lists

I love a good list. Do you?

Ever since starting my bullet journal in January I've found myself making lists, lists and more lists. Sometimes the lists are things to do, sometimes it's things i'm grateful, but there is something about list making that always feels refreshing at the end.

I think of it like a "brain dump." It's a chance for me to get all those thoughts out of my head and somewhere safer. With baby coming and a summer with lots of free time, I've made all sorts of lists. In looking over all my lists, it might be a bit much, but it's a way for me to creatively deal with the swirling thoughts in my head. How do you keep it all straight?

Here are a few of my lists from the last few weeks.

Project Steps

Scripture Doodle Lists

Workout Lists

Gratitude Lists

To-Do Lists (paper and digital)

Grocery Lists/Meal Planning

Thematic Lists 

30 days of lists

I haven't forgotten! Just got swept away in todo lists and piles.

Today I'm listing my ARFF

 

ACCOMPLISHMENT

Purged books and lots of other junk! Feels good to have some organization and a peaceful reading nook in the bedroom!

RESPECT

I got a shout out in a family's Christmas letter! What a joy it is to work with the same students for multiple years - I'm glad they also appreciate this time as a gift.

FREEDOM

I snuck home between Seth's piano lessons so I could dive into my devotional. Desk piles can wait until tomorrow!

FUN

During "game time" today I did some knitting with a few students. Always fun to help them try something new!

30 days of lists

What to do while you defrost your car

1. Dust off your dashboard

2. Clean out the pockets and cup holders

3. Check email

4. Try the wiper fluid only to find out it's frozen

5. Look through your glove compartment

6. Find a necklace you've been missing

7. Locate a membership card to a store you don't shop at

8. Climb out of your car and use the card to scrape and help the process along.

9. Get back in after 38 seconds and wonder where your gloves are

10. Write a blogpost

Windows clear! 

It's freezing temps at night here. Over the years I've learned a few helpful hints:

1. Put a blanket or towel on your windshield to prevent ice from forming

2. Always leave your wiper blades up so they don't freeze to you windshield or get buried in snow.

Stay warm and happy winter :)

30 days of lists (delayed due to birthday storm 2015)

Reasons Sisters Are So Great

1. They are forever friends
2. They laugh at your jokes
3. They always have funny stories to tell
4. Sisters get it when stuff is a bummer and they won't disagree (at least to your face)
5. Sometimes you dress like twins, but it's okay
6. They will get mad at you when you're not around when they need you
7. That's because they REALLY like being around you especially when they need you
8. One sister will always remember "that time" and remind the other
9. Sisters have great imaginations
10. The buddy system for carefree and challenging times
11. When you're both sad, and you both know it, you can just try and make each other laugh. And that's okay.
12. Little sisters give big sisters a reason to do hard stuff bravely
13. Big sisters are relieved when little sisters do hard things first
14. Laughing... So much laughing
15. You can team up to do things, like I buy the gift and you make the card

 

So many other things I could write, but that'll be a list for another day.

Happy Birthday, Sister!

 

30 days of lists no. 18

What to do When the Power Goes Out

1. Find the battery operated lanterns
2. Close the blinds and drapes and hope to keep the heat in!
3. Read a book by lantern (or nook glow!)
4. Shadow puppets
5. Turn all devices to "low power mode"
6. Check Twitter for updates
7. Put #alltheblankets on your bed
8. Layer up and go for coffee
9. Choose the place that DOESN'T offer free wifi (shorter line!)
10. Bring home lunch from Whole Foods
11. Go for a walk in an attempt to warm up
12. Collect branches and make wreaths
13. Accept the neighbors offer to make you tea with their generator
14. Start a new knitting project
15. Celebrate when the oven clock starts flashing again!

24 hours was plenty of time for us. Praying for warmth and safety of others who are still without.

 

30 days of lists

What's on your list? It seems mundane but each of these items gives me a chance to be grateful for what I have and give praise to a God who cares about these little details as much as he does the big ones!

30 days of lists

Edit: My blogging app seems to be delaying publishing so here are the weekend lists!

[Saturday]

Essentials for Running in the Rain
1. hooded windbreaker with cinchable hood!
2. hat with a bill to keep your face dry
3. thin shoes - they will get really wet and pretty fast, but will also dry quickly and not feel so heavy when they take on water
4. close fitting wool socks - cotton will result in blisters
5. capri leggings - long pants soak up and hold water, shorts are too cold but capris are juuuuuuust right
6. gloves
7. zippered pockets for halfway through when the gloves are too hot
8. close fitting running tank - keeping my core warm is a must!
9. moisture wicking tee - water will get through the windbreaker but I won't be soppy wet
10. a warm shower waiting for you when you return!

[Sunday]

Snack I love
1. pretzels
2. popcorn
3 most things crunchy and salty
4. carrot sticks
5. apples and cheese
6. cuties!
7. bell pepper and hummus
8. roasted pumpkin seeds
9. pistachios and dried cranberries
10. yogurt with granola

30 days of lists

Reasons to stay up late 

Blogging

Knitting

Laughing

Watching the last three episodes of a tv series

Finishing a suspenseful book

Writing letters to friends

Happy weekend!!

30 days of lists

Gratitude: I am thankful for...

Family that laughs a lot

A warm cozy home

A new book

A hot cup or tea

A job where I can use my gifts

Handmade quilts to snuggle under

Text messaging

The chance to squeeze in a run

Friends who write letters

30 days of lists

Warning! This is a sentimental lists for the 6 month anniversary of my Grandma's passing.

I want to remember

1. That's she taught me how to shuffle cards like a pro

2. Canoeing on the lake

3. Bike rides and picnics

4. Homemade syrup on pancakes (usually blueberry)

5. Going to the nutcracker and how she helped clean me up after I got sick in the car... Every. year.

6. Playing puzzles and board games

7. Her collection of bobby pins in the bathroom drawer

8. The importance of thank you cards and that she kept so many I sent over the years

9. Later on, when she didn't really know  I was i heard her turn to Grandoa and say, "She was lovely, wasn’t she?"

10. How she came to so many of our events whether sports, church, recitals, or school

30 days of lists

What I'm listening to

1. #allthebach

2. All the People Said Amen by Matt Maher

3. Great Day by PaulMcCartney 

4. Thy Mercy My God by Sandra McCracken

5. Ingrid Michaelson (my go to report card season artist)

6. Lord I Need You by Matt Maher

7. My Lighthouse by Rend Collective

8. Break Every Chain by Jesus Culture

9. His Eye Is on the Sparrow by Abigail Washburn

10. Moonriver sung by Audrey Hepburn

30 days of lists

Why I Run

1. For health

2. For my pretzel addiction mentioned earlier

3. To destress

4. I have a great running buddy

5. Goal setting keeps me looking forward instead of dwell in the present

6. To tap into my competitive side

7. It's free!

8. So I can listen to music and podcasts

9. Makes me feel strong

10. I love a good challenge 

30 days of lists

11 Things I didn't know 11 years ago

1. That we'd get married (although perhaps we suspected)

2. That he would make me laugh harder than anyone else ever 

3. That he is NOT a morning person, but can overcome this with certain motivations

4. That I could bake

5. That he snowboarded

6. Contrary to his actions then, he prefers to go places with people - not alone

7. That I like and thrive with alone time

8. That I'd be a teacher

9. That he didn't own jeans

10. That we would have a band

11. That I needed his sense of adventure and freedom to finally break out of my shell of fear

Something I DID know: I want to be around someone generous, kind, patient and caring. Best decision ever!

30 days of lists

It's report card season right now. There is always talk around this time about the difference between a 3 (meets expectation), 2 (developing), and 4 (above abd beyond). I love the idea of finding the areas where there may be growth but one is still developing the skill or ability. This inspired my list for today.

Areas Where I'm Still Developing

1. Sleeping in, like truly staying in bed late

2. Putting my clothes back on the hangers

3. Bringing my lunch bag in from the car (why is this hard?!?!)

4. Finishing books before they are due at the library

5. Dealing with car problems. I do better now but it always unravels me

6. Unloading the dishwasher. I can load it eight times a day if you want but once they're clean...

7. Staying awake past 9 - the time change had made this harder!

8. Eating just a handful of pretzels 

9. Remembering to drink water in the cooler month - I'm all about the tea

10. Rhythm - my musical Achilles' tendon 

30 days of lists

Weekend Dreaming

1. wear hoodie
2. go for a run
3. drink coffee
4. knit
5. laugh with a friend
6. take a nap
7. read a book
8. clean the kitchen
9. change the linens
10. make a meal
11. draw or color
12. watch a show or two
13. take another nap
14. eat popcorn
15. sip tea
16. bake something yummy (granola maybe...)

30 days of lists

Things that go well with coffee...

1. Pie

2. Books

3. Conversation

4. Knitting

5. Cupcakes

6. Bacon

7. Toast

8. Boots and winter jackets

9. Donuts

10. The soundtrack to "Breakfast at Tiffany's"

30 days of lists

Books on my Nook That I Need Want to Read

1. Why Not Me by Mindy Kaling
2. Simply Tuesday be Emily Freeman
3. Fight Back with Joy by Margaret Feinberg
4. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordian
5. Maisie Hobbs by Jacqueline Winspear (almost finished!)
6. The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (aka JK Rowlings)
7. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
8. Bell Weather by Dennis Mahoney

30 days of lists

source target.com

Office Supplies I Adore

1. binder clips in pretty patterns
2. washi tape. all.the.washi.tape
3. post-it notes of all size
4. fancy paperclips
5. simple note cards
6. flair pens
7. double sided tape
8. clipboards
9. mechanical pencils
10. sharpie

30 days of lists

Things that made me smile today...

1. A bumble bee sticker

2. Yellow gerbera daisies with orange centers

3. Left over pumpkin pie and coffee when I came home

4. Kid jokes

5. Secret codes 

6. A kitten puzzle

7. Knitting

8. Remembering the power of little mysterious moments

9. How my students used their free choice game time to recreate the solar system with marbles then labeled each part

10. Flannel sheets on a cold fall night

30 days of lists

My Sunday morning...

1. wash dishes
2. take out the trash
3. go for a run!
4. laundry
5. weave in the ends of my knitting project
6. season the cast iron skillets
7. oil the butcher block island and cutting boards
8. email a friend
9. tidy the living room
10. make scripture sunday post
11. meal plan
12. sip tea
13. drink water
14. ponder my one little word for 2016
15. clean the bathroom
16. clean the stove
17. clean out my car

What did you do with your extra time?