I love these people. If anything, the weekend seemed to go by too quickly. I’m sorry I don’t have any pictures of the beautiful property (the kids loved the horses, ducks, and kittens as well as a swinging bridge) or people, but since my cell had no reception, I turned it off immediately and didn’t carry it with me anywhere. Which also meant I didn’t have a camera, watch, or alarm clock.

As if I’d need an alarm clock when there were young ones running around…

One of the best parts of the weekend happened when we were leaving on Sunday. My friend Penny and I were the last to leave, as we were finishing up the clean up. When Penny put her key in the car to start it, the battery was dead.

Thankfully, her family lives in a nearby town, so we were able to get a jump from her brother so we could get into town and get the battery replaced. I’m glad that we got that extra time to talk, as at one point near the end of our 4-hour drive, tears were streaming down my face. She thought it was something she said, but really, it was just brokenness over my own sin. More on that later.

You can tell how much I enjoyed the company by how little I read. I only read 6 chapters of the Bible and maybe 15 pages of another book. Unheard of for me on a trip!

I’m very thankful for the refreshing, entertaining, and encouraging weekend. I have renewed my motivation to do what I need to do.

While there, we participated in the classic bridal-shower game: toilet paper brides. Here’s what we came up (our inspiration: bows and more bows), as modeled on my youngest cousin, age 5:

The wedding was good, and it was fun to spend extended time with my extended family, something we rarely get to do as we’re spread coast to coast (though I’m the only one on this coast).

Sunday, my dad and I got to do some exploring in Seattle. I had wanted to visit Pike’s Market, and though my dad has been to Seattle dozens of times, he’d never been.

Once we got there, the first thing I saw was a Turkish restaurant. I had to eat there for lunch and, more importantly, share Turkish cuisine with my dad, otherwise known as the pickiest eater I’ve ever met. I knew if I ordered the right thing, he’d actually like it, as Turkish food is pretty simple: meat, veggies, and bread. For the uninitiated, it’s very similar to Greek.

Can’t you tell he’s humoring me? I’m very thankful to have a dad who will do anything for his daughter!

The verdict was that he ate the chicken, onion,and sauce out of it and actually liked it. He also liked the cheese pide I ordered:

That’s kaşar cheese inside. That and the sesame seeds definitely remind me of Turkey…

Walking through the market, we saw this terrace on a nearby building. This is my aspirations as a plant lady:

When we drove to the other side of the sound, we saw the largest starfish I’ve ever seen (well over a foot long!) in the surprisingly clear water. And this rainbow over Seattle:

I had a great trip. Even the 4 hours I spent in Newark were pleasantly spent reading. This is now my 4th time on the West Coast, and each time I go, I absolutely love it. Just a different attitude than out east, and one that resonates more with me.

This weekend I’m going to Seattle for a cousin’s wedding. Of my immediate family, it’s just me and my dad going. I think it’ll be nice to get that time with my dad, plus seeing a lot of my extended family.

After spending 4 nights and 3 days in Seattle, I get to make an extended stop in Newark on the way back. I have a 4-hour layover there. I know you’re jealous of me!

I’ll be back in Raleigh for 3 days before I turn around and road trip to the North Carolina mountains for a weekend retreat with my Adult Bible Fellowship class at church. This is our 3rd such trip, and it’s always so relaxing and encouraging.

So that’s where I’ll be. I’ll be back on the blog come Tuesday. Have a great weekend!

That said, I’ve decided to come up with a list of 30 things I want to do before I turn 30 on December 15, 2012. That happens to be 6 days before the “end of the world,” so it’s a good deadline, right?

I have no idea how many of these I’ll actually accomplish. I tried to make them realistic, but I know that when I have a lot of goals, some seem to fall by the wayside. That’s okay…the point is not to be perfect, but to challenge myself in a healthy way.

All that said, these are 30 things I’m working to accomplish before my clock hits “30.”

1. Read the Bible twice through.

The way I read the Bible, I read through different sections at different paces. But I want to read every part at least twice in the next 16 months. Will continue to keep me in the Word, which is a good thing.

2. Memorize Colossians.

I actually want to finish memorizing the disciplined eating questions and verses as well as Romans 6 and 7 before I get to Colossians. So yeah, this is a challenge. Memorizing isn’t hard for me, but it takes dedication and consistency, which I want to work on.

3. Lose 50 pounds.

Okay, this goal sounds HUGE. It is huge. Fifty pounds is a large bag of dog food like those I had to lift too many times as a cashier because some customers insisted on putting them on the belt, though I told them not to.

But, 50 pounds is a pound a week, with about 18 weeks of forgiveness. Incredibly doable if I stick with my eating and exercise regimen.

And yes, I definitely have 50 pounds to lose. In fact, I will still have another 40 on the other side until I get to a healthy weight. Yes, I want to look better (who doesn’t?), but I want my chief motivation to be to better honor God with my life.

4. Save $2,000.

With the move, my emergency savings got cut into a lot. I want to bounce back, for sure. I can’t find security in money, but I do want to use it wisely.

5. Publish The Journal.

It’s still my goal to self-publish my debut novel at the end of this year. Need to get working on editing though, especially if I want to do NaNoWriMo again, which I’m not sure I will this year.

6. ________________.

This goal will remain private. I have no problem being open, but there are things that are not wise to talk about in such a public forum.

7. Pay down my student loans to $XX,000.

I really wish I get these down to 4 figures by the end of next year, but it’s not going to happen unless I stumble onto a pile of cash. But I am pushing myself…I really don’t want to be paying them until December 2019 as I’m scheduled to do.

8. Write What about Emotions (working title).

This is a non-fiction book that is in its infancy. When I have a final product with my novel, I want to get back to this project.

9. Read 160 books.

Perhaps not much of stretch, as this is my current pace (actually, I read a bit faster than that, usually). That’s okay…I have to have some super-realistic goals on this list, right?

10. Read 5 classics.

I don’t read these very fast. I almost always enjoy them, but they take a lot of work.

11. Swim a mile (again).

I want to get back in the pool. There’s just something about swimming that I absolutely love. I think this will be a big part of goal #3.

12. Work a polling place during an election.

Actually, this is on my schedule for next month. I’m looking forward to it. I’d totally do it for the experience, but I’ll be thankful for the financial compensation, too.

13. Celebrate our 30th birthdays with Dana.

Not sure what we’ll be doing, but we’ll be doing something, alright.

14. Cut caffeine down to only one Diet Dr Pepper a week.

I had been down to 2-3 a week earlier this summer, but it has creeped back up with the move and the work craziness. I’m working on slowly getting this back down. I like the stuff, but I don’t want to have it all the time.

15. Sell 100 copies of The Journal.

I’m not planning on this being a moneymaker, but it’d be nice to make back the little bit of money I’ve put in it. I have no idea if I’d even sell 100 copies, or if I’m totally low-balling myself.

16. Make an author website.

I hope to have this done soon. I guess that means I have to get started on it, huh?

17. Fast 16 days.

Not in a row, for sure. But I’d like to take a day a month to fast and pray.

18. Pray through Operation World.

I want to pray for every country throughout the next year.

19. Spend time on Yom Kippur fasting, praying, and thinking.

I’m not Jewish, but I do want to take this holiday God gave His people to remember what He has done for me.

20. Decorate my apartment for Christmas.

I’ve slowly been collecting Christmas decorations through the years, but this will the first year that everything will be my own.

21. Meet my niece.

This is kinda a big deal and should happen well before my 30th birthday…

22. Write in my journal 100 times.

That works out to about every 4 or 5 days, which isn’t really a lot. But it’s more than I’ve written in the past year or two. Journaling is a great way for me to process.

23. Make a baby blanket for Bean.

This is a late addition. I just learned how to crochet (well, I learned a simple stitch in college, but didn’t really do much with it). I learned on a whim (because others were doing it), and I’m glad I did, as I really enjoyed it.

24. Have an empty to-read shelf.

I have no idea if this is possible. I don’t necessarily have to read everything on the shelf, but if I choose not to read it, I need to get rid of it.

This would be easier if I didn’t ask for any books for Christmas, but that’s not likely to happen…

25. Write 70 encouraging letters or emails.

I’d actually like to write more, but this is a good goal number.

26. Bake bread.

I’ve been wanting to do this for a while. I do plan on doing this in a bread machine, though.

27. Make my own laundry detergent.

This is slated for whenever I finish my current bottle. It takes a while for a single girl to go through detergent, though…

28. Finish recording the Chronicles of Narnia for my niece.

I’m halfway through The Magician’s Nephew which is going faster than I expected. 6 1/2 books to go…

29. Walk 4 miles on the treadmill.

Not like that’s very far (I’m pretty sure I’ve walked around the streets of Turkey for at least that far), but I’d still like to do it.

30. Read the Qur’an and the Book of Mormon.

They’ve both been sitting on my shelves since college. I started reading the Qur’an this summer, but I’d like to finish both by some time next year.

When trying to figure out a family vacation for the 5 of us (my parents, my brother and his wife, and I) we really struggled. Five schedules are hard to coordinate! Finally, we were able to find a long weekend where we and the two grand-dogs could get away. Since we had the grand-dogs and only 4 days, it was an easy choice to decide to go to a pet-friendly cabin on Table Rock in the Ozarks.

At this point, I’ll apologize for the lack of pictures. Since the men of the family are big on pictures (especially my dad), I don’t worry about taking pictures myself. I only got a couple on my phone that I knew I really wanted.

Despite living only a few hours away, I had never been to the Ozarks (in southern Missouri). It was a good experience. And while my family aren’t what I’d call “lake people,” we had a lot of fun. We even rented a boat for an afternoon and each took turns navigating the swollen lake. Besides the one time my brother deliberately tried to throw me into the lake by suddenly stopping us while I was standing, it was fun.

Since we were in very-southern Missouri (and out in the boonies), the closest grocery store was Walmart down in Arkansas. I’ve never been to Arkansas (I don’t count the one time my plane was re-routed through NW Arkansas), though it is one of the closest states to my hometown. It was only fitting that we went to Walmart…what else is Arkansas known for?

Another day, we went to a drive thru zoo. My family was looking out for me the only animal-disliker of the family by allowing me to sit in the very back of the rented SUV. No windows for creatures to try to “get” to me through! Good thing, as my SIL almost got eaten by an elk…or something like that.

Overall, it was a relaxing and enjoyable trip. It was crazy to think that this would be the last time that we’d be together as a family of five. For my SIL’s sake, I hope she isn’t pregnant the next time I see her (I’m flying to Kansas next the day before her due date)!

On our way back to Kansas, we stopped at one of the major tourist attractions in Kansas: Big Brutus. Never heard of him? Neither had I. Apparently it’s the world largest electric shovel in the world. It’s job in the 60s and early 70s (before they realized just how bad it was for the land!) was to easily strip away the soil and allow the miners to get to the coal. Believe me, Big Brutus is called “big” for a reason…he’s huge!

See the “tiny” person in the front of Brutus on the left? Yep. Those wheels at the bottom are taller than me by at least a foot. We got to go up inside Brutus, and the body was as big as a warehouse.

Who in the world let me control this thing?

This morning I’m heading out to Texas. For the next week and a half, I’ll be spending a good amount of time in airports and planes.

After spending a long weekend with my college roommate in Texas, I’ll fly back to North Carolina Monday evening.

Then Wednesday afternoon I’ll be flying again. This time to Kansas for some time with my family.

Don’t ask me why I’m traveling like this. When I realized that these trips would be back to back, I considered simply driving the 6 hours between the two. But I just didn’t want to do it. Plus, between the rental car, gas, and extra time off work, it wouldn’t really be worth it.

So, between now and Tuesday the 28th, I’ll be traveling. I’ll still be regularly blogging while I’m gone (okay, I’ve actually already written all the posts). I’ll update y’all when I get back.

News Item #2

I’m moving again. I had no plans to move even a week ago, but in order to allow my roommate to help her family out, it’d be best for me to move out. When I found this out for sure Saturday night I immediately started looking, and by Tuesday lunch, I had put a hold on an apartment:

My apartment is on top. Really random picture, but the others I have showed the apartment number. Those windows are LARGE (about 5′ x 6′) and there are two sets. Also a tiny window in the kitchen door and a medium-sized window in the bedroom. I particularly picked this unit because it was sunny!

I always make decisions fast (but reserve the right to change my mind). I don’t always move fast, though!

Though I had no plans on leaving and there are definitely many things I’ll miss about living with my roommate and my current living arrangements, I’m only looking forward. I am excited about the move as this is the first time I’ll be living on my own!

Oh, do you want to see the view from my front door?

I’ll totally be reading poolside.

So that’s what I’m up to. I will be moving mid-July, so will be keeping you posted on all that!

Speaking of which, it’s about time to start picking out my reads for my upcoming trips. With the Nook, future planning is not required, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to plan it out!

1. Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

When I think of beach reads, I think of books that aren’t intimidating and that draw you in. Uglies is such a book, a light dystopian read.

2. The Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker

I’ve read Black, Red, and White a couple of times as vacation reads. This is what I was reading when the rest of my family

walked across the Golden Gate bridge and I people-watched. The only problem is that these are very hard to put down…

3. My Hands Came Away Red by Lisa McKay

I think I’m just picking books that I did read on vacation. Still, I usually have more books than I can read on vacation, so the ones that I do pick up are the ones that I was in the mood for on vacation.

4. In the Name of God by Paula Jolin

Okay, so this one I didn’t read on vacation. It’s actually a rather strange pick for this list, but hear me out. It’s a young adult book, so it reads fairly fast. And while it’s certainly not a light read, it’s a thinker in a good way, not a heavy way.

And with that, I’m pretty sure no one is ever going to let me write a blurb on the back of a book.

5. Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden

Another young adult book, one full of adventure and emotion. And I’ve mentioned it before, but I’ll mention it again: it was my favorite book as a teen.

How Marsden got into the head of a teenage girl, I have no idea.

6. The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose

I had to include a non-fiction book on this list, and this one about an undercover agnostic at an evangelical university seemed likely the obvious first choice. It’s humorous and makes some good points about the evangelical community.

7. Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

And this was an easy second choice of non-fiction book. I think it may have been the book that turned me on to memoirs.

8. The Help by Kathryn Stockett

This is the type of book that will take all vacation to read, yet reading it will be one of the highlights of your vacation.

9. Out of the Silent Planet by   C. S. Lewis

I don’t get to recommend Lewis’s Space Trilogy as much as I would like. I think that they’re a fascinating series with as much–if not more–to discuss than the Chronicles of Narnia.

10. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

A short but memorable read, likely more enjoyed by adults than by kids.

Any recommendations for me for my upcoming trips? No chick lit, historical fiction, romance, or paranormal books, please!

This is my 6th Christmas flying to Kansas, and 2 of the previous 5 times I’ve gotten stuck, in Atlanta and then in Chicago.  Last year’s trip was uneventful, and that’s what I’m expecting this time.  I have pretty good odds, too, as there’s not an ounce of precipitation in the forecasts for Raleigh, Atlanta (my layover), or Wichita.

I’ll “see” you guys on the other side, after I get back to North Carolina on Monday!

1.  Saw Phantom of the Opera.

2.  Saw my baby brother marry the best woman for him.

3.  Was a bridesmaid (and a maid of honor) for the first time(s).

4.  Got buried in snow in North Carolina for the first time.

5.  Watched Gone with the Wind.

6.  Added a second tax site at work.

7.  Met a US congressman…who got voted out in the most recent election.

8.  Read several books that really influenced me.

9.  Started making serious progress on making my life better for creation.

10.  Saved a (very small) emergency savings, and kept it.

11.  Left apartment life behind (though I was sad to part ways with my roommate of 3 years).

12.  Grew my first vegetable garden with moderate success.

13.  Went on my first overnight work trip.

14.  Got my car wrecked by an anonymous drunk, angry driver.

15.  Went to kids’ camp for the first time as an adult and loved it.

16.  Have finished my 5th year at my job…by far the longest I’ve worked anywhere.

17.  Helped my roommate through the first homeowner’s crisis I’ve ever dealt with: the death of a water heater.

18.  Vlogged for the first time.

19.  Got my game on, competing with friends in a diet and exercise competition.  The first time was helpful, the second time, not so much.

20.  Switched from teaching Sunday school to kindergarteners to helping with the 5th and 6th grade class.

21.  Had my first solo vacation and loved it.

22.  Voted for my first Democrats.

23.  Helped with the first ever Readathon for Hunger.

24.  Wrote a novel.

25.  Decorated my first full-sized Christmas tree not in my parents’ home.

26.  Read 164 books.

27.  Traveled to Atlanta, Wichita, Myrtle Beach, Norman, Charlotte, Roanoke, Denison (Texas, 2x), Kansas City, small town Kansas, and the middle of nowhere.

This trip has been great.  I’ve gotten a good bit read, but also have spent a lot of time playing games and hanging out with the family.  All of my dad’s family was in town, so we got to have some good times with the cousins.

Some highlights:

• Being taught, alongside a couple of other older cousins, how to play dominoes by my 9yo cousin.  Actually, it’s a lot of fun…who knew?
• OU beating OSU (and what a wild game!), sending us to the Big 12 Championship.  Actually, I’m probably more excited to have one last opportunity to  beat Nebraska before the hightail it out of the Big 12.
• Spending most of the trip in my pajamas much to my mother’s chagrin (Hi, Mom!).
• Being introduced to this site by my sister-in-law.  I’ve adopted the word “historiaster,” which means a contemptible or inferior historian.  I do believe it’d make a great intellectual insult.
• Essentially having a sleepover with my cousins.  Five of us had a lot of fun playing different games including Mario Kart.  I still suck.

I’m not flying out until tomorrow morning (early! way early!), so I’ll be going to lunch with my grandma (Hi, G. Zoe!) and visiting the school where my mom principals (that’s a verb, right?).  It’s been a great trip, primarily because it’s been so low-key.  I think I’ve figured out that I most appreciate the trips where I never leave the destination after I’ve gotten there.