38 things

Well, I didn't do as well on my list as I did the previous year but I have done 76% of the items.

 

I had to give myself a talking-to and tell myself it's better than nothing.

 

I mentioned a couple of months ago that a lot of my items were 12-part projects or worse (read 60 books) so I really was very ambitious (mad!).

 

This year I want to have more fun with my list.

 

I will still have 38 items but there will be no more than 5 parts to any one project except for the books.

 

This pic was taken of a bus stop on Bryant Square (is it square, street, where Bank of Ameria is?)

 

 

So let's get to it:

 

1. Pay attention to what comes out of my mouth. This is a topic for a post but I learnt at She Speaks that I process and express internally so in times of stress, I shout. And I need to learn to stop doing that. My scripture is Ps 19:14 may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight.
2. Assume positive intent with D. Am I the only one who assumes he leaves things undone just to annoy me? I read a lovely post (again, another blog post) where she spoke about the secret of a good marriage is to assume positive intent. They are not out to get us.
3. Have another beach holiday. I would happily go back to Ballito.
4. Plan a celebration for my mother's 60th next year. This is going to be interesting because she 1) hates parties 2) hates a fuss...
5. Take the kids to the Pretoria Zoo.
6. Spend Mandy's voucher. MandyR's family gave the babies a very nice experiential gift and I'll take them to do two fun things. Any ideas? Are they too young for Sci-Bono?
7. Sponsor another World Vision child. I want some of you along with this ride - R150 a month or thereabouts. Less than $20.
8. Do Santa's Shoebox for another 3 kids.
9. Have a mini photo shoot - how will we ever top the Newtown one though?
10. Have 25 dates with D.
11. Get to Cape Town.
12. Get kids registered for pre-school. There is just one thing to check and then I can pay.
13. Get into another position at work. More later... but I am SO inspired by Heather.
14. Bring my awesomeness to current job too. Take charge and act with courage.
15. Get my handwriting made into a font
16. Read a Jeffrey Deaver novel.
17. Read a John Grisham novel.
18. Read a Patricia Cornwell novel.
19. Read a James Patterson novel.
20. Read a Michael Connolly novel. (I haven't read any crime novels since the babies were born and it's high time I started again, don't you think?)
21. Read 60 books in total, 12 of them non-fiction.
22. Declutter books so that I have ALL of them on the one small 3-shelf bookshelf. Currently all 3 shelves are full plus 2 others - the one is only about 70% full.
23. Read entire New Testament
24. Write a book for the Kindle. Am I mad? I think so.
25. Ask God to show Himself regularly, in the little and big things.
26. Start speaking a message of hope to Christian women. This is here as a ginormous act of faith. Because I have No Clue how this will work. But I'm available and willing.
27. Take 25 awesome pics of people's faces (by awesome I mean pics even they love). On the one photowalk I still haven't blogged, I took pics of an ex-staff member and she loved them so much. That's what I want. To show people they can have good pics even without smiling :)
28. Make a craft with scrapbook paper.
29. Make a craft with canvas.
30. Make a craft with cards.
31. Make a craft with bakers' twine.
32. Make a craft with stamps.
33. Make a craft with all my punches.
34. Make a craft with photos. I have a plan for the NYC pics but let's see. I'm starting on Friday - hopefully it's not a huge flop.
35. Save R_________  - it's a huge chunk of money, a stretch even for me so that it forces me to think differently about my finances and not just put away what's comfortable. Did you know I started saving R50 (about $6) a month in 1998? Those days are long gone. But that's also the same year we started sponsoring World Vision kids.
36. Simplify business even more. Another thing God spoke to me about at SheSpeaks (and MandyR also said) - I'm too busy. I do like having a lot to do but this is ridiculous. I want my one free night a week back where I do nothing but read.
37. Buy a frivolous YELLOW handbag for summer
38. Start collecting the Seinfeld DVDs. I have none at the moment so I need to "hit up" (as you US gals say) Musica or Look & Listen.

And that's it.

 

Still a huge stretch, still very challenging, still requires tons of focus but I feel lighter and somehow more free.

 

Did any of those surprise you? Do you have ideas for any of them? Do you want to join me for any?