phone_contacts = data['contacts']
contact_list = []
set_of_all_phone_numbers = []

    # pymongo call
    contacts = database_read('contact', {'phone_number' : {'$in' : phone_book}, 'id1' : user_id})

    for con in contacts:
        con.update({ 'status' : 'active' })

        contact_to_send = {
            'id' : con['id2'],
            'phone_number' : con['phone_number']
        }
        contact_list.append(contact_to_send)
        set_of_all_phone_numbers.append(con['phone_number'])


    # get phone numbers taht are not in contacts
    new_contacts = set(phone_contacts) - set(set_of_all_phone_numbers)

    for number in new_contacts:
        new_contact = add_new_contact(number, user)
        contact_to_send = {
            'id' : new_contact['id2'],
            'phone_number' : new_contact['phone_number']
        }
        contact_list.append(contact_to_send)

def add_new_contact(phone_number, user):
    """  adds a new contact to database as a current user's contact """

    # search for user in user collection
    phone_contact_obj = find_user_by_phone_number(phone_number)

    if not phone_contact_obj:
        # creates new user if not presetn
        phone_contact_obj = create(phone_number)

    # writes a contact in contact collection. args are left out on purpose
    contact = database_add_new_contact(args)

    return contact