Good-Bye Thirty-Five

I like birthday eves. It's often my time to reflect on the pervious twelve months and dream about the coming year.

Today was good but didn't follow my normal birthday eve traditions. There was limited time for the self reflection, journaling, or even blogging. On the upside, I'm finding time now and the rest of the day did include making poached eggs, icing cupcakes, and watching Doctor Who.

This has been a big year. I didn't meet all 35 challenges, but the new experiences and situations changed my focus and lead to new adventures. I am happy with the trade off. The highlights have been:

• The last weeks with my NS friends
• Mark East
• The move home
• More family time (cause I moved home)
• Kingdom Bound (three day Christian music festival at an amusement park)
• Visit to NS
• Launching my new youth ministry
• Christmas Eve
• Welcoming a new pastor/boss in February
• Organizing a dramatic presentation of the gospel of Mark earlier this month

The 35

If you haven't seen it before, on my birthday I set a number of goals for the year. This year it is "35 While 35;" the challenges are divided into seven areas, spiritual, relationships, adventure, hobbies, culture, health, and second chances.

This is the results of the year:

The Key

plain text = not started
green text = started
purple text = completed

Spiritual
1) Choose My One Word for 2017
My word is "with"
2) Read the New Testament
I missed five books.
3) Explore Contemplative Spirituality
4) A Day of Silence
5) Be Thankful
I never wrote a 1000 things, but I did work on being thankful.

Relationships
6) Time with My Dad
I enjoyed football
7) Friend Reunions
I got together with a friend from youth camp and I'm connecting with a few NS friends at the game con.
8) Attend a Family Reunion
9) Send Christmas Cards Happy New Year's Cards
Never happened :(
10) Go on a Date
I actually went on two...both were lovely and definitely ended platonically

Adventure
11) Take a Risk
12) Go on a Road Trip
13) Go Camping
14) Be Upside Down
15) Be Outside Canada

Hobbies
16) Try Something New
I've learned to crochet
17) Join a Club/Group
There are a few teens at my church who have suggested I start a table top games day.
18) Cosplay as a New/Different Character
I had a few plans...but the convention isn't it May. I thought it was earlier
19) Try Bullet Journalling
20) Create a 40 Before 40 Challenge List
It's started :)

Culture
21) Visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site
In NS :)
22) See a Musical
Saw two
23) Participate in a Reading Challenge 
My 2017 Reading Challenge...which I had forgotten about
24) Go to a Ballet
25) Attend a Convention
I went to one in Toronto and it was such a blast!

Health
26) Be a Vegan for 40 Days
27) Keep a Food Journal
28) Complete a Pull Up
Nope...not happening
29) Dance
I am being generous here. I dance but not like I had planned...there is always next year
30) Run Walk 5 km
Sister and I did a fun "run" in the fall. I walked all but the first tiny bit. Right now that is what I can manage and that I will count as a win.

Second-Chance
31) Finally Paint This Canvas
32) Finish Four Children Stories
33) Make a Video
34) Draw More
35) Grow Something to Eat

Conclusion
24 challenges completed!

And six where in some form of progress.

Not bad. I am content. Bring on 36!