Bucket List Items

I started writing out my bucket list when I was 29. I was really, really not wanting to turn 30. I thought it was going to be the end of everything for me. I was already a women of faith but turning 30 made me step it up a bit. I wanted to feel closer to GOD and his country by doing thrilling, adventurous things. I found my list in my prayer journal last week and thought I should share it. Here is what I have on my list to do before I die. If I finish before I turn 40, I'll write a new list.
1. Skydive
2. White Water Raft.. Completed July 2011
3. Snowmobile....Completed 2010
4. Climb 14er's.... Mt. Bierstadt(more to go)
5. See all 50 States...Not much seen yet
6. Live in the Now
7. Read the entire Bible NIV in 1 year
8. Run a 1/2 marathon....  August 13, 2011
9. Hot air balloon ride
10. Swim with a dolphin
11. Zip line (preferably in another country but CO will work too)
12. Snowshoe
13. Ride in a helicopter
14. Learn to Sew (I want to sew a blanket)
15. Learn more sign language
16. Tour my favorite wine vineyards
17. Go on a Honeymoon
18. Go on a mission trip
19. Do work with the Peace Corp. or Big Sister program
TO See:
20. See the Grand Canyon
 b. Great Barrier Reef
 c. Acropolis & Athens-Greece
 d. The Vatican-Rome
 e. Coliseum-Rome
 f. Mt. Rushmore
 g. Empire State Building
 h. Statue of Liberty
Activities:
21. Mardi Gras in NOLA
22. Oktoberfest in Germany
23. Kentucky Derby
24. See my kids faces at Disney world
25. Learn to forgive.....Completed spring 2011 but can always keep learning
26. Do all lessons in "a course in miracles"
27. Scuba Dive...see a shipwreck
28. Shoot clay pigeons
29. Volunteer for a cause I believe in....Continuing but started 2010
30. Do what GOD put me here to do!

This list is always growing! I'm thankful I get the chance to do some/most of these things. My heavenly father put me here to do wonderful things and I hope I please him along my journey of adventures. Feel free to start your own bucket list and take my ideas.
Do any of you have a list? Post a link to your list so we can check it out!

xoxo
-N

1/2 Marathon results

As you all know I ran my 1st 1/2 marathon on Saturday morning. I ran from Georgetown to Idaho Springs, CO. Here's my experience.
 We arrived in Georgetown and it was about 40 degrees. I still couldn't believe I was about to run 13.1 miles. We emptied our bladders and joined the end of the line as the race started. My hand and toes went completely numb from it being so cold. We rounded the corner and completed our first mile. I was doing so good.
I ran through some beautiful mountains and watched the river flow. I prayed a lot to GOD for being with me and making me healthy enough to do what I love.
I came up on the Mile 9 marker and I couldn't believe I had run that far without walking, I had faith my training had paid off. Then not a few minutes later all the pain hit my body like a ton of bricks.
-my hips hurt to move them at all
-my toes had gone numb (it wasn't cold anymore)
-my knees felt like someone was throwing bricks at them
-my ankles felt like snapping in half
At this time I had to walk. When I felt a little surge I jogged. Mile 11 marker, I just wanted to finish, how come the miles seem to come slower! I thought of crying but didn't.
Mile 12 I thought I had nothing left in me but thought what's 1 more mile, do this! I have no idea where my burst of energy came from but I ran fast and hard to cross that finish line. As I crossed I wanted to die! First thing I said, "Why do people do this, this is miserable"! I had to sit down I felt like I was going to throw up. I sat for a while and ate a banana and drank water. I made it home and tried to nap but of course now I had some energy!
My legs hurt still and running for a couple hours is hard work. It really takes a toll on your body. I rather have speed and run shorter distances than run slow and long.
I do know now why people run that far. It's addicting. I can say I may do another one. But I really need to train more on my long runs. Just not sure if my body can keep up. I hear another goal brewing in my brain...
My results were posted and I finished in 2:40. That's 40 minutes longer than I had hoped but hey I finished right!!
I'll post pictures when I get them.
Thank you to everyone who showed there support whether through email, text, comments on here or facebook. I did think of my comments during my run and it kept me going, knowing people were supporting me!

xoxo
-N

Moss Letter

I am obsessed with using Google! Any of you use google images? I just love to see what other people are making to get ideas. Of course I follow a lot of blogs too and that's what inspires me most. So around blog land a few months ago I came across everything Moss, it's really in right now. So when I saw the initial moss letters I just had to!! I wasn't sure where I was going to put my "C" but I was so excited to start making it.

 Gold C from Hobby Lobby. I paid about $5 on sale. The moss was about $4, I used one sheet.

Final product!!
I love it! I looked at it like a million times the first 2 days I put it out. I just love how bright the green is against my maroon house. I wish I could get a good picture of my entire front entry but it's small quarters and two big pillars that it just won't work. So this is what you get, use your imagination here...

Kinda close right? I hope you like it! Overall the cost was a bit more then I wanted to spend but moss isn't cheap and the dollar store moss is to dark. My best friend liked it so much I am going to make her one, she has one empty front porch that I'm hoping to mount her initial on her wall. Maybe as a surprise?! Her birthday is next week.
I hope you like this project! Anyone else make this or something like it?

xoxo
-N

Happy Birthday TC!

8 Years ago (yesterday) I gave birth early to the most precious baby boy! Well precious for the first week at least. Lil' TC was born premature and was in NICU for about a week. He was 5 lbs 7 oz. and 19 inches long. He had little hair that was a bit dark and the most precious blue eyes I had seen in a long time.

He cried little and ate little, he was hard to nurse. When we were finally allowed to take him home to our apartment, he cried................and cried and cried. To find out months later when the crying just wouldn't stop from either of us that he had colic. I told myself that I was never having any more babies because colic will kill a mother! There is no cure and it's not fun. Here is a tip for any mom's with colicky babies, put chamomile tea in the babies bottle and it will help relieve the gas in the tummy and calm them. I kept TC in his car seat a lot, it seemed to be the only place he was happy. Our most favorite thing to do was put his car seat in front of the stereo speaker and listen to music. He was pretty fond of "We will rock you" and to this day it's his favorite song. I'm just remembering these things as I type. I love it!

TC has blessed me with something new everyday for the last 8 years with his crying, giggling, his fear of anything bug related, that he accepted the Lord into his life, his ability to play any sport and be great at it, his hate for school work, his loving kisses and hugs everyday and many more. I cannot wait to have more blessings from him for years to come.
You were the best thing God had planned for me, even though I was not planning you at age 23!

I love you TC! Happy 8th Birthday!

This birthday post is a day late because I took him to Pirate's Cove all day yesterday with friends then he wanted to go to Cici's pizza for dinner. By the time we all got home we were tired, full and ready for bed! Tanner has chosen to have a birthday party with friends in a few weeks, so come back for pictures on that.

xoxo
-N

August Goals

Summer vacation is coming to a close. It's a bittersweet moment for me. I enjoy being with my kids and having fun things to do with them but I also haven't had a day off all summer! I am ready for a break. I started a To Do list yesterday and realized I have a lot of organizing and purging of stuff I need to do. Since I won't have kids all day, I should get a lot done.

Personal:
Run a 1/2 marathon
Start a new weight training class
Fix up basement
Purge old magazines (find crafts to do as well)
Prepare to consign old clothes, kid toys

Kids:
Continue Bible verse teaching
Start a new sport

Books:
Book Club Book
Blogger book
Purpose driven life

Kitchen:
Granola bars
Homemade Oreos

Craft:
Make wine cork picture

xoxo
-N

July Overview

July was long and very hot here! My July Goals were limited due to having the kids here and wanting to be entertained all day. So here is what I accomplished.

Personal:

Continue Training
White Water Raft..see post for Details
Volunteer at the church

Reading:
Purpose driven life
Finish bible study book
Book Club Book...not liking it, so put it down
Blogger review book...took a break

Kids:
Homework 4 days per week
Be more strict with reading every night...did a few nights
Teach them scripture verses...tried a few, ongoing
Attend VBS

Kitchen:
Make something with Oats

I think I did pretty good this month. Let's bring on August!

xoxo
-N

Spruce up your outside front entry

I'm always trying to come up with ideas to spruce up my front entry. Or you can call it curb appeal. We just don't have the best entry to do much so I had to come up with something. I've always been wanting the tin stars I see everywhere, but was thinking of putting them in the backyard. They are usually really expensive so I've never bought them. Until now!
I was at Joann fabrics and they had them 50% off, but only the smaller ones, so I grabbed 2 praying my husband would like them. Here's what I came up with.

What do you think? I don't like Texas or anything about it, so I hope that's not what you think when you see this! It's a start right?!

xoxo
-N