Gearing up for cookie baking and finding a community online

1. What is something in your life right now that feels a little 'hodgepodge'?
Scheduling everything has been a lot more stressful this year, since we've been travelling so much these last few months. I'm glad to be back home, for the entire month of December, and most of January. Of course, Tom did book a trip for late January... (but that isn't a surprise really, is it?)

2. What does 'peace on earth, goodwill to men' mean to you?

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14

This was the proclamation to the shepherds that they were to travel to see the newborn king. The first statement- Glory to God in the highest- is oftentimes skipped over. Decorations and songs only reference the peace and goodwill, and act as though it's something humans possess, the ability to be 'better people' during the month of December. The gift of our savior being born to save us from our sins, what a blessing we don't deserve. And, it's all for his glory, not our own.

3. Which edible treat are you most looking forward to sampling this December?
My mother's monster cookies, which are a holiday tradition. I posted the recipe in October, and last time I made it I got 50 dozen from it, making it the perfect cookie to make in bulk and gift to coworkers, church friends and neighbors.

4. It's that most wonderful time of the year...do you agree, and if so why is it so wonderful?  If not, when is the most wonderful time of the year?
Wonderful? I suppose you could say that, when we drove to visit my mother for Thanksgiving, I was in awe of the beauty of the snowfall. Who doesn't love the first snowfall (that is, before the snowplows come out to play)?

5. What was the last word you looked up in a dictionary (actual or online)?
Bae. Who came up with this? And it sounds like someone forgot a syllable or two when it's spoken. Well, you can thank Pharrell for this one.

6. Besides a Christmas tree, what is your favorite thing to decorate this time of year?
I made our own advent calendar this year, and a post will be up soon about it.

7. Share one thing you've learned (about yourself, people, or anything at all) in the Wednesday Hodgepodge, or through blogging in general. 
I love the Hodgepodge community. Not everyone who participates is a Christian woman, but it's nice to have an audience that appreciates hymns, verses and the 'less-popular' ideas that I find hard to write an entire post about. But, that's not to say I haven't delved into Christian holidays. Namely, these preparing for Holy Week and Easter posts. And you'll see a recap of the events leading up to Christmas, like I did with the Holy Week post.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
I believe I may have miscarried? I hate saying that, but I have an appointment today and again Monday to find out. If we did miscarry, I would need to be put on Lovenox before conceiving, since I didn't make it to 4 weeks this time, when I made it to around 7 the last two. I know what a miscarriage feels like, and this was a somewhat 'easier' version of that. Pray for us, this was too early to get a positive, but it is still important. Not just because it was a baby, but because we need to know what to do in terms of the Lupus APS showing up with each pregnancy.

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