my latest google searches

1.) americana bedroom decor
2.) cucumber soup
3.) the color turquoise
4.) flea images
5.) blessed synonyms
6.) atlantic versus pacific salmon calories
7.) maggiano's phone number
8.) psalm 105
9.) dia parking
10.) edible playdoh
11.) 'hard candy christmas' lyrics
12.) u.s. territories
13.) pomegranate cocktail ingredients
14.) half marathon podcast
15.) jaguars
16.) phil wickham concert tour dates
17.) raw dog food recipes
18.) james 5
19.) denver art museum free days
20.) how to fix a broken sewing machine

what have you been searching for?

sorrow

"Can God, who gave His all for you, ever do wrong by you? Shall you accept the good from His hand and then charge Him with wrong doing when something does not go your way? Shall you thank Him when He blesses you with what you approve but not thank Him when it seems bad and painful for you?

Is He worthy of praise only when His acts please you? His chosen way for you is always good and perfect and best. He is evermore worthy of thanksgiving and praise, even in the darkest times. Your trust in the dark so pleases your Heavenly Father. Your praise in pain honors Him." ~J White

The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

For He will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent. ~Psalm 27:5

***
my dad died may 20. father's day was june 20 this year, exactly one month after his passing. the last six weeks, i have been hiding out. now that my sorrow is ebbing, it is a time for rejoicing. my dad's pain is gone. my dad is meeting with Jesus. my dad is living in heaven! PRAISE GOD! tomorrow is the birthday of our nation and i will smile and laugh and enjoy the day. it did not come without its fair share of sorrow too. God has a purpose for all our pain.

mother's day

i wish that i could show you in pictures how perfect my mother's day was. it was one of those dream days when everything fell into place without a bit of effort. it was a day that i will look back on with envy when my kids break a dish (or the refrigerator) or are constantly bickering (about nothing) or when i am running late for everything. but alas, there are no pictures because i still have not replaced the camera that broke in september last year. darn! i have been acutely missing the camera for about a month now, so that means i probably should get on buying a new one.

the day started with the boys leaving the house at 7:15 (to go buy mother's day gifts, but i didn't mind since it gave me the house to myself). i took a long, hot bath and finished re-reading a book. they came home at 10:30 and i opened presents. football made a poem using my name (i need to get that laminated).

d-delightful
a-awesome
w-wonderful
n-nice

artist made a bookmark saying 'mommy' using stickers (the 'm's were actually upside down 'w's, but i won't tell him that).

both boys colored cards at school. they brought me flowers and a pretty new turquoise vase to stick them in. they each picked out two new books for me (as has been tradition for the last two years). i love how their personality shows in which books they choose for me. artist's choices had dark-colored covers and were the urban fantasy books. footballs's books had lighter covers and were romantic comedies. :) bfp bought me two new chairs for my outdoor patio set. it was perfect.

we then took my client out to breakfast. a balloon artist was there and the boys each got monkey-on-a-motorcycle balloons. it was fun. we came home and both bfp and i called our moms, while the boys played out in the sun.

next, we drove down to the local nursery. i enjoyed walking up and down the aisles, and not being rushed out of the store (bfp usually hates going to a store without an agenda). i bought three rose bushes (firefighter red, pumpkin patch orange and a pretty yellow and pink stripe) and a few poppy plants (i have big plans, ambitious plans, in my mind for what i want my yard to look like ten years from now). we came home and the boys got me a glass of tea while i directed bfp where to dig the holes.

we were done with enough time to make it down to 'sonic' for half-price drinks. the boys rollerbladed while we walked behind. after that was a trip to the supermarket to pick out supper. bfp wanted to grill and i wanted to eat out on the patio table. we enjoyed shrimp cocktails, cesear salad, grilled lobster, corn on the cob and fried potatoes with onions. delicious! bfp made everything and cleaned up afterwards too. i did nothing!

we watched 'blindside' as a family (great movie) and bfp surprised me with cheesecake and homemade strawberry puree. he even made a heart-shaped strawberry for me. what a wonderful, perfect day! it will be tough to top this day next year, but i have faith that my family will manage.

what did you do for mother's day?

interview - the perspective of a kid - new answers

EVAN'S (little over 8) ANSWERS
1. What is something mom always says to you?
“Feed the dog."

2. What makes mom happy?
“Hugs and kisses before bed."

3. What makes mom sad?
“When we do bad choices, like breaking stuff or lying."

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
“Tickling."

5. What was your mom like as a child?
“I have no idea... I didn't see you as a child. Were you mostly a good kid?”

6. How old is your mom?
“Thirty-one.”

7. How tall is your mom?
“Five foot two inches.”

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
“Go to work. No wait! Play on the computer.”

9. What does your mom do when you’re not around?
“Go to work.”

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
“For being the best mom in the world.” (ahhh... brownie points)

11. What is your mom really good at?
“Wii bowling.”

12. What is your mom not very good at?
“Wii baseball.”

13. What does your mom do for her job?
“Go into peoples house and talk with them. Make them food. Clean their house if they are seniors, like old people.”

14. What is your mom’s favorite food?
“Cheese enchiladas. Probably.”

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
“When you beat me at stuff like board games, Wii and other stuff.”

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
“Word girl.”

17. What do you and your mom do together?
“I can't answer this question... It's hard.”

18. How are you and your mom the same?
“We both have brown eyes.”

19. How are you and your mom different?
“You are a girl and I'm a boy. Plus, I am a kid and you are a grown-up.”

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
“Because you are my mom.”

21. Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?
“I would say... go shopping for dog toys. Oh yeah, we do that together sometimes.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RYAN'S (almost 7) ANSWERS
1. What is something mom always says to you?
“You usually tell me to clean my room. Or clean up something. It's not very fun."

2. What makes mom happy?
“When we behave."

3. What makes mom sad?
“When we do bad stuff."

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
“Tickles me."

5. What was your mom like as a child?
“Yikes... You had a cat and a dog. That's all."

6. How old is your mom?
“I know dad is thirty-two, so you are thirty-one."

7. How tall is your mom?
“About two of me make you, so that makes you twice as many as me.”

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
“Play with Cocoa. And us sometimes. But mostly, play on the laptop.”

9. What does your mom do when you’re not around?
“I don't know. Do you smooch with dad?”

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
“Being on the laptop. *laughs* That's what you would be famous for... Mom, was that a good joke?”

11. What is your mom really good at?
“Teaching the dog... no actually, that's dad. I guess... What's it called? Knitting? Knitting. You are kinda good at that.”

12. What is your mom not very good at?
“Threading. You don't even know how to thread.” (does he mean sewing?)

13. What does your mom do for her job?
“Help people at their houses. And be at the bank.”

14. What is your mom’s favorite food?
“I don't know that one but I'm going to say celery.”

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
“When you train Cocoa to like me.”

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
“I think you would be good in a teacher cartoon."

17. What do you and your mom do together?
“Play the Wii.”

18. How are you and your mom the same?
“Because sometimes we do the same things, but at different times though. And we love each other.”

19. How are you and your mom different?
“Because you go on the laptop a lot and I don't.”

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
“Because you tell me.”

21. Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?
“Buffalo Wild Wings, that's mine. But you are a better cooker than them. I like the food here.”

old interview here - http://thanks-and-praise.blogspot.com/2009/03/perspective-of-kid.html

two year anniversary

it has been two years (and a three days) since we were told the news that my dad's cancer was going to kill him. what a whirlwind the past two years have been. praise the Lord that he is still alive! God is good to me!

spring!!

welcome to the first day of spring! it is gorgeous outside here. as i was walking the new puppy, i realized that summer is right around the corner. it's time to shed those extra winter pounds! who's with me?

**goal: lose 13 pounds by june 21 (my birthday)

p.s. how's everybody doing on their new year's resolutions?

character building

it's lent!

i know that it's weird, but every year i look forward to giving something up for lent. sacrificing something that means something to me. testing my will-power and dedication. changing my habits. building my character.

and so it begins again today. as you all know, i love my facebook. it's the very best form of gossip. :) i spend about 3 hours a day on it, sometimes (depending on the day) more. for lent, i'm giving up my facebook time.

this one is going to be hard! harder than last year when i gave up eating out (even when we traveled). harder than the year before when i gave up tv. no more mafia wars. no more clever status updates. no more time suck. wish me luck please. or better yet, pray for me.

what are you doing for lent this year?

christmas letter

it's been a while since i've written a christmas letter (yes, i know it's past christmas and into a new year already). i think the last one i wrote was when football was 2. yikes! we normally send out a card and family picture - and if you're lucky, and we like you, there might be a few hand-written words on the back, such as: "we had a great year; busy. lots of changes. hope you and your family are healthy and look forward to seeing you soon. God bless you and keep you safe." (pithy, huh?) this year, nada. no letter, no picture, no card. it was kind of the christmas-that-wasn't. i thought i'd recap the year here instead.

it's been a busy year. lots of changes.

my dad's condition is the most notable change. it has been a roller coaster ride (and not the fun kind either). the beginning of the year was difficult and we prepared for the worst. he rallied and gave us a couple of good months that we made the most of. his health deteriorated slowly but steadily and he started home hospice in late september/early october. the day before thanksgiving, he ended up in the hospital because the pain was so intense and could not be controlled with the morphine or other drugs. it was a very somber holiday. two weeks later, we were all called home; it was time to say good-bye... but dad rallied again and he was still with us at christmas-time. we weren't sure he was going to make it that long, so we were pleased to have him with us. thank you, gracious, merciful God! we have been blessed with so much extra time with him.

we spent countless hours making memories with dad. we went up to spend time with him and mom, and when able, they came down to visit us. oh, the many, many hours we spent riding in the car! :) we took dad up to pikes peak and on the coors brewing tour. we went to 'hart ranch' over the summer and the new spearfish water park. dad went to a denver broncos game. dad and notme made birdhouses together. dad and mom celebrated another anniversary. it was a year packed full of love. one of the most wonderful things happened in the fall. dad accepted Jesus as his personal savior! it made me so happy; it is something i have been praying for.

mom is holding up as well as can be expected. she is so strong and does what has to be done without complaining. i admire her for that (and many other things). she and dad have some great and wonderful friends. they have been so helpful and supportive. what a blessing they are! i am so thankful for these ladies and men; they enriched our family so much last year. hospice has also been amazing. truly, these people are gifted with compassion. the comfort they give to dad and to us is indescribable. it is touching to know so many people care about my family and are there for my mom and dad. mom's sister and brothers (and their spouses) came out to visit at thanksgiving. it was great having everyone together and i know mom appreciated the time with them.

when not taking care of my dad, you could find me volunteering eight hours a week at the boys' school last year, which was fun and fulfilling. i participated in some great bible studies last year and read a lot of books (on a side note, the review site is doing well). i also started a new hobby. i began the 'couch to 5k' program in late june. it is a running program designed to get you from a couch potato to running 3.1 miles in 9 weeks. it took me much longer than 9 weeks, but imagine me. a. runner. it boggles the mind. :) i ran 2 5ks last year - one for breast cancer and one for prostate cancer. in 2008 i learned to knit, so i am happy to report a 2009 hobby that is a little less geeky. [what? i said 'little'.] another highlight of my year was attending a ton of baseball games at coors field with my family. i met my sports idol, seth smith, and got his autograph. upon meeting me, he fell a little bit in love with me (it's hard not too). i'm taken, so i had to break his heart. he took it well and we remain friends. great guy. ...okay, that only happened in my imagination, but still. it *could* happen. oh, and i really did meet him and get his autograph.

bfp had a stressful year at work. the westminster job ended (that job was a story in itself - ask him to tell you some time) and the economic downturn finally hit his company in the fall. bfp kept his job, but had several agonizing decisions to make. it was hard to watch the company, and him, struggle. luckily, both are doing much better now and bfp enjoys the challenges his job provides. thank you Lord, for this season of reforming and rebuilding. bfp spent some time 'up the hill' playing poker in blackhawk. he really enjoys that (especially when he wins) and he's a pretty lucky guy. :) my brother and bfp went deer hunting together last year. they both brought home our supper. he also went fishing with his brother and dad in mobridge, so we had a freezer full of fresh walleye. on top of his food-providing skills, he really enjoyed grilling and cooking for us. i think i am pretty lucky too.

the boys are getting so mature. football is a second-grader and artist is in first. they both love school, and report card time is a happy time in our house. one day, football and i got in an argument about him wearing his coat to school. he came home in a bad mood and said 'i hate it when you are always right, mom'. (lol. this one knows the way to my heart.) over summer break we had lots of adventures including horseback-riding, camping and 'water world', but both of them were excited for school to start back up in august. they were enrolled in art lessons, which artist just loved. that kid has some *talent*, but boy, do we go thru paper. :) we joined boy scouts last year and they love it. as you can see, they keep us busy. i keep a blog about the humorous things they say over at http://fromfrogtoprince.blogspot.com/ if you want to follow along in our sometimes-funny family journey. we had a new addition to our family last year. cocoa, a chocolate labradoodle, joined us in december. she is so sweet. she loves going for walks and playing fetch with her ball. she brings lots of joy to this family.

of course, our year is not complete without a car accident or two. bfp's vehicle was side-swiped and mine was backed into while parked. it is a running joke in the family. we'll see which one is next this year. bets, anyone?

speaking of cars, we did some traveling last year, taking the boys up into the mountains, over into nebraska, to the south dakota state fair, and off exploring the black hills. i went to arizona for a girls trip and paul went to vegas for a guys vacation. we spent some time in lovely casper for my younger brother's open heart valve replacement. (how awesome is God's timing? what other 25-year-old would have been able to have 3 months off work to spend time with his dying father?) he is back at work now [yay paycheck!] and feeling great. even though it sometimes felt like it, we weren't always gone; we stayed at home a bit too. we worked on those pesky house projects, fixing the balcony, doing minor cosmetic repairs, painting and some light landscaping. we planted blueberry and raspberry bushes, lilacs and cherry trees. we even had a couple of great nights spent with friends. the 'casa de wagner' bed and breakfast was as busy as ever on our weekends 'off'. one of these days, oprah is going to discover us (and how awesome at hosting we are) and then it's going to be really hard to make a reservation. :) until that time, here is your open invitation for 2010.

that was our 2009 in a nutshell. we hope you and your family are healthy and we look forward to seeing you soon. God bless you and keep you safe.

me, bfp, football, artist and cocoa

today i didn't...

keeping track of the positive things i do:
today i didn't... go out to eat for lunch (so tempting)

today i didn't... stop in walmart for those unnecessary things

today i didn't... ignore my kids when they got home from school

today i didn't... yell at my husband when i wanted to

today i didn't... put off walking on the treadmill


"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." - Robert Collier

identity (a.k.a. a list of the things i like about myself)

i'm insecure. there, i said it. and it feels really good to have that out in the open. my self-esteem is like a wavy line with hundreds of crests and valleys each month. as an insecure person, i sometimes forget my own value. there are things that the bible promises me that i can count on. i am grateful to know that:

God made me in his image
God chose me
God loves me
God accepts me
God forgives me
God finds me important
God gives me His favor
God has a plan and purpose for me
God thinks i can do amazing things to glorify Him
God guards me
God will fight for me
God has victory in store for me

but in the day-to-day living of my life, sometimes those promises are not enough to chase away the blahs i get when a friend chooses to spend time with a different friend instead of me, or when my kids prefer to spend time with their dad because 'he's more fun', or when i think i wrote a hilarious facebook status and nobody comments on it (yes, it's sad, but sometimes my self-worth is connected to the number of people who respond to a facebook post). can anyone else relate? can i get an AMEN from the peanut galley?

since i like lists so much, i am going to take this space to write down what i like about myself (and come back here often to remind myself that i *am* everything God says i am).

1. i think i am witty
2. i have a wicked (and naughty) sense of humor
3. i like my laugh
4. my smile
5. i have beautiful top teeth
6. i am physically attractive (in a cutesy way)
7. i am a smartie (when someone asks 'what does ____ mean?', i know the answer)
8. i like to give gifts
9. i am romantic
10. i am thankful
11. i am (mostly) honest (we won't talk about how i like to steal dishes, silverware, salt and peper shakers, etc from restaurants, okay?)
12. i am a reader
13. i am curious about many things
14. i am knowledgeable about many things
15. i like to learn
16. if i set my mind to do it, i will do it
17. i am hardly ever helpless and i don't fall apart in a crisis
18. i have a strong faith
19. i am logical and not overly emotional
20. i am passionate in my causes
21. i am good with money
22. i am curvy *g* (with VERY good boobs)
23. i love easily and freely
24. i am good at forgiving
25. that i am a great freakin' cook
26. i love to try new food
27. i am a good friend
28. i get excited for others
29. i am a good motivator
30. i know what i like and what i don't (although when trying to be polite i tend to get wishy-washy)
31. that i like to cook and eat veggies
32. i am a supportive wife
33. that i want only good things for my sons
34. that i am not a huge shoe-lover (ummm, yes...the 'not' is supposed to be there)
35. i am crafty
36. i am good at decorating and picking paint for walls
37. i am a collector (of people AND things)
38. i am loyal
39. the great taste i have in men (i.e. my husband, my sons, my brother, my friends)
40. i am ambitious in my thoughts and dreams
41. i make decisions in an instant (and they are usually good decisions too)
42. i don't spend much time primping
43. i am obsessive and completely dedicated to whatever thing i am into at the time (i know hubby hates that, but i like it)
44. even though i would like to be thinner, my weight does not define me
45. i am conservative
46. i am fun to have at a party
47. employing correct grammar and punctuation (even if saying that will make you judge me for writing in all lowercase)
48. i am good at zee strategy and zee planning (okay, now i'm just talking all goofy-like)
49. i am goofy
50. i am a hugger
51. i am good at card games and board games
52. i am a gracious loser (in between all the smack talk. you might not recognize it. but i am. i swear.)

*check out http://www.kenboa.org/downloads/pdf/IdentityAffirmations2.pdf for more on who God says you are*

routine

well, my word for today is organization (which makes sense as today is the eve of a new year and new decade). i would like for my life to become more stream-lined and routine than it currently is. the way for me to do that is to get organized and set mini-goals to achieve during the year. last year, i took on way too many new things that i wanted to change/improve (you can see the list here), so several of this year's resolutions are repeats or revisions.

"If we allow God to prune us more often by His Word, we avoid a portion of our pruning through circumstances." ~Beth Moore

1.) read one chapter of the new testament each weekday
2.) teach my children to pray more deliberately, and pray more purposefully for my children
3.) spend 30 minutes a day PLAYING with my kids (board games, card games, outside)
4.) call my brother and sister once a week, leaving a message for them counts
5.) write a letter (or card) once a month and MAIL it to my grandparents
6.) continue to work on my '35 things by 35' list (found here)
7.) make 2 nights a week be meatless meals by april 30
8.) continue using the 'couch to 5k' program and run a 10k with my friend amy by august 1
9.) make time for my vanity everyday, including using a face moisturizer and wearing mascara
10.) take a 'girl's vacation' with just my mom, sister and sister-in-law
11.) finish painting the boys' room by february 15, living room by july 31, the dining room (with new wainscoting) by october 1
12.) release more books than i receive (yeah as a review website owner, that one is VERY ambitious, but you gotta start somewhere, right? *wink*)

i'd also like to be more aware of why i like myself and the good things i have to offer my friends, which will likely be january's post. lol.

what do you want in 2010?

countdown to thanksgiving

i got started late, but each day on facebook, i said one thing i was grateful for. here is my list:

1. my brother and his wife (and my sister)
2. that my children get along with their cousins
3. BOOKS!!!
4. my crockpot
5. hot apple cider
6. that i was born an american
7. veterans
8. that my belief in God gives me purpose and peace
9. the computer
10. internet
11. fireplaces on a snowy night
12. my friends
13. eating out/restaurants
14. card games
15. knitting
16. making new friends and reconnecting with old ones
17. healing medicine
18. the bible
19. k-love and other christian radio stations
20. art made by my children
21. that i am college-educated
22. mechanics
23. flowers
24. alcohol :)
25. pets
26. my extended family
27. my hard-working husband (!!!)
28. my husband's job
29. mafia wars
30. a thick skin

what are thankful for this year?

gratitude - join me on the journey

my friend, jason, posted this on his blog at few months ago and it has been mulling in my mind ever since. it is profound and wise, but that is not why it has stuck with me. it has stuck with me because of one reason. gratitude. jason has an attitude of gratitude even during the negative things that happen in our lives. so often we pray for a way around the pain, instead of a way through it. you, Lord Jesus, are the way through it and i am grateful for the heartache you have shown me. it allows me to better appreciate the wonderful, glorious peace you share with me.

***
I can not prevent a broken heart, for in doing so, I would prevent you from experiencing love.

I can not prevent a scraped knee, for in doing so, I would prevent you from climbing new heights.

I can not prevent a wounded ego, for in doing so, I would prevent you from becoming a humble leader.

I can not prevent a fear of the unknown, for in doing so, I would prevent you from overcoming fear and living life one step at a time into the unknown.

I can not prevent an uncomfortable silence, for in doing so, I would prevent you from seeing the danger of comfort.

I can not prevent a hurtful insult, for in doing so, I would prevent you from finding your identity is not rooted in what others say.

I can not prevent a few wrong turns, for in doing so, I would prevent you from discovering a better way.

I can not prevent an awkward moment, for in doing so, I would prevent you from realizing you are wonderfully, and utterly, human.

I can not prevent an embarrassing situation, for in doing so, I would prevent you from learning to laugh at yourself and not take yourself too seriously.

I can not prevent occasions of doubt, for in doing so, I would prevent you from unlocking what it means to have faith.

from: http://www.jasonsalamun.com/2009/06/for-my-monkeyboy-and-my-pretty-pumpkin/

NaNoWriMo

i am joining the 'national novel writing month' community this year.

i have no idea what i am doing. i will probably tell instead of show. i will be awkward. clumsy. inept. my plot will have holes and my setting will suck. my characters will lack dimension. all in all, the finished product will be laughable.

but i *will* follow thru and write.

wish me luck.


"Some things you have to do every day. Eating seven apples on Saturday night instead of one a day just isn't going to get the job done." ~Jim Rohn

sunshine

well, good bye sunshine. hello cold. i am sad to see the leaves falling off the trees because that means the days will soon become shorter and darker.

it's been busy. so much has happened, both good and bad. i'm not sure i want to talk about it yet, but i just wanted to stop by and let you know i was alive. i changed the name of my blog to 'one word at a time' because that is what i am feeling right now. i am sure at some point i will change the name back to 'thanks and praise'. until then, the one word i am focusing on right now is *seek*.

see you when i have more to say.

35 things by 35

here are some things i want to do before i turn 35:

1. read the entire bible once a year - *CHECK*
2. read 4 'classics' a year
-emma, lord of the flies, paradise lost, a tale of two cities, my antonia
-the great gatsby, jane eyre, robinson crusoe, treasure island
-gulliver's travels, adventures of huck finn, walden and civil disobedience, the old man and the sea
3. re-read 'watership down' - *CHECK*
4. write a hand-written note once a week for three months and mail it off
5. publish a christian children's book - *written, not published yet*
6. start a once-a-month girl's night out group - *CHECK*
7. exercise 3 times a week... starting now - *CHECK*
8. run a 15k - *CHECK*
9. train myself to sleep on my back instead of my side
10. take a ballroom dancing lesson
11. take a decorating class
12. take a pottery-making class
13. take a photography class (and buy a 'good' camera)
14. take my mom to a scrapbooking-weekend-convention-type-thing - *CHECK*
15. finish the scrapbook on my dad's life
16. refinish the guest bedroom dresser
17. make a quilt
18. make a fort/playhouse for the boys behind the garage - *CHECK*
19. learn to play one song on the guitar
20. learn to make curry - *CHECK*
21. find one thing i *like* to bake (signature dish) - *CHECK*
22. can homemade pickles
23. grow strawberries in my garden - *CHECK*
24. furnish our outdoor patio - *CHECK*
25. teach the boys to ski - *CHECK*
26. convince hubby we need a dog - *CHECK*
27. go sailing
28. go camping with tyler and rachel at hart ranch - *CHECK*
29. go visit scotty and laura frances in missouri
30. go to the grand canyon
31. go on a cruise (10-year anniversary is coming up *grin*)
32. go tour the vatican city with my husband
33. meet my sports idol seth smith and get his autograph - *CHECK*
34. become a mentor
35. work on a political campaign