Year of Fun for 30!

I've been compiling a list of things to do for a year of fun when I turn 30 - I have some great ideas! I'll blog them as I do them, and if you have any more suggestions (especially if you want to do it with me) that would be great!

Here's the list of suggestions ~ at least ones that are most feasible at this point... We'll see how many I'm able to do in the next year :)

1) Visit Los Angeles (Suzanne P)
2) Visit Blacksburg, VA
3) See Niagara Falls
4) Go see a play on Broadway
5) Make a difference in the life of another person
6) have a party
7) Visit a National Park (my picks are Yellowstone or Yosemite or somewhere in CO)
8) plant a butterfly bush
9) put up a bird feeder and learn the names of birds that come to it
10) go white water rafting with friends
11) find the "rail to trail" nearest you and ride your bike
12) stay in a really cool bed and breakfast
13) Missions trip to work with needy children
14) Go contra dancing
15) learn a new cooking style (take lessons)
16) Climb a local mountain
17) learn a new hobby
18) Volunteer with Habitat to learn hands-on skills/work as a translator
19) Go to FL to see Ginny
20) Buy a piece of jewelry or art work to commemorate the occasion
21) Treat myself to a day at the spa
22) plant a garden
23) Go to Lake Ozonia w/family
24) Parasailing
25) skydiving
26) make chocolate soufflé or fudge
27) go horseback riding
28) run a half marathon
29) train for and do a triathlon
30) go on a backpacking trip with Steph H and Jenn H

Running with horses

Today's sermon was really good at church today - lots to think about, and a good reminder for where I'm at these days.

The sermon was on Jeremiah 12:1-5, but the part that stuck out to me was verse 5a:

"If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you,
Then how can you contend with horses?"

The pastor explained that in ancient times, the opposing army would first send in thousands and thousands of footmen. These weren't the best trained, or the strongest soldiers, but the strategy was to overwhelm and tire the enemy with sheer numbers. Then, they would send in the trained, strong soldiers on horseback to attack and hopefully defeat the weakened opposition. So in essence, God is telling the Israelites - there's more coming, and you're getting weakened and worn out by mere footmen?

The challenge being, hold out against the footmen, the relatively minor (but numerous) everyday challenges, so that you can stand strong and have victory when the horses come. I feel like that's where my life has been lately - complaining about the footmen, because they are so numerous, and everywhere I look there is a minor but pressing need to take care of something. I can so easily get wearied by putting energy into trying to wipe them out, and focusing on the present dilemmas instead of maintaining sight of the bigger battle.

A good reminder for me, and I hope for you as well.