13 in '13

Last year, a friend of mine decided to do a "25 while I'm 25" list, which I really liked.  She came up with some pretty ambitious stuff and actually accomplished most of it.  I have to admit...I was a little jealous.  Soo....I've decided to create a "13 in 2013" list...slightly less intense than a 25 in 25, but still.

This isn't something I sat down and wrote in an hour.  I've been working on this post for a while, trying to make sure that I was actually listing stuff that would either be a push out of my comfort zone or some sort of serious accomplishment.  Not all are super exciting or earth-shattering, but they are all goals that I'm asking each of YOU to hold me to.  Here it goes...

1.  Reach 100 followers by December 2013.

2.  Visit Charleston!!  I have literally traveled every other inch of the southeast, but I have not ever been to Charleston.  South Carolina - yes.  Charleston - no.

3.  Lose 30 pounds and KEEP IT OFF!  I know, I know...everyone has big weight loss ambitions at the beginning of the year.  But, ladies, I've done it before.  In fact, I did it two years ago, but did I keep it off?  No, I did not.  This year, I want it to stay away, permanently.

4.  Learn how to take decent pictures.  I got a Nikon D5100 for Christmas, and I plan to use it in a big way this upcoming year.

5.  Save 20% of my income.  Yes, 20%.  This will not be easy.

6.  Visit my sister in college at least once every two months.

7.  Send snail mail letters....with cute monogrammed cards, of course

8.  Go to an Alabama football game.  This is shamefully embarrassing, but, as big a fan as I am, I've never actually been to a game.  I watch them.  Every single one of them.  But, I've never been in person.  I had great intentions this year that just didn't pan out.  Sigh...

9.  Become more involved with my new church and Sunday school class.  I'm so thrilled to have found a place that feels like home, and I really want to be used in some capacity.

10.  Reconnect with a long lost cousin.  She's really not too "long lost" but we haven't seen each other in over a year.  We used to have a great relationship...I was her maid of honor!  But, we both have been busy and have let that become such an excuse.  She only lives three hours away, so it's really kind of pathetic.  It's one of those situations where it's easy to claim that communication works both ways, but, as I'm really starting to learn, sometimes you just have to suck it up, be the bigger person, and make things happen.

11.  Attend a Paint Your Art Out at the local Visual Arts Center (fun girls' night!)

12.  Read 10 books.  Any suggestions?  I'm a Nicholas Sparks nut and have read them all...

13.  Set a Christlike example.  By far, this will be my biggest obstacle.  I know this one is definitely not "measurable,"but it's more of a challenge I'm setting for myself.  I think in the past few years, I've really gotten lazy.  I'm not involved in any type of ministry right now, since I've been moving around and looking for a new church home.  But, I'm ready to get settled and would really like to pour my life into others and be used.  This, of course, would require total and complete commitment, starting with my daily attitude.