365 days to Joy

Next week I turn 29 years old.  Twenty-Nine. 

I've been thinking about it all week and honestly, 

I am dreading it. D-R-E-A-D-I-N-G it.

In one year, I will go from saying I'm in my "Twenties" to saying I'm in my "Thirties". 

My twenties sounds so "this-is-the-best-time-of-your-life".

 But thirty so....well, grown up old.

I can remember my parents when they were in their Thirties. 

As a kid, I thought that was old. 

I guess I don't think it is as much old now as I just hate knowing I will finally be to the first age I can remember my parents being. My parents were not physically "old" back then. 

My dad played basketball with us kids all the time, and was probably in better shape than I am in today. But you know, as a kid, your parents are old. 

And now here. I. am. 

29

I have been thinking a LOT about what I want my last year before 3-0 to look like. I know it is so cliché, but I want to do something great this next year. Not just do something, but really do everyday great. I want to purposely decide to be joyful.  

I want my twenties to go out with a bang!

I want my "last year" to be ahhhhmazing!

I want to have fun!

I want to feel alive!

I want to remember every part of this year! 

I want to do everyday with Joy!

I want to experience life every single day.

365 days of Joy!

1. Stop Facebook.

2. Exercise regularly.

3. Hot air balloon ride.

4. Read more. 

5. Find some happiness in every single day.

6. Give more.

7. Go on walks with the dogs.

8. Learn to light a match

9. Help people I don't even know

10. Volunteer somewhere

11. Go on a hike

12. Swim

13. Learn how to back up the boat and trailer

14. Invite my friends over for dinner

15. Cook more, eat out less

16. Go camping

17. Go to the mountains 

18. Take lots of pictures....& actually get some developed

19. Be more intentional

20. Go fishing with the love of my life.

21. Cut down out the criticizing

22. Forgive...let it go and be amazed by what you see through eyes of grace

23. Little Grand Canyon

24. Learn to Fly Fish

25. Go to a UGA football game for the 1st time ever

26. Love more. Love is giving what someone needs the most when they deserve it the least.

27. Make homemade peach ice cream

28. Consider starting a family.

29. Be faithful to Him. 

30. go to Alaska or Yellowstone

and so 29 begins...

joyful.

And we are His portion, and He is our prize, drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes. If His grace is an ocean we are all sinking. And Heaven meets earth like and unforeseen kiss, and my heart turns violently inside of my chest. I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way, Oh, how He loves us so. Oh how he loves us, Oh how He loves us.