My Bucket List

I created a writing prompt for my 9th graders last week where they had to make a list of at least 5 things they wanted to do in their lives, essentially a Bucket List, and then tell me about why. So, in the spirit of the Beloved Dr. Rod Brewer, who never fails to complete the assignments he gives his students right along with them, I wrote mine as well.

1. Learn to knit
I've tried to learn to knit before, but it was at a time in my life when I really didn't have any use for it, nor the patience, and my efforts were not exactly genuine. Needless to say, my success reflected that. I believe that throwing needles was involved, and I'm not sure if it was my decision or the decision of those close to me at that moment, but my efforts did not continue. When I first came to Harding, the knitting phenomenon was beginning to explode. Girls were doing it everywhere: in chapel, in class, in the caf, on the front-lawn. I've even seen people do it in church. I love to create things like that, and I quickly became jealous of this sweet, creative knowledge. However, all the other activities I chose to pursue interfered with my ability to learn -- that and the fact that I never made any real effort to actually try again. When my friend, Ellen, who learned to knit many moons ago, decided to pick it up again, I got really excited. She's agreed to teach me how one day, hopefully soon, so that I can knit cute things for my friends, fam, and all those precious little babies I love so much.

2. Go white-water rafting
This desire sprung up in my heart this past summer. It was a long, and difficult summer for my family, with the loss of my grandmother. However, it was also a significant learning and growing time for me. I learned a lot about myself and my capabilities. I also learned a lot about God's will for me and what I want to do in my life. After returning from a mission trip in Belize and almost immediately leaving for another in North Carolina, my spirits were high. I was confident I had done good work for the Lord in Central America, and I was ready to take on anything. When we drove through Eastern Tennessee and the beauty of that breathtaking country, and then saw all the people white-water rafting a little further one, I knew immediately that I wanted to try it. I was somehow fearless for the first time in my life, and I still really want to experience what must be an amazing and thrilling adventure.

3. Mission work in Africa
I can't really pinpoint exactly when I began to yearn for those hearts and souls on that great continent, but I can tell you that it has not quieted down. I want to go there and spend weeks just holding babies. I have several friends who have had the opportunity to participate in Harding's HIZ program in Zambia and they bring back pictures and stories of all of these children who are orphaned and have chronic illnesses. They long for someone to just touch them and hold them. My heart aches for them. I hope and pray that God will bless me with babies of my own someday, but if he doesn't, don't be surprised to see me in an African village holding as many as will fit in my lap at a time. I really believe that that yearning is a God-calling, and I hope and pray for the opportunity to fulfill it one day.

4. Go to culinary school
In the 8th grade, when we all had to take that test whose name I can't remember that was supposed to tell us what we should/would be when we grew up, my results read "Chef." I thought that was the silliest thing in the world at the time. Now, part of me wishes I had listened. I love food. I love creating things. I love watching my friends and family enjoy things I have cooked and created. It's such a joy for me to plan a party and/or a meal for people that I love. I would love to go to Culinary school just so I'll know how to make whatever I want. I wouldn't necessarily want to work in a restaurant, but if the opportunity presents itself....I'm definitely not closing any doors on my future at this point.

5. Get married
I've got to have somebody to love me and help me out with #6.

6. Have lots of babies
I've got to have at least 4 at this point because that's how many names I've picked out. I'd really love to have a whole house full. But definitely less than 100. And none of them will be named E.T.

7. Travel Europe
There are so many places I've heard so much about that I really need to see.

8. Visit New Zealand, so I can see where the Hobbits live
Wouldn't it be cool to live in a Hobbit hole? I love the coziness of a hobbit dwelling with its round doors and windows and the warm fire, plus the neverending supply of food. I wish I was as content with my life as they all seem to be.

9. Write and publish a book
I've had a special relationship with words for as long as I can remember, but because I've also had self-esteem issues for nearly as long, I never felt like I was capable of actually writing a book. The idea has occurred to me several times over the last few years, but still, I was certain I just couldn't do it. Until this past Christmas, when my mom said something about it completely out of the blue. She got me a new journal for Christmas and said that she loved to see me writing and that she always assumed I'd write a book one day. She had never ever said anything like that to me ever before. But apparently she had been expecting it to happen for my whole life. And that little vote of confidence was all I needed. One day, I'll do it. As soon as I decide what in the world to write about.

10. Inspire at least one student to pursue a career in Literature or Language
It has been my experience in college that people are constantly asking why we want to be whatever it is we've chosen to become. I can't tell you how many times I've had to write or discuss why I want to be an English teacher. Most often, the majority of my English major friends have chosen this path because they had an exceptional teacher cross their path that really made a difference in their lives. That is not the case for me. I had lots of teachers that I really loved. But I never had a phenomenal English teacher in all of my K-12 education. For a literature and language lover, that is nearly a tragedy. I could very easily have been driven away from my loves by all of the mediocre instructors from my youth. But I chose a different route. I decided that I was going to become an English teacher because I love English, I love kids, and because I never had anyone work to inspire me, believe in me, or encourage me to explore my abilities. I want to do all of those things for my students. And I hope that my work will pay off and that one day before I retire at least one of my former students will be pursuing a degree and career in a field involving Literature or Language. I will, of course, assume that I was all the inspiration he/she needed.

I didn't know he was Canadian!

The 2010 Olympic Winter Games began with the opening ceremonies on Friday night. This, of course, was the perfect excuse for me to throw a party! I love planning a party. I get really stressed out about them, but it usually turns out perfectly, and this soiree was no exception. We gathered all the Peeps, ordered pizza, and I baked the perfect international dessert: funfetti cupcakes! I had the perfect idea several weeks ago to bake a cupcake for every country with a team participating in the games. However, we were only going to have about 15 people at the party -- tops-- so there didn't seem to be any way that 84 cupcakes could be consumed in one night. I worried and stressed over what I was going to do all the way up until Friday morning, just before the Wal~Mart trip to get all of the supplies. Rob-Bob had the perfect idea: "let's make mini-cupcakes instead." Brilliance. So, we went to Wal~Mart to gather supplies, and then, because I was lucky enough to only have one class on Friday afternoon, I spent most of the morning and lunchtime baking and icing (with Rob's help, of course) 96 cupcakes. I'm not sure exactly what constitutes baking with wreckless abandon, but I'm pretty sure that qualifies.
Anyway, we'll skip all the craziness of getting all those baked goods to Your Dream Hometown, and run ahead to the perfect party. There were a dozen of us, counting the sweetest little boy in the world, 4 pizzas, and all those cupcakes. Here's the brilliance: They were iced in the 5 colors of the Olympic rings (red, green, blue, yellow, and black -- or chocolate, in this case) and 83 of them had tiny toothpick flags from all the participating countries. (Unfortunately, the USA flag was lost in the great move.)


The unexpected fun came when everyone began to wave the flags from the cupcakes they had eaten as their country's team was announced. This is Elijah proudly welcoming Finland to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.


We talked about our favorite Olympic-themed movies, enjoyed the ceremonial performances, and most of all constantly commented on how many famous Canadians whose nationalities we were unaware of. We didn't enjoy Peter Pan and the virtual prairie. We were intrigued by the fiddling devil in the flying boat. We hadn't realized how popular tapping was in Canada. We were all horrified and appalled by the number of times they aired the video of the terrible accident which brought about the death of the Georgian luger, Nodar Kumaritashvili. Rob-Bob particularly enjoyed the video of the new version of "We Are the World." Everyone else at the party talked about their favorite artists from the original, but as I would not be born until 3 years after its release, I didn't take part in that discussion.
As you can all see, the party was double-cool with knobs, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It was too bad for poor Canada that the fancy structure that holds the cauldron failed to erect one of the pillars, and everyone had to stand around awkwardly and hope it would raise. The commentators did not help the situation, as they continued to talk about how "everything [had] gone off without a hitch. Until now." Fortunately, everyone was so excited about seeing The Great One bear the torch that his quick trip to the outside version of the cauldron (which was intact with its four pillars) made up for the mishap inside the arena. Besides, it's not like it was anywhere near the caliber of Dan Jansen's tragic crash at the 1988 Olympics (another event that I was not around for). Ellen didn't even cry about it. By the time the games are over, practically no one will remember it even happened. (Except these guys.)
This party went so well, that we're going to have another one for the Oscars in March. I'm ambitious, but I'm not stupid enough to believe that I could actually sculpt an Oscar out of cake and create some sort of icing that actually looks shiny and gold, so you'll just have to wait and see what kind of brilliance we come up with for that one. Until then, enjoy the games, and stay tuned for the many words I have to share on Student Teaching and job hunting.