Have I told you I love lists?

Hi, my name is Leah and I love lists.  All kinds of lists.

Back when I was the ripe age of 22 (which seems like ions ago might I just say), I created a list of 26 things to do before I was 30.  I know, I should have done 30 for 30 but my mind went completely blank on 4 more items.  What is absolutely frightening is that I only have two more years to complete this list!  Actually, I know I won't complete the list unless 1. (another list) Some rich unknown uncle wants to die and leave us money or 2. Someone wants to babysit two small children for a month so Brian and I can run around the world (and I refuse to leave my babies for that long.  A week, maybe.  A month, nada).  

So here is my list.  I've crossed out the ones I've done and I'll make notes in red on the ones I plan to do soon or just feel the need to ramble about.

26 Things To Do Before I'm 30

1. Go to Europe 
2. Get another degree/ go back to school  Does taking a 6-hour class in Nov on Estate Planning count??
3. Save $xx,xxx cash  Don’t rob me, people, I have a baby to pay for!  Do you know how much hospitals charge to have a babe when you don’t have maternity insurance?  You don’t want to.
4. Compete in something- whether it's a race or American Idol
5. Do some type of missions work
6. Volunteer for the Humane Society  I would like to drop this one after the crazy lady at the Licking Co chapter told me she has 18 cats and basically French kissed Miles as we left with him.  Maybe they are a little too much of animal lovers for me. I digress.
7. Go island hopping in Greece

Oh Santorini, I long to meet you.  (Image from www.santorini.com)

8. Stand in the four corners out west
9. Write at least 2 encouraging notes per month
10. Start a family
11. Record some of my music  I actually did this back in 2004 for our wedding.  But only one song.  And I didn’t mean to include it when I wrote this.
12. Spend a day at the spa
13. See an opera  I'm waiting for my husband to surprise me with tickets.  If you want to be that little bird that whispers in his ear about it- I'm ok with that.

14. Hike the Inca Trail in Peru  Maybe I can pay a Peruvian guide to strap a baby to each his back and front so I can actually hike?  I actually dream of doing this with our kids when they are teens.
15. Be able to run for 2 miles without stopping
16. Catch up with an old friend
17. Learn to shoot a gun (haha, I love America)  This is not crossed off because of my sheer laziness at booking the women’s class at New Albany Shooting Range.
18. Walk on the Great Wall of China
19. Buy a house

20. Go white water rafting  I don’t know if I will ever do – I forgot that I pretty much hate having no control.  And rapids don’t make me feel all happy inside.
21. Take a personal day to have a movie marathon  Do mommies get personal days?
22. Go ocean kayaking
23. Go see the opening of a movie at the midnight showing  Hoping to do this in November for Breaking Dawn.  I feel like a tween because I just said that.
24. Read through the Bible  I’m reading so much more than I used to…but haven’t read the entire book yet!
25. Get a bonsai tree and perfect the art of pruning  If you count kitchen shears as the art of pruning- man, do I have it down!!
26. Have my own garden full of vegetables 

What is on your bucket list?  I chose to break it down into decades because doing a life bucket list seemed daunting.  Do you think it helps to write it down to reference?

Next up- best bucket lists for travel.  I’m trying to keep it light for awhile.  This year has been way too HEAVY.