50 Before 30

I made a list with my best friend called 30 before 30.  Naturally, it was a list of 30 things to do or see before I turn 30 years old.  Sounded great when I was writing it, but I soon discovered that those 30 things would not all be happening.

I had about two years to complete the list.  Frankly, the timetable does not matter.  Not when you've put down to run the Boston Marathon.  This one was a stretch, to say the least, since, as of right now, I don't even know if I'll run another marathon in my life and I'm okay with that.  Other, more feasible goals included reading a certain number of books, which I exceeded; visiting New Zealand, which I got very close to accomplishing but it basically didn't happen because of scheduling; go to a Coldplay concert, which was epic; ride a motorcycle and see Mount Rushmore, both of which happened in SD; and visit friends in other states, which has been done a lot with all my traveling lately -- seeing dear ones in Massachusetts, Vermont, Missouri, Iowa, and more.  So, I didn't get them all crossed off but don't worry, I still plan on doing everything, just not before I'm 30. 

I've had a change in plan, seeing as how my 30 year of life is coming up this August and I've been going from state to state so often.  I've now decided to do 50 before 30.  Yep, that's right!  Same concept, different kind of list. 

I'm going to attempt to see all 50 states before I turn 30.  Boom. 

Now some question what it takes to count a state as "seen" or "visited."  One friend's family say that if you use the bathroom in the state, then you have visited.  You can check it off the list.  Haha!  I feel you have to go and have the day there or partake in an event.  For instance, Justin Bieber is a talented artist and I like his music. (I don't care what you say.)  I needed to do something in North Dakota to check it off the list.  So, yeah, that concert happened. 

This new goal of 50 before 30 came about because, well, I'm pretty positive I can do it.  It's always been on my life bucket list but why not do it before I'm 30?!  I also sorta keep track of which states I've been to and I realized I only have three more to visit before I have all 50.  Thus was born the "I have to do this!  This would be so cool." mentality.  

Seriously.  I scrapped my trip to Iceland so I would have enough time to get to the last three states needed -- Arkansas, Oregon, and Utah.  I can go to Iceland some other time, maybe when friends can join too.  Besides, there was an added bonus of seeing good friends before I ventured out on my new adventure :)  

I planned my route, re-routed a lot based on stuff like my friend joining me and crashing a wedding, looked at flights, etc.  My backpack is about to burst.  I have no real agenda, other than to step foot in each state.  I can do whatever I want.

I'm pretty pumped and I'm ready to do a lot of hiking and camping :)  My friend, who I haven't seen in far too long, will join me for a couple of days but I'm mainly going solo.  At the end of it, I'll hopefully be joining some more friends at a beach so I'll have a nice, long vacation with the best of both worlds, beach and mountains.

Honestly, the US is so diverse and beautiful that I could happily go back to any state and find something fun or relaxing.  And there are several states I definitely want to go back to because one little day trip is not enough and especially because I have many friends across the country now.  Can't wait to see what happens as time unfolds but maybe a life goal should be to see all 50 states every 30 years!  

Such a Tease

You only tease people you like, right?  Well then, I'm really liked.  Haha!  At least it feels that way, sometimes.

"Sure, I'm a pretty girl, up in a pretty world" and tend to just "sit still, look pretty" and take it (Name that tune!)  basically because I don't know what else to do in the moment. 

But seriously, my grandfather teases me all the time; my brother did as well growing up.  I'm used to it, you could say.  It can be good.  Teasing can build bonds, be flirty, lighten the mood, show affection, and can actually be really funny and fun.

Just last week during my army training, I was teased hardcore by my fellow Reservists.  One of my favorites had me laughing, rolling my eyes, shaking my head, feeling the love, and trying desperately to have a witty comeback. 

On the one hand, I don't mind teasing because it's usually mutual and because I do think people tease others when they like them and are just trying to be playful, doing it in a fun-loving manner not mean or spiteful or with ill-intent.  On the other hand, I do mind because occasionally I don't have thick enough skin and I don't ever seem to have a good comeback!  Ugh. 

My outlook is to not tease people about what makes us different, since I think being your own unique person is awesome.  I actually want to learn from people who are different than me or like different things than me.  I suppose I tease to flirt or because the person was teasing me first. 

Honestly, I'm nice and want others to be nice to me, and I think they will be.  That might be mistake number one.  I take people at their word and think very realistically for the most part, mistake number two.  So, I assume what people say is in line with the truth, unless it's blatantly obvious that it's not.  A guy friend started a statement saying along the lines of, "Well, when I was a teenage girl…"  I just laughed and playfully pushed him while rolling my eyes because he was being a goober.  It's times like this when I can absolutely tell that someone is teasing in an innocent way that I don't mind at all. 

The same friend had to say "I'm messing with you" several times.  I learned but had relapses.  See mistake number one.  Though at one point, I did get him back with a prank :)  Gotta love it. 

However, sometimes people tease too much.  It's downright mean and possibly venturing into passive aggressiveness.  Not cool.  I'm positive I've done this at some point but the example that comes to mind is when it was done to me.  A friend said he had a souvenir for me.  I was excited because I like stuff like that but then I was also puzzled because I had no idea what the heck he would have.  Well, come to find out, he was completely kidding, having absolutely nothing for me.  Boo.  Unfortunately, it didn't stop there because he made me feel silly for believing him and "hadn't learned anything about him."  See mistake number two. 

But yes, I did learn.  Not only did I learn to "not believe anything that comes out of his mouth" but I also learned he is surprisingly quite the dichotomy.  He is the nerd I thought he was in the things he enjoys -- aren't we all nerds deep down?! -- such as liking video games and cats a lot (like a lot) but then he also likes to workout/powerlift and is actually funny.  Can that really all be found in the same person?  He's usually not shy to state his opinion and is wrong sometimes (no, sorry, I don't think you have all your nutrition figured out, for instance) yet does a good job of leading, getting things done.  Once I got past some of the teasing, I noticed streaks of genuine niceness like the time he gave me a straight up compliment and another time he recognized/appreciated something I had done to help out.  Then, when he's not putting up a defensive front, I saw his ability to intelligently talk about a range of topics.  I realized I didn't know him very well before training but was thankful he and others were there to make it more bearable and just determined people come into your life at a certain time for a reason.  Overall, I think I observed many things in him and learned he's basically nothing like me, it seems, except possibly for liking Indian food and needing Jesus.  No one is immune from needing God in their life. 

In the end, it's those things that make us nerdy, or rather just ourselves, that are the best!  Take time to get to know others and appreciate the things they offer.  You don't know how long they'll be in your life, and you just might learn something.  And don't forget to give them a good-natured teasing.

Stress Ball

When you hear yourself say things like "I'm that poor, unfortunate soul" or "Wait, what? What's that??" ... "Well, I didn't know that, obviously…" and "It's just been a fiasco." along with "I'm just a little stress ball!" all in the same conversation, you know you're in some real, deep sh!t.

I rarely cuss so you know it's a big deal.  Also, it's especially humbling (Yes, I'll say humbling here) when you're saying those statements to someone on the phone whom you don't even know.  I mean, I literally started the conversation by introducing myself and saying that he'd never met me.  Furthermore, I'll have you know, it is a lot more difficult to coordinate things you need to get done or things you need to have arrive at a particular place at a particular time when you are physically going to be in five different states within five days.  Yes, that's correct.  Trying to predict where I will be sometimes is a feat in and of itself.   And that's no joke.

Ugh.  I used to being so on top of things!  I do not know what has happened.  I knew it could happen, this particular event, but blanked. Actually, I thought it would happen about a year from now, so I had plenty of time.  Then I got the email saying that it was around the corner…  Cue deer in headlights.  I didn't know what to do first!  I had waited too long and got to scrambling for things at the last minute.  I'm sure we can all relate.  Not good.  Ugh. 

At this point, I don't even feel like I should get what all the commotion is about, which is a promotion in  he Army.  I don't have my stuff together, so why should I be promoted?! 

For this particular scenario of trying to get my affairs in order, it felt like anything that could go wrong definitely did.  For starters, my uniform alterations were off.  Instead of taking out an inch in the waist, the lady took it in an inch!  I tried it on and said, this is a lot tighter... (I don't think I've gained that much weight!).  Then, as I was picking it up, I had to pee so bad because I had been driving for hours.  Of course the shop didn't have a "public" restroom, so my eyeballs were floating while I tried to focus and to understand a little Asian lady whom I felt was totally shanghaiing me (like highway robbery)!  If that weren't enough, I wasn't sure what the heck to get or where to get it.  The shop that was supposed to have everything most definitely did not.  The cherry on top was my mailing blunder -- picking the wrong shipping type so the package didn't arrive in time.  Wow.  Face palm.  I can't win. 

It's times and situations like this where I go back-and-forth on whether to just trust God or do everything in my power I possibly can to make things work.  I usually pick the latter.  I know I have to do my part for life to happen (like going through all the paperwork applying for a job because otherwise I don't have a chance of getting it) but I tend to rely too much on myself.  This reveals many things, such as the fact that I'm not perfect.  And I never will be.  It also shows that I'm human and need a Savior, Jesus' saving grace.  Every day.  Even though I've been a Christian for the majority of my life, I'm still in need of Jesus and the Gospel.  I always will be.  

Sanctification is a process; salvation is immediate.  I don't know if people realize this or not or if they realize the Christian life still isn't easy, but I guarantee you and am a living testimony that it is the best life!

It's because He gives me purpose, characteristics, values, and much more.  God also provides a solid foundation for my life; I can stand on His Word and promises since they are true and will all come to fruition.  He hasn't disappointed or dropped me yet, and He never will. 

I have to stop and think of truth from God's Word.  This isn't what I do first all the time but it should, because I always feel at peace when I give things to God and am reminded (or read) what He says.  Lately, I've been reading specific Psalms from a reading plan with my bestie.  The past couple days have been the following:

Psalm 100

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 

2 Serve the Lord with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing! 

3 Know that the Lord, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 

5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

And one of my most favorite :)

Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 

2 Day to day pours out speech,

and night to night reveals knowledge. 

3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 

4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, 

5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. 

6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. 

7 The law of the Lord is perfect,

reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 

8 the precepts of the Lord are right,

rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure,

enlightening the eyes; 

9 the fear of the Lord is clean,

enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. 

10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 

11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 

12 Who can discern his errors?

Declare me innocent from hidden faults. 

13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. 

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

So good.  I just re-read verses for it's truthful assurance. 

Besides seeing my need to turn to God, this dilemma has definitely (oh most definitely) served to provide some poignant lessons.  One of which is to be on top of things and not wait until the last minute.  Another is that I should pay the exorbitant amount of money to have something shipped more quickly, if only for ease of mind.  Ha!

It's also shown me how I deal with stress or, rather, how I want to deal with stress.  I prayed, went out to exercise, problem solved after a few deep breaths, thought about the positives, and stated things I was grateful for.  It all helped. 

It's also shown me that people can be very helpful (thank goodness for solid go-to people and nice customer service people!), and I'd like to think that it's given me perseverance and strength and other good qualities but it's really just shown me I've slacked off.  Not at all one of my brightest moments.  Live and learn. 

If I haven't just taken off a good 10 years of my life by stressing so much by trying to coordinate a mission and in the process calling a billion people (some multiple times, asking the same questions -- highly annoying, I know), then I want to use what time I have left in life to be better prepared.   Or make more money to pay for the expensive shipping ;)  I'll also, Lord-willing, have many more years to give things to God, hear the Gospel, and to be more like Christ, not a stress ball. 

The Best Yes

My sweet friend from soccer way-back-when found me on FB and, at first, I wasn't sure who it was, so I didn't accept the friend request.  Then it donned on me after squinting at her name on the screen, "Oh!! Melissa!  Of course I accept!!"  Click. 

I'm so glad we reunited, for many reasons.  One being that we are more alike than I knew.  Another being that I hope I'm like her more often.  She is not only physically beautiful (think gorgeous smile and skin and striking hourglass figure) but also personality-wise beautiful (think personable, endearing, caring, honest, and Godly).  You want her to be your friend.  

She posts on social media, so I see into her life in this way.  It's encouraging to read what she says and does.  There's so much I relate to or think and do the same.  For instance, I, too, wanted to burst into tears on Easter, but it was because I missed my family, wanted to be with my best friend who was sick, and wasn't feeling too great myself.  Kinda selfish.  Thank goodness for technology, as my Mom texted me and my brother about a memory of the entire family singing at the top of our lungs the "Easter Song" by GLAD.  My brother sent the YouTube link to it, and we all exchanged more texts. 

Even though I dearly miss family and close friends, I was reminded in a church service that heaven is my home, for which I should long.  Then my friend's post hit me on several levels and reminded me to extend grace to myself and others (no one is perfect!) as well as the fact that Easter is not about religion but rather about a relationship with a living God, which encompasses love, grace, and healing, amongst many things.  And, although life holds sweet times and hard times, Christ is my best yes -- every day, no matter what. 

With her permission, I hope you enjoy her post as much as I did: 

"I am a very sentimental person.  I keep scribble pictures drawn for me from all the babies in my life.  I store blurry pictures on my phone from special occasions.  I keep tattered bracelets and crafts from friends.  I can't help myself, they're special because they came from special people.  Today on Resurrection Sunday *holding back tears* I am reminded yet again of the grace I accepted as a little girl.  The grace I continuously receive and honestly, somedays forget to accept.  My sweet Mom in love [to be] gave me this cross bracelet which I will cherish forever.  She gave it to me at Christmas before I was officially becoming part of the family.  All the women in their family have one.  And I am so honored and humbled to be a part of that group.  I love it because it is beautiful, but also because it reminds me of the grace that is available to me daily.  And it reminds me to give myself grace and to freely give grace to others.  I fall short in that department often.  I could go on and on about what the cross means to me and how it has made my life.  But I will just say this, there is no greater YES in my life than saying yes to Jesus.  It is not about religion, it is not about guilt or shame.  It is about love, and resurrection, and healing."

Life Hacks

A recent book buy was "Life Hacks" by Keith Bradford.  It is awesome.  It speaks on different areas of life like technology, party hacks, survival, health and fitness, and money savers.   So many fun facts to know and tell!  And most definitely put into use. 

I'll list several here with my thoughts/reaction.  Enjoy!  :)

#140  When it comes to staying awake, apples are actually more powerful than caffeine.

I basically have one a day!  No wonder I feel like I don't need coffee.

#144  Soak Oreos in half and half and laying them on wax paper in the freezer.  In an hour, each one will be a delicious mini ice cream sandwich.

Whoa.  Must do.  Yum!

#87  Want to make sure you wake up in the morning?  The snooze app for iPhone will donate to charity each time you hit the snooze button.

Dang.  I might become broke... or finally not hit snooze, ha!

#90  The "Along the Way" app gives you any cool attraction you can see along the way of any road trip.

Yes!  I've needed this!

#403  Lick a little salt with the tip of your tongue whenever you feel the urge to smoke.  This is said to break that habit within a month.

Not a smoker and don't plan on ever being one, but this is intriguing.  I need a guinea pig!

#619  Never sleep naked.  If there is some kind of emergency, it might be too late to put something on.

Boo.  

#593  Never asked someone how his or her job search is going.  It's going terribly until they tell you they got a new job.

Haha!  Truth.  I ask because I care but, since I'm job searching and also have in the past, I will refrain from asking and wait until they give me the good news. 

#755  Need to open a can of tuna can, but don't have a can opener? Just rub the top of the can on concrete for minute and then squeeze the sides in.  The top will pop open.

Uh, huh.  Right. 

#736  Homemade camping lamp: Strap a headlamp to a gallon jug of water.  Your tent will fill up with ambient light.

Cool. 

#539  Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional 10 cents a gallon for gas.

Guess I'll be paying extra sometimes!  

#501  Target will price match Amazon.  If you find something cheap on Amazon, buy it at target instead and you won't have to wait for it to be shipped to you.

Who knew?!

#426  Putting vodka on your face tightens your pores and reduces the chances of acne breakouts.

Try that as an excuse as to why you have alcohol in your room, haha!  Flash back to RA days...

#444  Adding vodka to your shampoo can strengthen your hair, prevent dry scalp, and stop dandruff.

Sweet.  Okay, alcohol won some brownie points with this one. 

#356  Hungry and want a ride home?  Go to the local pizza shop, order pizza to your house, and get a ride home with the driver.

Haha!  Hmm, I suppose this could be a great trick if a date goes awry, too. 

#352  Runny or stuffy nose?  Push your tongue on the top your mouth and push a finger between your eyebrows.  Hold it for about 20 seconds.  Your nose should clear.

Yeah, definitely trying this in the comfort of my own home.  I can just see somebody walking into the office as I'm doing this.  Haha!  Oh, boy. 

#368  Instead of scraping ice off your car, try spraying it with a mixture of 2/3 cup vinegar and 1/3 cup water. The ice will melt right off.

Wish I had this when it was below 20° with the wind chill and I was out scraping in Iowa!!

#602  Want to watch a movie with a girl?  Ask her what her favorite movie is and say you haven't seen it.  She'll usually say, "We should watch it."

I'd suggest it.  Ha!

#606  If you ever need to stop and ask for directions, skip the gas station and find a pizza delivery place.  They know their way around town way better.

Note to self. 

#683  The phrase "Don't take this the wrong way" has a 0% success rate.

LOL  Yep. 

#696  When buying a romantic card, get two.  Write the inscription from card A into card B and pretend you can write sweet things.  Be sure to use with caution.

This is hilarious!!  But I don't advise.

#695  Good things come to those who wait, but greater things come to those who get off their ass and do anything they possibly can to make it happen.

I'll just leave this right here.

#889  Clothes shrink too small?  Soak them in a mixture of hot water and hair conditioner for five minutes and then air dry them.

Wish I knew this growing up. 

#950  Play Tetris.  Playing Tetris can increase brain power by almost 150%. 

I must be at genius level because I played on the airplane from India!

#970  SelfControl is a program that blocks sites like Facebook, Twitter, and email for a specified period of time.  Using it will help you minimize distractions while you study or do homework.

Or just need a technology break in life!

#20  Swipe left or right on the iPhone calculator to delete the last digit, so you don't have to start all over.

It works!  Had no clue about this previously. 

#963  Stumped on a question or a math problem?  Lie down.  Your thought process is much faster when you're lying down, which is why you always lie down at psychiatrist appointments.

Think my boss will go for this?  "I need to lie down to think faster.  No, I won't fall asleep."  Famous last words.

Learning new things is fun, right?!  I recommend getting the book for more but hope you liked these!