From my 25th year

"A large volume of adventures may be grasped within this little span of life, by him who interests his heart in everything."
-Laurence Sterne

In eight and a half hours, I will officially be a quarter of a century old. Gee golly, that's old.

While I plan to explore who I am today and look toward the future, today I wish to commemorate the top 25 adventures from my twenty-fifth year.

1. Made my first key lime pie for Rob's 24th birthday!
2. Took the plunge and got my bangs cut--lesson learned!
3. Stood by my darling sister as her matron of honor and threw her one hell of a bachelorette party, if I do say so myself!
   
4. Climbed Stone Mountain... finally!
5. Incorporated conditioner into my shower routine after years of thinking it would make my hair too oily!
   
6. Watched every bit of the 2008 Olympics that I could squeeze into my schedule!
7. Walked up Sabino Canyon in Tucson, climbed Bell Rock & Cathedral Rock in Sedona, and hiked into the Grand Canyon!
   
8. Savored the top layer of our wedding cake on the eve of our 1st wedding anniversary!
9. Qualified for a mortgage, bought a house, and everything that goes along with that!
10. Took the GACE exams--one step closer to teacher certification!
    
11. Repainted three rooms to better fit our decorating style!
    
12. Voted for Barack Obama, hoping that he indeed could bring "change" to this grand country!
13. Wrote and preached the sermon at church on Laity Sunday!
    
14. Collected wishes and donations to honor my mom's fiftieth birthday and her dedication to the children of Juarez, Mexico!
15. Helped my mom redecorate her bedroom: new paint, new floorplan, new curtains--what a transformation!
    
16. Quit my job to pursue a career in teaching!
    
17. Taught as a substitute teacher--first in a middle school computer science class, and then day-to-day at middle schools around the county!
    
18. Bought a bike and started riding!
    
19. Gathered with my family to celebrate my grandfather's life!
20. Baked homemade bread in the bread machine!
21. Organized the craft room!
22. Sewed first set of curtains for above craft room!
    
23. Made $38.25 at our first yard sale!
24. Learned how to grill!
25. Started tutoring at Sylvan!