Good morning loveliest of all lovely readers (I don’t care if it’s impossible for all of you to be the loveliest at the same time…it’s how I think of you!)

I must admit that I’m pretty excited about today’s post.

It’s not that it’s anything particularly special, but I really (like a bit on the disturbingly intense side) REALLY enjoy interacting with and finding out about you guys.

So, any time I do a post with a high chance of getting to hear back from you, my skin gets a little tingly, the hairs on my arm stand on end, and I start doing impromptu jigs around the kitchen (which produces a considerable amount of cereal milk spillage, but, whatever, I’m good with it).

Today, for:

five days five ways | 5 Things Thursday

…we’re continuing our “Getting to Know You” theme from last week, and I’ve made it a little more specific by throwing the subtitle, “Hopes and Dreams” out there. 

If that’s too heavy for you, tell me something else. I don’t mind.

Just so long as you tell me, m’kay?

I guess I’m up to bat first, so here goes:

1. I hope to travel more some day.

globe

I’ve visited 8 separate countries in Europe (England, France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Holland, Spain, Switzerland) + Australia, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Israel (I lived there for a year between the ages of 3 and 4).

I’ve also been to Hawaii, which is kind of like a different country.

But I would still love to see more of the world.

On my short list?:

Ireland, Greece (if they can ever get their act together), New Zealand, Tasmania, Uganda (to meet Harriet, our PCM sponsor child), and Costa Rica (supposed to be breathtakingly beautiful).

2. I want to learn to dance.

Like really dance.

Throughout my teenage years/early 20’s, I took quite a few lessons in ballroom dancing, swing, and salsa, but…they were just for fun.

My preferred genre?

Hip Hop.

And, no, I’m not joking.

I don’t even listen to Hip Hop music, nor am I a fan of “dirty dancing,” (the actual practice or the movie…ooooooh, bracing for a chorus of “WhAAAAAT??”…I liked it when I younger, if that helps).

But I would still love to be able to turn on some music with a beat and throw down in my living room.

HipHop-HUSTLE

(P.S. I used to teach an exercise class called Hip Hop Hustle—created by that crazy-looking chick in the pic above— and I absolutely loved it!)

3. I hope to…

make_a_difference_sign

via

And, yes, I know that’s vague and Oprah-esque.

But despite the fact that I already feel like I live half of my days with my hair on fire, my life is too easy.

There’s very little daily taking up of my cross (Luke 9:23) other than the inherent struggles and dying to self (John 12:24) that come with the package of 3 small children and a husband to take care of. 

(I don’t think it counts as “suffering” if you put too much on your own plate and end up frazzled and stressed about it).

I realize that God might not entrust me with anything more than my own daily “grind” until I can handle it with more grace and love.

And I truly believe that my children are my primary mission field at the moment.

But I want (and yet am terrified of) more.

There’s a specific “more” that God recently plunked down in front of me that has me scared and excited all at once.

I’ll keep you updated as I can.

4. I hope to learn more languages.

I already speak Spanish fluently, but I think it would fun/challenging/rewarding to use a God-given gift for linguistics (it just comes naturally to me) to learn a few other “foreign tongues.”

languages

via

Which ones?

Hmmm…well, French appeals to me for some bizarre reason (though…when/where would I use it?) and Hebrew (our family has always had a heart for Israel).

5. My biggest dream of all—the one that feels the most real and yet the most unattainable at times—is to be a writer.

A real, hey-look-there’s-her-book-on-the-shelf!, published author (oooooh, there goes the tingly skin again).

writing

It’s one of the primary reasons I started this blog—both to have the impetus to write on a daily basis and also to grow a readership base that would make me more appealing to publishers (who knew I would then become so fond of said “readership base”—that’s you guys—that I would stop caring about whether they could sell my books and just look forward to “talking” to them each day).

I’ve written a complete manuscript for a novel and even shopped it around to several publishers.

But it still needs a lot of work

In fact, after getting some distance from it, I’m not sure I would want it to be my first published novel.

But I have entertained the harebrained idea of sharing it, chapter by chapter, with you guys.

Maybe in weekly installments?

What do you think?

Would you be even the tiniest bit interested in reading my book?

Fair warning: even if every single person who reads me responds with a resounding YES—which is obviously not going to happen—I can’t guarantee that I’m going to actually do this. 

In fact, I may rue the day I ever brought this up.

But I’d still like to know your thoughts.

And I’d love to hear about your hopes and dreams.

If you’ve written a 5 Things Thursday post, you can link it up here (and grab a button from the sidebar if you want!) or just leave me a comment (both bloggers and non-bloggers alike).

I can’t wait to “get to know you” a little more!

P.S. Don’t forget to come back and link up your awesomeness at tomorrow’s 3rd Feature Friday Free-for-All! (You might be featured!)

The CSI project ~ Menu Plan Monday ~ C.R.A.F.T.  ~ The Southern Institute ~ Making the World Cuter ~ Thrify Décor Chick ~ Metamorphosis Monday ~ Sumo Sweet Stuff ~ Gunny Sack ~ Singing Three Little Birds ~DIY Homes Sweet Home ~ Dittle Dattle ~ 1929 Charmer ~ Everything Under the Moon  ~ ModMix Monday ~ Sew Stylish ~ Coastal Charm ~ Under the Table and Dreaming

Tuesday ~ Get Your Craft ~ Tip Junkie ~ Blackberry Vine ~ Crafty Confessions ~ Me & my Boys ~ A Bowl Full of Lemons ~ Home Stories A-Z ~ My Uncommon Slice of Suberbia  ~ Carolyn’s Homework ~ Sugar Bee Crafts ~ House of Grace ~ Passionately Artisitc ~ My World Made by Hand ~ Uncommon Designs ~ Trendy Treehouse

Wednesday ~ Blue Cricket Design ~ Somedays Crafts ~ Sew Much Ado ~ Sew Woodsy ~ Handy Man, Crafty Woman ~ Savvy Southern Style ~ {Primp} ~ Midweek Fiesta ~ Rae Gun Ramblings ~ Polkadots On Parade ~ Lollipop Cards ~ JAQS Studio ~ Let Birdz Fly ~ Let Birdz Fly ~ My Girlish Whims

Thursday ~ Transformation Thursdays ~ Somewhat simple ~ Show off your stuff ~ House of Hepworths ~ Delightful Order ~ My Simple Home Life ~ The Frugal Girls ~ Thrifty Thursday ~ DIY Diva Thursday ~ Tablescape Thursday ~ No Minimalists Here ~ Crafty, Scrappy, Happy ~ Thrifty Decorating ~ Between U and Me ~ 36th Avenue

Friday ~ The Shabby nest  ~ Show and Tell Friday ~ Finding Fabulous ~ I’m Loving it ~ Simply Sweet Home ~ Whipper Berry ~ Chic on a Shoestring decorating ~ Spunky Junky ~ Delicate Construction ~ Homemaker in Heels ~ Family Ever After~ French Country Cottage ~ Common Ground ~ Young And Crafty ~ At the Picket Fence ~ Fingerprints on the Fridge ~ Miss Mustard Seed ~ Addicted to Decorating ~Bacon Time with The Hungry Hypo ~ Making Lemonade ~ I Can’t Stop Crafting ~ Over the Big Moon ~ Shabby Art ~ Answer is Chocolate

Saturday ~ I heart nap time- Sundae Scoop ~ Tatertots and Jello ~ Be different Act Normal ~ Funky Junk ~ 2805 ~ Making Lemonade Blog ~I am Along for the Ride  ~ Lolly Jane

Sundays ~ Homemaker on a Dime ~ Sunday’s Best

21 Comments

  1. Well, aren’t you just sweet as can be.

    Welcome!

    I’m so glad you would read my book. I just have to find the time to edit it so that I’m happy enough with it to share.

    I hope you’ll stick around so I can get to know you more! : )

  2. This is my first time reading your blog and as I have been reading, I’ve been thinking how well written it is and how much I enjoy your witing style – so please write a book, I would love to read it!

  3. Although the link is closed, and I’m not sure how to link anyway (hehe), I did do my own 5 things. Yep, still behind, but slowly catching up. Love the book chapter idea thingy. We (yep, speaking for everyone) will be glad to be your critiques (but nice ones, not the meany ones). 🙂

  4. a day late here, but loved the theme of today’s post! Thanks for sharing your hopes & dreams. Loved reading them!
    1. I’d love to be fluent in Spanish. I’m a pharmacist and it could use it on an hourly basis 🙂 I can tell people how to take their meds and ask if they have insurance….but that’s about it.
    2. Live in Kauai, Hawaii – we’ve vacationed there twice and I leave a piece of my heart each time! I know the grass isn’t always greener, but I’d sure like to try 🙂
    3. Travel the US in our RV – we have 3 small kids and purchased an RV last summer. It has been so much fun! I’d love to just set off across the country and see the sights of our great land.
    4. To sew myself a dress – I’ve been sewing for a few years but still consider myself a beginner. I’d love to be able to sew myself a vintage dress – like 50’s style – with a fitted lined bodice and a full skirt
    5. To finally start & finish our house remodel – we have big plans, but are waiting for the Lord to provide the financing and the peace to move forward with it
    6. To raise Godly, compassionate, thankful kids – the more kids I have….the more I realize this is a HUGE job!!
    Thanks for the great post and for making me think of my hopes & dreams!

  5. Thanks for the vote of confidence on my book! I may just do it…you never know.

    And I’m so sorry, but I didn’t realize that you had featured my ottoman. (or if I did realize, it slipped my mind…that’s happens a lot these days, unfortunately).

    How cool!

    Thank you! (Even if it’s a bit late to say it).

    Can’t wait to see what you’ve linked up!

    ~Abbie

  6. Great post! Hmmm, something for me to think over…What are my hopes & dreams exactly?!?! I’m so add that sometimes ( well a lot of times) I get side tracked.
    Love your list! Wish we’d live closer and I’d give you hip hop lessons in exchange for a couple “how to get the most out of GW shopping trips.”

  7. Abbie! I LOVE this post! It’s so fun to hear what people’s true hopes and dreams are, you’re brave for putting it all up there. I linked a couple of projects that I made this week, and funny enough they embody my hopes and dreams as well. I truly hope to be a loving and supportive wife while maintaining my own, sometimes strong headed and belligerent identity. I want to continue to travel the world, we have seen A LOT and it just inspires us to see more. I am learning Spanish, I could use you as a tutor, just for conversation time. I hope I look past the fear and grab hold of any cool opportunity that comes my way, personally and professionally. I don’t want to fee like I missed out on a thing when I’m in my final days. Thanks for the opportunity to share!
    Karah @ thespacebetweenblog

  8. Love this post! I would totally read your book! Thanks for following me, I’m following you back. You might not remember this but I featured your tufted ottoman a bit ago, and I’m so excited for you and how much your blog has grown so quickly! You are amazing! I’m getting my posts ready to link up, thanks for the invite!

  9. I have been following you for a while, but usually do not comment. I would also love to be a published writer, but I do not write now in any form (except for grad school papers). Posting your novel here would give you some honest feedback for the “lot of work” it needs before you look for a publisher. My hopes & dreams: finish grad school with some sanity left while trying to be a wife and mom at the same time, travel to Hawaii again (used to live there…love it), Belize and Alaska, take my family on an awesome vacation somewhere super fun, and do full time mission work sometime before I die.

  10. I’ve been reading your blog for a few months now, but I’ve never commented. I have voted for “thrifted or grifted” though – does that count? I guess I’m de-lurking to say that you should definitely follow your dream of being a writer. You have a gift and I like reading what you wrote even if it doesn’t interest me that particular day (although most days it does.) Go for it, girl!

  11. What a great post!! I lived in Southern Sudan from 2007-2008 as a nurse at an orphanage, so I’ve spent many a holiday in Uganda. I love it there and MY dream is to open a bed/breakfast type establishment in Kampala, Uganda for missionaries to come and find rest, comfort and a good meal before heading back into the field. I guess that’s what I would have loved to find during my holidays in Uganda. So, there, now you know one of my hopes and dreams. 🙂

    I can’t wait to read your book! I have a feeling you’ll get there one day. You’re an excellent writer and you’ve got things to say that people would like to hear!

  12. First off, I highly recommend Costa Rica. It is GORGEOUS, and very affordable and laid back to travel in.

    Second, jealous of your ability for language. I minored in Spanish and studied abroad for a semester and don’t feel close to fluent.

    Third, I am dying to take some hip hop classes!!! I think I found some nearby and may start….

    Fourth, I share your dream of writing a book. And it is also why I started my blog. I had thought about doing the same thing, sharing pieces of my imaginary book on the blog. I would love to read it.

  13. Hi Abbie, I’m a long time reader, first time commenter. I, too, would love to travel more someday. As a New Zealander living in the south, I’m just wondering why you paired New Zealand and Tasmania together. If I was the easily offended type, I might be … well … offended 😉

  14. Thanks for sharing, Joanna! I look forward to reading your post! Oh, and thanks for reminding me that I’ve also been to Canada (including PEI…LOOOOOVED it!). I knew I was missing one! : )

    Congrats on your first published article!

  15. Aw, thanks for sharing your hopes and dreams! When I was about 20, I took a hip hop dance class. It was so much fun, even though I was not very good at it. I want to learn French (because I live in Canada) and Latin (so I can read my vintage books like “Kidnapped” without skipping over the latin that they assume I know).

    So, my hopes and dreams… I still have the “I want to be a published author” dream lurking in the back of my mind, and my first published article is coming out next month. But more immediate than that, I want to launch a magazine. I’m already a freelance editor, but I wanted to find a way to merge my editing/writing interests with my visual/creative interests and I think a magazine would do that…besides being so much fun!

    I also want to one day live in a 100-year-old farmhouse on PEI.

    I think I’ll link up the post I wrote about this topic this week.

    Have a great day!
    ~Joanna

I love hearing from you guys!