Heaven on Earth

Summer 2010 here I come! Well, almost. With just over two weeks left in the semester, I decided that I need to start looking forward to the four long months I have ahead of me in good old Newcomerstown, Ohio. Last spring my friend Melissa and I sat down together and wrote out a list of goals for the summer; mine included: Find a job (Check), Thoroughly enjoy vacation (Check), Walk my dog regularly (Ehhh.) and so on and so on. After accomplishing most of my list of goals, it is safe to say that I had a very good summer! I mentioned this to my friend Laura, who then instructed me to grab a pen and paper and write my goals for this summer... so here they are for you to read, critique, and hopefully keep me accountable to:

1. Have a Sabbath Day Once a Week: Laura suggested this one, and since I love to rest and relax, I quickly agreed. Hopefully, If I give myself a day off every week, I'll be able to accomplish more during the other days of the week. I feel like going into "Amish Mode" on these days might be a necessity!

2. Get a job: So, I have basically decided that I'm not going back to my job. The thought of that place makes me sick, so the search for a good job that I will auctually somewhat be able to tolerate. Humm, I wonder if that fancy McDonalds is hiring food tasters??

3. Pay off Malone: This is the reason I need a job. Private school ain't cheap, so I have a lot of work to do to make sure I can come back here in the fall. This is where faith comes in!

4. Save money: Apart from paying off Malone, buying the stuff I need for the fall, Vacation Expenses, and my cell phone bill, I would like to auctually have enough money in the bank by the end of the summer so that I don't have to stress out about cash in the fall. Maybe I'll hit the Jackpot at Vegas on the Lake?

5. Eat Healthier/ Exercise: Origionally, this goal was to lose thirty pounds, Laura quickly talked me out of this. I guess I know that if I start out with a huge goal, and don't reach it, I will just get discouraged and comeback to school as fat as ever! So, I am just going to focus on doing what is right for my body, and hopefully the rest will follow!

6. Be positive about life: This is a strange one I know, but it is quite simple... I need to stop being so negative. God has blessed me with a lot, so I need to quit complaning and start giving thanks for the things and people that God has given me.

7. Finish Sophmore Year Scrapbook: This one is aimed at Wendy for sure, Scrapbook weekend anyone?

8. Get a Tan: I am sick of being so pale from the winter, I would love for my skin to be about 9 shades darker.

9. Enjoy my Vacation: This will be hard to screw up! But, I want to just challange myself to make this the best year at Lake Erie ever! With the super nice house we are staying in, I have a feeling it will be!

10. Jesus Time Everyday: This was another one of Laura's suggestions, but I think it will make my summer great. At school I'm faced with God everywhere, at home it is hard to lose track of what really matters.

11. Learn a new Skill: Not really sure what this will be, but I might was well learn something new!

12. Go on an Adventure: Uh, I guess this one is up to Wendy...

13. Stay in touch with my friends: I have a lot of friends with highschool I need to catch up with, and I really want to keep in touch my College friends too!

14. Take and Develop Lots of Pictures: Taking pictures comes easy, but it's developing them that I have trouble with! My camera is filled with photos of last summer, so hopefully I can get them printed, scrapbooked, or framed, so that I have plenty of space on my camera for vacation and fall semester!

15. Spend time with my cousins: I have so many little cousins, I so often take for granted that they are growing up. This summer I want to do things with them, and help them have a good summer too! One batch of cousins lives right next door to me, so there is no excuse for this goal to go unmet.

16. Go to Church: Enough Said

17. Get on a sleep Schedule: During the school year, I don't get nearly enough sleep, during the summer I sleep way to much. But let's face it, I am almost 20, its time to sleep right. Plus, I know how much better I feel after a good nights rest!

So, I realize that this is a pretty lenghthy list, so hopefully you have been able to hang in there! Hopefully I have another successful summer! But, untill then, I have seven days of class, an exam, and 5 finals left! Wish me luck!