Happy All Hallowed Eve!!

In my house, we don't "celebrate" Halloween." We never have. I didn't celebrate it growing up. It just was not done. Christians didn't celebrate a pagan holiday. Now I see more and more people celebrating this holiday, so I went looking for some history on this holiday.

So, for all of our enlightenment....

From The American Catholic Truth Society:

Origins of Halloween
Originally, before it was a Christian holy day, October 31st was a Celtic celebration wherein the Celts believed their departed family and friends returned to their homes to eat and drink. Being the harvest time, food was more plentiful, and some was left out on this evening for this purpose.

Trick or Treat and Costumes
In England this tradition began on "Mischief Day" where kids would dress like goblins, ghosts, witches, etc. to be scary, then knocking at the doors of their neighbors, they would demand treats, or they'd do some sort or michievious
"trick" on them.


Jack-O-Lanterns
Several English localities participated in "Punky Night" wherein the children would sing in the streets, carrying "punkies" (Halloween lanterns, a carved out gord or small pumpkin with a candle in it). It is believed this custom started with the women of a local community walked to a nearby fair, using the "punkies" to light their way - and their purpose was to go find their drunken husbands and drag them home.

Another story involves "Jack" who liked to drink a lot and also was a wagerer. One night, some say Halloween night, Jack was drinking in the bar, and came close to falling into the hands of the Devil. The Devil sat there with him, and Jack talked him into buying him one more drink in exchange for his soul. The Devil agreed, and turned himself into some coins, enough to buy that one more drink. Jack tricked the Devil, and put the coins in his pocket, where he also had a crucifix. By the power of the crucifix, the Devil could not change himself back - and Jack would not release him until the Devil promised not to try again for Jack's soul for at least ten years. The Devil agreed, and was set free. Ten years later, the Devil, still mad over being tricked the first time, came back after Jack. Jack seeing the Devil thought quickly, and came under an apple tree. Jack asked, if you could just get me an apple, I will go with you. The Devil agreed, climbed into the tree and Jack quickly got out his knife and carved a cross into the tree - and the Devil was stuck in the tree. Jack made the Devil promise to never come for his soul again, or he would not remove the cross from the tree. The Devil, seeing no way out, agreed. Later, Jack died. Due to his sinful lifestyle, heaven refused him - but when he came to hell, the Devil honored his word and also refused him. Jack wondered where he should go, and the Devil sent him back to earth to wander the nights - and to have some light, the Devil gave him an ember from hell and placed it into a turnip to be used as a lantern - and hence Jack and his lantern wander the earth, awaiting the final judgment.

If we think of "Jack" when we see the Jack-O-Lantern, maybe we'll try to live a better life so that we are not turned away at heaven's gate!

How do YOU teach your children about your values?

I've been thinking about this question lately. What methods are the most effective to use to get your values across to your children?

I know that I default to the way I was taught when I am not thinking about how I communicate what I consider most important to my children. I know that it worked to get my parents' values across to me....but my children live in a different era and are exposed to a lot more than I was ever exposed to. I *want* to be more deliberate about how I teach my children, but when I'm tired (most of the time), or rushed (again, most of the time), or just lazy, I don't think through what I am saying to my children.

So all of this got me to thinking about the best way for my children to learn from me, and it reminded me of one of my favorite quotes, "Children rarely misquote you. Rather, they repeat word-for-word what you shouldn't have said."

Children do most of their learning from us when we're not trying to teach them. They learn our bad habits, our irritating mannerisms, and the words we say that we don't want them to say. In other words, they learn by example moreso than lecture.

So, how am I to teach my children the way I want them to live?

I have to live in front of them the life I want them to emulate. I have to be an example.

So, I have to examine my life. How am *I* living? Am I being what I want my children to become? What is my life teaching my children? Am I giving example of a life fully committed to God? Or, am I showing my children how to lazily sit in front of the TV, not being careful of what is in front of my eyes? What does the music I listen to teach my children? Am I teaching my children to gossip? Am I teaching them to care for their bodies by eating good foods and staying in shape?

For a lot of years, I thought that being a parent was going to be easy. And frankly, if I allow myself to default to how I was raised, it *is* easy. BUT, that way does not necessarily produce the results I am looking for in my children. I am starting realize that parenting is hard work...and the hardest part of it is in evaluating myself, and living in such a way that I am being the right example to my children.

So, how do YOU teach your children your values?

Fireproof the movie

Jason and I went to see Fireproof on Saturday night...the ONE chance we had to get away since it came out. Boy am I glad we got to see it! I'm pretty sure this is one movie we'll be buying.




If you get the chance, go see it. At the very least, it will make you think. At best, it could change your life.

(Oh, and that movie? It IS our story. We lived that pain. We were that couple. The whole nine yards...porn addiction, fighting, bitterness, involvement with other people....that WAS us. God changed that. God healed our marriage. THAT is why I am passionate about this subject.)

(And my husband CRIED like a baby...thru the whole movie....well, me, too.)

Drill Here, Drill Now

Aaron Tippin has been performing country music for a few years now...I DO remember when he first made it to the big time Country Music scene. This clip is from Mike Huckabee's show...and even if you don't care for country music, this one is worth a listen. And pay attention to the names of the musicians...VERY cool to see that they're real people with other jobs.

Enjoy!!





Thanks, Mike!!

My week from the camera

The junk food that we *never* have in our house

COMMEMORATING MY CLEAN HOUSE

FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY, FROM LITTLEST GIRL

Because the floor is where everything belongs when you get home from school....

Our Safety Patrol

PUMPKIN PIE/BREAD...YUM!!

SCHOOL PAPERS

(Because we all know 10 more trees needed to die to provide papers to shred in my house)

SHE IS *HIS* CAT

Inside my front door

Outside my front door...bloomed again last week

Blogger give-away alert!!

I was just over at Laney Pottery's site, browsing thru his incredible pottery. There are some really beautiful things on there...things he's made himself. Below, you can see an example of the Apple Bakers he has available...he is doing a give-away of a set of four right now. Go check out his site, and enter the give-away!!

Please visit LaneyPottery.com to see the Pottery Apple Bakers for yourself.

Thursday Thirteen #40

Thirteen MORE Things about OCTOBER 1. We celebrated 16 roller-coaster years of marriage. Yeah, us!! 2. Jason is in the midst of hias second-to-last course for his Master's. 3. Marching band comes to an end. 4. The weather got COOLER...there was snow in Montan, and we weren't there to appreciate it. 5. I started writing for and editting another blog.....not for me. 6. I am starting a facebook group...not for me. 7. I will be a cleaning fiend tomorrow...my husband told me tonight that his men's group will be meeting here tomorrow evening. Thanks, honey. 8. I missed the first of my childrens' parent-teacher conferences...and got lectured by a teacher. 9. I got more FREE bread...enough to last us at least 2 weeks...we LIKE free!! 10. We still want to get out to see Fire Proof (while its still in theaters). 11. We got Oldest Daughter's Job Shadowing lined-up. YEAH! 12. I got a LOT of painful dental work out of the way....and got an appointment for Oldest Son's consultation....YEAH!! 13. God has provided every step of the way, even when I couldn't see how it would work.

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I can't believe it's MONDAY already....

My brain is working 90 miles an hour, working, and preparing for THAT class, the one that's gonna be the death of me. So, last week wasn't SO bad...I was still embarrassed by what I had, but the teachers were kind....and I'm LEARNING...and it's re-awakening the creative juices...which is ALWAYS a good thing!!

The other thing that's gotten my brain going is a project for our church (INCREDIBLE, AWESOME, WONDERFUL church!!), more specifically for the Children's Ministry, doing.....ahhhhhh.....what I WANTED to do....setting up a blog, and a facebook group....THIS is FUN!!! I'm having SO MUCH fun! And this lonely little blog that I have stumbled through learning has assisted in what I'm doing now.

The weekend was good. It was restful. I got to SLEEP IN. I got to enjoy my family. I got to clean my house. A clean house is SO NICE.

How was your weekend?

Inspirational Story

THE BRICK

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown.

The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, 'What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?'

The young boy was apologetic. 'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the brick because no one else would stop...' With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my brother, 'he said 'He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.'

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.'

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay.

'Thank you and may God bless you,' the grateful child told the stranger.

Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home.

It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: 'Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!'

God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.

Wordless Wednesday: Cuteness Overload

For more Wordless Wednesday participants, go to 5 Minutes for Mom

Living and Learning

I LOVE taking my children to church and watching them learn about the Lord. There is just something about living out ministry to other believers that resonates in their little heads and they seem to "get it."

That doesn't mean it's always easy. I've been hearing things about what that little cutie up there has been saying and doing at church on Sunday mornings that DO NOT make me happy with her. We are SO busy setting up before services each week that my children do not always get the attention they need, and they sometimes end up doing and saying things that, while they are not BAD, are not a very good idea....but these would be things that a 4-year-old won't recognize as being a problem.

Because of these issues, we've had to make some changes. We're still going early and helping set up. But, the 4 youngest children no longer have the run of the building during the time that the adults are preoccupied with setting up. They also do not have access to the tea, coffee and donuts.

At this point in my life, I *should* be past being embarrassed by my children....but I got embarrassed by this situation...mainly because I learned about it from someone I respect very much. The FIRST thought that went through my mind was that *her* children would never do that. Yeah, I was embarrassed.

I also realized that I have some things in *my* life that need work. Embarrassing things. Things talked about in that verse in James 3, where he compares the tongue to a fire that can't be tamed. OUCH. Yeah, I'm still learning and (hopefully) growing. So, for now I am biting my tongue...because I'm tired of embarrassing myself and my husband....

So, is there some area in your life you know God is working on?

Headed into the weekend

I have *finally* caught up on my work enough that I don't feel horribly overwhelmed with work for the weekend. As always, the weekend is full...

Jason had two softball games tonight,
Frances played with the marching band for a football game,
tomorrow includes Ladies' Brew Group, with my needing to be there early,
Jon heading to a birthday party of a kid from church,
setup for church on Sunday morning,
two church services,
tear down afterwards,
house cleaning and laundry sometime in there,
and finishing up the last of my work for the week.

In the mean time, I've been catching up with friends from college...figuring out where they are and what they're all doing. It's exciting to see from the approximately 7 years of Bible College and Seminary grads I know that there are a large number overseas in various countries, and in many and varied positions across this country. The most exciting part is the depth of the relationships each has with the Lord, and the various pathways God has led each down. I have friends in Japan, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, Peru, India, and several other countries. I have friends in computer work, film, radio, television, working in Christian schools and public schools and teaching in colleges, working with handicapped children and underpriviledged children, friends who are pastors and pastors' wives, youth ministers, missionaries, music ministers and music teachers. For the last few years, I have felt alone, isolated from people who believed as I do, from people who have the firm foundation in Scriptures we all received in Bible College. Now that I am able to reconnect with these friends, I no longer feel so alone.

So, who have you caught up with this week?

Thursday Thirteen #39

Well, for some reason there are problems on the T13 site, so I can't get the code, or even a header...so....

Thirteen things about October

1. It is FALL...I LOVE fall!
2. October 17th is our anniversary...16 years this year!
3. Marching band season comes to an end!! YIPPEE!!!
4. Pumpkins are on sale...I see pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread in our future!
5. The weather is cooling off...hooray for light-jacket-weather!
6. October 4th was the in-laws' anniversary...congrats Chuck and Penny on 38 years!
7. It is fall...the leaves are changing...SO pretty!!
8. Fall school pictures are coming home...there goes more $$$...
9. FOOTBALL...which means the TV is on ALL THE TIME.
10. It is FALL...I can start making things like chilli and stew again...and people will eat it!
11. It has been one whole year since I quit working at Walmart!! YIPPEE!!
12. It is only 2 months until Christmas!
13. It is FALL....did I mention that I LOVE fall?!?

To see more or to join in, go to the Thursday Thirteen site.

Wordless Wednesday: In Over My Head

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Life is Crazy

Today I'm fighting to stay awake...if I didn't know better, I'd think I was pregnant and suffering through those days of excessive sleepiness.

Frances had a good weekend with the marching band...more 1st place awards, a lost piece of a piccolo, and a lost flute...fortunately the flute was found at the school this morning. AND a VERY late night on Saturday.

Progress reports came home today. Everyone is doing fairly well. At least we have proof that we're doing okay...everyone is still alive, still making it to classes on time, and still doing well in school.

My mouth still hurts. I am having a hard time concentrating...who knew that pain was so distracting?!?

Jon and I start a Media class at church tonight...should be fun...learning about photo editing, sound, lights, running the video camera....Jon's not old enough to run the camera, but I think this will be a good class for both of us!

I ran out to the Farmer's Market this afternoon...I had WIC coupons to use...can't wait to have some sweet potatoes!!! YUM!

So, supper is calling so we can get out the door on time...and homework and practice (the lovely clashing sounds of flute, piccolo and trumpet), plus Jason is home, so the TV is on....

Later, my lovelies....life has left me behind and I have to catch up!!

Thursday Thirteen #38

Thirteen Things about trying to get back in the swing of things. 1. Getting *OUT* of my routine is FAR too easy. 2. Getting *out* of my routine means I get far too little sleep. 3. In order to get back into my routine, I HAVE TO get enough sleep. 4. Because I am not getting enough sleep, I have a hard time concentrating. 5. Difficulty concentrating means I am not getting my work done. 6. Which leads to my staying up WAY too late. 7. All of this leads to my getting further and further behind. 8. So, I am *trying* to start taking care of myself again. 9. I am taking all of my vitamins. 10. I am drinking more water. 11. I am working out and walking regularly. 12. One of these days I'll get back to gettting bed at a decent hour. 13. I am *almost* caught up with my work again...and my house is slowly being dug back out...I will be SO glad when my routine is back how I want it!!

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Quick update

I had a tooth pulled this morning and am not dealing well with it. I'll try to get back on later with my Wordless Wednesday.....

Hope you have a great day!!