It's not even Thanksgiving yet, but Cole and I already bought Christmas presents for a little girl. Who is she? We don't know her, but we do know that through Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child program, a 10-to 14-year-old girl will have a box packed with presents and the hope of Jesus shown to her.

As you see, we packed some fun into our little box. I really hope she likes to draw and write. It was fun searching for things to pack in our box, and it will be even more exiting to see where it goes. We printed a special label so that we can track our box and know it's final location. Then we can pray specifically for her and her location. . . .

Last month, I got to attend the Walk Now for Autism Speaks event in Lincoln, Neb., and take photos for the Lincoln Journal Star. When Cole and I arrived, we were surprised by how many people were there (2,000 total).

Lots of happy children and proud parents were at the event. You can check out the photos on the Community Matters website. . . .

Our jack-o'lanterns have started to wilt, but thankfully pictures do not.

Last week Cole and I both carved pumpkins from his grandparents. (Thanks by the way.) Cole decided to branch out and use a stencil this year. He had never punched the little holes and follow the pattern with his knife. While Darth Maul, some Star Wars character, looks pretty spooky, it took him a fair amount of time to get the frightening look. . . .

On Monday, according to the U.N., the seventh billion person was born. That is big news for earth, a planet that only had one billion people two centuries ago. The population boomed in Asian countries as you would guess, but now sub-Saharan African countries are now the region with the largest growth. . . .

It's that time of the week. And go!

1. What planet's day is exactly twice as long as its year?

2. What was the first jigsaw puzzle a map of - London, the United States or the world?

3. Whose political campaign did the New York Times sum up as "62 Countries and 6 Pantsuits"?

4. What 1960s expression, according to George Carlin, has mellowed into "gender, controlled substances and alternative rock"? . . .