7 Quick Takes {No. 3}

Happy Friday, everyone! You know what that means - I'm linking up my seven quick takes at Conversion Diary. Thank you for hosting, Jen!

{1}

Happy St. Nicholas Day! I have so enjoyed reading about everyone's different traditions for this feast day. Michael & I celebrated with coffee and donuts this morning, and we will be exchanging small gifts later today. I think it will be especially fun to start traditions once we have children, God-willing!

{2}

{via}

Did you watch the Rockefeller Tree Lighting ceremony this week? The city has been bustling a little bit extra this week with many visitors in town for the holiday season. In 2011, our first Christmas in New York, Michael & I attended the tree lighting. After arriving two hours early, we were smashed in like sardines and still did not have a direct view of the tree (we could see it through a store window). We did not know in advance that Justin Bieber would be performing that evening, and we were surrounded by many squealing girls. It was a memorable experience, to say the least! I don't think I'll ever be able to convince Michael to go with me again - ha! 

I am looking forward to seeing the tree all lit up at some point this season, though. It's beautiful.

{3}

{sisters, sisters - there were never such devoted sisters}
photo credit: a thousand word photography

I just found out my sister is going to be home for Christmas at the same time Michael & I will be home in Ohio this year. This brings me so much joy! My sister lives in San Francisco, so we are on opposite ends of the country and we don't get to see each other too often. What a blessing it will be for my whole family to be together this Christmas season!

{4}

There have been some great posts on NFP (Natural Family Planning) this week on the blogs I read. Did you happen to see this one by Jen or this one by Bonnie? I found them to be insightful and honest, which I so appreciate.

{5}

This seems to have been a week of link-ups for me (this post & here & here). One of my favorite things about blogging so far is connecting with the other bloggers. (Is this your first time here? Please, introduce yourself! I'd love to "meet" you!) Next week, I am hoping to start blogging my love story with Michael. Be sure to stop by again if you want to hear more about the time my apartment was almost broken into on Valentine's Day Eve! 

{6}

"O Come, O Come Emmanuel" is one of my favorite Advent songs. I hope you enjoy this version by Phil Wickham.

{7}

{our first Christmas tree - 2012}

I am really looking forward to putting up the Christmas tree with my husband tonight. We plan to get a live tree this year. We did last year for our first married Christmas, too. Michael has had a particularly busy work week, and I can't wait to enjoy his company this evening!

Hope you have a great weekend!

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