......
Your first assignment if you so choose is to review my list, which is incomplete.  I need an additional 10 suggestions and you can offer some.  You can e-mail, call, post, facebook suggestions to me for until November 22.  Then I will post the suggestions and you all can vote on the remaining 10 items which will be revealed on November 27 - day one!  (Yes I was challenged to this one - make it a real adventure and let others pick some and vote on them - thanks Ben!)
So I hold this list loosely as as James reminds us that I should say "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." (James 4:15b)
The List Begins
1.  Get a spray on tan just to see what I look like with a little color other than red or white!
2.  Highlight my hair because I can not because I have to!
3.  Hike in the Grand Canyon
4.  Be able to do the splits again.
5.  Attend a Penn State football game in Pennsylvania!
6.  Go snowmobiling
7.  Go horseback riding - not on a trail trained horse.  Must try side saddle and bare back too!
8.  Try Snowshoeing
9.  Make a piece of pottery - using the wheel and all!
10. Ride a motorcycle
11. Try a new ethnic food once a month - either at a restaurant, someone's home or make it myself
12. Ride a tandem bike
13. Hot air balloon ride - somewhere really scenic
14. Take some kind of class towards a new degree (not sure what yet!)
15. Dance - Something beautiful
16. Serve those in need in the community at least quarterly
17. Recite from memory an entire book of the Bible
18. Missions Trip
19. Read at least 6 classic novels (the first will be Pilgrims Progress, then I am open for suggestions)
20. Hike a 14,000 peak in Colorado
21. Downhill ski in Europe
22. Prague
23. Catch up on scrapbooking from 2008-present
24. Team in Training Event - I am thinking a half or full marathon - in Ireland to support blood cancer research
25. Buy a pearl bracelet
26. Attend a U2 concert
27. Hustle Up the Hancock
28. Learn to shoot a gun - gun safety class
29. Take a basic self defense class
30. Meet someone Famous
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
(41) My personal adventure item that only a few know.