Bucket List

Christmas 2011
Dear Family and Friends,

This year I crossed a lot of items off my bucket list (you know, the list of things to do before you "kick the bucket"). Some of them were happy and some were sad. Some were spur of the moment decisions and some were lifelong dreams. Some were my choosing and some were forced on me by life. Here's a summary of what I accomplished this year:

	Go skydiving.
	Run a 5K race. (3.1 miles. I finished in 40 minutes.)
	Visit De Smet, SD, home of Laura Ingalls Wilder. (I loved the Little House books growing up, so it was a dream come true to finally see the town that had lived in my imagination for years. My sisters, a friend, and their daughters joined me for this trip.)
	Join a service club.
	Read the Bible in 90 days.
	Spend the perfect day with Isabel. (On a Sunday afternoon in January, I cradled my 3-year-old niece in my arms while we played dress up with her sister. I treasured every moment of that day, not knowing it would be the last time I would hold her. A week later she passed away.)
	Speak at a family member's funeral. (I offered the few, inadequate words I had: even though our arms are empty and our hearts ache, Isabel is now safe in the arms of Jesus.)
	Live for 10,000 days. (Accomplished on August 6.)
	Sprain an ankle and visit the Emergency Room for the first time as a patient.
	Make friends with an amazing group of young adults in Mitchell. (I stepped into a local church one Sunday night for a young adult worship service. The friends and fellowship I found that night quickly became a significant part of my year, bringing much joy in an otherwise difficult year.)
	Have a summer roommate.
	Finish Ashton's quilt. (Not everything on my list was accomplished.)
	Find out Merlin's gender. (Only a reptile vet can determine the gender of a snake. Merlin's gender remains a mystery. Other than that, Merlin is doing well. So is Hannah, my dog.)
	Give blood. (First time in Mitchell.)
	Get inked. (First time in Mitchell. I found a local tattoo parlor and added another tattoo.)
	Meet Justin Bieber. (I'll try again next year.)
	Watch a taping of "Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me!". ("The oddly informative news quiz"; it's my favorite program on NPR and my only source of news.)
	Get Carl Kasell's voice on my voicemail. (At least I got his autograph.)
	Sponsor 2 more children through Compassion International. (I am blessed to be part of the lives of Pablo, Dahiana, and Fanaye through Compassion sponsorship.)

May God richly bless you in whatever you cross off your bucket list this Christmas and in the new year to come.

Ruth S.