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My Bucket List in Retrospect

bucketOne of the things to do today is to compose a bucket list. Perhaps I have a very simple mind or am very satisfied with my life but as I start this writing, I don’t have one. Perhaps, I could write down my list in retrospect. Maybe because I’m one of the older Sidetracked Sisters, I have already accomplished some of the items that would be on my “Bucket List”.  Continue reading

I Need a New Bucket

dreamsIt is now called a bucket list, I called it dreams, goals, and accomplishments.

I have lots of dreams, never really considered them on a bucket list, but I guess they really were.  Continue reading

A Full Bucket List

bucket list

My Dream Board

I never used to have a bucket list of items I wanted to accomplish, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized there are things I want to accomplish before I die.  I’ve included a few items that I’ve already done just because I like to have at least something checked off my list!  (Like putting “Make my bed” on a daily to-do list AFTER I’ve already made it!) 

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The Bucket List: Fill, Empty, and Repeat

I’ve always believed in goals, dreams, and bucket lists. But that doesn’t mean that they are easy for me.

Back in college, I spent the summer of 1985 in Washington DC at a church Youth Leadership Training Conference. Everyone worked full-time and attended activities and training in the evenings and on weekends. 

During one of the first trainings, we were encouraged to have daily “quiet time” when we were supposed to read the Bible and pray. One of the goals of this activity was to gain clarity on our life goals.

Unfortunately, God did not reach his gaze down and bestow this wisdom upon me.

I knew that I wanted to finish my degree, get married, and have 13 children. This sounded pretty godly and was approved–as long as I looked to and depended upon my future husband as my head and leader.

Yeah. Right. Continue reading

New Year…a Commitment to Change

I’ve never been big on New Year’s resolutions. As a teacher, I’ve always considered the school year the beginning and ending of life, with the summer as a buffer zone. 

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Starting the 1973-74 school year with high hopes

Every August, I would sit down and think about the ways I wanted the upcoming school year to go. I yearly focused on having one family meal each week, another year, I organized my dinner plans in a rotating schedule…Monday–pasta, Tuesday–tacos…I usually worked to organize my brain around making my home and family life sane. While working as a full-time teacher with three kids, life was full…busy…chaotic. Continue reading

New Year’s Resolutions or Not?

resolutionsMaking New Year’s Resolutions has never played an important part in my life.  I find that sometimes putting down words of actions to take can cause me to not take action. I would rather celebrate last year’s successes which are done and in the “can”. They were thought about, acted on, and completed. Continue reading

Cure for a New Year’s Resolution – Get a Dog

resolutionHow to keep your New Year’s Resolution:

My thought for my resolution was to get a dog.  My resolution was to walk.  I needed inspiration and a really good reason to get out there and get my buns moving.

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To Do or Not To Do (A New Years Resolution Story)

 

resolution

Me – Then


resolution

Me – Now

Every year I plan out New Years resolutions to follow and every year, like so many others, I fail to follow my plan after about 2 weeks.  I don’t know what it is or why that happens, but it’s like clockwork.  Continue reading

Midlife MasterClass–Trailer

Midlife MasterClass

You will be able to tune into the podcast beginning January 2022.

I’m starting a podcast called “Midlife MasterClass”.

A couple of weeks ago I asked for help in choosing between two podcast covers. One cover was a bold graphic design and the other was more personal with a picture of me. The overwhelming choice was the more personal picture. Thank you to everyone who commented and messaged me with encouragement.

Now I’m on to phase 2…the trailer for my podcast. Continue reading

Faith

Where do you do church?

How should a church look?

These seem to be two very controversial questions lately. Especially after COVID, where we have all been confined to our homes, apartments, (or wherever we might have the fortune or misfortune to find ourselves)…spiritual practice rules are up for debate. Continue reading