30 before 30 update: become a member of midtown

yesterday i was able to cross something else off my 30 before 30 list. after attending the church for over 5 years, i finally became a member of midtown fellowship. there's really no good reason i hadn't become one earlier, and i'm glad that i finally did. life in nashville would not be the same without the community i have through midtown.
also, my good friend kateland was baptized on the same day. hers is a beautiful story of transformation, and i'm glad we were able to share the day.

30 before 30 update: organize files (paper & electronic), part 1

one of the things on my 30 before 30 list was to organize my paper and electronic files. a few days ago i finished the first half of that - the paper files. it was getting to the point where boxes of old pay stubs and bills were exploding in my closet. so i took a saturday morning, popped "crazy, stupid, love" into the dvd-player, and sat down with a 3-ring binder and a 3-hole punch and organized all the papers. it feels good to know i'm starting 2012 off organized in at least one small corner of my world. so, in case you're wanting to do the same, i dug around on the internet and found the general rules of thumb for record retention. i printed this guide off on a piece of paper and stuck it in the front of the binder:

Tax Returns & Backup Documentation – 7 years

Health Records – indefinitely: contact info of physician, medical history, prescriptions/treatments

Medical Records – 7 years if claimed on taxes, otherwise 5 years after end of treatment

Life Insurance – life of policy + 3 years

Medical Insurance – 5 years from date of service rendered

Home Insurance – 5 years, or 10 if you predict issues

Warranty – when expired

Home Repair Bills & Contracts – 10 years

Pay Stubs – keep each stub throughout the year. At end of year keep only year-end stub. Keep these for 7 years.

Bank Statements – 3 months

Financial Documents (stocks, bonds, etc) – indefinitely

Utility Bills – if claiming on taxes 7 years, otherwise 3 months

Mortgage Statements – ownership period of the mortgaged property + 7 years

Mortgage Documents – 10 years

Credit Card Statements – 3 months (although i suggest you go the dave ramsey route and not use credit cards, ever. at almost 29-years old, i never have.)

friday photos: 2011.52

i realize it's not friday, but with 2011 ending on a saturday, i wanted to get all the last few pictures into one post. so, here's the end of my 2011 project 365. stay tuned, though, because i've decided to continue through 2012.

friday, december 23

planes, trains, and automobiles.

saturday, december 24

christmas eve fire in the fireplace. apologies to santa; i hope he didn't burn his butt.

sunday, december 25

a sears tower ornament my brother got me from the christkindlmarket.

monday, december 26

libby and i have been friends since 1986. she found this picture i drew her approximately 20 years ago and gave it back to me this christmas. sadly, my drawing has not improved and my handwriting has gotten worse.

tuesday, december 27

my reward for getting my chores done for the day.

wednesday, december 28

things found while cleaning my desk at work.

thursday, december 29

catching up with an old college friend.

friday, december 30

new shoes for the new year.

saturday, december 31

and the creepiest picture of the year award goes to..... the lovely ladies i spent my nye with.