15 out of 30

I last posted about my endeavor to accomplish 30 new and exciting things before my 30th birthday.

I only hit 15 items.

This could feel like a failure... except for the fact that I'm pretty proud of a few of the items on my list. I worried that they would all end up being about food. I had intentions to make it to my in-law's house and attempt to walk on stilts. I wanted to take a cycling class. I planned to run a 9 minute mile. I had so many more things that I really wanted to accomplish.

But then something happened this week that reminded once again how quickly everything can change. A close friend lost her 8 year-old nephew to leukemia. His journey was long and hard, but in the last 6 months of his life Liam decided to help raise money to dig fresh water wells. In his dad's words: After his relapse, in an attempt to make each day as meaningful as it could be, we decided that every day in the hospital should include three important things: learning something, making something and loving someone. After one conversation about how to love people, we ended up at the Water Project's website, and Liam started raising money to dig wells for people who have no clean water.

Because of his beautiful life over $30,000 dollars has been raised for the Water Project.

There I was lamenting not having enough time to learn to make hummus and Liam wanted to bring fresh water to the world.

These past weeks I casually tried new foods, listened to sports radio, learned how to juggle, memorized Hebrew, and pushed myself to run a 1/2 marathon. It was a fun way to finish off my twenties.

But for this year and for this life, I want so much more. I want to live better.

I want to be more like these people...

1. Liam, who lived well and full of life- giving wells of life to others.

2. Shannon, who falls on her face and prays for the orphans of the world.

3. My dad who who plays the piano for Alzheimer patients who don't remember after he leaves, but who dance and sing while he's there.

4. Becca, who is currently fostering two boys as a single mom.

5. Carson, who is making friends with the homeless men in our area.

6. My mother-in-law, who has volunteered at a homeless shelter for over 20 years.

7. Carey, who dreams big and listens intently for the voice of our Father.

8. Mary, whose heart for refugees could hold up the whole world.

9. Megan, who adopted one and her heart breaks for every other child in the foster system.

10. My mother, who makes the Bible come alive to children.

11. Annie, who gets back up every time and makes again something beautiful.

12. Clay, who reminds me how much God loves His sheep.

13. My husband, who sees and loves every child he's ever met.

14. Suzie, who will take in strangers and love them like family.

15. Virginia, whose hugs feel like home.

16. Grandma, who shows me what love looks like.

17. Kacie, who asks the questions that make you stop and think.

18. Whitney, who gives freely and generously to those she loves.

19. Erin and Jon, whose hearts have been on mission from the very start.

20. Abby, who is faithfully walking through fire.

21. Angie, who reminds me to live adventurously.

22. Lauren, whose loyalty strengthens and affirms everyone around her.

23. Valerie, who shows me what it means to "rejoice when others rejoice."

24. Jack, who challenges us to stop making excuses.

25. Scott, who points everyone back to the gospel over and over.

26. Lauren, who teaches me that God's portion is good.

27. Mike, who reminds me to live life with two scoops.

28. Chauncey, who is faithful to the very end.

29. Brian, who is living it out on the front lines.

30. Fernando and Carrie Fay, who show me what family looks like.

And I could go on and on. You know that right? Rather than having a list of things to do before I die, I just want to remember to live. That's the whole point, isn't it? Life is so short and so precious. I'm so thankful for the gift of that reminder this week. I'm thankful for so many to love and for so many who love me back. I'm so thankful for so many examples of how to live and love well.

Birthday request: Tell someone you love them today. And if you feel so inclined, donate to help Liam finish another well.

Here's to 30, and doing it well.

Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ John 7:38, NIV

Apartment-versary

So this one time, I moved into an apartment.

That one time? Was FIVE YEARS AGO.

TODAY.

And I'm so glad I get to still be here.

(Might I venture to guess that everyone who comes over to enjoy my pool with me is glad too...)

So much has changed since that rainy January 12th in 2007 when Mom and Dad helped move me into my beloved, second-story corner apartment.

Five years ago, I finished hanging curtains and setting up my kitchen and promptly showed it all off to... no one. I had only been in town for a handful of months, and basically knew no one.

To contrast, so far my week has included, but is not limited to:

• Group viewing of the hilariousest movie ever, "Waiting for Guffman"


• Six-episode marathon of "Friday Night Lights" with Emily


• Homemade spaghetti with Stacy and Jacey (and I agree, the two of them SHOULD form a girl band)


• Dinner party at John and Lori's house with 13 fun friends


• Zumba with Andrea


• Dinner at Grandma's with Carter and Grant (She picked up Buffalo Wild Wings for us! What grandmother does that? Awesome.)


• Two episodes of "The OC" with Joanna and Elizabeth


• A buy-one-get-one sale on Lean Cuisine meals at the grocery store. HUZZAH!

If you're sensing a theme (aside from the Lean Cuisine thing), you are correct: Buffalo Wild Wings is amazing.

...

But seriously, folks (taps microphone all "Is this thing on?"-like, stands in front of a brick wall.) Like I said, my life looks very different than it did five years ago, and a major change is in the area of my friendships and community. (Also: "Community." Not a show then, but now a favorite.) I spent a lot of lonely nights wishing for someone to watch "The OC" with, or to go try new restaurants with, or to watch old movies with, because I just didn't have any kind of community.

Now? It's an embarrassment of riches, and I generally have more plans than I know what to do with. (Here, do you want some? Upcoming events include: Friday Night Fun, Golden Globes viewing party, and hopefully a trip to see "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," if it would ever come to town! It's supposed to be really good and it has CRAZY GARY OLDMAN in it so how could you go wrong?? ...But I digress.)

I frequently find myself complaining (quite ridiculously) that I am just SO BUSY before I catch myself and clarify that actually that's okay, because it's all good, FUN things that I'm busy with!

So I'm thankful for this season of my life. Thankful for the time and freedom and inclination to go down the buffet of all available awesomeness and select some quality time here, some hilarity there, and a sprinkle of FUN to top it all off with. (Just no cauliflower, please. Or baked beans. Or cottage cheese. I will not be selecting any of THOSE things from the buffet.)

In conclusion: thank you LORD for saving me from being the Lonely Girl watching "Pearl Harbor" alone in her apartment, looking forward to a weekend of sleep and... I don't even know.

I just can't imagine my life without my friends.

In conclusion number two: I think this is the most parenthesis-heavy blog I have ever written.

The End... (kind of)

This year is r-e-d, red h-o-t, red hot, red hot, red hot.

I'm not even insinuating the end of the world, mind you.

Fact: I turn 30 years of age in 18 days.

This facial expression was not made because of that fact. (This is me doing my best to take a photo and not look like I'm standing in a bathroom holding out my phone... because let's face it... this isn't myspace.)

If I really stop and think about turning 30 I'm not worried or freaked out. I think I was nervous about it when I was 27, but the closer I get the more sure I am that each year holds something unique and powerful that will continue to shape me into the person I'm created to be.

At dinner last night, we had a group discussion about if there was anything we would NOT do again if given the opportunity. I thought through several mistakes and arguments and then began to consider experiences, relationships, classes, choices... and I ended up thinking that even the hardest moments have been used to fuel the 29 year-old me. So true: nothing is wasted in God's economy. I wish those younger versions of me had more wisdom, tact, grace, patience, contentment, and poise... but I also know that in my weaknesses HE has been stronger.

I feel like such a momentous age deserves a momentous goal. I thought about trying to do 30 things in the year before I turn 30... but that didn't happen. And then I thought about 30 new and adventurous things in the year following turning 30.

But now I'm sitting here with 18 full days of my twenties waiting to be lived and I decided to just go for it. I'm going to document 18 days of trying new things... and hope that I can get to the number 30 before turning 30. Realize that you are dealing with someone who doesn't try new foods unless forced and often doesn't push herself to do anything unless she is at least partially confident that she will succeed.

But I'm still going to give it a try.

Here's to peanut butter on apples (who knows, maybe I'll like it?) and craft projects (recovering a lamp shade like I'm a pinterest boss). Here's to running half marathons (help me now) and memorizing verses in Hebrew (She'ma, Yisra'el...). If nothing else, it's going to be an adventurous end to my 20s.

30 in 18 by 30. (Makes no sense, but I'm game.)

Hang a Shining Star

Business as usual at our house, as Mom and Dad put the finishing touches on the Christmas tree.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Christmas-ing.

WE LOVE TAKING CHRISTMAS CARD PHOTOS.

1. I don't like caroling at a houses where I don't know the owners. I remember doing this in 7th or 8th grade and being mortified on the inside. I have no problem on stage, but stick me in another setting and I want to crawl under a rock.

2. I still can't fall asleep on Christmas Eve. Maybe this will change after I turn 30.

3. My favorite Christmas songs are "Joy to the World" and "Silent Night." I love the hushed tones of one and the pipe organs blasting on the other.

4. Have you seen the new Justin Bieber and Mariah Carey music video for "All I Want for Christmas?" It's... um... I don't get it. I don't understand it at all. Maybe you will. "All I want for Christmas is a mob, a Nintendo DS, and a scantily clad songstress?"

5. We are slightly addicted to hot chocolate with peppermint or cinnamon this year. DE-lightful.

6. I would love to have this in my house for next year... and all the holidays to come!

Source: etsy.com via Ginger on Pinterest

7. If and when our family... shall we say... expands in coming years- I want a Jesse Tree to be a part of our yearly traditions!

Source: etsy.com via Ginger on Pinterest

8. If you haven't heard the Shane and Shane Christmas Album from 2008 "Glory in the Highest" - you might want to give it a listen. I have it on repeat... often.

9. I'm excited to attend the Christmas Eve service at our church for the first time ever... I'm going to try and forget that there's no pipe organ! I love me some pipe organ at Christmas!

10. My theme verse for this season: "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation." Isaiah 25:8-9 (You better believe it's going up on the chalk board!)

Joyous Noel, Blessed Advent, and Happy Christmas!

Top 10 Best Thanksgiving Episodes (Ever.)

Happy Thanksgiving, Bloggie Friends!

Being a lover of television, I decided to put together a list of my the Top 10 Best Thanksgiving Episodes.

These are OBVIOUSLY the best episodes out of EVERY TELEVISION SHOW ON THE EARTH, because I have seen them ALL. Obviously.

Just so we're clear.

10. Grey's Anatomy, “Thanks for the Memories”
Izzie assists Burke with the meal in the kitchen as if it were a surgery, George goes hunting with his dad and brothers (with disastrous results), and Meredith and Christina hide from the holiday by working in the hospital. Ah, Thanksgiving! But this is pretty much typical for the insane staff of Seattle Grace. Oh well- we love them anyway! Most of the time...



9. Alias, "Color Blind"
Okay, so at first glance this may not be the most obvious choice, considering Sydney is trapped in an insane asylum in Bucharest for much of the episode. And then she finds out who killed her fiance. And then SD-6 suspects they have a mole. BUT the episode does end with Thanksgiving dinner, a proposal, and Sydney even brings some leftovers to her estranged dad at work. It's sad but adorable, so of course I had to include it. Besides, Thanksgiving episodes could all use more spies and espionage, amiright?

8. The New Girl, "Thanksgiving"
I know, I'm even surprising myself by naming such a new episode on this list. But I find the show so endearing and hilarious that I just had to include it. This episode follows traditional Thanksgiving television tropes fairly closely- problems with cooking, wacky hijinx, new people invited over for dinner, etc.- but puts a fresh spin on each of them. I love Jess, I love the boys, and I love to see them welcoming Justin Long's Paul (as well as the kazoo he carries around with him). Plus, they put a TURKEY in the DRYER. Come on.

7. How I Met Your Mother, "Slapsgiving"
What can I say? This is a CLASSIC, not just among HIMYM fans, but for television fans. The Slap Bet is practically famous in its own right, so an episode that incorporates it into the plot so brilliantly must be mentioned. Seeing Marshall slap Barney's face off at the end of the episode? Major win. (*salutes* "Major Win!")

6. The OC, "The Homecoming"
I think this is a classic Thanksgiving episode. I do. I love that so many random bits of family and friends up at one house altogether. I love that Seth has lady drama for the first time in his life when BOTH Summer and Anna show up at his house. There is football, traditional Thanksgiving food, and time with family. But there is also a trip to Chino, Julie Cooper acting ridiculous, a Thanksgiving BLIND DATE, and the aforementioned lady drama. My love for this show is undying and eternal.

5. Friends, "The One Where Underdog Got Away"
Not everyone loves the early seasons of Friends, but I absolutely do. This episode is a great introduction to the yearly tradition of great Thanksgiving episodes on this show, and I think it holds up almost 20 (GAH!) years later. Here we learn about Chandler's distaste for all Pilgrim holidays, get to see Monica masterfully prepare four kinds of potatoes, and share in Rachel's excitement for a ski trip with her family. Of course, one Macy's Day Parade float gets away and everyone's Thanksgiving is ruined. At least they're all together, and as Chandler says over their meal of grilled cheese sandwiches, "I'm very thankful that all of your Thanksgivings sucked."

4. Cougar Town, "Here Comes My Girl"
I've already spilled enough virtual ink on the fact that this show isn't what you think it is, so let's just all move on, shall we? The simple premise for this episode is that Jules' son Travis brings his girlfriend over for Thanksgiving, so naturally things get supremely weird, which naturally means hilarious. Add in an over-the-top basketball game the guys play with some neighbor kids and Laurie changing clothes every few minutes (to top Katy Perry's costume changes at the MTV awards, OF COURSE) and you have a winner of an episode.

3. Friday Night Lights, "Thanksgiving"
The only episode on this list that is also a season finale, "Thanksgiving" is none-the-less an incredibly gripping episode, so meaningful, so weighty, so Texas. This episode finds the Taylors preparing to have plenty of company over for Thanksgiving dinner, because what sane person would not want to spend the holiday with the Taylors? For some reason, though, that company includes Buddy Garrity, who plans to come and fry his own turkey. As poor Tami laments to Coach, "Buddy Garrity is coming to MY house and bringing a turkey AND a fryer? When I'm MAKIN' dinner? Does that make any sense?" (You gotta love Tami!) Through it all, Coach Taylor has his eyes focused on a huge hometown rivalry game. During a Thursday practice an assistant coach reminds him, "It's Thanksgiving." "No, it's practice." Tell him, Coach!

I really wish I could find a video of the end of the episode where Tami comes home to find her family decorating the house for Christmas (true to Texas form) the day after Thanksgiving, as well as the accompanying montage. Because it's beautiful, as most everything on Friday Night Lights is. But alas, the internet has let me down, so instead just come borrow the DVDs from me!

2. Friends, "The One Where Ross Got High"
For my money (although really I only have like twelve dollars), this is the BEST Thanksgiving episode of the series, hands down. As much as I love The Ones With Chandler in a Box, All the Football, and All The Thanksgivings (not to mention Brad Pitt's episode), you just cannot beat one thing: Rachel's traditional English trifle. "It’s got all of these layers. First there’s a layer of ladyfingers, then a layer of jam, then custard, which I made from scratch, then raspberries, more ladyfingers, then beef sauteed with peas and onions, then a little more custard, and then bananas, and then I just put some whipped cream on top!"

Add in Phoebe's bizarre crush on Mr. Gellar, Joey's tutorial on how to look happy and make yummy noises, and Ross's exclamation that Rachel's trifle "tastes like feet" and you have a gem of an episode. And if all that weren't enough, we get a rapid-fire outpouring of information to top everything off, including the confession that comprises the title of the episode. All of these exclamations and realizations lead to a hilarious monologue by Mrs. Gellar, addressing everyone's outbursts, including: "Rachel, no you weren’t supposed to put beef in the trifle. It did not taste good."

1. Gilmore Girls, "A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving"
Said in my best Stefon voice... Television's best Thanksgiving episode is "A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving." This episode has everything: not one, two, or three, but FOUR Thanksgiving dinners, Tofurkey, Cat Kirk and Human Kirk, deep-fried turkey (and mashed potatoes) (and pickles) (and a napkin), Grey Gardens, headless chocolate turkeys, and Joseph Stalin jokes.

Seriously though, this is an amazing episode, not only for the series but also as far as Thanksgiving episodes go as a whole. The basic plot comes down to Lorelai and Rory over-committing to Thanksgiving dinners and strategically planning how they are going to make it to all of them. Hijinx ensue! It has a brilliant mix of family time, interesting (and slightly off-kilter) Thanksgiving dinners, and classic Gilmore wit. I'm so happy it's part of my Thanksgiving tradition!



"You know what this means, don't you? We didn't have to skip the rolls."

Why I can only listen to the BBC for 5 minutes at a time.

For the World, I'm G'minger Doolin. (Get your own NPR name and please, do share.)