Everything you want...

I was sitting in church this morning and instead of listening to Pastor Todd, I wrote this list down:

1) I want to spend a summer in Maine.
2) I want to travel West (California, Arizona, Oregon, Washington...but mostly just California).
3) I want to go to photography school.
4) I want to travel to all 50 states and go to the capital city of each.
5) Not only do I want to travel the US, but also Internationally (Israel, Greece, Italy--Vatican City!, Australia, Ireland...etc.)
6) I want to marry a man who makes me laugh more than cry (ha!), who loves God more than he loves me, who supports me and the dreams I have, who makes me a better person, and who makes my birthday presents instead of buying them.
7) I want children. I don't care how many or even if I adopt. I just want children.
8) I want a golden retriever and I want to name him Kevin.
9) Eventually, I want a Cannon Mark 2.
10) I want a house with a wrap around porch so I can sit in a rocking chair, read, and drink lemonade on summer days.
11) I want to see U2 perform "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" live and Phil Collins perfom 'Easy Lover'.
12) I want to learn how to cook.
13) I want a room in my house to be dedicated to books (lots of them!!), reading, and prayer. I want there to be a fireplace in it, too.
14) I want to be an encourager of people's dreams and push them to pursue them!
15) I want the ability to endure.
16) I want to read Sam Walton's, Marilyn Manson's and John F. Kennedy's autobiographies.
17) I want to be faithful in the small things.
18) I want to meet James Franco.
19) I want to go to Disney World.
20) I want my children to know that they're loved, beautiful, and precious in my eyes (and God's!).
21) I want to be teachable in every area of my life.
22) I want God to use me to change people's lives (that's one I had a hard time writing down. I want it, but I don't feel worthy to be used. But then I remembered how dumb I am).
23) I want to see a soccer match IN Europe.
24) I never want to stop collecting sunglasses.
25) I want to plant a garden...and find a way to keep it alive.
26) I have a few more. Big ones. But I'm not ready to let those out yet. Maybe one day soon :)

As I was thinking about all of this, I thanked God for putting all of these desires in my heart, because they make me really happy and excited for the future. And then I heard, "Would you be willing to give all of these hopes and dreams up for Me?" Crap. No. I mean, yes God...I would. Right? It would be a struggle, as I would really like to get married, have kids, see one of my favorite songs ever performed LIVE!, change lives, travel, take pictures...but even more than my dreams, I decided that I want my God.


Dear James...if I don't ever meet you, I'll be okay with that. I guess.