I had a list of major life goals
1) Graduate from college...Check, did that.
2) Fall in love …Check, did that. A couple times, but it's the last that counts.
3) Get married…Check, did that.
4) Have babies…Check, check, check, check, check, check, check, and check. Did that times 8.
We even built ourselves a house that I designed. Something I considered more of a fabulous dream than an expected goal. But, now what? Here I was at 50, feeling as if the big (and wonderful) goals I’d been planning to accomplish in my life were done, and I was left to sit on the sidelines, watching my kids reach for their goals. Of course, I rejoice with them, and look forward to weddings and grandchildren, but that’s still as an observer of their lives. I know this sounds a little simplistic and ungrateful, and more than a little bit selfish, but I was feeling low and tired.
Even while feeling sorry for myself, I had started a list. It was only in my head so far, and I just hadn’t appreciated what that growing list might do for me yet. I was forming my Bucket List. Unlike those you hear about, it didn’t include travel to far off and exotic places, or risky adventure, neither of which particularly appeal to me. The list holds things I can do right here at home, the place I love to be most…Things I’ve been always meaning to try, or tried previously without getting very far.
Although none can compete with the highs of new love, or the blessing and miracle of a new baby, some fun and growth is yet to be had! Showing it to you all may help me remember to keep after it.
The List (not in any particular order)
1) Kitchen:
a. Make a sourdough starter and sourdough breads
b. Make my own yogurt
c. Make fresh pastas
d. Create more veggie-rich meals, including work lunches for DH
2) Sewing:
a. Machine Embroidery…I have the machine and I should use it!
b. Sew for the local crisis pregnancy organization
c. Sew for myself and the kids again…Make a duct tape body form?
3) Gardening
a. Study greenhouse gardening…Get the greenhouse fixed, finished, and working for us
b. Learn succession gardening
c. Learn all-season gardening
d. Establish and plant berry gardens
4) Yard
a. Create flower beds around the front porch, and eventually redirect the driveway
b. Remove sod, and put gravel around the garden boxes
5) Woodworking
a. Butcher block cutting boards
b. Tables and work islands
c. Start business?
6) Raise chickens…? We’ll see…
7) Art and Crafts
a. Learn to knit
b. Keep a sketch diary
c. Refresh my painting skills
8) House
a. Create our ‘library’
b. Design a pet area, including a contraption to keep the dogs out of the cat food, or we’ll need a doggie treadmill (Rosie is already almost rolling down the stairs in the morning.)
9) Homeschooling
a. More writing!
b. Expand the great new math program (Teaching Textbooks) used for grade 7 and Algebra this year for all the kids at all levels
c. More reading!
d. History timelines
e. Have a ‘project component,’ so there are always ongoing projects underway for each child
10) Self-Improvement
a. Daily devotions/Bible
b. Daily exercise…Oh, ok…
c. READ…Quit returning books to the library only partially read.
d. Periodic dates with DH…The Love Dare?
11) Write blog entries that don't take 2 days to post, and 2 days to read!
That ought to keep me going for awhile….
Hubby had informed me he was making my dinner. He came home with asparagus, steak, bread, and ingredients for twice-baked potatoes, informed me he'd need my input, but would do everything...and set to work. 
The potatoes were baked, the bacon was crisped and joined with the other ingredients and stuffed into the potatoes, and the asparagus and steak were prepped and ready to cook when the blustery weather took our electricity away for the night. 
Readjusting meant the asparagus steamed on the rangetop instead of in the microwave, and we warmed the potatoes through in my red cast iron pot on the stove, too.
We weren't able to have the music we had at that other Valentine's dinner, but what could have been more romantic than dining by the light of Prince CuddleBunny's Caterpillar lantern? ;-)
To say the least, it was crowded and lacking in positive ambiance, so Hubby, with help from the kids, set up our dinner table (really the patio set) in our future kitchen, where he hoped we could enjoy some privacy and a partially elegant moment...Required attire: Winter coats. 
I helped co-host a bridal shower yesterday. All the guests, including those of us hosting, were asked to bring one thing we were thankful for in our husbands, and one Bible verse that helped us in our marriage. Well, I could think of several things I am thankful for in DH, but most of the Bible verses I thought of were more helpful for our family life as opposed to specific toward our marriage...So I shared this dilemma with our oldest, Princess Bossy, in a recent 'Skype date.' As I expected, she was able to come up with one immediately, but, not necessarily one I would have expected...
