When I was 16 I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish in my life, folded it up into an envelope and sealed it to open up again one day and see how much of it I accomplished. I put it away somewhere and didn’t think about it again, and eventually forgot it.
A few years later I made a Life Bucket List of things I wanted to accomplish in my life at any time, 100 items, and kept it readily visible. By the time I was 25 I completed everything on it- I went to Egypt, bought my own place (a one bedroom condo) and car (a Toyota Camry I still drive today), ran in a marathon, learned a third language, and much more. I found myself depressed that a lifetime of goals was completed by the time I was 25, and I felt like I had nothing left to look forward to. I tried to write a second Bucket List, but there wasn’t 100 big things I wanted to do left. I came up with about 20-something, and didn’t find myself very motivated because it wasn’t a complete list.
A few years later I met my husband, got married, had two sons, and we bought a home that had more than one bedroom to house our larger family. I was cleaning out my stuff to pack it all up and move into a home, when I came upon the list I created as a teenager of 16. I tore open the envelope and found a list written in juvenile scripty handwriting with hearts dotting the i’s. I was very amused to see what my 16 year old self had as life goals, and was shocked that the time table I had for these goals- buy a car by 22, a home by 25, get married after 28 but have all my children before 35, were all exactly as things happened. I’m a strong believer in the power of conjuring up a life we want just by focusing on it and being open to possibilities that can make it happen, but some things you really can’t control, like having two boys. I had that on the list. My 16 year old self wanted to have two boys, and I did.
After you get married and have children, you definitely find a lot of what you want sort of put on the back burner. I was so happy to have two healthy, beautiful creatures that were mine that I really devoted myself to being a good mom, and would remind myself that one day, they wouldn’t be around so much, so to enjoy every moment. My sons are both in high school now, and I actually have been finding myself with so much free time again, but it’s in bits and pieces and sort of fritters past, wasted. I was chatting with Eli Pacheco of Coach Daddy some time back, who asked me what I do to change my stars in the new year, and ever since I loved the idea of “changing my stars”. This year I want to make time to finally get back to something I love- photography- and to actually, for the first time ever, honor the Sabbath on a weekly basis and make it a priority to have a day of rest no matter what. I was inspired by reading Charlie Kirk’s book “Stop in the Name of God”. What is really incredible is that having a family doesn’t hinder either of my 2026 goals, and they can be included in both. I would love to record more memories of us as a family in photographs, and spend a day each week as a family in worship and rest. My goal this year is to do things I love, and do things together before they are off to college.
Something about 2026 feels different. Big things have been happening, and it feels like so many more big things are going to happen. I remember telling Eli this. What I didn’t tell him is that after we spoke, I was inspired to sit down and write another Life Bucket List. I easily came up with 100 new things I never did and want to do. Many include my family, and many do not, but either way. I can’t wait to get started.
Thank you Eli for inviting me to guest post on your blog back in the day! You have built such a lovely community ♥︎