I turn 36 this year. I’m not one to typically be frightened of a number, especially one that society has labeled as being undesirable. 40 has such a bad connotation. I was thinking about turning 40 the other day though, and it caused my heart to skip a beat that I am a mere 4 years away. My mom had a 19 year old daughter (me) who was a handful of months away from graduating from college when she was 40. Shawn and I have no children (yet) and in some ways it seems as though life is just beginning. Our horizons are being broadened thanks to this little thing called Twitter & blogging.
I’m joining Elora, Lauren, and other bloggers who are creating lists of things they want to do before they reach 30. Yes, I do feel sort of like the odd (old) guy out. 
I figured (with some playful encouragement from Elora) that since I have 4 years to accomplish a list I should shoot for 100 before 40. I will speak plainly and say it is currently a work in progress, but I wanted to share where I am so far. I will put a link up top (
) with my list. As I meet these I’ll add the date and link for any posts written about said goal.
1. Get at least one more tattoo.
2. Go to India.
3. Go on a missions trip with Shawn.
4. Visit – in person – with Elora.
5. Visit – in person - with Jenny.
6. Visit NYC.
7. Visit Seattle.
8. Write a children’s story for my nephews & niece.
9. Get my nosed pierced.
10. Read the Bible in one year.
11. Apply to go on a Compassion Bloggers trip.
12. Learn to sew (again).
13. Attend a bloggers conference.
14. Take a giant step towards & adoption & orphan care advocacy.
15. Re-learn photography.
16. {it’s a secret}.
17. Get my first stamp in my first passport.
18. Paint a (nice looking, worthy of being seen by people) art piece for our home.
19. Read Pride & Prejudice.
20. Sponsor another Compassion child.
21. Actually lose weight & keep it off.
22. Submit a post to be published on (In)Courage.
23. Be surrounded by community.
24. Find an illustrator willing to illustrate #8.
25. Buy all my Christmas gifts for my nephews & niece before November 01st at least one time.
26. Submit a post to be published on Compassion’s blog.
27. Take a painting class.
28. Visit Portland
29. See The Civil Wars in concert
30. Meet the Hodges
31. Have a long coffee conversations with Mandie.
32. Have a long coffee conversations with Sarah.
33. Have a long coffee conversations with Amber.
34. Have a long coffee conversations with Lauren.
35.
36.
Some of these scare me, and some of them I’ve really no idea where they are being born out of.
And with that here’s looking at you 40. Salud!
