Last time I wrote about some of my angst over my upcoming 50th birthday. You guys rock! I got several fun ideas from that post. Stay tuned for more to come over 2019 on what I’m up to throughout my 50th year!!
One thing that I had already started this year was to track 50 fun things that I’ve been doing, learning, experiencing, or appreciating throughout 2018 on my way to my 50th birthday. I wanted to make sure I wrote it down and at the end of the year could remember and smile as I looked back over the fun things that I did. They were not always big things…in fact, often they were small things…or precious moments spent with friends… I tagged my list with the subtitle “Living Life and Loving It!”…
Here’s the list I tracked over the year…although I’m sure there were many more moments as well:
| 1 | Trying & loving Powerlifting | 1-Jan |
| 2 | Ride along with my friend Jennifer to take her daughter, Bekah, her stuff after winter break…so much fun chatting for hours and going out to lunch with Bekah | 7-Jan |
| 3 | Splurged and bought leather book purse with a bookish theme
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10-Jan |
| 4 | Scrapbook weekend in Newton
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12-Jan |
| 5 | Bought a new car, Subaru Crostrek
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25-Jan |
| 6 | Tried my first #24in48 or 24in48 readathon | 27-Jan |
| 7 | Went with Brian to Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone at the Des Moines Symphony (where they play along live with the movie) | 2-Feb |
| 8 | Season tickets to the Des Moines Symphony with my friend Sarah
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| 9 | Participate in a Bench Press Clinic (in preparation for #18) | 10-Feb |
| 10 | Valentine’s Day Beer & Dessert Pairing at Reclaimed Rails with Brian
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14-Feb |
| 11 | Participate in a Deadlift Clinic (in preparation for #18) | 17-Mar |
| 12 | Volunteer photographer at the Animal Rescue League’s Goat Yoga
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30-Mar |
| 13 | Between the Wines Book Club sponsored by Plot Twist Book Store and held at WineStyles in Ankeny – tried this for the first time in April with my friend Alie
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3-Apr |
| 14 | Hung out at the Gents Race while Brian took pictures…such a fun day with friends! | 7-Apr |
| 15 | Spring in the Smokies Photo Workshop with Sarah, Dave & Mark
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10-Apr |
| 16 | Ready Player One with Brian at Flix Brewhouse; this was neat as we had both read the book first | 20-Apr |
| 17 | First lifting competition = Women’s Barbell Classic
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28-Apr |
| 18 | Lifting, Biking & Learn to Curl with Katie
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5-May |
| 19 | First camping with Brian & family – Red Rock
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18-May |
| 20 | Shooting my first (non-family) wedding celebration – Jen & Adam Carolan
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26-May |
| 21 | Went MTB on my fattie at Whiterock Conservancy with Lee | 28-May |
| 22 | Shooting pics at the last Dam to Dam 2018 for Jolesch | 2-Jun |
| 23 | Hiking at Ledges & Winestyles — fun spontaneous day with my friend Kerrie | 3-Jun |
| 24 | Shooting Senior Pics (Connor, Stephen, Lexi, Jake) | 10-Jun |
| 25 | Beer & Ice Cream Pairing w/Brian
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9-Jun |
| 26 | Clean & Jerk Clinic at CF8035 | 9-Jun |
| 27 | MTB at Cuyuna by myself when Brian & I were there in June
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26-Jun |
| 28 | Painting with a Twist with Dawn & Alie
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29-Jun |
| 29 | Galena by myself for #24in48 weekend
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21-Jul |
| 30 | Cheese 101 class with Stephanie | 30-Jul |
| 31 | Kayaking Fundamentals with Brian at Lake Ahquabi
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12-Aug |
| 32 | Bingo at the ARL with Susan | 21-Aug |
| 33 | Surprise engagement photo session (Renee & Dennis)
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26-Aug |
| 34 | Fall Bags League with Brian (Amy, John, Cathy, Jamie, Mary, Mark, Pam) | 29-Aug |
| 35 | Harvest at Summerset Winery with Sarah | 1-Sep |
| 36 | Cuyuna MTB Trails for a week with friends (Brian, Mary, Mark, Cathy, Jamie, Amy, John, Pam, Phil) | 8-Sep |
| 37 | Women’s MTB Clinic in Cuyuna with the Mary, Cathy, Amy, Pam | 9-Sep |
| 38 | Bought new carbon fat bike! (Blue Thunder)
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16-Sep |
| 39 | Scrapbook weekend in Newton (cards only!) | 21-Sep |
| 40 | Photo shoots for Volunteer Iowa (Everybody Wins! Iowa) | 25-Sep |
| 41 | Took pictures of Natalie’s horse farm – a first for me!
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27-Sep |
| 42 | Rather spontaneous additional vacation trip to Cuyuna with Brian | 12-Oct |
| 43 | Sprinkles & Sips Cupcake Decorating with Sarah
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17-Oct |
| 44 | Mistress Brewing Opening with Lee | 19-Oct |
| 45 | Found out I’m going to be a grandma!!!!
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21-Oct |
| 46 | Prayer & Praise Night at Hope Ankeny (production team) | 2-Nov |
| 47 | Lightroom Class with Bryan Hansel in St. Paul, MN | 10-Nov |
| 48 | String Art Class with Sarah (camera designs!) | 18-Nov |
| 49 | Crafts & Cocktails (make ornaments) with Sarah | 9-Dec |
| 50 | Ultrasound with Katie and Jake!!! | 15-Dec |
These are just 50 things…it’s by no means a comprehensive list or representative of all the great memories I’ve made with friends and family over this year. It’s just a sampling of the many amazing things I get to do in this journey called life! 🙂 #soblessed #imtheluckyone #familyfriendslove #50to50
