Lists, Lists, Lists

I'm not really a list person.

In fact, I'm more of a "Oh, is that tonight?" and "What was I supposed to remember?" sort of gal. I like to go with the flow and leave it up to my Blackberry-addicted husband (and my amazingly organized teenager) to keep me up-to-date on how much money we have or where we're going this next weekend.

But, I do like another type of list.

And I got to thinking about this type of list while I was at my friend Andrea's memorial service this past weekend. Andrea was just 37 and left a five-year-old daughter behind (she lost a long battle with ovarian cancer). As I cried for her, I invariably came back to the idea of how I would want to live my life if I knew I only had days or weeks or months or a year to live.

What would I want to do? What would I want to accomplish? Where would I want to go? What moments would I want to enjoy?

So, in attempt to create some joy from my friend's passing (which is hard, but is what I think she'd want all of us to do!)... and because I love to do these sorts of lists (remember my list of "39 things to do before I'm 40 I did last year"? and the list of "things to do over the Summer" I've done the last two years?)...here are some fun, random, get-to-know-me, Wednesday morning ramblings in the form of lists (the kind that I like!)...

5 Things I Want to Do Before I Die

There are a ton of things I could put on this list, and a lot of general attitudes that I want to cultivate (things like: be the right sort of Mom, be kind, wear a smile every day, and help people in need), but I'm going for some specific things I really desire to do.

1. Write a novel.

2. Go to Scotland and Italy.

3. Go overseas on a mission trip with Gary.

4. Go to a major sporting event (or two, or three).

5. Learn to ballroom dance (or paint).

Okay...as I sat here and tried to come up with the list, I realized that there really weren't a ton of BIG things that I want to do.

#1 and #2 are huge for me...those are the ones I want the most. But the rest I had to sort of think of; I had to stretch a little bit to come up with those.

Maybe it's because most of the things I want to do are the smaller things after all. Things like: throw a cool dinner party for 15 of my closest friends, and fly to New York City for the weekend, and have a get-together with all my blogging friends, and read 10 "classics" a year, and take a wine-tasting class.

And even smaller things like: don't criticize, write thank you cards, and pray everyday.

Maybe it just means that I want to have things to look forward to...
whether they're big or small.

(And speaking of lists, here are two more I wanted to do for today:

5 Things I'm Loving Right Now

1. The new Star Trek movie (and the new Kirk and Spock!)
2. Cooking good dinners at home
3. New friends
4. Last night's "Fringe" finale
5. The fact that my eye is feeling better for the first time in three days!

and

5 Things I'm Looking Forward To

1. The season finale of "Lost" tonight
2. Cupcakes for my middle school class tonight at church
3. Anniversary get away with Gary next week
4. Delaney's awards ceremony on Friday
5. School being out for summer in 10 days)

Why don't you join in the fun (because I'm making this my late Random Tuesday posting, even though it's already late Wednesday morning)?

Comment here in my comments section, or post on your own blog:

~ 5 things you want to do before you die
~ 5 things you love right now
~ 5 things you're looking forward to

As I write this post and encourage you to make your own lists, it makes me grateful for the life I've been given. For friends, and food, and and family, and smiles, and kisses, and grace.

And it makes me realize that life is not meant to be spent sitting on the couch (unless you're watching "Lost") or walking aimlessly around. It's meant to be enjoyed and played out to the fullest!