I'm 40 and 1/2 today!

Greetings! Well, this is a long-overdue post, isn't it?

So far 2014 has been a busy year of change for me, and I haven't gotten to anything remaining on my '40 Things' list yet this year. Here's to making some time to try a few more new things this year and to continue living life to the fullest!

And, to recap, here is my list of '40 Things' plus the 10 bonus items I added in December:

The '40 Things' List... has grown!

1. Go snowshoeing.
2. Serve a meal in a soup kitchen.
3. Eat something I've never tried before.
4. Visit a town in Saskatchewan that I've never been to before.
5. Plan my dream 40th birthday trip.
6. Start running again.
7. Visit a US state I haven't been to before.
8. Read a classic novel.
9. Create and complete a scrapbook for one of the trips I've taken in my 30s.
10. Do up a will.
11. Complete one of my cross-stitch projects.
12. Go kayaking.
13. Get my website business off the ground.
14. Take a self-defense class/course.
15. Go horseback riding.
16. Visit a museum or historic site in Saskatchewan that I haven't been to before.
17. Give blood regularly.
18. Attend a Victorian Tea.
19. Ride my bike in the city.
20. Stop and smell the flowers at a garden I haven't been to before.
21. Try an activity that's new to me.
22. Walk a portion of the Trans Canada Trail that I haven't been on before.
23. Learn more about my family history.
24. Visit a park in Regina I haven't been to before.
25. Participate in a fundraiser that involves a physical activity.
26. Simplify some area of my life that needs simplifying.
27. Learn how to change a tire on a vehicle.
28. Explore Regina's backyard - see what's just outside the city limits.
29. Learn more about Canadian history.
30. Visit a natural site in Saskatchewan I haven't been to before.
31. Learn to play the guitar.
32. Visit a Canadian National Park I haven't been to before.
33. Climb Wascana Hill in Douglas Park and watch a sunset.
34. Visit the observatory at the Science Centre.
35. Attend Mosaic - a multicultural festival held annually.
36. Play my first solo concert on the bells.
37. Attend an outdoor movie event.
38. Go fly a kite!
39. Play a mini golf course I haven't been on before.
40. Go on dream 40th birthday trip!
41. Attend a Regina Red Sox baseball game.
42. Visit Saskatchewan's only lighthouse.
43. Run a 5K.
44. Visit the Great Sandhills in Saskatchewan.
45. Visit a Canadian province or territory I haven't been to before.
46. Attend the annual kite festival in Swift Current.
47. Visit a major US city I haven't been to before.
48. Watch a sunrise.
49. Try another activity that's new to me.
50. It's a surprise (even to me!) - I'll know it when the opportunity presents itself.

2014: The Year of Perseverance!

With the changing of calendars comes a change in focus for me in this new year - from joy in 2013 to perseverance in 2014.

Perseverance can be described as 'steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.' Synonyms of perseverance include persistence, tenacity, determination, staying power, steadfastness, purposefulness; patience, endurance, application, diligence, dedication, commitment, doggedness, tirelessness, stamina.

There are several verses in the Bible that mention perseverance, but the one that stands out to me the most is Romans 5:3-5:

"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."~ New King James Version (NKJV)

I'm mostly focusing on the fact that perseverance produces character and character produces hope, but here are a couple of other versions to compare with. I find it interesting that joy is a necessary ingredient on the path to perseverance. I think I may just need it!

"There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!" ~ The Message (MSG)

"Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us." ~ Amplified Bible (AMP)

It will be interesting to see what lessons I'll learn and how this year of perseverance will affect me and my future. Stay tuned...

Looking back on my year of joy...

It's been quite a year, 2013 has - full of fun, new things and plenty of joy!

Here are some of the lessons learned, things that challenged me, and joyful experiences this year brought:

January 1, 2013 - I began the day by watching the 124th Rose Parade from Pasadena, California. This year's theme was, "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" based on the Dr. Seuss book. What a great theme for the parade and for my year! I went to several places: Cuba, southern Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Montana/Wyoming/Idaho, and all over Europe!

Another plus to today was the temperature - right around zero and sunny. My friend Melinda and I went for our first cross-country ski of the season, and it was quite enjoyable! Finally, in the evening I watched a special presentation of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra that takes place each year at the Golden Hall in Vienna, Austria. I visited this beautiful concert venue during my first trip to Europe and it was such a treat to be part of the audience once again!

March 2013 - The movie playing on my flight to Cuba was called Chasing Mavericks. I had never heard of it before, and less than enthusiastically began watching it only to be sucked into a drama about an average boy who had a very big dream: to surf mavericks - the largest waves in the world. This boy continued to dream, grow, and train to relentlessly pursue his goal. He wouldn't settle, wouldn't be dissuaded by anyone, and kept his eye on the prize - eventually achieving his goal and conquering many more. I was quite amazed by this rather unassuming movie about surfing, cried tears of joy and sadness, and continue to be challenged to dream big!

September/October 2013 - I traveled to Italy for my dream 40th birthday trip, and it truly was a dream come true! While in Italy I heard over and over again, "Live!", "Live Life!", "Enjoy Life!", "Carpe Diem! (Seize the Day!)" It's so simple really, but we don't do it. We get bogged down in the shoulda, coulda, woulda's and only every seem to mire in the mundane. Well, no more. I'm going to live life and enjoy life!

December 2013 - In the days leading up to Christmas, I watched another movie that really made an impact on me: Secondhand Lions. In this movie we meet two older men who didn't want to stop living, but had nothing to live for anymore. Nothing, until a great-nephew who needed them showed up at their door. The men began to live again, if only in the stories of their adventure they told to young Walt. And, wouldn't you know, Walt had an affect on them too - they had lived their lives to the full in their youth, and Walt challenged them to keep living (after all, their lives weren't over yet!). The last two lines of the movie are very special:

Sheik's Grandson to Adult Walter: "They really lived?"

Adult Walter to Sheik's Grandson: "They REALLY lived!"

Wow! What a challenge to drink deeply of life, live life to the full, and live life out loud. John 10:10 has been my favourite verse for the last decade. In the Amplified Version it says, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." That's my goal! That's what I want!

It's the 1st anniversary of my blog - it's 12/12/13!

Last year on 12/12/12, I began this blog. It was a bit of a whim and a bit of a great plan I had yet to see unfold.

I had ambitions of creating and crossing all 40 items off my list in a single year, and a great feat that would have been. I have seen too many years - especially summers - whiz by on me while I'm left with thoughts of, "I wish I would have done this or that." This year, I surpassed my goals, my expectations and had many new and fun experiences. Was it worth it? Oh yes, it was! Do I want to see and do and experience more? You bet, I do!

So, here's the plan... In this, my 40th year, I hope to finish off my '40 Things' list and also do these 10 bonus items I've come up with:

41. Attend a Regina Red Sox baseball game.
42. Visit Saskatchewan's only lighthouse.
43. Run a 5K.
44. Visit the Great Sandhills in Saskatchewan.
45. Visit a Canadian province or territory I haven't been to before.
46. Attend the annual kite festival in Swift Current.
47. Visit a major US city I haven't been to before.
48. Watch a sunrise.
49. Try another activity that's new to me.
50. It's a surprise (even to me!) - I'll know it when the opportunity presents itself.

The 'Big Day' has finally arrived!

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday, I'm 40... Happy Birthday to me!

Today is the big day - the year of lead up, of creating and then crossing items off my mini bucket list, has come to this - I am now 40!

It's been a good day. Today, for the first time ever in my adult life, I had the day off work - on a weekday! I tried to make this happen ten years ago when I turned 30, but my plans fell through. This time around it worked, and so I spent the day with friends.

To begin with, I had breakfast at Smitty's with four special ladies - Helen, June, Debra and Kathy. This has been our thing we do the last few years - get together a few times a year over breakfast and catch up on each others' lives.

In the afternoon, I met another friend Dorothy at a newer coffee shop I hadn't been to before - Le Macaron. Sounds yummy, doesn't it? It was - check out this French-named concoction I devoured!

To cap off the day, I met three friends for supper at Boston Pizza. We enjoyed a good meal, had a wonderful visit, and I went home full - and blessed!

It was wonderful to see so many people I hadn't seen in a few months and have them help me celebrate this rather momentous occasion - definitely a special way to spend a special day!

And, thank you to friends near and far who followed along with me on this journey. It's been a lot of fun, and I'm not done yet. The mini bucket list is only half done and I have a whole year of being 40 ahead of me, so I'm going to attempt to finish off this list in 2014.

Stayed tuned...

Only one month left...

Wow! I'm down to one month before my 40th birthday and I'm only half done my list. It has been a lot of fun experiencing a number of new things this year. I am not giving up on my list; I am going to continue to work on it over the next year and may even add a few new items! Stay tuned...

The '40 Things' List

1. Go snowshoeing.
2. Serve a meal in a soup kitchen.
3. Eat something I've never tried before.
4. Visit a town in Saskatchewan that I've never been to before.
5. Plan my dream 40th birthday trip.
6. Start running again.
7. Visit a US state I haven't been to before.
8. Read a classic novel.
9. Create and complete a scrapbook for one of the trips I've taken in my 30s.
10. Do up a will.
11. Complete one of my cross-stitch projects.
12. Go kayaking.
13. Get my website business off the ground.
14. Take a self-defense class/course.
15. Go horseback riding.
16. Visit a museum or historic site in Saskatchewan that I haven't been to before.
17. Give blood regularly.
18. Attend a Victorian Tea.
19. Ride my bike in the city.
20. Stop and smell the flowers at a garden I haven't been to before.
21. Try an activity that's new to me.
22. Walk a portion of the Trans Canada Trail that I haven't been on before.
23. Learn more about my family history.
24. Visit a park in Regina I haven't been to before.
25. Participate in a fundraiser that involves a physical activity.
26. Simplify some area of my life that needs simplifying.
27. Learn how to change a tire on a vehicle.
28. Explore Regina's backyard - see what's just outside the city limits.
29. Learn more about Canadian history.
30. Visit a natural site in Saskatchewan I haven't been to before.
31. Learn to play the guitar.
32. Visit a Canadian National Park I haven't been to before.
33. Climb Wascana Hill in Douglas Park and watch a sunset.
34. Visit the observatory at the Science Centre.
35. Attend Mosaic - a multicultural festival held annually.
36. Play my first solo concert on the bells.
37. Attend an outdoor movie event.
38. Go fly a kite!
39. Play a mini golf course I haven't been on before.
40. Go on dream 40th birthday trip!

Item #40 - Go on Dream 40th Birthday Trip!

I'm ba-ack!

My friend Melinda and I left Canada on September 22 and spent a month in Europe. We visited 9 countries, did 2 tours, and took lots of pictures!

My highlights were Pisa and Venice in Italy and Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Pisa was beautiful and entirely made of marble - wow! Venice was where I had my "pinch me, I'm on a gondola in Venice, Italy" moment. And Ljubljana (pronounced Lube-lee-on-a) was a pleasant surprise - it was the first place we had been that truly felt European and looked just like a miniature replica of Prague.

We saw a lot of great places, met a bunch of wonderful people, and made memories to last a lifetime. I am so glad I made this trip happen - it is not without costs though: I will be paying for this for a while. However, I was encouraged several times by those who were older on our tours - those who said, "Good for you for traveling when you're young."

The message we heard over and over (especially in Italy) was "Carpe Diem - Seize the Day!" In other words, don't put off what you want to do. You don't know how long you have, and we all need to live each day to the fullest! Go to it everyone!

The infamous Leaning Tower of Pisa!

Enjoying Venice's canals by gondola!

Beautiful Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia!