45 Things To Do Before 45

I love lists, but my follow through??  Well, no, not always done, but I LOVE lists!  LOL!  Got this list idea from an IRL (In Real Life) local friend who also blogs...Wendy is fun, spunky, creative, and oh, so much younger than I!  Her list was 35 Things Before 35   Anyway, I loved her list and sparked some ideas as I too had a list running in my head and they say if you don't write it down and set goals...it won't get done.  Of course putting it out in blog world makes it a bit more um, permanent!  LOL!

I originally wrote my list in a notebook this summer of 40 things I wanted to accomplish before my 40th birthday, which is in April of 2011.  A short while after writing this down before I started this blog, I found out I was expecting our 9th child!  Well, first trimester nausea and being preggy soooooo changes a few things...so I changed end date to 45th birthday (2016) and I added 5 more entries, but still aiming for MOST of these to be accomplished before 45!!  I have totally done #6 already!!  :o)  I stole the last entry...to give myself grace...from Wendy.  I just loved that reminder that these are goals and not to sweat what I don't finish.  Just do what I can....so here we go...red notes to the side are ones that are DONE or in the process of being finished!  #1-39 are the orig list...40-44 are the new ones added.

1. Run a 5K or at least fast walk it--I really prefer to fast walk over running and better on your knees.  
2. Cake decorating class via DVD or local class with my Bonnie (she LOVES to cook)
3. Start a garden...for real...finally
4. Potty train Angus and be a diaper/pull-up free household for 1st time in over 14 yrs  [part way done on this one!!]
5. Ride a horse again!  I so miss it...at least once or twice but have to wait now that I'm preggy
6. Start a blog---DONE!!
7. Write something every day [almost do this...almost...]
8. Write at least one book 
9. Sew aprons
10. Make more of our own clothes...skirts, dresses
11. Go canoeing
12. Go tent camping as a family...half of our dc have never been 
13. Teach piano--hope to eventually do this for pay   [have started teaching my own!]
14. Set up sewing area...do more sewing and creating
15. Sell some of my/our creations
16. Get back into my favorite jeans [cue in manic laughing...um, will have to wait now til WAY after 40th and baby's birth!]
17. Set up clothesline outside to use when allergens not bad...I actually miss it in GOOD weather, and will help on our elec bill!!!!
18. Read Bible through 
19. Memorize new scripture verses
20. Paint my bedroom 
21. Paint girls' room
22. Emergency food storage...we live out in the country and after two yrs in a row of a week w/o electric and water this is very important!!  [started...]
23. Set up game night
24. Help raise awareness for adoption and the need for those in foster care...hoping someday to foster or adopt
25. Visit nursing home...make goodies to take and share
26. Take crew to Discovery Museum
27. Go rock climbing @ the Lewis' and Clark store--yep, that one will have to wait a while LOL!
28. Set up workboxes [finishing this one...rough first trimester pushed this one back a bit!]
29. Menu plans 
30. Stock new-to-us freezer w/cooked meals and dessert (even MORE important w/baby on the way, but decided to wait to totally stock until March...see #22...I don't want to lose my food this winter!)
31. Write more REAL letters (especially to our children)
32. Go to the aquarium in Jenks...planning a winter field trip...fun!
33. Work on sign language
34. Learn to make a pie crust from scratch
35. Read fiction books...at least 2 or 3 just for fun...just for me, not school related...miss that!!  
36. Get more bikes and ride as a family  
37. Go geocaching
38. Complete a BIG jigsaw puzzle as a family...haven't done that in YEARS!
39. Jump out of an airplane...tandem w/a pro...for my 40th birthday [my mom was THRILLED when I told her THIS one wasn't gonna happen cause I was preggy...I'll just move it to 45th or 50th bday now!]
40. Go back to my Nourishing Traditions recipes, healthy, natural, REAL foods as much as possible.
41. Work on my photography skills, improve, learn, strive to do more.  Would love to get a more professional camera...dreaming now...
42. Learn more about natural healing w/herbs, homeopathy and essential oils, restock my natural first aid kit.
43. Teach other moms about breastfeeding, child birth and newborn care
44. Go fly a kite more :o)  Reminder to self to not take all things seriously and remember to take the time to just go out and be a child again and have fun while my children are still young!!  
45. Give myself grace if I don't get all the things on my list checked off.

What about you?  Do you have any lists or goals to work on?  If so, share a link below in comments!