Looking back and forth

Here we are at the close of another year. I'm not sure if this blog has become more of a spontaneous journal, or if I'm slowly giving up. Either way, I'm thinking that 2012 will hold great things, whether I document them or not.

That having been said, I wanted to review the old resolutions and make some new ones. Last years can be seen here. My first goal was to exercise consistently, which I am proud to say I have done, with special thanks to my "warrior daisies". Some friends and I decided to compete in the Warrior Dash (a 5k with obstacles), and we began our training by running together and doing the occasional P90X. Now that the dash is done, we continue to get together and are looking for more races. We also are working with a friend that is a personal trainer, and man is he kicking our butts!

My second resolution was to paint more. I'm sad to say this one was not fulfilled to my liking. I finished one small painting and I'm in the middle of a second one, which I'm hoping to get done within the week. But as for these pieces, I really like them, and more importantly, I've had fun doing them.

The next resolution was to learn to sew. I LOVE TO SEW! Since I've learned, I've made a pillow, altered several items of clothing, and have started making my quilt. it's been a blast. I have a lot more projects liked up.

The following two resolutions were in regards to reading (one in particular for Harry Potter). And so I am now proud to present Kelly's Reading List of 2011:

-Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
-Forgotten God by Francis Chan
-Created To Be His Helpmeet by Debi Pearl
-Harry Potter & the Sorcerers Stone
-Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets
-Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban
-Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire
-Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix
-Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince
-Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows
-The Gospel According to Harry Potter by Connie Neal (a very interesting read)
-Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte (not sure why I reread this. I really dont like it)
-Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
-Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

I may forgetting something, but those are the ones I had written down. I plan on reading the rest of the series by Diana Wynne Jones about Howl. And I have a few others on my list.

Read the whole Bible. That was a goal that was not fully met. I maybe read half of it with the reading plan that I had mentioned. I do plan on continuing the reading plan however, and making it more a priority over fiction.

The other two I have done moderately. Cook and bake more and take more pictures. I feel like I could have done more, but I am not overly disappointed with what I have done. Heck, just this morning I made biscotti and lavender shortbread cookies! I do however want to make more Indian food and take more pictures.

As far as 2012 goes, I have a few more additional goals. I plan on continuing the ones that are above, as well as teaching myself Mandarin Chinese, doing some woodworking projects, doing a study on women's ministry and counselling, and Lord willing, get pregnant! This is just a glimpse of what I hope this new year will hold for me. Cheers!

Guilty Pleasure: All things Korean

I am 1/4 Korean. My dad was born in Seoul and lived there til he was four. He moved to the states with his dad after his mom, his Korean half, "passed away" (my dad grew up being told she had died but my grandpa secretly divorced her). Growing up in the US, he never knew anything of his Korean heritage and culture, which for some reason didn't seem to trouble him. When I have asked about it, he has only seemed indifferent. I on the other hand have felt as if I have missed out. I didn't grow up with any grandparents and as I have grown up I have gotten to know a little bit about them from my parents. All except Kim Soo Young. I know nothing of her, of where she lives or if she is even still alive. Part of me is drawn to find out and the other part grounded in the reality that I'm too poor to just up and travel to Korea to find out. Still. I yearn for a piece of that culture I missed out on.

With that in mind, I have recently started watching some Korean television shows. I confess, they have become my guilty pleasure and I cannot get enough of them. I've watched all of Heartstrings, which I absolutely loved and I'm in the middle of Flower Boy Ramen Shop and You're Beautiful. I've also been enjoying some Korean music from C.N. Blue. I've already started picking up pieces of the language and after watching some of the shows, I've started cooking more "Korean" food, which I'm still learning how to do. So this is my guilty pleasure. The shows can be super cheesy at times, but they are now dear to my heart. I love Korea!

Twenty Seven

I know I haven't talked that much about turning twenty-seven.... I know I haven't talked that much in general in this blog. To be honest, my motivation to blog has been at an all-time low. It may have something to do with my exhaustion at work or preoccupying my spare time with other things. Either way, I'm here now to tell you about my birthday.

When I was younger, and I'm not sure when the fascination started, but I grew to love and anticipate the age 27. I felt in some way that that would be the age in which I would have it all figured out. I would have 'arrived' at age 27. I was born December 7, at 7:27am, 7lbs, 7oz. Twenty-seven would be my golden year. Looking at it now as it has finally come to meet me, I can say that I am truly excited. This year Caleb will be finishing school and his internship and we are talking about what life looks like after these. We are talking about having children. We are members at an amazing church that we love dearly. I have some of the best friends a girl could have. From where I'm at, it doesn't look like twenty-seven will disappoint. Granted, there will be trials, there will be rough patches, and I will look to God for my hope and joy, and not an age and the circumstances that lie within. But, oh manny, I don't think I've ever been so giddy about a number, an age, a birthday.

Today will be a mellow day. I got the day off work. I'm going to have lunch with a friend. Dinner with Caleb and some other friends of ours. And the in between time, I'll be getting some much missed rest. I actually slept in til 8am! yeah.... I know, so lazy of me. Anyway, I hope all of you have a wonderful day as well. Stay warm!