Well my birthday is soon approaching...it's not for another month and a half, but it's on my mind - I LOVE birthdays, especially MINE! Although I must admit I'm not - or I should say, I wasn't - looking forward to this one...its a milestone birthday! And quite honestly, I wasn't happy about it's arrival, because there were two things I wanted most of all to be present in my life by this time - and they aren't. I NEVER thought I would be 35...single (not even a perspective date in sight), and childless. When I was younger and dreamed of life at this age - I dreamed of marriage and a house full of children (4 minimum). But that's not what God has planned for my life, and I've really struggled with this for some time now...more and more as the birthday gets closer. 
Each year for my birthday, I get myself a gift...I mean why not? I work hard, stay busy serving with my ministries and serving the Lord, and usually put others before myself - so why not buy myself a gift every once in awhile!! But this year as I've thought about what I wanted - I thought what I would do, is give myself a gift that will take me 5 years to accomplish...that's right 5 years!!! Okay I'll be honest...I usually like the instant gratification, especially when it relates to gifts!! I should note that I'm stealing this idea, sorta, from a fellow blogger - so I must admit the idea is not original to me - but the plan of action is completely original and 100% related to me. I've decided that I would set 40 different goals for myself and work towards achieving each one before I turn 40 in May, 2016. I feel like all of these goals are very attainable and very realistic. Some of these goals are fairly simple and will easily be obtained in no time - while others will take a lot of dedication, hard work and commitment. Some will allow me to use my time giving back to others in ways I've wanted to, but haven't because I am Single - for example, I've always wanted to lead a Ladies Bible Study, but I've never been asked because I'm Single and apparently can't relate to other women - so instead, I'm going to use this desire and my passion for teen girls to lead a Summer Bible Study for girls 8-12th grade - with the hopes of it becoming a yearly "event" each Summer. Some are items that I've just always wanted to do and I've not taken the time to for whatever reason. Some will allow me to enjoy my home and allow others to enjoy it as well - I hate being at home alone. However, God has provided me with a beautiful home that I pay for each month - I need to enjoy it, care for it and I need to use it serve and glorify Him...so instead of keeping myself so busy that I'm never home, I'm going to allow myself time to be at home and also have others into my home on a more regular basis through various things. I'm also going to take some time to learn some things that I've always wanted to learn and accomplish some tasks that I've always told myself I could never do - like change the oil in my car or build something with tools - YIKES!.
My list of goals will be a gift I give to myself - it will allow me to use my desires, passions, gifts and talents to show myself that I do have a place in this world...even if I'm walking alone. So as I accomplish or work towards different goals - I'll blog about it! Which, blogging more is a goal that I've set, because I love it and it allows me to speak, when usually I'm very silent at home...a one way conversation never gets too far!! :)
Spiritual Growth, Ministry or Community Involvement- Lead a Teen Girl’s Bible Study in the Summer for 5 years
- Meg’s Meal Ministry - 1) One monthly meal in home with dinner guest(s); 2) One monthly meal provided outside of the home to friends, family, neighbors or those in need; and 3) Provide dinner once a year at the Ronald McDonald House
- Get to know my neighbors by name and something about them
- Become involved in my Community Association
- Memorize 35 different passages (series of verses or whole chapters) of scripture
- Start a Hospitality Ministry
- Disciple a teen girl one-on-one
- Provide monthly support to a missionary or missionary endeavor, with the goal being to support two in the end of five years
- Go on a Mission’s Trip and/or spend a week one week one summer working in a Camp Kitchen
- Hold a Backyard Bible Club
- Take and complete two certificate programs @ CSCC
- Start my own business
- Build something
- Learn how to change the oil in my car
- Try one new recipe each month and blog about it
- Create and keep a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly and quarterly cleaning, household maintenance and seasonal decorating schedule
- Host and lead a cooking/entertaining/hospitality class in my home
- Grow a container veggie garden
- Make smart financial decisions – learn to coupon and reduce my spending
- Learn to Can
- Learn to sew by hand and with a machine
- Re-organize Villa de Megalicious – and simplify
- Create 5 original recipes
- Grow an herb garden
- Remodel my main bathroom
- Make homemade gifts for Christmas for each person on my list
- Blog…more!
- Allow for at least 2 weeknights per week to be at home for the majority of the evening
- Allow for one Friday night or Saturday a month for myself
- Read 10 new books – outside of books read for Bible studies/ADG classes and blog my review
- Implement and keep an exercise routine
- Paint my guest room - yes this is in the right spot...if I don't do this soon - I will go crazy(ier); therefore, this falls under Healthy Living!
- Attend various festivals in Ohio each spring, summer and fall – that I’ve always wanted to go to but never taken the time
- Travel outside of the country
- Find an activity to do with each niece and nephew, individually to spend some quality time on a regular basis
- Go to Washington DC – preferably in the Spring to see the Cherry Blossom
- Learn to not feel guilty when I say “no” or “not right now” - again part of Healthy Living!
- Have dinner with all of my siblings, at least once every three months. Just the five of us (including my SIL here!)
- Buy and regularly ride a bicycle
- Establish and use a Recycle center/system at home - yet again...Healthy Living!
4 comments:
Sounds awesome Meg!!
Host and lead a cooking/entertaining/hospitality class in my home
-- I will totally attend!! :)
& if you buy a bike, we can ride together! THat's one thing I have started doing and I love it!
check out this link since you want to travel outside the US.
http://www.vagabondish.com/passport-day-is-coming-mark-your-calendar/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Vagabondish+%28Vagabondish%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher
this is a very exciting to do list you got going on :) love it - good luck!
Great entry, Megan. :) I will be praying for you as you strive to reach these goals. I hope you will keep us updated on how your progress is going. I have another friend who is doing something similar and she occasionally re-posts the entire list with a STRIKETHROUGH so we can see what she has accomplished.
You have also encouraged me to sit down and think about the different areas of my life and set goals. It's very easy to just go with the flow and let the days pass by. Thanks so much for this blog entry. :)
I am totally copying your idea but I need to some up with 50 by the time I am 50 in June of 2017.
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