1. My cousin has a recipe blog and when she posted her Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe, I had a hard time not salivating! My husband wants me to make her Ducle de Leche Pumpkin Cheesecake. I haven’t really had sweets in quite a long time. I was going for a 6 month span without eating any sweets, but was convinced to do so for special events/occasions after I think I hurt a friend’s feelings by not eating her son’s birthday cake in September (it was just her family and my family there). I think I have had sweets only about 3 times and just in this past month and a half alone (too many times). I accidentally lost weight by removing it from my diet (about 9 pounds). I am thinking about baking the cookies for Christmas. I might have one only. We’ll see.
2. My friend Allison interviewed me about homeschooling and posted it on her blog.
3. World Vision put out a PDF file of an advent devotional called “Anticipate the King: Advent For a Servant’s Heart” that I just found and plan to go through.
4. I read a lot of books, and get them all for free from PaperBack Swap. I have mentioned it before, but I really am so glad that I don’t have to pay anything other than to send books back out ($2.47 per book, but I have received more than I’ve sent out, saving me about $300). Some of the books I get look brand new. Crazy. Each book you send out that gets received, gives you a credit to get another book. I have a wishlist of 200 books that I want to read and when someone lists it, I can get it without paying a thing. It is quite fun.
5. Although I don’t go there too often, I do have a tumblr where I post photos from Doctor Who (classic mainly), vintage fashions (old vogue photos and actresses), and myself here and there. I didn’t post for a long time, but I’m back on it.
6. This year, buy presents for people in need around the world who can’t afford to provide for their families. World Vision can give (with your help) 3 ducks, 2 chickens, and more to help a family have food or make money in a business so they can provide for their family. It costs $32 to educate a child in another country, or provide $300 worth of school supplies to a child in the US for only $25! Give $50 for Syrian Refugee Crisis; seeds, tools and training for people in Africa for $30, HIV/AIDS care, Hope for sexually exploited girls, 5 Fruit trees for $30, a fishing kit for a family, $18 for a bed net for a family, or a year of schooling for an orphan for a full year for only $70! Goodness, there are so many other things I could list!
7. The pictures above are from instagram. The two of me in the blue dress are from each of my reunions. One is with a classmate Laura (her boyfriend took the picture with his phone for her. Wish I took some), one is with one of my best friends Rachel (why is it that we always have a similar type of outfit without planning)? One of my other best friends Laura had Thanksgiving with us. Legos are always all over the place in my sons’ bedroom. My dog patience got a bad haircut and ran around like crazy in the snow. . .and then there is my obsession with taking pictures of Rob sleeping (I have so many throughout the years).
8. One of my other best friends, Emilee, is having a C-section tomorrow and I have been thinking & praying for her like crazy. She had an all natural, drug-free birth for her firstborn, but she had complications and almost lost her second daughter & needed an emergency c-section. She was hoping she wouldn’t need to have a C-section this time around, but it had to happen. Please pray for her as she gives birth (to another beautiful daughter) tomorrow!
9. I’m probably going to be making these cute Christmas paper chains either today or tomorrow with my sons. Printing them as I type this. ;)
10. Listen on Spotify to some (45) of my favorite Christmas songs from a playlist I made last year (and will be/have been adding more to).
