meantime adventures.

Memorial Day weekend is awesome.  You know that feeling that comes half way through Sunday when you're like "tomorrow is Monday?!  Where'd the weekend go?!"  Well, this week it doesn't count!

The past week has deserved an extra day off and day off I had.  Following a busy week and sort of a lazy/mopey day yesterday, a free, beautiful Memorial Day hanging with my dear friend was just what the doctor ordered.  Today I realized something.  A milestone has passed this week and it's been tough because I don't have much to look forward to at the moment.  I've been busy soaking up the present, but that's been a difficult present to live in.  It's important to do that, but the time has come to lift my chin up and look forward.

So today I decided to make a list of summer adventures I want to go on.  In effort to soak up every moment of Minnesota awesomeness, making a list is the best way to be intentional and actually make that happen.  So here ya go:

Shelly's List of Summer Adventures

• Camping/Backpacking on an overnight.
• Go to the Stonearch bridge.
• Go to Stillwater (It's about time.  Right, Katy?)
• Some sort of water activity -- tubing, canoeing, etc.
• Begin learning harmonica.
• Write 4 new songs.
• Happy Hour on Stella's roof patio.
• At least 2 Sunday afternoons at a lake beach doing absolutely nothing.
• buy produce at Minneapolis Farmer's Market.
• Make salmon for dinner.
• Go to Valley Fair (& take bathing suit this year).
• Outdoor concert and/or summer movie.
• Explore a new area of the cities (including going to a new restaurant or coffee shop)
• Eat at Seasalt.
• Read 2 books about campus ministry/college aged people.
• Go fishing.
• Run, walk, or rollerblade (hopefully a couple of times a week)
• Try a new food.
• Dress up and go dancing.
• Go to a Saints game.
• Tell someone how I see Jesus in them.
• Be Jesus to someone.
• Go on a road trip of some sort.
• See a show at the Guthrie.
• Put red in my hair.
• Surprise someone with a gift.
• Bring joy.

Donald Miller wrote a book called "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years."  It's all about living a better story.  I'm not convinced that doing all of these things will bring about a better meantime story for me, but they could be some great catalysts to some awesome stories.  Just thinking about these things gives me joy and excitement.  Who knows who I will meet, who I will share these adventures with, what we will find, or what will happen when we get there.  I'm excited to find out.  Sometimes it's hard to see a beginning when you end something great.  The past few days I've been clinging to the truth in the Word that says God is making all things new and working for the good of those who love him.  Here's to a new beginning full of meantime adventures.