Victories and Dreams

In one of my classes at school, we needed to write 50 dreams we have...and 50 victories we have had in our life. The point was to really break down and see what was important in our lives. I was so surprised at how hard it was for me to write the victories, but the dreams were plenty and I could have gone on forever. It was fun to write a "bucket list" and I can't wait to mark off some of my dreams! Do it, it was kind of interesting! You will be surprised at how much you have accomplished in life, and just how much there is to still do!

50 Victories!

1. Only girl on boy’s baseball team as a young girl, after trying and being denied; we fought the city, and won.
2. Visited Montana, Idaho, California, Wyoming, in my desire to visit every state in the USA.
3. Visited Yellowstone.
4. First freshman in Jr. High to play on Varsity Softball team at Lehi High School.
5. Saw the Beach Boys in concert…3 times.
6. Driver’s License at the age of 16.
7. Graduated High School.
8. Saw an Indy Car race, and even got to touch the car, and it drove past me at 180 mph!
9. Visited Nevada.
10. Moved out of parent’s home at age of 18.
11. Went to college at 18, and worked, with no help from family.
12. Purchased my dream pickup truck at 18.
13. Learned to drive a stick-shift, manual truck.
14. River rafted, and almost died trying.
15. Became a wife.
16. Gambled.
17. Moved away from my hometown to Cedar City, Utah.
18. Drove my Grandpa Turner’s big brown truck.
19. Married my husband in the St. George Temple in 2000.
20. Visit the Grand Canyon, in Arizona.
21. Purchased a nice computer, finally.
22. Tore apart and put together a computer successfully, and have it work better than before.
23. Certificate in Medical Transcription/Secretary at SUU.
24. Walk in a College Graduation Ceremony at SUU, with my mom watching.
25. Captured a firefly, and smashed it in my hand…and saw it glow. Played in the fireflies.
26. Became a mother after 8 long years of trying, to my daughter.
27. Visited many states while adopting Riley, such as, Kentucky, Texas, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, to further my quest in visiting every state.
28. Sold our home in Cedar City, and moved back to Utah County.
29. Purchased our first set of living room furniture.
30. Purchased a new family car.
31. Purchased home with husband.
32. Fixed Sink Disposal, while husband couldn’t.
33. Transformed our yard into what we wanted, unfinished parts still.
34. Saw Reba and Brad Paisley in Concert.
35. Successfully potty-trained 2 children, except some accidents of course.
36. Received a professional camera to pursue my dream of being a photographer. I love my camera!
37. Licensed foster mom.
38. Successfully repainted three rooms in our new home to the color we always wanted.
39. Became a foster mother to help children.
40. Rode a ski-lift up at Sundance with Riley and my mom, then again later with Chris for our 15th
41. Anniversary (June 14th) in October for the fall leaves.
42. Helped return foster kids to bio-family.
43. Adopted my son from foster care.
44. Finally started trying to love myself, and see myself for who I am…even seeing a therapist (hard to admit).
45. Drove a compactor at a job site, all by myself.
46. A full-time mom/full-time career/part-time student woman while husband is disabled, and kept our house and kids happy during this time.
47. Finally, my utility bills are not behind…and we are not in danger of them being shut-off!
48. Figured out what career I want to fulfill, with no reserves…social work.
49. Enrolled in classes at UVU to fulfill my career dreams.
50. Our yard is trimmed and looks good for the season, and I am able to keep it up while I am so busy.
51. My kids are happy…for the moment!

52. Flown in a helicopter and airplane. 

50 Dreams!

1. Fly in a hot-air balloon.
2. Do a stand-up comedy routine in front of thousands!
3. Drive an Indy Car.
4. Take my kids to Disneyland.
5. Own my home, out right.
6. Get Chris’ eyesight back.
7. Play in a Major League Baseball game.
8. Throw a pitch to open a Major League Baseball game.
9. Coach Riley’s baseball team.
10. Have my whole house painted just how I want it.
11. Own a new, nice Chevy truck.
12. Be skinny.
13. See without glasses, again.
14. Meet Gordan Ramsey, and eat at one of his restaurants.
15. Take my kids and Chris in a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon.
16. Become a Social Worker and help kids with no voice, and work with women who need one, and change the lives of many! Get a Masters in Social Work, the sky is the limit!
17. Own a speed boat.
18. Own three 4-wheelers.
19. Raise happy kids, who turn out to be great adults.
20. Visit every state in America.
21. Visit Germany, and visit the sites of the Holocaust for research.
22. Visit everywhere…I want to see everywhere I can! NY, Africa, etc.!
23. Write a book or several!
24. Fly an airplane.
25. Skydive.
26. Sell my photography.
27. Have a very organized home and garage.
28. Stand at the top of the statue of Liberty.
29. Write a book about my heritage and genealogy.
30. Have a full pantry and full food storage.
31. Have a full savings account.
32. Have everything in place for me and Chris for when we are older…money wise, and death wise.
33. Invent something really cool.
34. Save a life.
35. Help dissolve racism in my lifetime.
36. Inspire someone.
37. Make cinnamon rolls like my mom.
38. Make bread like my mom.
39. Run a 5k, and not stop!
40. Propel off cliffs in Zion.
41. Hike in the depths of Zion and see the beauty nobody has seen yet.
42. Touch a piece of earth nobody has touched.
43. Grow a successful garden and have kept up on the weeds all summer, and bottle everything!
44. Race in a Drag race.
45. Visit Hawaii and do the parachute/boat thing.
46. Scuba dive with sharks and fish.
47. Remember how to tie a hook knot like my dad.
48. Have a real conversation with my brother, dad, mother, and sister.
49. Be completely honest and vulnerable with people about my life, and my experiences.
50. Love myself like I love my children.

51. See Bon Jovi in concert!