Monthly Archives: February 2016
Wordless Wednesday: No. 5
Dear Valentines Day Haters
Dear Valentines Day Haters,
I get it, I really do… But I think you are wrong. I know that it is an invented holiday, and that it can be expensive. That it can be cheesy, and that it can pressure people into meeting a worldly status quo, buying exorbitant gifts of teddies and heart shaped chocolates to say something or express feelings that they should be able to be express any day of the week. That the love celebrated on Valentine’s Day is the same the day before and the day after… And that we should celebrate love everyday. I get it. And to all of that, I agree, but here is the thing… We live in a world where bad things happen all the time, where people hold in their feelings and don’t tell those they love, that they love them. Where we take each other for granted and sometimes life just gets in the way of quality time, or celebrating life together.
Sometimes we need permission to stop and just have some time with the people that we love… Sure you can do this any day of the week, but we don’t… But today on Valentine’s we have an excuse to stop, to reflect, to be generous and to love those we love. I love Valentine’s Day… I don’t get or buy heart shaped chocolates, but I do stop to go out or do something special and I don’t feel guilty about all the things I need to do at home, or that we are wasting money… Because it’s Valentine’s Day and that’s what you do. I have a great reason to put into words how I feel about my husband and to stop and tell him. Even though I tell him everyday, I make a point to tell him today… And even though it is a silly holiday… I like it… And it’s not going away… So why not embrace it… And love those you love. You don’t have to buy into the commercial side of it… But you can take a minute and hug those you care about… Because the love is the good bit… It’s what we need more of… It’s how we be Christ to each other…
Wordless Wednesday: No. 56
Wordless Wednsday: No. 20
The 2015 List Wrap Up
Ok… so with the end of 2015 it’s time to check out what actually came of the list… the full run down. Once again there have been heaps of times this year when the list has been on the back burner while life went on. Which is good, because it means that life is actually full of heaps of fun stuff. So much fun stuff that it’s February and it’s only now that this blog is being published… instead of it’s usual December appearance… I guess all that matters is that it is here now. 2015 was another full on year and you can get a better recap of all that happened here. But what happened with the list? Good question… and you are in luck because it is all here for you to read about below… Just like all the other years those that have a blog of their own have a hyperlink so you can just click it and read all about it… and the ones that don’t are all listed below with either an explanation of what did or didn’t happen…
Visit Hobbiton– completed: 01/01/15- Make my own dumplings
No excuses really… I just ran out of time. Do another Pinterest craft– completed: 13/02/15Make my own hot cross buns– completed: 05/04/15Follow through with the 2015 date box again– completed: 22/12/15
All done and dusted for another year… once again we had to sneak a few into November and December, but they were all done and quality time was enjoyed.Paint Something– completed: 15/08/15Eat something I have planted– completed: 27/01/15Buy lunch at work no more than twice a week– completed: 23/12/16
This year I got much better at taking my lunch… there were still a lot of lunches out, but there were less… and no more than two in any one week.Go to two weddings– completed: 21/02/15 (wedding 1, wedding 2)Order fish at a restaurant– completed: 06/01/15- Try again to embrace home cooking
This one I struggle with and I don’t know why… I like cooking… I am just not good at actually doing… maybe next year? Have a weekend away– completed: 26/04/15Go to some carols by candlelight– completed: 14/12/15
We actually did a few carols by candlelight… starting with the ones on the 14th and finishing with the ones on Christmas eve at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.Work as a classroom teacher– completed 13/03/15- Make the most of my gym membership
I could have done more… let’s be honest. - Run 5km without walking
Not yet… there is still hope… 5km is a fairly comfortable distance now which is good, but I am not running the whole thing. Do some trivia– completed: 17/01/15Learn another song on guitar– completed: 20/12/15
Hello “American Honey” by Lady AntebellumHave a picnic in the backyard– completed: 22/12/15
We should do this more often… it is niceStart collecting and sorting photos of Dave and I’s family history– completed: 20/12/15
The collection has started… it probably needs a little more structure, but it has been started… and that’s all the list required.See some black sand– completed: 02/01/15Put some new photos up around the house– completed: 11/04/15Blow some giant bubbles– completed: 05/12/15
An excellent Family Christmas BBQ activity for the whole familyRide a rollercoaster– completed: 09/04/15Play mini golf– completed: 08/12/15
It was only one hole… in works put put comp… but that still counts right?See a movie at the drive-in– completed: 14/02/15Build a sandcastle– completed: 01/12/15
Thank you December Date DayBuy an ice cream from an ice cream truck– completed: 12/12/15
Is there a better way to celebrate seeing Taylor Swift live? I don’t think soTake a selfie with the selfie stick fully extended– completed: 10/01/15Go to the beach at least 5 times– completed: 26/01/15Stargaze while lying on the grass– completed: 13/11/15
I should do this more often too… the night sky is pretty incredibleWatch the sunset from a beach– completed 01/12/15
Again I say… Thank you December Date DayRent a bike and go on an adventure– completed: 03/01/15Stay at the Langham– completed: 07/01/15Go Hiking– completed: 03/01/15Take a last minute road trip– completed: 01/10/15Make a playlist for each season(Summer and Autumn; Winter) – completed: 03/12/15
And finally I give you Spring: :
– Open Heaven (River Wild) – Hillsong United
– Tommy and Krista – Thirsty Merc
– Unashamed Desire – Missy Higgins
– Different Worlds – Brittany Cairns
– Head to Heart – United Pursuit
– Midnight Clear (Love Song) – Chris Tomlin
– He Shall Reign Forevermore – Chris Tomlin
– Adore – Chris Tomlin- Bake a cake for someone
No excuses really… it just didn’t happen. - Buy a stranger dinner (e.g. pay for someone else meal at a restaurant)
Also no excuse for this one… Learn a greeting in a language I haven’t spoken before– completed: 07/11/15Give a heartfelt surprise to someone– completed: 10/08/15Dance in the rain– completed: 20/12/15
This is pretty self explanatory… it rained and I danced… it was summer which made the whole thing a lot more comfortable.Plant a tree– completed: 22/09/15Knit a scarf– completed: 30/05/15Read a book on a subject you wouldn’t normally choose– completed: 08/06/15Fly a kite– completed: 17/01/15
This actually happened way back in Jan… rather unsuccessfully… the kite strings snapped in the wind… but for a brief moment it flew.- Write and email/call a company from which I received excellent service
This one just didn’t happen either… I am not sure why… probably because when it comes to things like this… I am all talk Go on a romantic getaway– completed: 13/11/15
Dave planned a camping trip, just for a night and just to help me cross things off the list… that’s pretty darn romantic.Help someone in need– completed: 20/12/15
I probably could have done more… but we did feed a community with the help of Just SalvosLearn something in sign language– completed: 08/06/15Wear fancy dress to something– completed: 29/08/15See two oceans meet– completed: 05/01/15Go in a sea vessel… kayak, canoe, paddle boat, regular boat… whatever– completed: 06/01/15Play a board game with friends– completed: 11/07/15- Write at least 3 letters to my prayer pal
Go fruit picking– completed: 08/11/15- Swim 20km across the year
Do another boot camp– completed: 04/12/15
It wasn’t an official bootcamp, but I did work hard thanks to my trainer for the day RachelDo another fun run– completed: 02/12/15
You should all go out and sign up to next years Santa Run… it is fun… and ridiculous… but mostly fun- Walk/run 400km across the year
Go camping– completed: 13/11/15Walk 10,000 steps more often than I don’t– completed: 31/12/15
I don’t think I got there every day, but I certainly walked 10,000 steps more often than I didn’t.See some fireworks– completed: 13/12/15
Carols by Candlelight are also excellent places to see fireworks.Eat a Feijoa– completed: 16/04/15Go on a luge– completed: 03/01/14Swim in a thermal pool– completed: 02/01/15- Cook all meals at home for a fortnight (no going out or lazy take away)
- Take a photo everyday
- Play Super Mario Bros
See a Musical– completed: 07/02/15Read 15 books– completed: 27/10/15Try four more local cafes in search of our new breakfast spot– completed: 21/11/15
I still haven’t found a new favourite… but the search is continuing… 4 down, plenty more to try.
Try Inverloch’s ‘Red Cup’ equivalent– completed: 25/04/15
It didn’t end up being the cafe I thought it would be as this one opened first and ruined the others plans… but this one was good.Have a mocktail– completed: 17/02/15- Finish unpacking the last boxes
Visit a country town I haven’t been to before– completed: 01/10/15Put up some outside lights for Christmas– completed: 25/12/15
We got some new outdoor Christmas lights for Christmas… so Christmas night we tested them out… that still counts right?Keep getting closer– completed: 31/12/15
There is still a long way to go, but I can honestly say that I am way better off than I was at the beginning of the year and it’s been a long time since I could say that, so it feels good.See Big Hero6– completed: 30/05/15- Use a remote control toy
See a live music concert… or 4– completed: 26/09/15Do some colouring– completed: 08/05/15Go to a live sporting event– completed: 08/01/15Have a hot jam donut– completed: 14/12/15
The may have just been from Coles… and they may have been mini… but they were good.Have High Tea– completed: 07/02/15- Cook something from each of my Donna Hay Mags
If I had embraced no.11 better, this might have stood a chance… but unfortunately neither have been done. Learn a new skill– completed: 10/05/15Make a photo book of our New Zealand Adventure– completed: 27/12/15
It isn’t finished, but it has been started… I think this one will also be on next years list.Have at least 5 different groups of people over for dinner– completed 07/09/15Ride a push bike without tears– completed: 03/01/15Complete my sentence a day book for 2015– completed: 31/12/15
Again… this one is pretty self explanatory, but I have really enjoyed doing it… I am really looking forward to what will change in next years sentences.- Make a teepee or blanket fort and watch a movie in it
Go to a farmers market– completed: 26/04/15Go through the alphabet of foods/restaurants/cuisines– completed: 19/12/15
This one ended up being a little different from what I imagined too, but here is the list:
A = Apple Pie, B = Broccoli, C = Carrot, D = Donuts, E = Eggnog, F = Fries, G = Gingerbread house, H = Homus, I = Ice Cream Slice, J= Jam, K = Koren BBQ, L = Lamb, M = Massaman Beef Curry, N = Nectarine, O = Octopus, P = Peachy Keenie Custard, Q = Quince Paste, R = Raspberries, S = String Beans, T = Tea, U = Unsalted Nuts, V = Vermicelli, W = Watermelon, X = Xanthan Gum, Y = Yogurt, Z = Zucchini.Do something handy at home– completed: 14/02/15- Walk the dog once a week
Sorry Dex 😦 Set up our outdoor furniture and eat at it– completed: 19/10/15Actually read through the New Testament– completed: 19/12/15
The whole thing… a little each day, but the whole thing.See a wild swimming animal– completed: 06/01/15Touch a volcano– completed: 02/01/15
Ok… So there you go… that’s the list wrap for last year… 82 out of 100… I think that’s my best year yet! Bring on 2016!