My Bucket List

So many things have brought me to this point....Have you ever seen the movie The Bucket List?  I watched it for the first time with my in-laws.  It was Christmas and because of the construction going on at my in-laws, Christmas was held at our house.  Wow!  What chaos.  I grew up in Oklahoma far away from family.  Holidays there were spent with just my parents.  A very special memorable time that I loved.  If we went to Nebraska for the Holidays I was always at that awkward age.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my family!  But all my cousins were quite a bit older than me..And their kids, way younger...I was never really sure what to do.  I didn't know how to play cards, I couldn't drink the wine (although man did I really want a glass).  So I mostly played with my little cousins. 

Beau's family consists of his parents, 4 siblings and their spouses and 5 little ones and 2 Grandmas.  There were people Everywhere.  Every counter in the kitchen was filled with baking supplies and dirty dishes, coats, hats and gloves were laying around, and toys had taken over the house.  You couldn't walk 5 steps without stepping on one!  There was loud obnoxious laughter and whispers from my older nieces and nephews so the adults wouldn't here.  There were kids running through the house chasing each other and someone trying to talk loud enough to carry on a conversation with Beau's Grandma over the chaos.  And the living room....It was under the piles and piles and piles of presents somewhere! After presents were opened, kids were tired, dishes were done we all sat down and watched The Bucket List.  I remember my mother-in-law wanted to go home, but my father-in-law said he had to watch the rest.  If I am remembering right, this was the last Christmas Rod would spend on Earth.

Friday afternoon my 94 year old Grandmother passed away.  It is still very hard, but know in my heart she is in an amazing place with my Grandpa.  And this is the memorial I wrote for her funeral tomorrow: My Grandma truly lived for her family and friends.  She was always there to help anyone and I’m pretty sure “no” was not in her vocabulary.  When I was born she moved in with my parents for a year to help out.  My mom was still teaching, so she stayed with me.  I didn’t understand what an amazing gift that was (and a sacrifice) until I had children.  I was very lucky to spend my first year with her!
When we moved to Oklahoma we didn’t get to see my Grandparents very much, but it made those visits so special.  I remember when my parents had to go to a convention in San Diego, my Grandma came and stayed with me.  I was so excited!  My favorite memory with her was bathtime!!!  My Grandma was the only one who would let me use the back of the tub as a slide!  I would slide down and splash water EVERYWHERE!!!  If you know my mom at all, you would know this would make her crazy ☺  But not Grandma.  I splashed all over the floor, the walls & Grandma!  I think she had just as much fun as I did.  She would cackle right along with me.
With our crazy lives we hadn’t been able to get down to visit her as often.  We made the trip down this summer to visit her.  She had never met Blake before.  The boys of course bounced off the walls in her room.  They told her all about school, our horses, and swimming in our pool.  We were able to take a picture all together, one that I will truly cherish.
My Grandma will be missed so much by all that love her.  She is in an amazing place and I’m sure with her husband laughing and smiling!  I love you Grandma Cackle!!!

And on Sunday, Rod has been in Heaven for 2 years.  Can't believe it has been that long!  The specific day doesn't bother me, its all the little things.  When Cole got his tongue frozen to the door, when we couldn't get the furnace lit (he always did this for us), when I hear the song, A Father's Love, and when Blake was born.  We could have moped around all day but we chose to celebrate life.  We took the boys sledding in the alfalfa field & we ALL LOVED it!

So this leads me to my bucket list.  With a husband and 3 kids I often forget about myself.  I forget what I want out life.  I think I need to think about that more often...So, I have made a bucket list!  Things I want to do before I kick the bucket.  I think it will push me to do things I want!  This is just the beginning of the list & I will ALWAYS be adding onto it...But here it is!

1.  Complete Financial Peace University and be DEBT FREE!
2.  Ride in a Hot Air Balloon
3.  See the Northern Lights
4.  Sleep ALL day long
5.  Learn to Sew a Quilt
6.  Stay in an Ice Hotel
7.  Partake in the Hug Campaign
8.  Shoot a BIG buck & have it mounted
9.  Drive a 69 Corvette
10.  See the Ocean
11.  Have one of my photographs published in a book or magazine
12.  Spend New Years Eve in Times Square
13.  Go to Mardi Gras & get lots of beads
14.  Change someones life in a way that couldn't be achieved otherwise
15.  Get back to my college body & wear a sexy dress that's way too short