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In October, in celebration of turning 33, I made a list of 33 things that I’ve learned over the last year. I’ve made lists like that several years for my birthday, but this year I thought it would be fun to also make a list of things I’m looking forward to or hope to learn more about in the next year. (I can’t resist a good list.)
- Go to a Royals spring training game. We are big Royals fans in this house, and going to a spring training game is something I’ve longed to do. This year my family is headed to Surprise, Arizona over spring break. We’re hoping to take in two games during our time there and also head over to the Grand Canyon.
- Maybe take up yoga…? Or running…? Mostly because I want to be able to justify buying cute yoga clothes from Athleta. I’ve always loved the idea of yoga or being “a runner” but I just can’t seem to make it stick.
- Enjoy the violin more. I love listening to the violin. For a while, I thought, “I’d like to learn to play the violin,” but then I remembered the reality of who I am. I can’t read music, I have a terrible ear for tune, and what am I going to do with my three children while I go to violin lessons? So instead I’ll focus on finding gifted violin players to enjoy.
- Have my family of five eat the same meal together. We’re anticipating that we’ll try weaning Connor off his diet in 2017. It’s an extremely slow process, and there’s a chance he’ll start having seizures again and we’ll have to stay on the Ketogenic diet. But there’s also a chance that he’ll come off the diet and be just fine. The idea that I might make one dinner that all five of us can eat makes me want to turn cartwheels.
- Attend an American Library Association Event. ALA is a publishing event I’ve salivated over ever since I was an aspiring writer. I used to read Sarah Dessen’s blog posts about going to ALA and signing copies of her books for librarians, and I longed to go and be apart of it. This January, I’m being given the opportunity to attend, and I’m crazy excited.
- In regards to books, there have been a few glaring gaps in the list of books I’ve read so far. Like the Percy Jackson series. And Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. Those need to happen this year, just so I can stop flinching when people ask me if I’ve read them.
- Write two novels. I wrote most of one in November, and surely I’ll fit another into my schedule between now and turning 34 next October.
- Make Amazing Biscotti. I love biscotti, but I’ve never tried making it. This year I’d love to fine-tune my skill with that cookie. Shortbread too.
What’s on your, “I’d like to learn/enjoy/visit/experience that in the next year” list?