It’s been exactly 1 month since my Quest46 started.  {If you’re new to my blog, Quest46 is a group of 46 goals I gave myself for the next 365 days (or 357 as of today).  You can read about it here.}

Observations after one month:

• I love the cumulative affect of working on things every day.  I often feel the compulsion ‘to be done’ with things and that’s not possible for most of my Quest46 items.  I’m becoming more and more comfortable with progress.
• I feel purposeful every day.  I need to know that I’m working towards something ever day.
• When I started this list, I thought I would struggle coming up with 46 items.  This process has had the reverse affect.  I’m already well into my Quest47 list.
• Having a birthday quite close to Christmas has added an extra challenge with some of my items.  Some I’ve moved to next Christmas because I don’t want to rob myself of the joy of this process.
• I can’t believe it’s been a month already.
• Being aware of these commitments I’ve made is making me mindful of projects that will present themselves in the future.  I’m working really hard at learning to say ‘no’ graciously.
• My overall progress has been fair, but in 30 days I’ve come face to face with the reality that I need to step up my game.  I knew this would be a challenge, it’s a Quest after all, and it’s totally do-able, I just have to be disciplined.

I’ve written the entire list along with current progress.

1. Memorize Psalm 91.  Continuing to memorize.  Even though I’ve only committed the first verse to memory, I’m amazed at how God uses each recitation to reveal more about who He is.
2. Lose the rest of my weight and increase my fitness.  A year ago, I would have been terrified at the idea of eating healthy at Christmas.  Now, it’s just the way things have to be and I’m really grateful.  I do need to step up my exercise, though.
3. Find and implement new ways to honor Mike daily.  Still working on being finished with my ‘work’ by 5pm.  Finished reading a book with him and am excited about helping him bring his ideas to life.
4. Make albums for each dog.  Will start this in the new year.  I found the albums I want to use. Yea!
5. Crochet a Ripple Blanket.  Will start in the new year.  My dilemma now is what colors to choose.  Any thoughts?
6. Plant a vegetable garden.  Sometime in spring.  A dear friend already started me off with some vegetable seeds and seed pots.
7. Journal 52.  Am woefully behind.  Christmas projects have really packed a punch (no excuses, just truth).  More than likely I’ll start this in the new year and play catchup.
8. Read 24 new books.  Have chosen 19 of the 24.  Here’s the 15:  The God Ask (done), Manage Your Day to Day (done), Handmade Market Place, Lore of Running, Outlander #1, The Pilgrim’s Progress, Yarn to Go, Jock of the Bushveld, Dear Mr. Knightly, How to be the Leader of the Pack, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, Animals Make Us Human: Creating the Best Life for Animals, Lady Susan, The Scent of Water: Grace for Every Kind of Broken, White Fang, Unbroken, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, The Go-Getter, The Artist’s Way
9. Make a scarf for Margaret.  Here’s the pattern, now just need the wool.
10. Make birthday cards for family and friends.  Finished November, now working on December and January.
11. Send two “thinking of you gifts” every month.  Gift #1 done, Gift #2 ready to go next week.
12. Complete 6 online classes.  First one scheduled for January 14, 2015.
13. Start a 5 year – daily, one-line journal.  Started and love it.
14. Learn how to make paper.  Next year sometime.
15. Make Christmas stockings.  This is one of those Christmas one’s that will be for next year.  Don’t worry, the doggies will still get plenty of treats ;-).
16. Learn 12 new recipes.  #1 complete.  Pumpkin Pie (low carb)
17. Learn how to weave.  Next year sometime.
18. Record 12 card making video tutorials.  Start this in the new year.
19. Make a smaller soap box and make different scented soaps every month.  Need to make a batch soon.  We’re officially out.  Next week sometime. Mike has requested Cinnamon Spice.
20. Paint Kitchen Cabinets.  Looking to do this in June, 2015.
21. Learn how to dye with natural ingredients.  Waiting for springtime.
22. Work 52 items off “My Todo’s” Board on Pinterest. Completed 2, but need to step up my game. #1 complete.  I made paper beads using old books, bead cores and Utee Ultra Thick Embossing Resin.  Blog post to follow. #2 complete.  I made dog collars for a friend’s dog.
23. Make mini-albums of dogs for Christmas presents.  I’ve changed my mind again.  I’m back to the mini-album idea and doing it for next year.
24. Make Mike a Dr. Who Quilt.  Starting in March, 2015.
25. Start a fairy garden.  Going to wait for spring.
26. Paint patio furniture.  Scheduled for July, 2015.
27. Plant a cutting garden.  Spring, 2015.  Did get a head start on planting a flower with my amaryllis. 
28. Make dog biscuit gift bags for Christmas.  This will probably become a New Year gift.  Don’t think the dogs will mind.
29. Complete all the achievements of the 7 Minute Workout.  Still need to start this. Did I mention my exercise discipline is lacking?
30. Beat my time in the Urban Cow Half Marathon.  Increasing my walking mileage then beginning running training after the first of the year.
31. Finish Central Park Hoodie.  Step 1:  Find where I put this project.  I’m in the process of doing that.  Still looking.
32. Read through the Bible. 1 chapter per day.  Starting this on January 1, 2015 with Mike.  Until then, I’m reading through the Psalms.
33. Make birds for wall tree.  Will start after the first of the year and the Christmas decorations are down.
34. Declutter and decorate Master Bedroom.  Waiting for the new year.
35. Make Cloth Art Journal.  Scheduled for the beginning of the new year.
36. Learn to knit socks.  Found the pattern and the class.  Will wait until Central Park Hoodie is finished (31).
37. Work on Project Life every week.  Trying to carve out Sunday afternoons for this.  Keeping track of journaling throughout the week.
38. Transcribe Da’s tapes.  In the new year.
39. Make dog beds.  Finished 1 last week.  Want to complete 5 this week.
40. Pray for my nieces and nephews.  Everyday.  I’m really enjoying this.
41. Add a new item every month to Etsy shop to build variety and inventory.  Dreaming up what the next item will be.  Look for it by the beginning of January.
42. Put together a team for the local SPCA Doggie Dash in June.  Will begin in January, 2015.
43. Photo-a-day using the Collect App.  Love this app.  Here’s November, 2014.
44. Read Pride and Prejudice.  Will begin this in the new year.
45. Knit 1 square per week for Knit-a-square. Halfway finished with last week’s square.  Will catch up this week.  Pictures to come.
46. Be a better blogger and blog-reader. Post consistently. Comment regularly.  Work on this everyday.

Until next time,

Don’t worry about not finishing our stockings.  We’re just relieved that we’re still getting treats.