I wish....

there was another name for this kind of list other than "bucket list."  Let's be honest--that term conjures up images of old men in a mediocre movie skydiving in tandem that you didn't want to see--you just knew from the preview....."that'd be two hours of my life I'd never get back."  "I'll watch Antiques Roadshow instead."

But.....it is kind of fun to write down all the things you'd like to do........before you, ahem......kick the bucket.......that's what it means right? And since lists seems to really strike a cord lately I thought I'd try my hand at another one........

So.....here we go.....in no particular order:

1.  Live overseas.  One of my biggest regrets about college is that I didn't study abroad for a semester.  I went to a school that pushed this big-time and I never took advantage of it and I fear my time may have past.  I don't really want to pull Georgia away from grand-parents, I don't want to leave my family, and knowing us, we'd be offered the chance to live in Antarctica versus somewhere cool like Madrid or Stockholm.  But, if one day, the stars were all aligned correctly........we'd be living it up at a research station in Antarctica.

2.Ski.  So simple right?  I have control issues and letting go of that control and flying down a mountain scares the crap out of me.  I want to do it, I want to do it, I want to do it.  I want to take a vacation to Jackson Hole, Wyoming in the middle of February and spend all day skiing and then have fireside dinners--if I could just let go of some control. (And no--my husband who is a great skier won't teach me--we've been married eleven amazing years......I'd like to make it eleven more.)

3.  Take my daughter to Africa before she's a teenager to visit our Compassion girl, Jackline.  I firmly believe that one of the best things American parents can do for their American children is get them out of America whenever is reasonably possible; for perspectives sake.

4.  Fast forward through a social work degree so I could do adoption counseling.

5. Have a book published.  (Any editors out there? Hello?)

6.  Have white couches. (This one is way at the bottom of the bucket......for practicality's sake)

7.  Be on the Amazing Race. (Shannon--are you reading?  I still haven't given up on us!)

8. Grow a patience bone. It broke at birth and I haven't been able to get it to heal properly ever since.  It's a problem.

9.  Meet Tori Spelling. Judge away.  I'm cool with that.  I've been mocked for my infatuation with her since I was a freshman in high school and I'd plant myself in front of 90210.  I don't even care anymore if people make fun of me for this.  I'll still wear my "Donna Martin graduates" t-shirt with pride and watch a favorite episode when I need a pick-me-up--I own the whole series......all ten years baby! (I'd take meeting Kathie Lee as a close second).

10.  Learn how to like coffee.  I think it smells heavenly--I just can't stomach the taste..........for now.

11.  Go shopping with Giada whose husband works for Anthropologie.....I'm assuming a pretty wicked discount would be available.

12.  Learn how to sew amazing things on my sewing machine; ruffles, aprons, couch covers, sheets, everything.  I need an exorcism after most attempts at sewing.

13.  Get good enough at piano again that I could play at church.

14.  Live in a house that has a pool.  I will win this argument with my husband.  I can be quite persuasive.

15.  Re-finish furniture without giving up.  See #8.

16.  Home school.  Yep--I said it. Who knows if this will ever happen, what grades it would happen for, if it would work in our family, or if I could acquire enough blue-jean jumpers and get my hair long enough before I started.  But.........I feel a pretty strong pull to do it........it's just those pesky logistics.

17.  Have platinum blond hair.  Even for just an hour--I'm curious.......a little.

18.  Be a glass is 1/2 full, rose-colored glasses kind of girl.  I so wish I could see the best in every situation, laugh easily, and ooze positivity.  It's really hard for me.

19.  Work in an art museum.  I was an Art History major for about a year.  The desire to get a job was a road-block in finishing out that major.

20.  Work as a corporate trainer.  I love public speaking, I love leading trainings, and clearly......given the fact that I've mentioned about five different kinds of jobs above I need to figure out what I want to do when I grow up.

21.  Worry less.

22.  Bring about world peace.  (I used to want to be in a Miss America pageant so I had to throw that in for good measure).

23.  Raise a daughter with an incredible work ethic, positive attitude, strong convictions, and a love for people that is contagious.

24.  Figure out a way to make McDonald's good for you.....and still eat their fries.

25.  Leave a legacy of faithfulness, strength, kindness, intelligence, and compassion. And I know....this might bring out some gag reflexes--but I really mean it.  I do.