Things I Did in 2013, and Things I Want to Do in 2014!

As I’m sure you know by now, I love lists! They are definitely a part of my OCD tendencies, mostly because they help me to see objectives that I need/want to accomplish and give me a sense of completion when I’m done with them. With that being said, I’m going to switch things up and give a list of cool/interesting/noteworthy things I did in 2013, instead of beating a dead horse and re-writing my feelings about them…if you want to read about most of them, you can look through the archives, this is just a highlight reel :) I happened to make a goal list at this time last year, so as I go through my list, I’ll highlight everything I've accomplished!

                                                                                               

January

-I made my first quilt

-I started a real workout regimen with Liz and Evan

-I started the much-needed process of reconnecting with Liz

-I began the application process to OSU

-I began my challenging, but enjoyable Differential Equations course!

February

-I had the pleasure of watching Cody and Wyatt compete in their annual pinewood derby

-Mimi took a nasty spill and began a month-long stint in the hospital

-I reconnected myself to Michelle’s life, and started to consider ways to serve as an advocate for her cause

March

-I went on a fun shopping trip to OKC with Liz

-I received my Coca-Cola Scholarship, which was a huge relief/surprise for me :)

-I turned 20 and had multiple awesome celebrations with my friends/family

-We found out that Gina was expecting her third child!!!!!

-Mimi turned 95!!! (But I missed her party because I was suffering from a stomach bug :(  )

April

-I enrolled at OSU and began to delve into my new life there

-My parents celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary!

-I met Kelly Ogle, and discovered that we have a shared love for flashy tennis shoes!

-I visited the Murrah Bombing museum for the first time

-I attended my first Redhawks game

-I had my first professional manicure
-I took the OGET

-I graduated from NOC as a math major, with a 4.0 GPA!!!!!

-I ended my beloved tutoring/student assistant job

May

-I bought my trailer and secured living arrangements for myself!

-I started my job at the quilt store :)

-I ran my only 5K of the year and set a course PR!!! (In a related incident, I also lost my big toenail and fell off the fitness wagon for the rest of the year…oops!)

-Tonisha moved to Wichita :(

June

-I sort-of celebrated Liz’s 21st Birthday with her

-Our beloved bottle calf, Buckles, was put down because he was rabid

-Harvest was a short-lived affair

-Lots and lots of rain fell!!!

-I really grew to love my job at the quilt store!

July

-I made my 2nd quilt, for what I found out would be my 6th nephew!

-I did lots of quilty-crafty things, mostly out of inspiration from my job

-I had lots of mini freak-outs due to my impending move to OSU

August

-Mimi had a stroke that we legitimately thought she would not survive, but did! (Praise GOD!!!)

-Scotty and Emily celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary!

-I started at OSU and LOVED it!!!

-I started going to St. John’s

-I made tons of friends :)

-I started attending Bible Study with my awesome missionary, Heather!

September

-I began my first observation experience!

-I attended my first OSU football game/tailgating party

-I played flag football and soccer for the first time on the church intramural teams

-I made even more friends!!!

October

-I attended my first Walk-Around

-I learned how to Contra dance :)

-Dad had his long-awaited shed warming and beard-shearing party!

-Jakub was born!!!!!!!! :)

-I began my second, and less exciting, observation experience

November

-I started and quit my first Stillwater job in about two weeks’ time…not everything works like you think it will!

-I convinced my friend Haley to visit OSU and hopefully consider a future here!!

-I attended the huge OSU/Baylor game!!!

-I made my first YouTube video, thanks to my St. John’s friends!

December

-I experienced my first snowstorm in the trailer

-I attended my first Bedlam game, which we lost :(

-I completed my first semester at OSU AND I kept my 4.0 GPA for one more semester!!!!!!!

-I hosted a dinner party!

-I celebrated another amazing Christmas with my family!

-I started my brief return to the quilt store

-I celebrated New Year’s Eve with my family by falling asleep before midnight…what can I say, I was exhausted from all of the cool stuff I did this year!! ;)

Needless to say, I had a great year, even when you consider the not-so-great things, which is why I can’t say that I’m too disappointed in the fact that I didn't’t complete everything on my list. If you’re curious about what I didn't do but wanted to, here are the things that I wasn't able to cross off of last year’s goal list:

-Run a 5K in less than 30 minutes

-Start attending Yoga classes/running groups

-Run a 10K

-Go on at least 1 date with a different guy

So, obviously I didn't complete any of my fitness goals, but I did manage to steadily work out for 4 months, so that’s a huge deal to me! Truth be told, losing my toenail set me back much more than it realistically should have. Also, I think that all of my life changes weren't conducive to working on any of these things.

As far as the dating thing goes, it was probably a good thing that that did not happen, because I really needed this year of alone time to help re-center myself and figure out more of who I am, what type of person I really want to date, and how I need to improve myself before investing any time in a new relationship. I am happy to say that I have made lots of headway in all of those areas, and I am starting 2014 with a clean slate!

Now for the million-dollar question: What do I want to accomplish in 2014? Thanks to some inspiration from my awesome quilt store boss, Randa, I decided to compile a list of things I want to do! After some serious contemplating, this is what I decided I want to attempt to do this year!

-Run a 10K, or at least a sub-30 5K…I put something similar to this on my list every year and I’ve never done it, but it is high time I did…I’m only getting older!

-Sleep more by going to bed at a decent time!

-Read all 4 Gospels and Acts of the Apostles…I think it would help me better understand the roots of my faith!

-Spend more time on schoolwork than on social media…surprisingly, my social media struggle is Pinterest, because I start out using it for education assignments, then get distracted and end up looking at wedding boards or funny pictures…oops!

-Learn how to dance better…I’m thinking that a ballroom dancing class is in my future; surely they offer something like that at the Colvin, or even as an actual class!

-Learn how to cook 1 new meal every month! I’d also like to try to make these meals to share with people, but we’ll see how that part goes! It’s time to shake things up!

-Start dating!!! :)

I’m probably starting to sound like I’m super preoccupied with dating and relationships, which I’m really not, but then again sometimes I feel like I am. I’m at a weird point in my life, because there is a part of me that greatly wants to be in love and look towards marriage. (Not just a pretty wedding, a marriage) Then, there’s the part of me that says that I’m only 21-ish, and I have my whole life to be married, and I have lots of things I want to do that would be easier to do as a single person, and I’m still working on my first degree. The struggle is real, just saying! My current hang-up is determining whether I should wait for a guy to pursue me, or if I should summon some kind of crazy courage and ask a guy out. Honestly, neither is extremely enticing right now because I often struggle with patience and courage. I really have no idea where this area of my life will go this year, which means that all I really can do is lift it up to God and see what He wants me to do! (If you think about it, you could also say a small prayer for me to understand God’s plan for this area of my life…I’d sure appreciate it!!)

With all of that being said, here’s to a 2014 that is as good to me as 2013 was!!! Happy New Year! :)

P.S.: I'd love to hear some of your goals for 2014! :)