I'm all caught up.

Dishes, laundry, work, reading, everything's done that needs to be at this point. Times like this I have two things to be doing.
1. reading
2. sewing

My mother bought me a sewing machine for my birthday. I've taught myself how to thread a bobbin, and the machine, but as far as sewing goes, I'm a little new to it all. I've always "helped" my mom cut out patterns, but she always took over the sewing. I bought myself a dress pattern, and have all the pieces cut out. Now, I'm at a loss as to what to do now. I wish my mom was here to help me.
This is what the finished product is supposed to look like:

I was smart enough to choose one from the "easy sew" section without any buttonholes, zippers, or elastic. I'll let you know how it turns out. My goal is to have it finished by Christmas time (it's supposed to be my Christmas dress). 

This week we're going to visit his family. I can't wait to play games and eat food. One day I hope I can cook half as well as his mom.

Woodstock

John and I drove to Woodstock this weekend to visit my family. We probably won't see them again until Christmas time when they come to visit us. I forgot how great it is to see family, especially when they load you down with goodies of all sorts. We shouldn't go hungry or thirsty for at least a week or so. 

While we were there we got to see my brother, his wife, and they're kittens. A few months ago two tiny kittens showed up on our porch here and Sullivan and wouldn't leave. After a few days of them sleeping on our porch we knew they didn't have anywhere else to go so we brought them in. A few days later they slept on my lap in the car for almost 6 hours while I drove to Woodstock. They've been as happy as can be with my brother and his wife ever since, and they've definitely been eating! 

My mom's birthday was also celebrated this weekend. She's 36 (at least she looks it). She got an Xbox Kinect and a game. Now John and I want one too. Then something besides Call of Duty would be played in our house. 

All in all, it was a great trip, but too short. I wish I could stay a week or so, and bring the cats. We missed them, and I think they were kind of angry we left them here alone. When we got home the kitchen was almost as we left it, and the dining room wasn't even close. Tablecloth, placemats, napkins, salt, pepper, etc were everywhere, and we know who to blame. 

It was so good to see family. In a couple weekends for Thanksgiving we're going to go see John's family. I'm excited for that too. It's so nice to see his siblings and mom and play games and eat food. Maybe then we'll cat-proof the house a little better. 

Love

I realized this weekend, how amazing friends are. Sounds silly, but I haven't really seen any in months, and making new ones is so difficult. I realized, too, that even though I haven't seen them, or really talked to them in months, they still care about me as much as I still care about them. Funny how that works.

I'm also realizing how lucky I am. The women at the church we've been going to for less than two months would do anything to feed us, I'm pretty sure. And it seems like half the people in this town were looking for and talking to everyone they knew to find me a job when I didn't have one.

This weekend we got two homemade pies and a bag of enchiladas from John's parents, just because, and next weekend we're going to see my parents, and they couldn't hide their excitement if they tried.

The women I work with did everything they could to help me get Friday off so I could go home, and they've gone out of their way to help me out and make me feel comfortable. Sullivan has its flaws, that's for sure, but it's not in its people.

I wish I had a Hallmark in my backyard so I could get cards for everyone I appreciate, but I don't think I could afford it anyway. It seems like the Christmas spirit is already upon me, but maybe it's just the Holy Spirit, or the Thanksgiving spirit, because I feel so thankful.

I've been reading.

I love reading, and I've finally had the time to do it again. My goal is to read every book I own, maybe not every book John owns, but I at least want to finish the ones that have bookmarks stuck in the middle. For my birthday John's mom got me three:

I could tell you about them in great detail, but I'll limit it to one sentence each. 

1. While Christian fiction isn't always something I can easily stomach, there is something to be said for the hope and encouragement I get from reading about someone else's faith. 

2. This may be the first non-fiction book I've ever read for fun, and it was kind of extreme, but offered me reasons, examples, and insight to the political perspectives I already have.

3. In four years of German I have learned more about Hitler than the average person. This book, however, offers the first Christian-perspective of a Holocaust survivor I've ever come across. 

I won't offer any synopsis, opinion, or review of these, but I will offer the suggestion that you read them.

This last book was a wedding gift to me from Babette Stevens, a woman from my church in Woodstock. This is in the running, along with the kitchen trash can, for the most-used wedding gift. This book offers a prayer a day for my husband. The first of each month being for myself. I just started my 5th or 6th time through. It covers topics from health and finances to sexuality and emotions. We don't seem to be in desperate need of any of these prayers yet, but preventative prayer is the best kind, right? 

I've also started writing, just reflections on the books I read, but ever-so-slightly I'm writing more and more. Reading and writing on my days off give me much more satisfaction, reflection, and quiet time than sitting in front of the television or shopping, and there's not a cheaper form of entertainment out there. Come December 31, I will have read through the Bible in a year, first time! Come January 1, John and I are going to start reading the Bible together in a year! I've grown up in Sunday school and church, but I still feel like my grasp on the Bible is soooo small. John's understanding seems so much deeper than mine. I can't wait!