A To-Do List that never ends...

I have a to-do list that never ends...

A few things I have learned as a list galore girl and a master checker-off-er...

1. To put things on there that you have already done...just to check them off.

2. Put easy things on the list so that you're feeling really good about things...

3. Write things on there right before you do them, so you're still feeling accomplished as you work...

4. Don't start a new list until a sufficient amount of things are checked off...you have to see the accomplished to feel accomplished. Haha :) 

5. And sometimes doing nothing makes the to do list grow and you feel less accomplished than when you're busy and actually checking things off.

I love breaks and being home with my family more than just about anything in this world, but there always comes a point where I realize even though I have been "resting and relaxing," I have still been adding things to my to do list, I just haven't been doing them....which in turn, makes the end of a break almost more stressful than the toll of everyday life....

So, here's to getting back into the swing of everyday life and checking off those things on the to do list...that never ends....

A Never-Ending New Year's Resolution

"Ya know if I had actually stuck to my New Year's Resolution for the past 8 years, I'd probably be in the Olympics by now!" -me

Doing the splits...seems like an attainable goal for a 9 year old in gymnastics...but now at 22, having never done the splits, I just don't know what the odds are.

Summer Olympics (and winter) are just about my favorite thing in the world to watch. I cancel all plans, explain to my friends that my schedule is completely booked, and then watch as many events as I can, while recording the ones I miss...I used to dream and admire and slightly wish to be all the amazing gymnasts I would watch on TV...I still am floored by half (well...more like all) the things they can do.

I don't remember the exact day or time...but at some point I made it my goal to be able to do the splits. I was determined. I was going to do what it took...stretch and stretch and stretch some more while learning the proper technique to do perfect and graceful splits (considering my name means Gazelle)...well, New Years came around (8 years ago), and it seemed like the perfect Resolution -- to do the splits. New Years Day I looked up a stretching plan, found pictures, and stretched on my floor for a good 10 minutes...ha... Day 2 came and stretched for about 7 1/2 minutes, and by the third day, I was down to a good 30 seconds just to say that I did it. ............and then the next New Years came....and the next. Here we are in 2016.......and my poor little legs have never once been able to do the splits.

Well...to this year I say, maybe this is the year?! Or maybe I will just watch the gymnasts this summer and ooh and aww and live vicariously through them until I one day complete my New Year's Resolution....

Cooking Life Skill

A life skill is defined as a skill that is necessary or desirable for full participation in everyday life. Well, as I am quickly finding out, cooking is one of those skills...

Throughout college, I was blessed to live in the Chi O house for all three years after freshman year...it was definitely full of fun and lots of memories, however, cooking was rarely one of those memories. I never had many opportunities to cook and experiment with making things in the kitchen. I had a small fridge under my bed that I would keep "stocked" with turkey meat, apples, grapes, and small snack items I could take to school for my lunches during student teaching. My main meal of choice was always a smoothie, one because I love them and I always say I could live off of them (probably because it's the one thing I can make haha!), but also because they didn't take many ingredients and were quick, easy, and refreshing!

Well...a few months after graduation and moving into my first apartment at the Forge, I realized that during the day lunch and dinner would come along and I didn't have anything to put on my plate, or pour into my bowl, or heat up on the stove...I started looking around and realizing other people were creating and cooking things and using ingredients that I had only seen on the Food Channel. My friend and roommate Anne used a myriad of spices that would always fill the whole apartment with such an inviting and scrumptious smell.

I told her I really wanted to start learning how to cook, partly because I would love to make good meals, partly because I know my husband one day probably won’t want to eat turkey meat and apple slices as much as I do, and also partly because I love hosting and think hospitality is a gift that the Lord has blessed me with, but I feel like cooking would make it more fun and so easy to serve in that way the rest of my life. Anne challenged me to pick a life skill and work on it for a year…in that year, dedicate time to learning about it, practicing it, talking to others and seeking mentors. At the end of the year, she proposed that you would probably be more proficient at that than if you spent five years on it with ten other skills you’re working on at the same time. So this year, I want to dedicate time to learning about cooking. Not just watching the Food Channel like I love to do, but actually taking time to learn and practice.

I started asking people what their favorite meals are to cook, seeking out recipes, and going to the grocery store with more intention on what I’m going to make that day/week. It makes me excited to think about starting to learn something that can not only benefit myself and my family, but something that can be applied and practiced in a gift that the Lord has given me.

So…I’m on the lookout for good recipes and any cooking tips. ☺ And here's to a year of learning and experimenting in the kitchen and hopefully a lifetime of good meals and healthy eating!