Project 21 Day #4

Blessed is the word... And it's an adjective that adequately describes this girl right here. :) And blessed I most certainly am.

"'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise."
- Laura Story

This song was a Christian song that recently came out and the lyrics have struck a chord with me. Mostly because they mean a lot and it's true... Some of my greatest blessings, oddly enough have come from my deepest heartache. I don't know that I would consider nightmares and staying up all night in tears and fear a blessing yet... BUT I would consider the love that comes from my savior that casts that fear out one! Bring us to the list for today:

1. I am blessed to be an American. This is such a simple thing, but something I think we look past a lot. With our country being in the condition it's in... It sometimes feels like things can't get much worse. But, I think that's the biggest error! When I look to other countries, I see the lack of freedom the women have and I know the freedom I am able to have. The voice I have and the people who listen to me as a woman. And for this, I know I am blessed to be born in America.

2. JOY. I have joy, I think part of it is a choice... And part of it is a byproduct of having Jesus in my life... Well, ALL of it is Jesus in my life. The part that is a choice is allowing that to be accessed. And for this, I am thankful.

3. Friends. I am incredibly blessed for the Godly women God has placed within my life. Seriously, I look back to the last year... And if you told me when I turned 20 that I would move back home and meet a small group that would end up being probably the most incredible people I had ever met and be exactly what I had been praying for... I would disagree totally. Since I thought I knew every person in my hometown. Well, I was wrong and the small group especially the beautiful women I have begun to share life with, have really blessed my socks off.

4. A home. Soon you shall read of my home on my random facts list stay tuned... But seriously, the story of how I ended up off campus living with five other girls and a married upstairs is truly crazy and incredible. I think it's a true blessing.

5. The ability to run, jump, leap through the air... Now this might be a stretch for some people... If you don't know my history: I was in a wheelchair. Sometimes I forget that. And I am like, dude... I should be able to run as fast as a car drives, a cheetah, the speed of light. And I get really mad and frustrated about training or this or that... My complaining list can get pretty long sometimes. But when I take a step back: not only am I lapping the people on the couch.... But I also couldn't walk for awhile. Pretty crazy, right? Yeah... I am amazed when I force myself to remember.
6. Advocates. So... I didn't know how to put this down as something... BUT these women and men well, they are mostly women! Are incredible... The directors of A Hope 4 Lyme, Inc. are seriously incredible. They have taken my pint sized dream from High School and have kept it up and running despite my friend and I leaving and the incredibly rocky economy. They inspire me... A lot. These women, are people that really work hard at grassroots and have taught me a lot about the importance of elbow grease.

7. Healing. There is an old saying that says time heals all wounds. I think I would change that a tad bit to say: God heals all wounds in time. I have been extremely blessed to have the spiritual walk that I have had so that I have been able to see and experience God move in an incredible way. I have been able to see God move and heal not only physical things and ailments but also the healing of my heart and emotions.

8. Family. Oh. My. Goodness. I love my family... They drive me totally crazy, and make me laugh until I cry. Ultimately, knowing my family, makes me realize that God truly does have a sense of humor.

9. Passion, and COM-passion. :) I am really blessed to have a passionate heart. When I hear of certain causes, ie: sex trafficking, domestic violence, and people suffering in general... I tend to have a sense of urgency to help them. This has been a blessing and a curse. However, I am finding out that it can be such a blessing to help them and I am beginning to realize it's not written in every one's DNA.

10. Shoveling Snow. OK- this might be something that sounds so weird. But last night, I was out shoveling our sidewalk and it was a blast. I have never gotten such joy from such a mundane task. I never really had to shovel our sidewalks back home. They would get snow blown or my sister used to do it... And when she was in High School some kid she went to High School once came to do them! haha. I really felt blessed knowing we got snow this winter. It was worried we wouldn't get any more. I am one of those weird people who still gets giddy when I see snow fall.

11. Spiritual Support. I am blessed to have people surrounding me who care very deeply about my spiritual life and my spiritual health. They support me in prayer and ask me the right questions. They come alongside me in pain and suffering and I am so blessed.

12. Dish washers. Let me confess: I hate dislike washing dishes a lot. I really don't like washing dishes... However, above not liking to wash dishes: I don't like having dirty dishes sitting in my sink. However, I have been blessed to live with some wonderful women who will share the task and we carry the burden of making sure the dishes are washed before bed together. It's teamwork at it's finest.

13. I have a car. It is a pain in my butt a lot of the time. I desperately wish it was realistic to just ride my bike everywhere. However, it's not. And for this, I am really glad that I have my car. It has also been a blessing to help others out when they need a lift places.

14. I have been blessed with trials. I know I started this post out with my trials. However, I have found each one to uniquely shape me and help me become a better person and a better child of God.

15. Singleness. For some people my age, I am noticing that they have a huge issue with their singleness. It seems as though they're out on the prowl. And I guess for awhile, so was I. However, I have found this to be such a blessing. Seriously, I love being single. Right now especially: it has been really awesome to get to adventure and see things. I get to plan crazy road trips and fall in love with adventure all over again... I don't want to say that you can't do this married... However, I am really having a blast being single. :)

16. Blessed with a home. This past summer, I got to experience the whole providing my own roof over my head. I am really blessed that no matter what, I have always had a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food in my stomach.

17. A College Education. In 1999 a study was done and out of 100 Americans that was equally distributed to compose of the world's demographic. One person would have a college education. I consider myself very blessed to have a college education.

18. Medical Care. A few years ago, I did the one day without shoes campaign with Toms and I learned that people die from cuts on their feet. That's crazy, right? Well, when I learned this: I realized. 1. I had to do something. 2. I was very blessed to be in a country where I could get help for small cuts, bumps, and bruises... Or major illnesses like pneumonia. And I am very fortunate that I don't know anyone who has died from a cut on their foot.

19. I am blessed to be part of things bigger than myself. Last year I started CUFI on campus at my school and I have been involved in other various groups on campus. There is something meaningful and totally exciting about being a part of something bigger than yourself.

20. Grace. God's grace flows abundantly in my life... Every. Single. Day. And this is the biggest blessing of all.

21. Realizing that it has been difficult to come up with 21 things that I am blessed with, has made me realize that I have fallen into a minority on the top. No matter how it may feel difficult to get through certain days or finances may feel tight. I am still richer, and more blessed than a majority of the world. And in that, unfortuantely, I believe that I may even be a bit ignorant to my blessings.

Project 21 Day #3

Today's edition of Project 21 is brought to you by Favorite foods. Here are 21 Favorite foods!!

1. Pizza.

2. Pomegranates.

3. Salad. No seriously, I am not even saying this just to be good. I really love a good salad with lots of stuff layered on top of it. Especially fruit!

4. Kiwi. I have loved this since I was a little girl! SO good.

5. Mango.

6. My momma's Chicken and Biscuits!

7. A good juicy hamburger with tomatoes on top and some lettuce! YUM!!

8. Steak. I was raised in a home where steak was served quite a bit and my dad supported 4H. I used to hate steak... However, since I have been away from it: I have developed a healthy appreciation for steak again.

9. Chocolate. Is this a food? I don't know. However, when I am in the mood: I love me a good piece of chocolate. However, I have found that this along with other sweet things... I have to be in the mood for them.

10. Chicken. I love chicken. I really enjoy grilled chicken, fried chicken, however it's prepared! I usually will eat it right up! I don't know why but it's my favorite meat. Like Bubba was with shrimp... That's me with chicken.

11. Hummus. Especially the Roasted Red Pepper Kind.

12. Appetizers! I love these things... Lots of little foods to just browse through! So you can have a little of everything. Now that's my kind of food!

13. Applesauce. I love me some good ole' fashioned home canned applesauce. It's delicious. If you have never had it... Leave a comment if you're local and I can hook you up with a can! :)

14. Apples. Especially when I am sick, I crave them... They are so good. I remember when I used to get the stomach bug when I was a kid... Apples were one of the first foods I wanted when I started to feel better.

15. Girl Scout Cookies... Especially Thin Mints. After being a Girl Scout for years, up into High School... There is something nostalgic about eating a Girl Scout Cookie.

16. Pumpkin Pie. I love to make pie... I really like my Pumpkin pie the best... However, I also enjoy Apple Pie and Cherry Pie... However, the best Cherry Pie is the kind with really pitted cherries.

17. Newman's Own Cookies... The ones that look like Oreos. These are one of my weaknesses. I love them! They are sooo good. I don't know why, but the packages always seem smaller than they were before. I wish I could eat them all in one sitting. Must. Practice. Self-Control. Haha. For the record: Hint O' Mint are the best.

18. Orange Juice. Is this a food or a juice? I guess it's more of a drink. BUT: I love to have this every morning with breakfast and it's really amazing.

19. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Filled cupcakes. As seen here they have been one of my favorite recipes to make. I made them last year all the time and they have always been a big hit!

20. Cheese Raviolis from Olive Garden. I tend to find a dish I like and then stick with it at restaurants. This is a dish that  I have never been disappointed in. They are so good. I don't know what's going on with my font... So disregard the random italics.

21. ANY dish that I don't have to cook. Living on my own and making my own meals has brought me to the conclusion that any meal that I didn't prepare always tastes a little better! :) 

The 21 Project Day #2

Today's edition of the 21 Project is 21 qualities of a perfect day!

1. I would get to sleep in as late as I wanted and be able to take my time getting ready.

2. The outfit I would like to wear would be clean and all picked out for me.

3. The weather would be warm enough that I didn't need a heavy coat but chilly enough that you need a sweater. The sky would be blue with a few clouds.

4. I would be surrounded by those I loved and would get to spend time with them.

5. I would have a coffee date or a lunch date with a friend and we would get to chat and laugh together.

6. I would get to sit down and eat dinner with my family. We would not be on our phones or distracted but soaking up good quality time with one another.

7. I would go for a run and when it ended I would still feel like I could just keep going forever.

8. I would have extra time to just spend doing devotionals.

9. Time would move very slowly and the day would leisurely string along.

10. I wouldn't have any big projects or homework to worry about.

11. Get a boquet of wild flowers to put in my room.

12. Spend time getting lost in a book.

13. Spend time doing crafts with my mom, sister, and my mom's friend Cheryl.

14. Not getting called in to work and feeling completely content with that.

15. Not needing any money and having all of my student debt paid off.

16. Find out I had a 4.0 for the semester.

17. Get a massage.

18. Going to bed as late as I want the day of the perfect day and not having to worry about getting up early the next morning.

19. Have unlimted energy for the day to accomplish everything.

20. Go hiking with a friend.

21. When I went to bed that night, sleep well and have a good night's rest.

The 21 Project Day #1

This is the beginning of the week of my 21st Birthday (my Birthday is February 4th!) I feel excited to be entering into my 21st year. You may be here because you got an e-mail about this. OR you may be here because you already follow my blog and you saw I posted! Either way, welcome.

For the next 21 days, yeah, I feel a little crazy doing this... But it should be fun! I am going to post a list of 21 things. These lists could range from things I like to do to photos I have taken and everything in between.... This was a challenge offered to me by a dear friend. It will be an adventure of 21 things as I enter into turning 21!! I hope you enjoy these posts as much as I have enjoyed putting them together! Come back every day!!

Today's post is 21 of my favorite quotes! I absolutely love quotes and love inspirational quotes. My journals are filled with them. I hope you will be inspired by these wonderful quotes! :)

1. "We will no longer make up excuses for powerlessness, because powerlessness is inexcusable" - Anonymous
2. "The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you find yourself." - Mark Caine

3. "We are all haunted with the fear of living lives of insignificance, and we all know that to play it safe is to lose the game. By definition an adventure is "an undertaking or enterprise of a hazardous nature." In other words, it comes at great cost. And life as God intends for you to live it is nothing less than an adventure. You were created for both pleasure and purpose. You might be thinking, I'm not sure if I really want to undertake an enterprise of a hazardous nature. Is a life of adventure really worth the risk? Is it really necessary? yes, you can choose to play it safe, you can choose to settle for less, but never forget this: you were born to live a great adventure; you were created with a divine destiny; you are called to fulfill a great mission. You were designed for a unique purpose. Now you are called to live it out." - Erwin Raphael McManus Chasing Daylight
4. "Authority can shape waht a person does, but influence shapes who a person becomes. Influence is born out of trust and finds its strength in the connection of heart and soul." - Erwin Raphael McManus Chasing Daylight
5. "Enthralled by your beauty. That means captivated, smitten, fascinated, spellbound, and delighted. That's exactly how the prince feels about the princess in fairy tales. But this sentiment is not fiction. Enthralled is how God in heaven feels about you. He is taken with you. Undistracted. Intensely interested. Emotionally connected. He enjoys your laughter and takes pleasure in the way you think. He is not bored with you, and He would never consider you ordinary. There is no way you will ever go unnoticed with God. You are beautiful to Him. Incredibly, breathtakingly beautiful. When a man feels this way about a woman, we say that he's in love." - Angela Thomas Do You Think I'm Beautiful?
6. "Sexy is when it feels good to be in your own skin. Your own body feels right, it feels comfortable. Sexy is when you love being you." - Rob Bell's wife Sex God
7. "I want first of all... to be at peace with myself. I want a singleness of eye, a purity of intention, a central core to my life that will enable me to carry out these obligations and activities as well as I can. I want, in fact- to borrow from the language

8. "Never let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do." - unknown
9. "We are given a shot at dancing with, or at least clapping along with, the absurdity of life, instead of being squashed by it over and over again. It's like singing on a boat during a terrible storm at sea. You can't stop the raging storm, but singing can change the hearts and spirits of people who are together on that ship." - Anne Lamott
10. "It is better to live one day as a lion than one hundred years as a sheep." - Benito Mussolini
11. "Since childhood the Lord has been my Shepherd and his goodness has never failed. Being one of his sheep is the best adventure of my life." -Luci Swindoll

12. "Feed your fears and your faith will starve. Feed your faith, and your fears will." - Max Lucado
13. "Nature is God's first missionary. Where there is no Bible there are sparkling stars. Where there are not preachers there are spring times... If a person has nothing but nature, then nature is enough to reveal something about God." - Max Lucado.
14. "It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half hearted creatures, fooling around with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." - C.S. Lewis

15. "[Biologists' investigation of DNA] has shown, by the almost unbelievable complexity of the arrangements which are needed to produce [life], that intelligence must have been involved." -Antony Flew, Former Atheist

16. "To be transformed, our job is to 'behold'- to continually contemplate- God's glory, focusing our spiritual gaze not primarily on things like Christian duties or our unworthiness, but on God's spectacularness." -Dwight Edwards
17. "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."
18. "A saint is not someone who is good but who experiences the goodness of God." -Thomas Merton
19. “What day is it?"
It's today," squeaked Piglet.
My favorite day," said Pooh.”
- A.A. Milne

20. “How do you spell 'love'?" - Piglet
"You don't spell it...you feel it." - Pooh”
- A.A. Milne

21. How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. ~Anne Frank

Upload those Photos!!!

Golly, I was looking for photos the other day and realized that they weren't on my computer anywhere...

As I frantically searched through folders looking for my photos, I thought they were certainly gone forever. I was quite panic struck.

Then it hit me, the photos I took a few days, weeks... uhh well, months ago... Were still on the camera! I still haven't uploaded them! This is kind of embarrassing since I consider myself a somewhat decent photographer. I am ashamed.

It reminds me of the days as a kid when we would have a bag of rolls of film and disposable cameras and we would take them to the store and be surprised by what we developed! I remember the time my parents got doubles of photos I had taken of my baby dolls! :) How sweet right?
Maybe today after class, I will finally get around to getting these photos onto the computer... Again, with the procrastinating! Gosh!

Totally content, no seriously.

I am totally content. I realized this about a week ago. No seriously, I am.

I have so much that I am looking forward to doing and I just want to enjoy them. People are unpredictable and so is life! However, aproximately a week or maybe it was two? I am not really sure!

I realized that I am totally, completely, content!! I have pretty much everything I need right now in my life and I am at a very exciting crossroads in my life. I am deciding whether or not I want to be a Social Worker the rest of my life or if there is something else that I would like to be... I could go on to Medical School, Law School, or become pretty much anything I wanted to be! Isn't that crazy?!

I am looking forward to traveling this summer and going places I have never been before!

Some places on that list? Well, confession: there is only one right now... Colorado. But I was thinking about some others: maybe Montana... I don't know! What are some of the most beautiful places you have ever been? What would you highly recommend? I would love to hear about it!

I am so excited about approaching each day as an adventure! I recently began thumbing through the book I Married Adventure by: Luci Swindoll. It's a book about allowing each day to be an adventure in and of itself. So here I am, no idea what I am going to do this summer... But trusting God that He will provide through each leg of the journey. Maybe I will go square dancing or go to a hoe down. Maybe I will climb to the peak of a mountain (I sure hope so!) and swim with dolphins (never thought about doing that!)... Some day soon I think I might re-visit my Bucket List... I hope you will join me as I journey onward.

Is it worth it?

We are in a technology saturated culture....

Recently upon going to a pro- Israel conference, I noticed that my generation is extremely attached to the technology around them. I watched people "live tweet" powerful quotes and constantly interact with others through smart devices.

As I sat in a room with some incredibly connected individuals, I saw how out of the loop I was. I didn't have a twitter, or a facebook. I had no idea what their other counterparts were; tumblr, google-plus, and others were not even in my vocabulary at this point. I couldn't tell the difference between a tweet and a hashtag and barely knew if it was tweeter or twitter and could really give a hoot!

Despite my lack of ability to tweet, text, and look up 20 different news stations within a few seconds... I was able to hold a conversation and keep eye contact; face to face contact has high value to me. When the speakers said something profound, I jotted it down with a pen, in a notebook to be stashed away for later use. Maybe in a blog post, or to be inspired when I went on a journey to change the world... These quotes would be stashed in my heart for a moment to light a fire when speaking to others. Still I felt inferior to my tech-savvy counterpart. I was lost in a sea of faces lit by the glow of a smart phone or ipad.

I realized I couldn't resist the culture that was rising around me. I fell with the rise of the pressure and reluctantly got a twitter (just a plug: you can follow me: @victoriaqwilcox)! It has been a love/hate relationship between my account and I. I sometimes tweet similar tweets two or three times because I don't remember that I can put multiple people's names in the tweet. Or I have tweets that are probably very difficult to understand because I just can't fit my full thought into the 130 characters provided. I become frustrated and confused. It's difficult to conform to this idea of tweeting my exciting thoughts.

I have felt like an outcast in a generation that knows just what to do. With just over twenty followers on my twitter account; I must have something interesting to say! Or else they have followed me out of pity, perhaps a mixture of both. I hope they find a quote or a statement inspiring or informative, or maybe my thoughts will encourage them to dig deeper than surface level. I mean I think that's what people are supposed to get out of twitter anyways. I am still not sure what I am chasing after with my twitter account. Or maybe I am just following the goal that was placed before me at SALT in Texas averaging approximately 5 tweets a day.

However, all of this brings me to the question... Is it worth it? With being connected to society and allowing them into your life via 130 characters or through photos on facebook... All in the name of connection, are we really becoming a more connected society? It's hard pressed to get together with people without having someone take a phone call or send a text message. I am also guilty of this. With all of this connection, I must ask myself if it's really creating a better society... Or are we just creating a society that cannot connect on more than a surface level. I text to the car, I talk on the phone while I am walking outside... Sometimes I believe that I fail to observe the environment that encompasses me.

Are we so lost in texting and tweeting, and whatever else there is that we are walking off a cliff with phone in hand?

too true

design credit: http://www.etsy.com/listing/62293698/it-always-seems-impossible-until-its

What makes you feel beautiful??

Photo Credit: Clémence Floris However, fun fact: I do have that lamp and it's on my night stand! :)

I was browsing around the internet yesterday and I came across this article. The first page, Anne Roiphe writes about her husbands words and how they made her feel beautiful.

The honesty in her writing literally stands on the page and really draws you into the scene she paints and creates. It made me ponder what makes me feel beautiful, and how to just be comfortable in the skin I am in.

I don't know if I am totally sold out and happy with the body I have been given, ocassionally I look at myself and wish I had something different. However, a lot of days I am pretty content just being me! I hope some day, I will have a partner in crime that can reflect with me as Anne's husband did.

However, today, I am looking up to a creator... And ultimately, after I am old and grey... If I am fortunate enough to grow wise with years... I will be face to face with him and my biggest dream to be answered would be when the creator of the world tells me, I am beautiful, and well done to a faithful servant.

May I be honored to be in the presence of the King. I yearn to have an encounter with the Lord that is approving. However, today, I walk around the creation of His and look up into the sky and am amazed by the beauty and complexity simplicty of it all.

Be Satisfied

Be Satisfied with Me


by St. Anthony of Padua



Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone,

To have a deep soul relationship with another,

To be loved thoroughly and exclusively.



But to a Christian, God says, "No, not until you are satisfied,

Fulfilled and content with being loved by Me alone,

With giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me.

With having an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone.



Discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found,

Will you be capable of the perfect human relationship,

That I have planned for you.

You will never be united to another

Until you are united with Me.

Exclusive of anyone or anything else.

Exclusive of any other desires or longings.

I want you to stop planning, to stop wishing, and allow Me to give you

The most thrilling plan existing . . . one you cannot imagine.

I want you to have the best. Please allow Me to bring it to you.



You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things.

Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I am.

Keep listening and learning the things that I tell you.

Just wait, that's all. Don't be anxious, don't worry

Don't look around at things others have gotten

Or that I have given them

Don't look around at the things you think you want,

Just keep looking off and away up to Me,

Or you'll miss what I want to show you.

And then, when you're ready, I'll surprise you with a love

Far more wonderful than you could dream of.



You see, until you are ready, and until the one I have for you is ready,

I am working even at this moment

To have both of you ready at the same time.

Until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me

And the life I prepared for you,

You won't be able to experience the love that exemplified your relationship with Me.

And this is perfect love.



And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love,

I want you to see in the flesh a picture of your relationship with Me.

And to enjoy materially and concretely the everlasting union of beauty, perfection and love that I offer you with Myself.

Know that I love you utterly. I AM God.

Believe it and be satisfied."

I desire to have this certainty and contentment with God.

Some times I can't wait to have kids... This is so funny.

New Place #1

Place: Yogen Fruz
Product ordered: Mint Chocolate Chip
Ambiance: 0 points on a scale 1-10, I cheated a bit: it was at the mall in a kiosk.
Taste: 4 I wasn't overly impressed with the taste, I have had awesome frozen yogurt that tasted much better... However, I have heard other flavors are better. Perhaps if I am feeling daring, I will try another flavor some day.
Nutritional Value: 7 Pretty good! The calories are relatively low in comparison to their ice cream counterparts.

Over-all experience: O-K. I stopped by the little kiosk because I kept walking by it and there was always a line. Usually you can tell by the long lines that the product being sold is de-lish! However, I was utterly disappointed. I was ready to taste something very fantastic, perhaps I had too high of hopes! Stay tuned for the next adventure...

Twelve things for 2012

Wow! I can barely believe it's 2012 already... In years past I have been on top of things. However, this year, I allowed thanksgiving to pass without giving thanks, and Christmas to pass without a mention of Jesus' birthday (surprising when I was awarded a Christmas spirit award when I did this giving back effort!). I digress, and apologize for my absence. Over the past few months...

I have moved, traveled to two different states, and moved again... Went speed-dating, met the love of my life, fell madly in love, and eloped to a small island just off the Caribbean. 

Just kidding about the last part... But seriously: life has been crazy busy. I went to Kansas City, MO and San Antonio, TX less than a day apart and moved the day I got back, to come back to school! I have to admit, I have enjoyed every minute of the crazy life I lived but let's be real: it's time to get back in the grind and finish up my degree.

Last year I had a nice little synopsis of the previous year...

This year, in an effort to keep things new and exciting... I bring you Twelve for '12.

1. Eat healthier! I tend to forget to eat when things get busy... This year I would like to make an effort to get better at cooking and eating three balanced meals a day! This is tough cooking for one...

2. Trip advisor has a list of top things to do in Rochester, where I go to school. I would like to go to at least 1/2 of them. So 10 of the 20 places on the list. Especially the Museum of play!! It looks so fun!

3. Do some sort of exercise every day and run at least 5 days a week. Since I ran Cross Country, I have slacked off in exercise... I really miss it and I miss the mood boost it gave me. Next year, I would really like to run a marathon!

4. Achieve at least a 3.7 both semesters. I still am aiming for a 4.0 before the end of my college career. I have come close but still no cigar.

5. Become more connected. I would really like to spend more face time with those I care about. Enough of this texting and phone calls!

6. Go backpacking! I have never been on a prolonged backpacking trip. But I really would love to go on one. Let the planning begin! I would love to go out to Colorado. I don't really know anything about Colorado but a lady I met in the airport said it's great for backpacking!

7. Visit one new place each month. Whether it's a coffee shop, or a hiking trail. Just check out unique and different places to visit!

8. Read the Bible more. It's something I haven't done nearly enough of and would really like to gain a better understanding...

9. Visit more churches in Rochester! I would like to really check out some different churches in Rochester and see the different cultures within churches. I think it's so easy to get into your comfort zone and stay at the church that doesn't necessarily challenge you or is just like the church you have gone to since you were a kid.

10. Start a bible study/ prayer group. I started a prayer group back home and it was such a positive experience... I would really like to start something similar here in Rochester.

11. Take a multivitamin every day! This is something I stink at doing. I always see it as an accessory pill. However, people say that they really help.

12. Learn more board games... I would really like to learn more board games and host game nights on a regular basis.