In scripture the the number 40 generally symbolized a period of testing or trial. Moses alone went though many rounds with the number 40. 40 years in Egypt to 40 more years in the desert and don't forget the 40 days on Mount Sinai twice.
I have been wondering about the things I've really accomplished in my 40 years of life... here's what of my 40 most significant accomplishments:
1. My faith in Christ
2. Getting married
3. Having a Daughter
4. Having a Son
5. My Time at Habitat for Humanity and knowing Millard Fuller
6. My Happy-Go-Lucky Attitude
7. My college Education
8. My Time at Wake Tech
9. My Time in Youth Ministry as a youth group leader
10. Being a Seahorse
11. Making a bucket list and checking a lot off it
12. Coming up with goooooals to make myself a better person
13. Running a half marathon (..quite a few times)
14. Parallel parking in downtown Pittsburgh in the rain during rush hour
15. Raised money at age 17 to go on a habitat mission trip - 25th anniversary blitz build by myself
16. Taking My Daughter to Paris and London for her birthday
17. Running an 800M at 2:18 and a 400M at .58
18. Moving out at 18 and living independently since then
19. Being able to cook well and cooking for over 130 guests (twice)
20. Staying happily married more than 20 years .. and still going
21. Playing softball throughout high school and being part of the all Star playoff team each year
22. Being Artistic and painting my living room to look like a castle
23. Winning a hammer buy sinking a 16 penny nail with one hit
24. Being financially savvy and a natural entrepreneur. Having started working at age 12 with delivering newspapers.
25. Working hard to be debt free
26. Running a marathon (a few times actually)
27. Learning how to drive a manual (stick shift) from PA to GA & a Motorcycle
28. Being anemic and learning you have to listen and take care of your body
29. Having both my children 100% naturally and impressing my nurses when they thought I couldn't do it
30. Being part of the best high school youth group and knowing Jim and Bonnie
31. My time working in healthcare and helping people get better
32. Being a working mom
33. Planning family trips and showing my kids a little bit of the world
34. My time in stage crew and theater arts and painting spectacular sets my senior year
35. Coming up with an idea
36. Taking My Son to Greece for his birthday
37. For having core values and trying to live them out every day
39. Knowing when to quit and when to keep going
40. Knowing that my best efforts and accomplishments are all the work of God
