4 years ago, I decided that I was tired of life getting too busy for things that fill me up. From big things like trips away with Max to little things like living room forts, reading books, or trying something new, I wanted a way to remind myself to make time for really living in the midst of all of our crazy schedules & to-do lists. So my Yearly Bucket List was born. Each year on my birthday, I make a list of things I’d like to do over the coming year. Things that fill up my bucket. I don’t always cross everything off the list (although this year I got close!), and that’s ok. Even if I didn’t get to everything, being able to check off a lot of the items means that I’ve chosen to intentionally spend my time in life-giving ways, and that’s a pretty darn good thing.

So as my birthday is quickly approaching, I thought I’d recap this year’s list & what got accomplished:

• Read 5 books for fun – Done, done and DONE! (Big thanks to discovering Overdrive, I’ve been able to listen to WAAAAY more than 5 books this year in addition to the physical books I read!) The Jersey Brothers, Nothing To Prove, Rising Strong, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, My Name is Lucy Barton, Mr. Churchill’s Secretary, The Nest, Why Not Me?, The German Girl, Capital Gaines, Go Set A Watchman, Princess Elizabeth’s Spy, Make It Happen, His Majesty’s Hope, The Little Paris Bookshop, The Prime Minister’s Secret Agent, The Zookeeper’s Wife, Talking as Fast as I Can, Mrs. Roosevelt’s Confidante, The Power of Habit, Grit, The Queen’s Accomplice, The Paris Spy, The Women in the Castle, The Name Of God Is Mercy, My Brilliant Friend, A Man Called Ove, Wild, The Light Between Oceans, Someday Someday Maybe, Maisie Dobbs, The Best Yes, Birds of a Feather, Call the Midwife, Girl Wash Your Face, At the Water’s Edge 
• Keep a Happiness Journal – DONE – Have been journaling everyday since January 1!
• Go to Magnolia
• Cookie decorating – DONE – Decorated Christmas cookies with Peanut & Pumpkin for my parents’ Advent Party
• Photography giveaway – DONE – Free Mini Sessions for those who lost their family photos due to Hurricane Harvey
• Host a photography workshop for moms – DONE – Hosted the Light Lessons Workshop on June 30
• Devotional time at least 3x each week – DONE – did a few times a week in 2017, and have done my devotional daily since January 1
• Bake something from scratch with the girls – DONE – Banana Bread & Rice Krispie Treats
• Do a month-long contentment challenge – DONE – January 1 – February 9
• Finish decorating the guest room – DONE – New shelf is up, decorative items purchased, cleared out two boxes, hung mirror/wreath. May still have a few things I’d like to change up later, but it’s good enough for now!
• Family photos up in the girls’ playroom – DONE
• Have a family picnic – DONE – March 18
• Have at least two mommy/daughter dates with both Pumpkin & Peanut – DONE – Breakfast date with Hannah Feb. 13, Into the Woods with Olivia – Feb. 23, Park & Whataburger lunch date with Hannah – Mar. 28, Shopping for daddy daughter dance shoes & lunch with Olivia May 4, Whataburger dinner date with Hannah while Olivia went on daddy daughter date May 4
• Weekend away with Max – DONE – Galveston Weekend February 24-25
• Volunteer somewhere with Peanut

Only two things didn’t get crossed off the list! (Don’t take it personally, Chip & Jojo… I know this is the second year y’all have been on the list & I didn’t make it to the Silos, but I promise I’m coming for you at some point!)

All in all, a pretty good year, friend. I’ll take it. Apparently this was a rough year, ha! Never did a final recap, so this is a progress update, but I wrapped up the year with only 8 of 14 things crossed off the list.

To see how previous years’ bucket lists wrapped up, just click below:

• Year 1 recap
• Year 2 recap
• Year 3 recap (Apparently this was a rough year, ha! Never did a final recap, so this is a progress update, but I wrapped up the year with only 8 of 14 things crossed off the list.)