The Saturday 7

1. I reached my Goodreads reading goal of 80 books last week. Around July, I decided to stop recording secular fiction. But that's what I read the most of, and I knew I wouldn't meet my goal if I didn't include them, so I added them all in. Haha. I've been trying to be better about getting away from the secular stuff, though. I won't cut it out completely, but I need to stop consuming so much of it. This week I actually read a nonfiction book by a lady I follow on Instagram: Alisa Childers. I think I found her name through the authors of Mama Bear Apologetics, but I knew nothing about her until I picked up her book. Imagine my surprise when I realized she was a member of the band ZoeGirl - I loved them in high school! Anyway, she's an apologist now, and the book - Live Your Truth and Other Lies was an interesting look at today's cultural mantras and how they only lead to humanism and dissatisfaction. Her premise is reminiscent of the Mama Bear book in that what God created will work best the way he prescribes. His call to die to ourselves, obey him, and abide in him will truly bring us the greatest satisfaction - even when the world insists that we'll be happiest living our own truth and putting ourselves first. It's so much easier said than done, though . . .

2. Today, in an attempt to be less glued to my phone I decided to read an actual physical book from my shelf. I chose Francine Rivers' Lineage of Grace - it's a compilation of 5 novellas she wrote about the 5 women mentioned in Jesus' lineage in Matthew 1. I figured it was timely since Christmas is coming up and the last book in the series is about Mary. I've read them all before, but it's been many years, and one can never go wrong with Francine Rivers. I zipped through the first two (Tamar and Rahab) tonight, and was not disappointed. I was reminded again how much I love Biblical fiction. Rivers does her research, and the women in these stories are not fictional, but of course she takes some reasonable artistic license to flesh out their stories. I love being reminded that they were real women, with real feelings, hopes, and dreams. Most of their stories are heartbreaking and even disturbing (I'm looking at you, Tamar), but stories like theirs were sadly not uncommon in a culture that did not value women - another reason their inclusion in Jesus' recorded lineage is a testament to God's grace, redemption, and love. I cannot recommend these books highly enough. I'm excited to jump into Ruth's story next, since we're starting a series on her at church for the month of December.

3. I was so busy all week. Usually, when the kids are at school I have some downtime to read or nap or stare aimlessly at my phone. But this week, I scheduled every minute they were gone and filled it with shopping and errands and cleaning. . . who knows what else? I have a running to-do list on my phone that I add to as soon as something pops into my head, because otherwise I forget. All throughout my life, I saw my dad with his "note" that he'd put in his pocket every morning. I guess that's what old people did before cell phones, but I realize now why it's necessary. My brain is too full to remember everything I need to do all the time. Haha. 

4. I wasn't very diligent with meals this week. On Monday I made a new recipe called "Marry Me, Chicken." It was fine, but definitely didn't live up to its moniker. I was nice and didn't make Levi eat the mashed potatoes I served it over. The kids all choked down their portion of chicken. Tuesday was pizza. On Wednesday I made frozen beef and cheese filled ravioli with alfredo sauce. Lucy refused to eat it at all and gave up her chance for fast food. Lena begrudgingly forced it down. Levi puked it all up. 🤦🤦🤦 And that was the last time I cooked this week. I can't even. 

5. We started our Advent Activities on Thursday - this is a tradition I started when Lucy was very little, and the kids now come to expect it. It gets harder and harder every year to think up activities that both Lucy (12) and Levi (6) enjoy, but I do my best and whoever chooses to participate gets to participate. This week we did Christmas mad-libs, Levi's Christmas program, and movie night with popcorn and hot chocolate. We branched out and watched The Star this year instead of our traditional Elf. We'll still get a screening in of good ol' Buddy and his quotable quotes before Christmas, though. Never fear. 

Levi is such a boy and answered "poop" or "fart" to every option in the Mad-Libs. Then he laughed hysterically every time the story was read. 

We were watching Nova tonight, so she got to join us for movie night. 

6. The biggest excitement this week was the party Justin and I attended last night. We got the invitation about a month ago to a "Swanky 1920s Christmas" party and I immediately responded in the text thread, "This is my dream come true, and Justin's biggest nightmare." Lol. I have always wanted to attend a theme party, but didn't dare throw one because Justin is not a fan. He didn't deny me the opportunity to attend this one, though, so I've spent the past month scouring thrift stores for outfits and accessories for the both of us. I actually got my dress from Shein because it was only $14 and thrift store prices are very close to that these days. Justin wore a pair of pants he already owns, a plain white button up shirt I got for $1 from the bin store, suspenders we borrowed from my nephew, and a fedora I got from Goodwill for $1.50 I already owned a string of pearls, a beaded headband, white elbow length gloves, and opaque black tights, but in addition to the Shein dress I bought myself a sparkly gold clutch and black pumps from Goodwill, plus a fabulous "fur" shawl (that was actually a pillowcase), and a broach from the Mel Trotter thrift store. And some audacious dark red lipstick from Five Below. We also had to bring a "swanky, 20s-inspired" gift to exchange. I sourced an old cigar box from my dad, bought a box of Whitman's chocolates (because they were founded in the 1850s), grabbed a Hilary Swank dvd from a thrift store (for the Swanky part of Swanky Christmas - get it? ha ha ha), and found a "cocktail smoking kit" for $1 from . . . you guessed it - the bin store! 

The party was scheduled for the same night as the kids' Christmas program at school. But Levi's started at 5, and Lena refused to participate in hers as usual, so we were able to make it to the party on time! Haha. I just quickly threw on my dress and slathered my face in make-up at my parents' when we dropped the kids off. My hair was a fail as usual. I followed a YouTube tutorial exactly, bought special clips to aid the "pin curl" effect, and doused my head in hairspray, but it did not turn out at all. Big surprise. I just ended up tucking it up into my headband so it looked like a bob. This was our final look:

Dark and moody at my parents'.

Better lighting at the party. 

Neither pic shows my dress very well, so you'll just have to trust me that it was beaded and fringe-y and fabulous. Everyone showed up dressed to the nines, and we had such a blast stuffing our faces, exchanging our silly gifts, and enjoying each other's company. Much to Justin's chagrin, this may become an annual tradition. What decade should we embody next? 

7. Just a couple more pictures . . .

One of the discount stores I went to had this sign up. Do you see why it made me shudder?

Treasures found at the bin store. 

The one thing I appreciated about that hair tutorial was this trick: I braided my bottom layer of hair, then pinned it flat against my head, so I had way less hair to curl. Since my hair is so thick/long, it completely covered the braids! And see that perfect curl on the right side of my head? It was flat again minutes after Lena snapped this picture. 

Levi at the Christmas program

"Take our picture!"

Word.