#41, 42, and #1! (and I think I feel #25 getting close!)

I am getting behind on updating this weekly! I have to do better... it's just that I've been so busy crossing things off my list! :)

This past week confirmed that this has been THE BEST summer (aside from last year in Europe, because that's a whole 'nother beast!)- my mom and my best childhood friend got married, I've gotten to go to the beach a few times, I started this list which has been such an amazing motivation to do things I feel are important (and some that are just silly fun!), and most importantly, I have grown so much in my relationships with my friends (old and new!) and with Christ. It has been the summer I wish could last forever.

#25- Build a new friendship... I'm not crossing this off yet, because it's very new, but over the last few weeks, I have gotten to know two girls. Sabrina and Ana are amazing Godly women that I am so thankful for! I really feel a connection with Sabrina and think we have a lot to give each other and learn from each other. Ana is a WONDERFUL woman raising two fabulous kids, and her heart just shines through her smile every time I'm with her. I'm so excited to say that I could potentially be crossing #25 off TWICE! It's not everyday you make two amazing friends.

I just want to also take time to say, my Amanda has been such a blessing in my life. Her heart, wisdom, and personality are absolutely beautiful, and I am so glad that we have grown closer this summer. Her friendship has always been important to me, dating all the way back to my very first small group semester, but there is a new dynamic to it now. We have shared so much of our hearts with each other, over the last couple of weeks especially, and she just rejuvenates me! I feel so refreshed when I leave her, and wind up missing her when she isn't around! :)

Which brings me to #41, #42, and #1! I spent a solid 48 hours with Amanda this week, and not much of that time was sleep time!

Ana had on her list to watch the sunrise over the ocean... my #41 was also to watch the sunrise. We decided to drive to Tybee Island and get there in time for the sunrise! So, this past Thursday night, Amanda, Ana, and I hung out at Waffle House until midnight to load up on caffeine for a ROADTRIP! We laughed and sang and danced all the way there...and laughed some more... laughed until we cried... laughed the silent laugh even. Those girls are amazing (I think I might have mentioned that already... haha)! #42 on my list was to stay up all night, which I did! I actually topped it and only slept maybe an hour in a total of about 32 hours! Craziness... anyway, back to my #41. Watching the sunrise over the ocean was such an amazing experience. I really don't think I've ever watched the sunrise, honestly. Me being the crazy picture-taker, got like 60 shots of the sunrise, and even then I would just stop and sit in awe of what my amazing God paints for us every morning. Psalm 19:1, The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Amanda found this verse as we sat marvelling at the beauty. Amazing.

So, #41 and #42 were complete, it was time to head over (yes, on one hour of sleep) to the lake for Sabrina's birthday and get #1 -Go camping. For real.- crossed off the list. We had a cookout, sat around a fire talking and laughing... I did get attacked by fire ants which was unfortunate. Luckily, Sabrina's dad had some Benadryl for me... and about 1 am, Amanda and I headed into our tent. We had some amazing girl talk (even being doped up on Benadryl and both of us running on an hour of sleep!), and then both of us crashed... woke up to beautiful scenery... and I survived my first camping trip!!

We lounged on rafts in the lake all day- just what I needed. Next time I go camping, I will be wearing tennis shoes, of course. Freakin' ants... they sent me to an urgent care center on Sunday to get a cortizone shot because I am so allergic to them, my foot swelled up and made me look like the elephant man!! I just really didn't think of ants being an issue at the lake! Oh well, it was still a BLAST. :)

Whew! #'s 6, 7, 10, 34, 35, 45, 54, 57, 58, 77, 85, 90, and 94!

Well, I had gotten it in my mind that I was going to take a roadtrip to see Brandi- #6, #7, and #34 (spend the night at someone else's house). She lives in Indiana, so it's about an 11 hour drive.

I ended up hitting 100 on my speedometer (#94) before I even got out of Georgia just because I was so anxious to do it. :-P I'd only ever done that one other time... I know dangerous, blah blah, but it was such a rush! haha

When I got to Kentucky, I got out at the state line and put one foot on either side of the sign- #54, be in two places at once! I was in Tennessee and Kentucky!

Brandi and I had an absolute BLAST. Of course, we could have fun with a cardboard box. :-P

We went to a winery (#77), enjoyed a drink (or two...) on the porch (#85),

we went on a picnic to Yogi Bear Jellystone Park (#10),

we went to "Amish country" and did photo shoots of each other- so fun!! hee hee (#45), and in the midst of all that, I walked barefoot in the grass and laid in the grass with no blanket, which is something that has always looked fun, but I've never wanted to do because of ants... and it really wasn't that enjoyable. haha (#57 and #58).

We cooked a huge breakfast for us and the family she is living with Sunday morning (#35),

and then we ended my trip with a bubble blowing contest with bubble gum (#90)! We had so much FREE fun, it was insane!! I love that girl, and it was so good to get to spend time with her. :)

#59

#59- Sing a song at karaoke that someone picks for me...

I know this is a silly one, but truly, it takes a lot of courage to get up and sing when YOU pick your song. Getting up there and having no idea what is about to come up on the screen is downright terrifying. I had to quickly drink a couple rum and cokes to get loosened up first... my heart was seriously pounding out of my chest. So silly because I've done karaoke a couple dozen times! But anyway, Luke picked Celine Dion, It's All Coming Back to Me Now. If you aren't familiar with this song, it is a song you can definitely have fun with, and I did! But man, there are some high notes. I just couldn't attempt a few of them for the sake of the listeners... haha! So here is the video... watch at your own risk. Feel free to laugh, of course. :)

Thank you Luke... and thank you Amanda for singing backup for me :) and filming it of course, and thank you Jonathan for yelling inappropriately to make me laugh. "Yeah, touch me JIVEY!" haha :-P #59...completed!

#46 and the finish of #22

Aaaaaah....... Looking at this picture reminds of the peaceful hours I spent today. I grabbed Gatsby, my 12Stone blanket, and a Vitamin Water, and drove to Briscoe Park. It's been ages since I've been there... it's right around the corner from my house. I spotted THE perfect tree when I pulled in to the park and made a beeline for it. The weather was absolutely perfect today- especially in the shade. There was a constant cool breeze, and no humidity. Even though it was mid-day, I never broke a sweat.

#46-Spend an afternoon reading on a blanket in the park, completed.

And now for #22- I chose The Great Gatsby because it was one of the only books I remember I was SUPPOSED to read in high school, and because I've always heard good things about it. I finished it this evening, and what a TRAGIC book! From the unhappy marriages and well-known affairs, to a man who appeared to be loved by so many but in fact, had no one to even attend his funeral, not even the woman who professed her love to him. That used to be a fear of mine- dying alone. I know better now of course, but reading this book brought back the memory of those feelings of uncertainty and loneliness... It was a good book, but certainly was not a "feel-good" story. Hah! Glad I read it though... so much symbolism, etc in this book it makes me feel like I should write an essay. But of course, I won't. :-P

#22- Read a classic novel that I was supposed to read in high school (and never did), completed!

#36 and #37 (and the start of #22)

Cook a full dinner by myself- so I really don't cook... and it's not because I'm not good at it. I actually am. :-P It's just that usually, I would only be cooking for myself, and it doesn't always feel worth it for just me. Or, I might cook something small- not what I would consider a "full dinner"- 'appetizer,' sides, entree, and dessert. My appetizer in this meal- homemade guacamole- was definitely an appetizer... so good I finished it before I started cooking dinner! :) I had to make some more. I cooked a mexican dinner- fajita style chicken, mexican rice, black beans- made soft tacos with ALL the fixin's... SO delish. Then dessert- chocolate brownies with hershey minis broken up and dropped in pre-bake. I added a scoop of black rasberry chocolate chunk ice cream and it was THE perfect compliment. :) It was a YUMMY dinner! I'm thinking I should have made this task "cook a full dinner by myself at least once a month..." I'm crossing it off the list, but I think I'm going to try to do a full meal at least once a month.

When I created my list of 100, relaxing in the bath was the first thing I thought of doing after adding cooking an entire meal to the list, so why not go ahead and follow through in real life since they went together so perfectly in my mind? :) I haven't had a bubble bath in a long time, partly because I feel like I never have time for a bath, and partly because I ran out of bubble bath (haha). When I was little, I hated showers and would beg my mom to take a bath instead. Funny how quickly we change our priorities as we get older. I also checked out The Great Gatsby from the library so I could start on #22. :)

Tasks #36 (Cook a full dinner by myself) and #37 (Relax in a bubble bath)- Completed!

#55

I used to LOVE that moment at dusk when the yard would start to sparkle with fireflies as they hovered over bushes and the grass. I would run inside to grab a container, then go chase them. The key to catching them is patience, which I learned all over again tonight. I would see one, and by the time I got over to that area of the yard, I couldn't see any... I finally just sat on the swing and waited for them to pop up around me. It was a beautiful night anyway, so it was relaxing to just sit out there...



I caught a few, got my picture proof, and then let them go. Didn't wanna kill any on my quest to 100! :-)

#55, Chase/catch lightning bugs...Completed!