diff --git a/foodie_config.py b/foodie_config.py
index efa4ab4..a9e471b 100644
--- a/foodie_config.py
+++ b/foodie_config.py
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
 import os
 
+ENGAGEMENT_REFERENCE_DATE_FILE = "/home/shane/foodie_automator/engagement_reference_date.json"
+
 load_dotenv()
 OPENAI_API_KEY = os.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY")
 PIXABAY_API_KEY = os.getenv("PIXABAY_API_KEY")
diff --git a/foodie_engagement_tweet.py b/foodie_engagement_tweet.py
index f8c4235..6360e30 100644
--- a/foodie_engagement_tweet.py
+++ b/foodie_engagement_tweet.py
@@ -6,16 +6,16 @@ import signal
 import sys
 import fcntl
 import os
-from foodie_config import ENGAGEMENT_REFERENCE_DATE_FILE
-REFERENCE_DATE_FILE = ENGAGEMENT_REFERENCE_DATE_FILE
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
 from openai import OpenAI
 from foodie_utils import post_tweet, AUTHORS, SUMMARY_MODEL, load_post_counts, save_post_counts
 from foodie_config import X_API_CREDENTIALS, AUTHOR_BACKGROUNDS_FILE
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
+from foodie_config import ENGAGEMENT_REFERENCE_DATE_FILE
 
 load_dotenv()
 
+REFERENCE_DATE_FILE = ENGAGEMENT_REFERENCE_DATE_FILE
 LOCK_FILE = "/home/shane/foodie_automator/locks/foodie_engagement_tweet.lock"
 LOG_FILE = "/home/shane/foodie_automator/logs/foodie_engagement_tweet.log"
 REFERENCE_DATE_FILE = "/home/shane/foodie_automator/engagement_reference_date.json"
diff --git a/foodie_utils.py b/foodie_utils.py
index 5aa211f..3042632 100644
--- a/foodie_utils.py
+++ b/foodie_utils.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ def load_json_file(file_path, expiration_hours=None):
                     if not line:
                         continue
                     try:
-                        entry = json.loads(line)
+                        entry = json.loads(line.strip())
                         data.append(entry)
                     except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
                         logging.warning(f"Skipping invalid JSON line in {file_path} at line {line_number}: {e}")
@@ -81,13 +81,14 @@ def load_json_file(file_path, expiration_hours=None):
 
         logging.info(f"Loaded {len(valid_entries)} entries from {file_path}, {len(valid_entries)} valid after expiration check")
         return valid_entries
+
     except Exception as e:
         logging.error(f"Failed to load JSON file {file_path}: {e}")
         return []
 
 def save_json_file(file_path, title, timestamp):
     try:
-        entries = load_json_file(file_path, 24 if "posted_" in file_path else 7 * 24)  # 24 hours for titles, 7 days for images
+        entries = load_json_file(file_path, 24 if "posted_" in file_path else 7 * 24)
         entry = {"title": title, "timestamp": timestamp}
         entries.append(entry)
         
@@ -96,9 +97,15 @@ def save_json_file(file_path, title, timestamp):
         cutoff = datetime.now(timezone.utc) - timedelta(hours=expiration_hours)
         pruned_entries = [e for e in entries if datetime.fromisoformat(e["timestamp"]) > cutoff]
         
+        # Write as a JSON list with each entry on a new line
         with open(file_path, 'w') as f:
-            for entry in pruned_entries:
-                f.write(json.dumps(entry) + '\n')
+            f.write('[\n')
+            for i, entry in enumerate(pruned_entries):
+                f.write('  ' + json.dumps(entry))
+                if i < len(pruned_entries) - 1:
+                    f.write(',')
+                f.write('\n')
+            f.write(']')
         
         logging.info(f"Saved '{title}' to {file_path}")
         logging.info(f"Pruned {file_path} to {len(pruned_entries)} entries (older than {expiration_hours//24} days removed)")