Week 83 - A Premature End

It is after much thoughtful consideration that I have decided to end my 101 projects list early. Many of the items on my list got done. Some didn't. Some may still happen within the time frame I originally set. Some I could have done, some I couldn't have changed. If some things still happen that's fine and if they don't, that's ok too. The whole experience was an interesting one and it taught me a lot.

The biggest thing it taught me was that #1 you can't plan everything and #2 you can't will everything to happen your way and #3 life and priorities can change a lot in two years and that's ok if I am willing to change with them.

I honestly wasn't expecting existential life lessons to come from this challenge, but on some level the possibility of being open to those kinds of lessons is part of what I learned through this process, too. If not directly a result, it's a great example of how my life and I have changed over the past 101 weeks.

Don't get me wrong. I'm still a planner and scheduler and organizer. I still like to be in control and I like to be able to make things happen and cross things off a list. But I am learning to go with it when life changes. I am learning that I am not a failure as a human being when I am flexible and open to what the world might have to offer me rather than being so focused on what I can provide. In fact, I am able to live more fully and enjoy the beauty of life when I can truly embrace what it means to be in relationship rather than in isolation.

I have started some new projects and those are going to take priority for a while. I liked the idea of the list but I got to a point that I just plain didn't care about it anymore, and if I'm not doing it for myself, it's really not worth doing. I don't make any money from this blog (nor do I really expect to!) so I am not in a position to do stuff just to have material to write about. I may start another, smaller list next year, but for now I'm just going to live in the moment and enjoy all the things happening in, with, and through me!

Week 81

Time to check in with my 101 things list.

22 - Vacation with my side - We're finally doing some planning. We won't get to go until next spring/summer but at least it looks like it is finally going to happen!
26 - Read 3 classic novels - Does Harry Potter count? I finally finished book 5 and am about halfway done with book 6. That's really the only reading I care about doing right now.
38 - No Fried Food - I've sort of done this because, as I previously stated, except for chips I didn't have any fried food while at camp and since I was there for two weeks, I can pretty much count this as done.
47 - New Sheets - I'll probably do this for my birthday in a few weeks. Exciting, I know.
49 - Bake a cake - COMPLETED - I made a chocolate pound cake and took it to camp to share with two of my all-time favorite nurses. They were nice enough to share a piece with me. It was a little under-done, but personally that's exactly how I like it.
61 - New Madame Alexander Doll - Another birthday option.

Not terribly exciting, but it's my life right now. Consider yourself updated!

Week 78

Remember my 101 things list? Yeah, sometimes I forget about it, too. Fortunately I've finally got some updating to do!

19. Prayer journal - I'm still working on this but it hasn't been as consistent as I had thought it might be. Still, I'm enjoying it.
20. Marker for Jeff's dad's grave - We're going over sometime in the next month or so to actually get the ball rolling on this. It'll be nice to go visit.
38. No fried food for two weeks - I still have very little motivation to do this, but the best chance for me is going to be at camp (because, except for chips, we really don't eat a ton of fried food) and I'm learning that eating a lot of fried food after coming home is not a good idea. We'll see what happens.
42. Jeff's surprise trip - COMPLETED - We had a blast in Vicksburg and I'm honestly still surprised I pulled it off!
47. Good sheets - I already got one set and I need one more. We got new a new comforter, shams, and bedskirt so I'll probably get the sheets soon!
49. Bake a cake - I'm going to do this before I go back to camp!
81. Be a counselor - COMPLETED - I had a great time at Elementary camp and can't wait to go back for Junior High!
89. Bake bread - this one will probably happen before going back to camp, too!
101. Make jam - I may do this to go with the bread!

So there you have it. It's not a ton, but it's something. At least I'm still attempting to pay attention sometimes!

Week 67

Here's another update on all the things left on my 101 things list.

3. Put money into savings - this is going well. I'm sure we could be doing more, but we're on track and have a plan so I feel good about it.

14. Visit four new states - I've already been on one (Utah) and so I need to go to three more. We're planning a trip to Portland, OR and I'm hoping we can sneak in a few others, but the number four was pretty arbitrary when I chose it, so there's no real attachment to the "four"

19. Prayer/devotional journal - I've been doing this for about a month and it's going well. I'm enjoying using the journal I have now, but I'm looking forward to exploring others, too.

20. A marker for Jeff's dad's grave - We're planning a trip over to GA to start this process over the summer.

21. Knit a blanket - yeah, I haven't even thought about starting this yet.

22. Vacation with my side of the family - hasn't happened yet, maybe this summer or fall!

23. Use my boating license - this just got a little bit harder because we sold Jeff's boat. Hopefully I can still do this sometime this summer!

26. Read three classic novels - I've read one. I have a bunch of stuff I want to read so I don't know that this will top the priority list. I have the books on my kindle, so maybe I can do it on vacation!

28. Teach Jeff to play piano - I'm going to order some basic books so I can start teaching him to play!

32. Eat at home - this definitely hasn't been a priority. I need to make it one.

35. Painted pottery - I have the groupon, I just need to use it! It would help if I actually had an idea for what I wanted to make.

38. No fried food - this will probably happen if I get serious about the eating at home.

42. Surprise trip - I had kind of forgotten about this, but now that I'm thinking about it I'm excited about the possibilities!

47. New sheets - I have gotten one set, and we're in the market for new bedding for our master bedroom, so I'm expecting this one to happen by the fall

48. Walking - I need to be more deliberate about this one.

49. Bake a cake - I'm expecting to do this one this summer.

54. Artwork - I have had a good idea that I'm excited about, but just haven't sat down to work on it.

55. Needlepoint picture - I haven't found one I like or been really inspired to try and find one, much less start working on it. This one is moving further and further down the priority list!

56. Picnic - No real reason for not doing this yet, but I have a plan!

57. Learn to quilt - No work on this, but I have someone I'm going to ask to teach me, so I'm excited.

58. Use the good china - Now that the good china is unpacked, it's actually possible! I just have to do it!

60. Begin re-writing thesis - I've done more thinking about it, but no work. I don't anticipate doing a ton of actual writing on this, but the Academy may change everything. We'll have to wait and see!

61. New Madame Alexander doll - I think this is going on my Christmas list.

62. Stuff out of storage - This one will probably be a fall project and will involve hauling a lot of stuff to give away! If it's been sitting packed up for years, the chances of my needing it are pretty slim.

67. Gun - We've talked about it, but need to act on this one. It'll probably be a summer or fall project when we're not both working weekends!

69. Tape 6 sermons - I honestly don't know that this one is going to happen. I really wanted to tape my Easter sermon but it didn't happen. I only need one more to complete this, but I want it to be one worth having!

72. Zoo - I think I'm going to do this in the next couple of weeks!

76. Living room rug - I think we've decided which one we want, we just have to get it!

81. Camp counselor - I'm excited about getting to do this twice this year! Yay!

88. Ballet - I'm really hoping I can go see the nutcracker this year! Anyone want to go with me?

89. Bread - As soon as we run out of bread, I'm going to make more rather than buying it!

90. Wine glasses - I'm not sure when I'll make it back up to Nashville, so there's no telling when I'm going to get these. I don't really need them so it's not a big deal if I don't get them.

91. Dutch oven - I'm hoping to get one this summer.

93. Wide format printer - This may be a Christmas thing, but it's not a priority at this point.

101. Make jam - this will definitely be a summer thing. I have a recipe for a strawberry jalapeno jam I'd like to try!

Week 65

This week I decided to update on a few things on my list that I am finally ready to cross off, not because they have been completed but because they have not, and will not, be completed before the end of this 101 weeks.

1. Having a child - I am not currently pregnant. I do not anticipate becoming pregnant in the immediate future. Because a normal, full-term pregnancy is 40 weeks, baby would have to be WAY early to come in before week 101, and I hope and pray that does NOT happen. I think this is the one I've grieved the most. More on this is coming, so stay tuned if you're interested.

4. Get commissioned - you may remember back in December when I found out I would not be interviewed by the Board of Ordained Ministry and therefore not be commissioned. Yes, it's taken me several months, even knowing this, to be able to cross this off my list. Instead, I'm looking forward to living into my Season of Sabbath.

25. We anticipated writing a will to be necessary because of #1 (having a child). No kid means no will right now.

64. - I don't know if I'm just not on the e-mail list anymore or what, but I realized too late that I had totally missed the dinner for this year. Maybe next year, but not before the end of this project.

83. - Because I won't be commissioned, I can't start the APC board certification process.

85. - Although Jeff is open to going back to school someday, it's not in the cards right now. This seemed much more possible (and necessary) during his long unemployment, but now that he is very happily employed, this can wait.

There are several other things that I put on the list thinking they would be related to one of these (like knitting a blanket, learning to quilt, and making a needlepoint picture) and while they may not take the form I had originally thought they would, they're still things I'd like to at least try before the end of this project!

Week 64

I'm kind of surprised by how much progress I've made on this list! It's nice being able to cross some things off!

15 - completed! I took my first yoga class last week and I really enjoyed it. It was much harder than I thought it would be, but it was fun. I'm digging my class.

19 - I've been working on this. My new journal is awesome. I love it!

32 - We're getting closer to this but it's tough. Even one full week will be a huge victory for us!

34 - I'm taking a cooking class on Saturday with my step-mom. Stay tuned for details on that!

58 - completed! I decided to surprise Jeff and do this on Monday night. It was the first time I'd ever used my grandmother's good china and we ate chicken tamale pie on it!

69 - I should get my last sermon on Easter!

So there you have it! Progress is a good thing!

Week 62

I've really been slacking on updating this list, but there hasn't been a ton to update on. However, the fact that the number of weeks I have left keeps getting smaller and smaller means that I have to get with it!

3. Put money into savings - this is still going well, and it has led to some other changes to our household finances. That is another post for another day.

11. Buy a china cabinet - wasn't expecting it, but I got to cross this one off the list! There is a furniture store near us going out of business (Stack's Furniture Outlet in Pelham) so we went and found a nice one that fits our dining room perfectly for less than $1000! Score! I also got a chair for my new "office" upstairs, so I can sit somewhere other than the floor now!

15. Dance or yoga class - I signed up for a six week "yoga for beginners" class at Villager Yoga. (I'm doing the Wednesday night class if anyone wants to come do it with me!)

19. Prayer/devotional journal - I'm loving my new coloring journal so keeping up with this one should be no problem. The problem will be keeping it up once I have filled in this book, but the way it's done is so open-ended that I would have no problem using the same one again and again!

34. Cooking class - I am taking my class on the 31st with my step-mom! Stay tuned for tasty French treats that I learn about.

35. Painted Pottery - I got a groupon for Painted By U so I'm looking forward to using that! I'm still trying to convince Jeff that he needs to come do something with me.

88. This one may not actually make the deadline, but I'm determined to go see the Nutcracker this year!

Week 58

Time to check in once again with my 101 things list. Nothing can be crossed off, but progress is being made. I didn't realize how much "buying" or "getting" was on here!

3 - "put money in savings" - we're working really hard on this and were making good progress, before the purchase of a new vehicle put a little dent into things. (That's another post for another day) Still, I'm very confident that, by the end of this project, this will be complete (and stable!)

11 - "china cabinet" - we're going to try to go look at Ashley next month and then make a decision.

19 - "journal" - I've got a new sort of coloring devotional journal that I'm looking forward to exploring. I also bought myself a "regular" journal and have found some interesting prompts to use as some guidance.

35 - "painted pottery" - I'm not quite as keen on doing this one any more, but I'm not going to take it off the list. I have taken a craft class and started doing some beaded embroidery and that sort of scratches this itch, but more about that later.

49 - "cake from scratch" - this one may take place in stages. I've got a recipe for a home-made cake mix so I may make the mix one day and the cake another. I'll still count it because it's not a store-bought mix. Who knows, maybe I'll just get on a roll and do it all at once!

60 - "rewrite M.Div thesis" - I'm not to the re-writing point but I am starting some of the reconsidering and expanding ideas.

74 - "ceiling fan on porch" - we're halfway there! The old one came down, now a new one just needs to go up!

81 - "counselor" - I've already expressed interest to Allison, the director, so now I just have to actually go do it. Hooray!

Good things are happening. Now to keep the ball rolling!

Week 55

I keep putting off doing an update about my 101 things because I wanted to wait until I had something else I could cross off the list. Well, I started writing this update on progress, but then got a great last-minute surprise and was able to cross something off the list~

87 - COMPLETED - Jeff got us tickets to go see Marvin Hamlisch with the Alabama Symphony on Saturday. I've got to say, I miss my days of student tickets for $10! Still, it was great. We had a wonderful time!

The rest of these are still in process, but there is some active work taking place! I'm not being a total slacker on all this stuff!

3 - This one is going really well. Thanks to our new budget, I think we'll have this one completed by summer!

11 - We found one we both really like at Macy's here, and it's on sale so it's within what we thought we would spend. The problem is that our "home improvement funds" are mostly going towards getting the house painted right now. I've had such a hard time finding one I like that will fit in our small dining room, I'm really hoping it will stick around long enough for me to get it. Anyone think I need a half-birthday gift?

14 - So far I've been to one (Utah). I'm trying to figure out WHICH new states I want to visit and how I want to go about visiting them. Suggestions are welcome. If you're planning a trip and need a traveling companion, let me know!

20 - This one is still on the short list. Probably in March we'll see what we can do to get this in the works

34 - I'm doing this one with my step-mom, probably in March. Yay!

36 - In all honesty, this one isn't going to happen until at least Lent, and maybe not even then. I have done one week, and I really don't have any desire to do the second week. We'll see.

42 - obviously I can't say much about this one until after the fact, but I have a few ideas.

47 - I'm guessing this will probably happen when we do our spring cleaning

57 - I've found some instructions online that seem easy enough, now I just need an excuse to try it out. I've pretty much decided that since I'm a better hand-sewer than machine-sewer, I'd be a better hand-quilter, too. That means it'll take me a lot longer, but I think I'll enjoy it more! When I put it on the list, I did it with the intention that it (and number 21) would go hand in hand with number one because I'd be making baby stuff. While that may still be the case at some point, these are both pretty big projects that will take some time so I might as well get started!

So that's where I am! If you want to help out with something or have some suggestions, please of please share them with me!

Week 51

Well, I'm pretty much halfway done with my little project! By this time next year my 101 weeks will be over and hopefully most of my list will be crossed off!

First of all, the good news - I've gotten several things crossed off my list in the past couple of weeks. I'm crossing them off on my list as I complete them, so I can't remember exactly which stories I've told and which I haven't. Forgive me. If you see something crossed off that you need details on, just ask!

The den downstairs got done, which is now amazingly awesome! Along with that, I have officially moved my computer down there so it is out of the bedroom for good! We also finished the kitchen including replacing the oven. I used it for Christmas and it's awesome! We're on the lookout now for a new rug for the living room and a china cabinet. The ceiling fan on the deck will be replaced in the spring (after we paint the ceiling on the porch). We have our credit cards paid off now, which really opens the door for being able to do other things!

Now for the not so good news - Right now there are 47 things that have not been completed on my list. I know that when the 101 weeks are over there will still be incomplete (like being commissioned) and I don't like that, but it's part of it. Still, I'm pretty proud of what I've been able to do in a relatively short amount of time, and I look forward to seeing what else I am able to accomplish. The "easy" stuff is all gone, so it's time to really put my head down and work hard!

Week 49

I've been able to cross quite a few things off my 101 List in the past week. There are other updates as well.

8 - "Replace the oven" - Hopefully by this time next week I will officially have my new one in and the old one hauled away! I've gotta tell you, nothing makes you want to cook as badly as not being able to!

9 - "Re-do the countertops and backsplash in the kitchen" - This one is finished. I'm pretty pleased with the way it has come out.

10 - "Finish the basement" - This one should be done by next week, too! We're so close! I just want it done so I can hang out down there!

27 - "Have Jeff teach me to use AutoCAD" - This happened in a rather unexpected way, but he taught me how to use it to draw a family diagram (genogram) for my continuing education class. I had a good time with it now that I have sort of gotten a feel for it. I could definitely see myself playing more with it, although I think it'll be a while before I'm up to drawing house plans!

38 - "Go without fried foods for two weeks" - This is definitely going to be more of a priority starting in the next week or two. We have had so much take out and fast food in the past few weeks that I really just want simple things like grilled chicken and rice for a while!

47 - "Get two new sets of sheets" - You will remember that one set I got as an anniversary gift. The next set will be purchased in the next week or two for the guest room! Yay!

71 - "Move the computer out of the bedroom" - This goes along with the completion of the basement room!

As of right now, I have 50 items on the list crossed off! By next week I should have close to 55! That's not a bad way to close in on the halfway point of this little exercise!

Week 48

Well, life is continuing and stuff is happening, but not a whole lot is getting crossed off of this list. Still, lots of things are much closer to being done than they have been.

8 - I'm not ready to say that this one is complete yet, but it's so close I can taste it. We ordered the new stove. Jeff's uncle pulled the old one out when he was working on the countertops. Unfortunately, the new stove won't be here until the 21st, so I've got two weeks of microwaving everything, becoming very creative with the use of the grill, or eating out. I'll count this as complete after the new one is installed.

9 - As previously mentioned, the countertops have been re-surfaced by Jeff's uncle. Yay! We also put up our new backsplash! The cabinets are in the process of getting re-painted (that wasn't on the list but it needed to get done!) It should be done by this time next week! Yipee! We also replaced the sink, got a new faucet, and put in a garbage disposal. We're putting up new light fixtures this week, too. I'm one very happy girl!

10 - Another one that's so close I can taste it. We're to the "finishing" stage. Everything has been primed and and the first coat of paint is on the walls. We just have to finish that, paint the floor, put on the trim, put back the sink and toilet, hang the ceiling fan, and put the furniture in. It should all be done in the next week or two.

71 - I'm hoping to get this done to go along with the completion of the basement.

76 - If I can ever find one I like, we'll get this taken care of, too!

Week 45

I'm very close to halfway done with this little adventure, and so far I am pretty pleased with the progress I have made.

30 - I've marked this one as completed. While I can't say beyond a shadow of a doubt that I have made it into bed, lights off, on my way to sleep before 12:00 am for 30-31 consecutive nights, I feel that I have done what I set out to do with this goal. The goal was to develop new, healthier habits for myself so that I wasn't falling back into my student ways of staying up all night and sleeping all day or just plain not getting enough rest. While there are the occasional evenings where I am up late (usually the result of being on call) I am generally in bed and often am asleep before even 11 pm. Even when I get to sleep late, I am almost always up before 8 am. I generally get 8-9 hours of sleep every night, which is good and healthy.

40 - I accomplished this more quickly than I thought I would and I have a feeling there will be even more to come. I was going through some of the stuff in the garage and before I knew it had a huge stack of books to be given away. I am regularly purging myself of stuff. It seems like every time I step into my closet, I am looking for something else I can give away. I am working hard to develop the practice of giving away two old things for every one new thing that I acquire. It's much easier to do with clothing, but I really want to extend the practice to everything in my life.

63 - We went to the BSC homecoming football game on Saturday. It was kind of neat being back on campus, but it just doesn't compare to Auburn football (Sorry Panthers, I still love you lots!)

A few other items that continue to be in the works -

8, 9, and 10 - These are all on track to be completed by Christmas. Wow!

15 - I'm hoping to add yoga to my weekly routine beginning at the first of the year. We'll see how that goes!

19 - I'm digging into this one now. I've missed my deliberate "me time" and this will be really good for me! I was pretty vague on the requirements for this one, so I'm going to say at least twice a week for six months because that is not so ambitious as to be impossible when the intensity of life picks up again!

26 - I'm digging into this one, too. I've already finished one (The Scarlet Letter) so I've got two more to go. I've got three on my Kindle right now - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The Phantom of the Opera, and Uncle Tom's Cabin. I think I'm doing Alice next!

34 - This is going to have to happen in early December if at all possible. I've got the groupon, I just have to use it!

Week 43

Wow! I can't believe how time is flying in regards to my 101 things list! Nothing new to officially cross off, but still some progress to report.

8 - This has moved up the priority list because our "fixed" burners are starting to go out on us again, and I refuse to let Jeff fix them again, it's beyond time to replace it. We are currently keeping our eye on one. It may have to be our Christmas gift to ourselves!

9 - This goes with number 8, although it's less of a priority. We'll see what happens and when!

10 - Good progress is being made here. It's just about emptied of boxes and junk, we're preparing to pull up carpet and rip out walls. The goal right now is to be done by Christmas.

40 - While I don't feel I can cross this off yet, I am making progress towards this. In the process of cleaning out I have given away several books, and as we start moving books back in (they are currently in the garage) I will sort and give away quite a few more.

63 - Looking forward to completing this one next Saturday at the BSC homecoming football game!

69 - I've got four out of six recorded. I'm thinking I'll save my last two for Christmas and Easter.

71 - While this hasn't become permanent, it's getting that way. I'm working more in the living room and less in the bedroom. Of course, now that it's getting cold and the bedroom is the warmest room, that may change!

101 - I've got a recipe for a juice jelly that I want to try. Now to actually do it...

Week 38

The past several weeks have been a whirlwind of stuff with Jeff starting his new job and finishing up CPE and all the stuff that goes along with both of those major changes colliding! Anywho, I'm sort of back on track and happy to have a report about my 101 things list!

16 - COMPLETED - I got to go the Auburn game last Saturday to celebrate my baby brother's birthday! I love gameday! We left at halftime because our seats weren't great and the game wasn't very exciting, but I got to participate in all the fun I love about Auburn football - the band, the eagle, and the sea of orange and blue. The only thing missing was rolling the trees at Toomer's Corner, but I would have been too tired to enjoy it this time anyway!

17 - COMPLETED - My friend Tyler and her mom invited me to go see Les Miserables with them last week. It was great fun. I'd never seen that one before but I really enjoyed it. It's not the kind of thing I would normally just decide I want to see, but I'm glad I saw it and would probably enjoy seeing it again, especially now that I'm a little more familiar with the story!

41 - COMPLETED - I have FINALLY gotten around to getting prints made of all these pictures so they can go in our album. In getting some pictures printed for a totally unrelated project, I (re)discovered the fact that you can do photo orders for Walgreens online and just go pick them up. I knew this existed and was kind of skeptical of it at first, but it wasn't until I was about to walk out the door with a stack of 8 photo CDs that I decided there had to be a better way, and decided to give it a shot. I have all the pictures and I'm getting them into the book, but I count this as a win! I'm hoping this will keep us from getting several years behind on our pictures again!

94 - In Process - As previously stated, we're taking a little trip next week. It was booked within about two weeks of leaving, which is frankly as much spontaneity as I can manage. I still count this one as a win because it was very needed and kind of fun to not anticipate for months!

So that's where things stand right now. I'm pretty happy with the progress I'm making. In the weeks to come I think the priorities are going to be getting rid of some stuff and getting the room cleaned out in the basement. That'll take care of probably 5 items on the list, so that'll be nice. From there I can tackle the tasks of walking, sleeping, knitting, cooking, and reading (although not necessarily in that order!)