Summer Bucket List 2012 - Checking In

It's good to have a goal.  At least, when starting out it is good to have a goal.  But, the thing about having a goal is that when you realize that you have yet to reach it, and you have to face the reality that you probably won't reach it, well, that's kind of depressing.

About two months ago, I ambitiously outlined by bucket list for the summer.  A normal summer bucket list might include goals such as "get tan," or "read a new book."  The 7th-grade-overachiever within me would not allow such insipid items to fall upon the list.  Maybe I should have though, because now 7th-grade-overachiever me is cringing as I look at my bucket list from the beginning of the summer and see that I've pretty much failed.

Time to own up!

Summer Bucket List 2012 - Checking In

1. Love People

"I want to hand out compliments left and right, and maybe a hug or five."

Have I done that?  Not exactly.  I have loved people, though.  I have loved people who I never would have thought I would love and received love from people who I never thought would have loved me back--if that makes any sense.  I'm giving myself half-credit on this one.

2.  Love Jesus...really Love Jesus.

"Why wouldn't I want to spend more time then with the God who loves me so much that he sent his son to die for me so that I could be in relationship with him and experience that love?"

Precisely.  And what does it mean to love-really-love Jesus?  To be obedient, to trust, to have faith despite distractions, despite life.  It is hard, but it has become easier, especially when He fills my thoughts when I wake and when I rest.  

But this still is not from anything I have done, it is the power of His Holy Spirit dwelling within me that continuously pulls me near the Father's love.  God has grown me this summer, and while I cannot claim achievement of this second goal upon my list, I can claim that it has been achieved--achieved by Him.

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his might power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think" Ephesians 3:20.

3. WRITE.

"This summer I will work on my novel."

Nope.  The notes and drafted passages of my cheesy-but-deliciously-fun-to-write love story still sits upon the shelf, untouched.  I'm writing this post though, and I've written in my journal quite a bit (even if I may still be a month behind as far as recording significant life events is concerned). Third-credit?  Quarter-credit?  Have mercy.

4. Blog.

Half-credit.  courtneyhlebo.com still lies dormant, but I have at the very least updated this beast regularly.

5. Read.

"I plan to finish reading ... this summer."

At least two-hundred more pages to go.  Why is this so painful?  I like parts of it, but.  I have read though--and edited for my internship.  I suppose I'll let that count.

6.  Bake, cook, eat, and share.

"I will be making a fruit tart when I go home in the next week and a half (Gma's favorite)..."

That still hasn't happened, and I somewhat doubt it will.  I did make a decadent dessert though. See here.  So, once again, half-credit.

FINAL SCORE: 3.75/6 = 63%

Oh dear, and I only earned that because of my full credit on the second item, credit that I didn't even earn really but received by the grace of God. 

 But if summer is meant to be a time of vacation and laziness, I'll allow myself to believe that barely passing is OK.