Stressed Mum

Archive for February, 2010

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. For Christians this is a time of self-denial and preparation for Easter. It lasts 40 days and represents the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for his public ministry.
As a child I gave up various things during Lent; sweets, biscuits or sugar in my tea. In my teens we all wanted to sit at lunch with the girl who gave up puddings for Lent so we could eat hers!
In past years I have given up wine (difficult!), cakes, chocolates etc. This year I want to do something which might make a difference to other people as well as to me so I looked at Christian Aid’s Count Your Blessings ideas for Lent http://www.christianaid.org.uk/images/count-your-blessings-2010.pdf
This involves thinking about how we live and how others live and contributing money for all the blessings we enjoy. For me it won’t just be about putting the money on one side to help others but I hope it will encourage me to appreciate what I have. I have printed off the calendar and made a start, maybe you will too.

I saw this on A Mothers Ramblings and loved it so thought I would share it with you. It originally came from American Mom in England.

I have only managed 37 so far and am unlikely to do most of the others so maybe I will have a go at my own list. I’ll share that too when I’ve done it.

1. Started your own blog (You’re reading it!)

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped (Never!!)

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child (or 4!!)

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt (No but seen a couple of good ones in Iceland)

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (They don’t come much stranger than my family!!)

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance (why would I wish for that?)

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling (Snorkelling on The Great Barrier Reef – I’m so lucky!)

52. Kissed in the rain (A long time ago!!)

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theatre

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favourite childhood toy (My Barbie dolls)

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar (not very veggi!)

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone (No thanks)

78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book 

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve (Does been kissed by a stranger count?!)

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club                                  

93. Got a tattoo

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

 

I don’t actually think I want to do all 99 anyway! Most of the American ones are a no-no for me as I have never been to America and have no particular desire to go (sorry to all my American readers – nothing personal you understand!) I’m sure The Blue Lagoon in Iceland, where I have swum, is better than The Great Salt Lake!

Do let me know if you put this on your blog or have any great ideas for my list (be sensible, I’m not as young as I was!)