5 Quick Things #345 🕯️

a wiser phone, Christmas trees, reading Dickens, & hope > optimism

Hey there,

Happy day after Thanksgiving! I’m currently writing this from Oregon, where we’ve been with family all week. I’ve been enjoying chilly Pacific Northwest walks, hot Pacific Northwest coffee, crunching some snow under my feet, and all my kids under one roof (even if it’s not my own roof)… We’re here for a few more days and I’m sure you’ve got a full plate as well, so I’ll keep this short.

This is a slightly different 5QT, simply because it’s that time of year… You’ll see what I mean. Onward!

Christmas Tree Bargain (1918), by Boris Kustodiev #

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5 Quick Things ☕️

1. New episode of A Drink With a Friend! I’m chatting again with Faith Moore, author of Christmas Karol and podcaster of Storytime for Grownups, about holiday traditions, kicking off Christmas, and ways to make reading A Christmas Carol accessible. She’s got a new series to read alongside with you this Advent — I love this idea.

2. I’ve officially released my 2024 Holiday Gift Guide! I like keeping them simple and this year’s is no exception: the theme is either stuff I already love and recommend or are things on our family’s own wish lists. A few quick details to highlight…

3. This weekend (from today, November 29 through Sunday, December 1) you’ll get $250 off per person when you register for our 2025 summer pilgrimage along the Rhine River. There won’t be another discount offered before the trip, so this is the best time to register if you’ve been meaning to! I’d love to have you with us as we visit historic sites like Cologne Cathedral, the storybook village of Strasbourg, the Swiss Alps, and more.

4. Our teens have the Wisephone II — it’s a distraction-free phone that includes maps, audio (like music), group texting, and other hyper-vetted apps, and …not much else. In a great way. Right now, you can get $50 off a Wisephone IIs using my particular link with the code TSH. It’s a great phone choice for adolescents who want to stay connected with others and use distraction-free apps, but without any internet and other dangers or addictions.

5. And finally — photo books really do make good go-to gift for friends and relatives (especially grandparents), but if you’re like me, they’re kind-of a pain to design. I think Chatbooks makes the simplest photo books, especially their monthly mini book versions, and right now all their books and subscriptions are 20% off with the code MERRYNBRITE.

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Currently Reading, Watching, Listening 📚

Mr. Dickens & His Carol, by Samantha Silva

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Quotable 💬

“Optimism and hope are radically different attitudes. Optimism is the expectation that things—the weather, human relationship, the economy, the political situation, and so on—will get better. Hope is trust that God will fulfill God’s promises to us in a way that leads us to true freedom. The optimist speaks about concrete changes for the future. The person of hope lives in the moment with the knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands.”

― Henri Nouwen

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Advent starts this Sunday, December 1 🕯️

I won’t belabor the topic because I’ve already written about it: here’s your 101 primer on the liturgical season, whether this is your first time recognizing Advent or you’re an old pro.

And here’s my simple, open-and-go devotional to lead you through the season. Yes, it begins this Sunday, but if you’re not ready, don’t let that stop you. Join in at any time! You’re not too late.

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What's the best food on the Thanksgiving table? 🍽️

Yeah, I’ve been eating carnivore for several months now, but I completely agree — stuffing is the best. As well as sweet potatoes, though no marshmallows for me, please and thank you. And yes to the cranberries, but not the canned stuff — the slow-simmered sauce with orange peel and just a hit of cinnamon is *chef’s kiss*.

• Stuffing/dressing: 40%

• Sweet potatoes/yams: 15%

• Some other side: 13.4%

• Turkey: 10%

• Cranberries/cranberry sauce: 9%

• Bread: 6.5%

• Green beans: 3.3%

• Some other meat: 1.7%

Find next week’s poll here.

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Quick Links 🔗

• 📐Create your own Rule of Life

• 🎧 Listen to A Drink With a Friend

• 📖 Read my books

• 🛶 Join me along the Rhine River: Summer 2025!

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Question(s) For You to Ponder… 🤔

What is your honest hope for this Advent season?

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Have a great weekend,

- Tsh

p.s. - They found each other.