I didn’t finish any more goals this month, but I did make progress to some.

1. Read the Bible twice through. 946/2378 chapters = 40%

5. Publish The Journal. Completed 12/26/2011

6. __________. (find a new job) Completed 12/28/2011

9. Read 160 books. 49/160 = 31%

10. Read 5 classics. 4/5 = 80%

I really thought this would be harder, but I forgot to consider audiobooks. I’m not sure I’ll ever read a classic with my eyeballs again.

12. Work a polling place during an election. Completed 10/11/2011

13. Sell 100 copies of The Journal. 9/100 = 9%

I really doubt I’ll sell 100 copies, unless you all make a run on them. That’s okay…I’ve enjoyed the process and have given away a lot of copies.

16. Make an author website. Completed 12/20/2011

17. Fast 16 days. 1/16 = 6%

Need to stop putting this off.

19. Spend time on Yom Kippur fasting, praying, and thinking. Completed 10/7/2011

20. Decorate my apartment for Christmas. Completed 11/25/2011

21. Meet my niece. Completed 12/27/2011

22. Write in my journal 100 times. 80/100 = 80%

I’ve been journaling every day this year, so this will be done next month.

23. Make a baby blanket for Bean. Completed 11/9/2011

29. Walk 4 miles on the treadmill.

I’m up to 2 miles right now. I’ve been getting on the treadmill about 2-3 times a week this month, but hoping to double that.

View the full 30 Before 30 list here

Sorry for the horrible quality…I really need to start whipping out my “real” camera. I made this blanket for myself to match my apartment so I can leave it out all winter. Matches a little better than my pink Snuggie.

A few observations:

• Working for a tech company kinda feels like coming home. I’m definitely not the nerdiest person in my department. I’m not sure I’ve ever worked with fellow nerds before. I mean, our printer’s name is “Alderaan.” I didn’t even know that was how it was spelled…

• Speaking of coworkers: they make the job. They’ve all been incredibly helpful and proactive in helping me to understand everything (or everything I’ve been able to absorb so far!).

• There’s a lot to have to learn (the software and all its functions as well as the solutions to a lot of the more common errors), but the learning is going well. Already know WAY more than I would have thought possible to learn in a week.

• I’m thankful to be trained alongside another newbie. It’s nice to have someone else to bounce questions off of. And we aren’t the only newbies…two more people will be starting in a week, so soon I won’t even be the least experienced!

• So yeah, we’re growing. So much that our department is moving to an office across the street today to a more permanent temporary location until they find a place large enough to bring the whole company back together. I only had my desk for a week, but I’m going to miss it.

• Or not…I was right next to the kitchen with free snacks, drinks (Diet Dr Pepper!), and where people frequently congregate. Probably not the best place to be long-term. My new desk is farther from the action, I think.

• Pretty much everyone I work with is in the same age bracket as me, which leads to interesting conversations. When asked what snacks and drinks we’d want at the new place, one of the guys said, “Surge!” Hadn’t thought about Surge in a long time…

• I love my new schedule. I’ll actually be working an hour earlier (7 AM!) when I’m fully trained, but I’m going to like it. Getting up before the sun is weird for me, but I’m getting used to getting up and exercising in the dark and then getting into work before everyone else. (Yes, I used “getting” 3 times in that sentence, but I’m too lazy to fix it.)

All that to say, I’m very thankful for my job. It’s amazing how much more you appreciate something when you did without for a while. But even if it wasn’t for that, this is a great place to work and I think I’m going to enjoy what I’m going to be doing.

One day a week or two ago I may have been frustrated to the point of tears at the local post office.

The details aren’t particularly important. I think we could all tell tales about how illogical and unhelpful post offices can be. That’s not what this post is about.

It’s about me…or more specifically, my sinful heart. For really, when I say I was “frustrated,” I’m just painting my sinful anger in a socially-acceptable light. I wouldn’t say that I’m a person characterized by anger, but this situation brought out what was in the dregs of my heart. If it wasn’t there in the first place, how could it have come out?

What surprised me about this incident was not what came up (I’ve long since realized my own sinfulness) but how easily it came out. I’d like to think that I’m much more holy than that.

Umm, yeah.

I’m thankful for the postal service and the God who used it to remind me that He’s not done refining me yet.

It’s my first day of my new job!

I’ve been looking forward to this day for a while. Sure, there is some anxiety of the unknown, but I’m hopeful and excited to see what new challenges and friendships are in store for me here. I’m excited to be able to grow with a company and learn new skills.

When I get a chance, I hope to give you reflections on my first day/week. After being able to set my own schedule for almost 3 months, I know my first week will be especially exhausting, but in a good way.

1. God is definitely sovereign. He kindly overrode my own plans for my life, giving me something better.

2. Planning is good and necessary, but don’t be married to your own ideas for your future.

3. I can live on less income than I thought. Going to take advantage of this in the next couple of years to save up for long-term plans.

4. I thrive on a schedule and am rather helpless in forcing myself on a schedule without concrete items on my calendar.

5. Just because you have more time to read doesn’t mean that you will. I can almost guarantee I’ll read more in my first month at work than in the last month of unemployment (four books read).

6. My time is not my own, so I shouldn’t selfishly spend it on myself. Same is true of money.

7. Blessings freely given by God are more precious than anything you can try to grasp for.

I’m incredibly thankful that this season is over, but I wouldn’t want it to be different if I had a do-over. I can honestly say I’m closer to God and to others than  I was two and a half months ago.

I now have completed finished 8 goals, which isn’t bad at all. At this point, there is only 1 that I think won’t happen as I’ve had to alter my financial goals somewhat. Other than that, I think everything is quite doable!

Here is my goal update as of December 31st:

1. Read the Bible twice through. 630/2378 chapters = 26.5%

3. Lose 50 pounds. /50 pounds = 6/50 = 12%

Yeah, the holidays and general busyness wasn’t good for this.

5. Publish The Journal. Completed 12/26/2011

6. __________. (find a new job) Completed 12/28/2011

9. Read 160 books. 39/160 = 24%

I’m a little behind on this goal, but I have no doubt I’ll get there. Just blame crocheting and general laziness for a poor reading month in December.

10. Read 5 classics. 3/5 = 60%

Yay for audiobooks, otherwise I wouldn’t be this far. Now that I’ll be employed I won’t be listening to audiobooks as much, but surely I can get in two more classics this year.

12. Work a polling place during an election. Completed 10/11/2011

15. Sell 100 copies of The Journal. 2/100 = 2%

I’m grateful for every copy that I sell! And I only had it for sale for 6 days as of this update.

16. Make an author website. Completed 12/20/2011

17. Fast 16 days. 1/16 = 6%

I wish I had taken advantage of my unemployment to fast and didn’t just get caught up in the busyness. Still want to work this into my life regularly.

19. Spend time on Yom Kippur fasting, praying, and thinking. Completed 10/7/2011

20. Decorate my apartment for Christmas. Completed 11/25/2011

I really enjoyed doing this one! Now I just have to undecorate…

21. Meet my niece. Completed 12/27/2011

By far the most satisfying “check” on this list.

22. Write in my journal 100 times. 46/100 = 46%

I’ll soon have this finished as I’ve committed to writing in my journal every day in 2011. So far, I have!

23. Make a baby blanket for Bean. Completed 11/9/2011

24. Have an empty to-read shelf.

It was really almost empty and then Christmas happened. Love that. Will finish what’s left before December!

This year, I’ve chosen to fly to Kansas on Christmas morning. This Christmas will be a little different for my family as we’re all on baby watch! For those who have been asking, still no word yet on when my niece, Bean, will make her appearance, but I think it’ll be any day. She’s “due” on Monday, but you know how that goes.

Since I’ll be spending some extended time in Kansas, I won’t be regularly posting here until the new year. I’ll be sure to post once Bean has arrived, as well as let you know when my “baby” arrives and is available…should be Monday. These are exciting days!

This is from my 18th birthday. Clearly, the candles were a bit smoky!

Today is my 29th birthday! In some ways, I feel like a kid still, but in others I feel like I’ve been an adult forever.

I enjoyed being 28, but it was definitely a crazy year. I have no idea what to expect for 29, but it’s bound to be another of change as I get used to a new job (one that I hope to start soon!) and schedule. Plus, I’ll officially become an author this year! I definitely plan on taking advantage of this last year of my 20s.