Update

Wow! I thought I'd be much better at keeping this updated, but apparently not. Oh well. Here's the run down of what I've completed since my last update:

**We got our refund from buying our house. One of the things that we did with the money was pay off one of our credit cards. This is the credit card that we used when we first got married. We are down to only one credit card now, and it feels great!

**I've made a lot of new recipes since moving to the house, but I'm only counting meals (no deserts!). So, I made a stuffed pumpkin for our housewarming party. I got the recipe from one of my mom's magazines and it was a hit! I will definitely save the recipe and use it again in the fall.

**I have not had as much time to read as usual, but I've finished a couple books since my last post. I read Only Emma and Everything on a Waffle. Both are from my classroom library. Only Emma was okay, but I really enjoyed Everything on a Waffle. I might even read it aloud to my class this year. As far as adult books go, I've read The Wedding Season (it was okay, but I totally hated the ending), Look Me in the Eye (pretty good and it really helped me understand children with asperger's a little bit more), My Most Excellent Year (very good), and Sarah's Song (it was okay, but very cheesy).

**Brad and I chose two children from the "Stars of Hope" program at church. We went to Target right away and bought the presents. Both were little boys. It was so much fun picking out clothes and toys for the boys!

**I sent a card to our friend, Hannah, from small group. She's had a difficult year and I was just thinking about her and wanted her to know. I also sent a card to my best friend from high school, Melissa. Mel and I don't talk much anymore, but I still consider her one of my best friends. Whenever we get together it's like we were never apart, we pick up right where we left off. It's so comfortable with her, and I love that.

**I contacted an old friend that I've lost touch with. My friend from high school, Jessica. We used to be really good friends, but through high school and after we just kind of lost touch. Her husband is serving in Iraq and I texted her one day when Brad was working in Springfield because I thought we'd both be husband-less for the night. It was so nice hanging out with her again. It really made me realize how much I cherish her friendship. She has grown so much, and I really feel like I can learn a lot from her. Just talking with her was very challenging and inspiring. I'm so glad that I texted her!