bucket list: updates & progress

It's been a year since I wrote a blog post about my Bucket List. I thought it would be fun & motivating if I revisited it. I was surprised that although I may not have accomplished a lot of these things, I have started the process of several of them! I figured it would be good to edit my Bucket List with my progress!

bucket list #14

bucket list #17

bucket list #31

1. Write a Bucket List   7/26/2013
2. Bungee jump
3. Skydive
4. Visit every state in the USA
5. See Death Cab For Cutie live 7/12/2015
6. Publish a book, &/or a piece of my writing
7. Have complete tattoo sleeves on both arms & have both of my thighs done
8. Go in a hot air balloon
9. Learn to sew
10. Travel the country in an RV with my husband (& kids, if applicable)
11. Eat pizza in Italy
12. Drink Framboise in Belgium
13. Get over my fear of the ocean
14. Take up photography as a hobby 12/25/2013 Jamey bought me a Diana Camera. I've been taking it with me on our trips to capture photos unique way. I want to make it more of a hobby though!
15. Spin a globe, point my finger & travel to the place I've landed on
16. Have a pen pal  I can't remember when we exactly became pen-pals, but my beautiful friend Leah & I starting writing each other last year. We worked very closely together at LiNK, and now she lives in NY. I love being able to write each other and keep in touch!
17. Go to a shooting range 11/30/2013 We visited Jamey's family in Little Rock, Arkansas for Thanksgiving. His Uncle Jim took us all to a shooting range, and we shot clay pigeons!
18. Hang glide
19. Spend New Year's Eve in Times Square
20. Raise a family 
21. Climb Half Dome (Yosemite)
22. Be a professional Blogger
23. Go on a cruise 1/14/2016
24. Go to Israel, and walk where Jesus walked
25. Live in another state
26. Go sailing
27. Climb up the Statue of Liberty
28. Graduate from College I'm very far from taking this off of my bucket list, but I am going back to school this fall & I am very excited about it!
29. Learn to make candles &/or soap
30. Learn to garden
31. Eat a meal & talk about life with my favorite author, Shauna Niequist 11/23/2013 This didn't "technically" happen, but I did attend a women's event where we had a meal, and Shauna spoke. Afterwards, I got her to sign my Bread & Wine book, and we chatted for a few minutes. I'm pretty sure that's the closest I'll ever get to scratching this off of my bucket list.
32. Retire comfortably 7/31/2013 On my one year anniversary at Biola, I was able to sign up for a 403b (equivalent to 401k). I committed to putting away 5% of each paycheck into my 403b. The best blessing is that Biola matches 8% of my 5%. One of the best decisions I've made!
33. Have an all-natural, at home (or birth center) delivery
34. Have a home with a wrap around porch
35. See the Northern Lights in Iceland
36. See one of my favorite bands from backstage/side stage
37. Have a White Christmas
38. Go to Ireland for St. Patrick's Day
39. Be fluent in American Sign Language
40. Visit where my ancestors are from in Romania
41. Plant an Avocado Tree

dear twenty thirteen

Dear 2013,

You brought me so much joy and excitement. You were filled with many intense days of planning and preparation for the most significant day of my life. You gave me rest and you gave me exhaustion. You reminded me that although I am not a perfect person, there is someone who loves me more than his own life. You showed me that an honest, loyal and faithful marriage is possible. You gave me opportunities, and you helped me to better my character. You helped me to revisit my past and take steps towards a promising future. You were the year that allowed me to become debt-free, for the first time in my adult life. You opened doors for me to travel with my favorite people, and experience new horizons. You instilled in me more desires and passions. You taught me that God is much bigger than a church building, or a simplistic worship song. You taught me grace. You revealed to me the importance of community. You gave me a chance to embrace optimism in the midst of a rather negative world. You reminded me that I am loved, blessed and capable. 

2013 you were a fabulous and exciting year, thank you for exceeding my expectations.

January - December 2013

Dear 2014,

Here's to a new chapter, and a new year. I am confident that you will continue to grow and change me, for the better. I welcome you with open and anxious arms. I am excited to observe how far you will stretch me, and what doors you will guide me through. I have a inkling that you will not let me stand still, but instead you will keep me on edge, and on the very tips of my toes. 

Here's to a new adventure, a new season & a new year.

XO,

Brenda

just because

I feel like I have more reason to blog than ever before, yet I place it so far on the back burner that I never get around to it.

This has been my favorite season of my entire life. Bold statement? I believe so. The wedding planning, being engaged to my best friend, discovering more and more how I am wired & designed... it's all such a beautiful thing. Right around the new year, I revisited some old blog posts of mine, specifically from the last two New Year's. I am so glad that I blogged during those years. I am able to look back and reflect at the dark season I was in, for many years, and then to see where I am now. This New Year's Eve was such a great one! I spent it with people I love, and was able to look ahead into 2013 with a bright smile. I am so excited about where my life is headed. But, when I find myself in a moment of excitement about where God has me, I stop to remember where he once had me, and I smile about that too. You see, it's not just about the exciting seasons in our lives that make life taste so sweet -- it's about the dark times as well. If I never walked through the rugged path I was on, I would not be the woman I am right now. I wouldn't have the ability to love Jamey the way I love him now. I love him with a sincere, grateful heart. When I hold his hand, I don't hold it loosely, because I know what it's like to not have him in my life. When I am with him, or even when I am not, I try to remind him of the reasons why I love him, instead of just saying "I love you". I do this because I know what it's like to not have a consistent relationship with him. 

Now, we are 5 months away from being married, becoming one. Neither of us thought we would be here, but for some odd reason, God's grace abounds so much more than our own. 

I'm not sure what the purpose of this post was, but I wanted to write. So, take what you may from it. Maybe you're in a dark season, and you're fed up with where you're feet are planted. I encourage you to move. Take steps, whether they be large steps, or maybe even the tiniest of baby steps... move. The only way I got out of my dark season was because I took steps forward to making myself healthier. 

Maybe you're in a bright season; one full of joy when you lay your head down to when you wake each morning. Embrace joy. Don't question why you are in a good season, I did that at first and it's pointless. God just wants to bless us sometimes! Think about why you're in such a good season -- is it someone in your life? Remind them that you are grateful they are there.

Wherever you are, I hope you know you are loved.

XO,

Brenda

2012, my best year yet

For the last several years, I've posted a New Year's blog. I have enjoyed reading them and seeing just how far I've come. To see how many things I've set out to accomplish, and actually fulfilled. I'm quite the dreamer, though, and sometimes I aim really high. But, you know what? I am okay with that. 

On January 1st of 2012, my aim was to pursue good health -- specifically in the areas of emotional, physical, spiritual and financial health. It was so neat to see that I really came a long way this year. I had my moments, and I was not nearly perfect in my endeavors, but I sit here proud of the woman I am today.

Here is to 2012 : 

You were beautiful, you were graceful. You gave me hope and you healed old wounds. You gave me the strength to dream big, and cling to the possibilities. But most of all, you gave me another chance; at life, at self-worth and at love. You brought back together what was thought to never be again, and for that very reason, I deem you the best year of my entire life. 

So, to 2013, you have a lot to live up to. But, I am quite confident that you will deliver. I have many things to look forward to. This year, I will continue to pursue good health, and on top of that I will embrace the newest chapter of my life: becoming a wife. I can hardly wait! But, I think for now, that is a large enough resolution/goal in & of itself. There is so much preparation I have ahead of me to becoming the wife Jamey deserves. I will cling to the Lord in this time and seek out His will
for me and for us.

XO,

Brenda