Wow. Just wow. Does anyone really have words to describe the year that was 2020?! I was ambitious like never before with my annual bucket list. With two international trips already planned, we were poise to have another amazing, bucket-list busting year. Who knew that I should have identified “experience pandemic life” as a primary bucket list item that would monopolize much of my previous bucket-list plans. In hindsight, I am thankful for this weird year and the lessons that it is continuing to teach us.
This year I was able to fully complete 26/60 items and partially completed a handful more. The truth is my annual bucket lists aren’t really about completion. They are able being intentional with the finite resource of time and making memories with those I love. The older that I get, the more confident I am in the fact that I don’t have all the answers and I am not in control. That won’t stop me from reaching for a better version of myself and hoping for a brighter tomorrow!
There were a few items of note that weren’t on the annual bucket list, but WERE just as important:
- Waring became an officially certified and employed school counselor!
- Addie moved schools to be with her dad!
- I started back to grad school in hopes of becoming Dr. Harvey in a few short years!
Word of the Year: Present
Mantra: Choose the BIGGER LIFE. / Be APRIL.
Bucket List: 2020 Edition
Write a letter to my 8 and 80 year old self–DONE!- Run a marathon- Ran a 10K…
- Speak Spanish
Go one year without soda—DONE and it felt so good that I think I will continue this trend into 2021.- Sew my own dress- Maybe in 2021…
Crochet something— DONE!A mug warmer…but it still counts!Make my own jewelry— DONE!I love making polymer clay earrings!Become debt free– Still working on this, but I decided to go back to school and cash-flowing this has slowed process down a bit. We have our sights set on 2021, though!Make my own candles—DONE! Time to make more!- Try cryotherapy- Maybe in 2021…
- Host an Olympics Opening Ceremony party- Can you believe that the Olympics were cancelled?!?
- Host routine family dinners–We held one before COVID. UGH.
Make pasta from scratch—DONE! The gnocchi was delicious!- Visit a new continent- Maybe in 2021…
- See all 50 states- Maybe in 2021…
- Attend the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade- Can you believe that they did the parade WITHOUT a live audience?!?
- Go paintballing- Maybe in 2021…
Make Granny’s Biscuits–DONE! (but not well)- Try an IV drip- Maybe in 2021…
- Go to an ancient bath- Maybe in 2021…
Learn to needle felt–DONE! I made a heart, a gnome, and a butterfly brooch for my granny- Run a triathalon- Maybe in 2021…
- Drive a tank- Maybe in 2021…
- Carve my initials in a tree- This was just pure laziness, we should have done this!
Make Granny Layne’s cake–DONE! There is photographic evidence that this turned out well!- Go to Disneyland- Maybe in 2021…
- Take a DNA test- Maybe in 2021…
- Plant hydrangeas and blueberries- Maybe in 2021…
Try a soundbath–DONE! (Virtually).Try Reiki- Took a course with a sweet former teacher friend!- Learn how to stain glass
Create a memory jar–DONE!Create my own spice blends—DONE! (Farm dust, chipotle, Chai coffee mix, fajita)–THESE are so good and I will certainly keep making the Farm Dust and Chipotle seasonings. They are so good!- Blend tea- Maybe in 2021…
Grow microgreens—DONE! I am pretty much a microgreen farmer.Stomp grapes- DONE at the Grape Crust Festival this year at Cartecay Vineyards (outside and socially-distanced)- Swim with dolphins- Maybe in 2021…
- Become a yogi- I did start back with a morning yoga practice, but I have so far to go. There will be a yoga goal in 2021!
- Hold monthly Mariah dates- 😦
- Hold 12 high school friend gatherings- I think we had 5 face to face and one virtual session….
Go on 6 date nights—DONE!Try yerba mate in Argentina- We did learn about making yerba mate from an Argentinian on Zoom and we tried some of it ourselves as well, so I am calling this a partially completed task!- Go foraging- Maybe in 2021…
Go hiking- Yes! Cascades Waterfall in Boone, NC and the Flatirons in Boulder, CO- Read 6 devotional books- I finished one, several sermon podcasts, and some audio books.
Have 6 craft nights with the girls- YES!Practice archery- YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch in Grandby, COCook indian at home 3 times- DONE! I can make a mean Keto Butter Chicken!Play in mud puddles with Addie- DONE!- Fast 6 full days- One day….
- Pay a stranger’s bill 3 times—I think that we did this twice. It felt good each time….but I think that I need to put a reminder on my phone or car so I don’t forget to do this when I am checking out.
- Have a Random Acts of Kindness Day- Maybe in 2021…
- Participate in a local missions activity 3 times- Maybe in 2021…
- Cosplay at DragonCon- This was a virtual event, so maybe next year.
Picnic outside 3 times—DONE!- Stay up for 2 days straight- Maybe in 2021…
- Write a book- Maybe in 2021…
- Write 20 recipes in our family cookbook—I think I ended up with about 15, still a great start! I hope to collect more in 2021!
See 6 sunrises or sunsets—DONE! Blue Ridge, Tybee, Meldrim, Grandby, Boone. I am better at capturing sunrises than sunsets. Sunrises require planning and preparation and we are typically busy during sunsets. 🙂Create and bury a 2020 time capsule–I have been saving scraps and items all year. We are doing this today!
Daily Drops in the Bucket 
April. Don’t know why i would expect anything different from you
You are a magnificant specimen of going after what you want in life. We are so proud of you and your accomplishments.
Granny & Granda