Let the challenge begin... 30 by 30!!

I started 2015 off like many folks I'm sure...Investing my free time, oh so wisely, in rewatching the entire series of Friends on Netflix! (seriously a great show!!!)  While watching the episode of Rachel turning 30 I realized I would soon be turning 30 in a little more then a year and half. I also realized when this show came out how OLD 30 seemed... it didn't seem so old anymore. 

I thought 'I'm TURNING 30!!!?!?!?! What have I really accomplished in those 30 years? Why am I sitting at home alone with netflix and Morelli? Is this who I wanted to be at 28, let a lone on the precipice of turning 30?' 

So, as someone who loves to make spontaneous "semi" planned out MAJOR life changes, goals, and trips I decided why not get my booty off the couch and accomplish something! And stop letting mindless activities like watching T.V. rob me of my joy and zest for life. 

I'd like to say after this epiphany I immediately jumped up, grabbed the proverbially bull by the horns, and at the very least went for a run with the pup; but alas I thought why not make a list and start checking that list tomorrow... or soon... or after I turn 29. 

Who can say no to a run with this guy!! That face!

Let's just say sometimes my procrastination gets the best of me so instead of getting up and going right away I googled 30 by 30 and started reading what other people put on their lists. Here the most common things I found...

1. Quit your job for your dream job

2. Go back to school to get your dream job

3. Move to a new city

4. Move to a new state

5. Start your 401k

6. Start a Roth IRA 

7. Learn to be a bartender  

8. Go on a foreign mission trip

9. Learn to be a barista

10. Mentor someone

11. Run a 5k 

12. Get a dog

13. Learn to forgive

14. Go Karaoke 

15. Travel to Paris, London, Europe

16. Get a Tattoo

17. See a pro sport

18. Learn an instrument

19. Visit Vegas

20. Go wine tasting

21. Learn to live alone

22. Go see your favorite band in concert

23. See a Broadway show

24. Go on a cross country road trip

25. See the northern lights in Alaska

26. Try a fast

27. Climb a mountain

28. Dine out by yourself

29. Join an intramural sports team

30. Go whitewater rafting

And what would you know I have already done ALL 30 of these most common things!!!!! Go me!!! Turns out I had accomplished more then I had really realized. God is good and has blessed me richly!!

I quickly realized this pity party of thoughts I had mere minutes ago were really lies Satan was telling me. He wanted me sitting in front of my T.V. feeling complacent, unhappy, and too lazy to change anything. So, I thought why not try to accomplish 30 more things!!!! Take that Satan :P... soon enough I had over 50 things I wanted to do in a little over a year and half. 

Tammy & Kathryn AZ mission trip summer 2014

The next morning I found myself trying to make my list shorter, and as with anything that I am particularly jazzed about I couldn't contain my joy to myself. I had to tell someone, enter my good friend Tammy/early morning workout partner. While running on the treadmill I told her my exciting idea and she began to tell me about how she has been wanting, for sometime, to continue her education and check off some goals. So, I told Tammy make a list and lets do this together!!! To which in her wonderfully joyful way she agreed and we started brainstorming her list while we worked on our back and biceps :) --side note: I love that for years I wasn't allowed to lift upper body weights due to my heart condition and now I can add nonchalantly this little tidbit! God is GOOD! And I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me... seriously!!!

I'm sure Tammy will love for me to share with you that she also is turning a big milestone birthday in 2016. So while I will be doing 30 by 30, Tammy will be joining me in doing 30 by 50!!! What better way to reach your goals then to have a partner in those goals! 

Patricia & Kathryn Mission Trip Summer 2014

As God is in the big things and the littlest of details the story doesn't end there...

Last Sunday Tammy and I were out to lunch with our good friend Patricia and in telling her our grand exciting plan for the next year and half we realized Patricia is turning 75 in 2016!!!! (Godincidence not just a mere coincidence) So.... now we three are doing 30 by 30, 30 by 50, and 30 by 75!!! Let's do this!! 

You may wonder like I did, is Kathryn crazy and just really persuasive in getting people to join her in her hair brained ideas or is there something greater at work in all of this???



I would say its BOTH!! To me one of the biggest lies Satan tells us is that we are all alone in our lives, in our struggles, and in whatever "stage" of life we may currently be residing. But God is showing me more and more everyday that no matter your age, your stage in life, how much you've already accomplished or not accomplished... He (God) is working wonders in even the littlest of details. He brought the 3 of us women together last summer on a mission trip to Arizona and little did we know where that would take us.

Our whole Apache Mission Trip team summer 2014

This trip helped develop deep relationships that allowed us each to open up about our lives over lunch after church on Sunday afternoon. In doing so He showed us how much alike we all were and how much joy, excitement, and encouragement we bring and will continue to bring into each others lives! Let me just say that at 28, 48, and 73 we all were feeling a bit lonely and down, and were looking for something to do to get us out of our houses and reaching for goals we had all been putting off. What greater joy is there then sharing life and love with those God has placed in your path?

I learned long ago that "In his heart man plans his course, but the Lord establishes his steps."--Proverbs 16:9. In making our lists my prayer is that as we plan our course for the next year and half together, God will show us the steps to take and do with this more then the three of us could ever imagine. Our lists are not finalized but Patricia has already signed up for an oil painting class (on her list), and Tammy and I have scheduled and bought tickets to zipline in Austin this March (on both our lists). 

God started this relationship, grew it and molded it on a mission trip last summer and we realized as we were discussing our lists we needed one FINAL BIG thing we all really have been wanting to do and to check it off together. I find it fitting that throughout our talk God guided us to discover we had all always wanted to visit Peru and what better way then to end this goal where it all started. On a mission trip serving God, shining His light and love, and growing in our relationship with God, each other and with those He has yet to place along our journey. 

So, coming soon the finalized 30 by 30, 30 by 50 and 30 by 75 lists. But just so you all know... number 30 on all three lists is...

30. Mission Trip to Peru Summer 2016. 

I'm excited to see where this adventure takes the three of us and how God will not only bless our lives but hopefully use this awesome adventure to bless and grow His Kingdom and quiet frankly shut up Satan and his lies he tries to tell us all daily. 

If you've read this whole thing then my final challenge to you today is what in the next year and half have you been putting off, thinking you couldn't do, weren't good enough to do and how can you start today to reach for that one goal? 

Know that you are loved, are good enough, and can do all things through Christ Jesus! 


Stay tuned for the lists, posts and pics of the lists being checked off :)