Halloween Musings.........

Depending on what church you grew up in, you may or may not have celebrated Halloween. Maybe it was not a big deal, or maybe it was.

When we were growing up, we did dress up and Trick or Treat, at least up until I was about 5. Then my parents started going to church, and we didn't anymore. Most Halloweens I remember going out to eat so that we avoided having to pass out candy. By the time we got home, most of the ToT was over.

Fast forward several years. Now I have children. And nothing will make you rethink or reevaluate your beliefs or up bringing than trying to decide what you will and won't do with your own kids.

What Gabe and I decided works for us. I see both sides of the 'issue' of Halloween being evil and should not be celebrated to Halloween is no big deal and is a lot of fun. Like most things, there is a middle ground (or at least there can be).

The roots of Halloween are pagan. So is the fact that (most) churches meet on Sundays, the names of the week days, parts of Christmas, and even Groundhog Day. For real. So we can avoid all of those things altogether OR we can "be in the world but not of the world".

My kids dress up. We do not dress up and anything scary or that celebrates evil (like devils or chainsaw killers). We pass out candy. And this year I even made sure it was allergy friendly candy. It's a great chance in our neighborhood to visit with neighbors and enjoy a sense of community. We carve pumpkins, roast pumpkin seeds and hang purple and orange lights around our door.

As with everything, we can choose to focus on the fun and the good. Or we can throw it out altogether and quite possibly instill a proud and a judgmental spirit into our children that we are better Christians/more holy than those who will knock on our door later tonight. Having grown up in a church that did the latter, our family is choosing to focus on the good.

I hope that you understand what I am trying to convey. I don't care if you turn out all your lights and pretend not to be home tonight. I don't care if you show up at my house dressed like a zombie with an ax in your head. I'm asking you to think about the messages we pass on to others and, more importantly, your children.

Whatever you do today, and however you handle Halloween at your house, I hope you enjoy your day :)

Rambling on a Tuesday~

Pardon me while I ramble. I am trying to sort some things out in my own mind.

I am not what I call a 'militant home school' mom. You know the kind- and you might be one, which is totally fine. By 'militant' I mean they have a hardcore conviction to only and ever home school. They are opposed to public school, and even Christian/private school. They dislike other people having that much 'sway' over their children, or they have a Bible verse they claim as their foundation to teach their children. Again, nothing wrong with that.

But that's not me.

I even said I would never home school. I started homeschooling Jadyn (my oldest) in Kindergarten. She had been going to a nice Christian preschool and I had really wanted to keep her there at least another year or two. Bringing her home was a financial decision, and I was suddenly excited about being her mom AND teacher. I was only going to teach her for a year, then put her back in school. But then after one year, I decided to teach her one more. Now we are in second grade. And Ava (my second) has such anxiety issues, homeschooling was pretty much a no brainer after her brief and (in her mind) terrible half day preschool experience. So I am teaching 2nd grade, Kindergarten and preschool.

So here is my current issue: I guess because I am not a 'militant home school mom', I am like a child undertaking a chore, constantly hoping to be done. Trying like mad to do a fantastic job~ I constantly think, "If she goes to school next year she will need to *fill in the blank*." (work without me standing over her, write neater, etc)

I constantly think "I'm done. No more." Then we'll have a great day, and I'll feel renewed. I feel guilt for wanting to quit. I feel fear when I imagine her in a 3rd grade room, overwhelmed, on the first day. But then, she might love it; she might thrive; it might be right up her little social ally.

I feel selfish wanting freedom. Either way I lean, I feel guilt.

Which is completely stupid, I know. I don't think less of my friends who send their kids to school. I don't think more of my friends who home school.

The bottom line is: I need to do what's best for our family. And that's hard to pick when I don't have a solid 'conviction' one way or the other. I have to try and keep any possible selfish feelings and motives out of the way, and THAT is crazy hard to do.

Hence, my constant head-beating-against-a-brick-wall. And rambling blog. And more prayer.

I have no witty title today~

Friends of mine are going on a mission trip to Latvia. (Two of the men going are the same ones that 'found' Ksenija for us.) This trip, a few others will be going as well, but they will be doing much the same as they did last year~ visiting orphanages and loving on the kiddos.

The economy in Lativa is tough and orpahanges are on tight budgets that grow tighter by the year. My friends are trying to gather supplies to take to the several orpahanges they will visit. Practical things, like bandaids and socks, asprine and lice treatments.

My friends leave on the 9th, so the time is getting close! I would love for them to have a small pharmacy of supplies to take!

They are asking for:

-socks: boys and girls ages 3 to 18
-underwear in same as above
-lice treatments and metal combs: expensive in Latvia which results in just shaving heads bald in most cases
...-aspirin, ibuprofen, children’s cold medicines, vitamins, bandaids, etc.
-croc sandals: harder to pack but the need is there
-crafting packs: easy to pack items for kids from Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, etc.
-boys pants: gently used will work as well
-MP3 players: used is fine. Cheap is fine. We are trying to get some Christian music loaded on MP3 players for the kids to listen to.

The link for the Helf's blog is HERE HERE HERE! You can read updates from the trip or use their Paypal button (top right hand side of the blog) to donate money for the supplies if you would rather help that way.

I realize times are tight, but if it was your child/children that needed these things, I bet you'd find a way. I know I would.

"For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me." They also will answer, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?" He will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.''

Matthew 25:42-45

Because who wants a 'normal' day?

Being a parent stretches you. There are days of sick children and no sleep. There are trips to the ER. There are 400 questions a day to answer and arguments to field and then finally, you utter the phrase you swore would never pass your lips: Because. I. Said. So.

Our cat has gone into heat. And it obvious. And all 3 girls are asking a billion questions each and half of what I say gets met with, "But why?" My tired brain struggles to explain why our cat is now acting possessed.

"Please make sure Ziggy (the 'hot cat') doesn't get out. We need to lock her in our bathroom while we bring in all the groceries."

Kids: "Why can't she get out?"

"Because she really wants to find a boyfriend and she isn't allowed."

Kids: "Why? Can't she have a boyfriend?"

"She really wants the boyfriend to help her get kittens in her tummy."

Kids: "How does the boyfriend help her have kittens in her belly?"

"Look! A unicorn! Who wants lunch? What time do you think Dad will get home? Wanna ride your bikes? Let's have ice cream!"

**later**

Kids: "Why is she making that noise? It sounds like she's crying."

"She's calling a boyfriend. If a boy cat hears that sound, he will want to come over and, uh, visit."

Kids: "How will she know it's her boyfriend? Will he tell her?"

"Um, I guess the first boy cat that shows up would be her boyfriend."

Kids: "Wow. They will fall in love that fast?!"

"Yes. Cats are special that way."

Kids: "How will they know they are in love?"

"Ummmmmm......"

Oldest Kid: "They know they're in love when little cute hearts are flying all around and their eyeballs will turn into hearts when they look at each other."

(I roll my eyes and think to myself that Jadyn has seen too many Tom and Jerry cartoons.)

Youngest Kid: "Mom, she sounds like she really really wants a boyfriend. Can't she have one? Please?"

"Over my dead body."

Currently, Ziggy is still 'calling'. Middle child is trying to imitate sound. Youngest announces every time Ziggy makes the noise, as if we can't hear it. Oldest looks out the window to see if boy cat can hear her thru the windows.

This will be a long few days.