Christians and Halloween

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friend of mine that lives in another state, talked to me about a decision she and her husband have to make regarding celebrating halloween – in their church. I am shocked this year to see so many signs up at churches, especially with the "trick or trunk" enticements.  Yet, I know when we had our first five children, we participated, until we learned how Halloween, October 31st is a prime recruiting time for witches and Satanists . . . and a time for interested kids to experiment.  Maybe at a church setting no one will come dressed as a witch or an evil demon, but is it a step in the door towards being drawn into the occult?  There are so many lures available for our children, shouldn’t this be a strong stand we take to stay away from ALL appearances of evil?

But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. I Thessalonians 5:21, 22

Halloween is a real, sacred day for those who follow Wicca. In fact, it is one of two high and holy days for them. The Celtic belief of spirits being released is current, along with the worship of Samhain (the lord of death) – both are promoted as something to embrace on that day. Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

Scary masks were worn by the Celts to scare away evil spirits. The jack-o-lantern was used for the same purpose, although a turnip was originally used. Even the orange and black colors of Halloween have a pagan origin. At the Druid Festival for Samhain, huge bon fires were used for offering sacrifices. So the colors of the night were orange flames glowing in the dark. Trick-or-treating might have found it’s origin in the custom of peasants going house to house begging for money to purchase necessities for a feast.  Christians and Halloween

I would like to encourage my Christian readers, even as I post this on this day, to pray, pray, pray, for protection around our families and consider how this can be a prayer filled spiritual warfare battle day.  Pray for the churches that are letting this enter into their doors.  There are those in the occult praying for our children and Christians.  Who do we want to win this battle?

In Other Words – Our Gifts

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s I write for this week’s quote, I have on my wrist a yarn bracelet, tenderly taped together, just given to me as a special gift from my five year old.    She was so delighted when she put it on my wrist.  "Does it fit mama?"  Perfectly!  I have other pretty treasures in my jewelry box, that most would thow away, but are my precious keepsakes.

As I think about this quote, in relating this to my children, we do not need a perfect artistic drawing from them, or an A+ math test, but we want their best.  As God’s children, isn’t that what He wants from us?  What does He expect us to give Him?

Present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1, 2

Our gift of worship to Him, presenting our bodies, His temple, as a living sacrifice – our gift to Him.  Perfect?  No, but by renewing our minds by being in His Word, having fellowship with His people, we continue to strive towards this goal.

In thinking of our gifts to Him, this song comes to mind also:

What can I give Him
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man
I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him-
Give my heart.
Christina Rossetti

What gift can I give Him?  More time for Him?  More sharing about Him?  More praising and thanking Him?  More of me.

This writing is in participation with Christian Women On-Line and the weekly In Other Words . . ."  Click the graphic to read other women’s interpretations of this quote.

My Favorite Craft

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have shared a lot of different crafts here, but today I thought I’d share one I love to do, and that is making cards, using the dry emboss technique.  I mainly use brass stencils from Lasing Impressions.  You can read how to do it here.  Here are a couple of cards I made this weekend.  I can do it sitting in the recliner, and hardly moving!  Now I have to come up with some baby boy card ideas! 

More Celebrations!

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wo birthdays in three days!  It’s a blessing to celebrate lives.  Yesterday was our third oldest son, Jayson’s 17th birthday.  He’s our boy that wants to be a police officer, and is taking the police reserves classes.  He’s now older than Matthew. That kind of put a lump in both DH’s and my throats.  Yet, I am thankful for life that keeps going on, and more reasons to celebrate.

We had a busy day and celebrated both boys’ birthdays.  They had five of their friends over – five additional teen boys!  The younger boys played the new Yahtzee Turbo Game.  They have absolutely loved this game.  The older boys did some skeet shooting.  I think they shot close to 180 clay pigeons!  We had dinner first, and needless to say, there were no leftovers!  (That is over five pounds of potatoes, 3 pounds of asparagus, and a 7 lb. ham roast!)

This was really the first birthday celebration outside the family for the past two years, and the boys really enjoyed it, and thanked us numerous times for it.  I am thankful for their good, Christian friends, who have stayed close to them.  It was fun too that during the evening service, the song leader suddenly lead into "happy birthday" for Jayson.  I am thankful for the joy that is coming in the morning, and lasting all day long – especially for the kids. 

It’s Time to FALL BACK!

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on’t forget! It’s fall!  Time to FALL BACK!  Sunday, at 2 a.m. is when the clocks are to be set back one hour.  This is the last year for the time change in October.  Beginning in 2007, most of the U.S. will begin Daylight Saving Time at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday in March and revert to standard time on the first Sunday in November.

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt: SAFE

Grab the Scavenger Hunt code

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Photo Theme: SAFE
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I’ve not participated in the photo hunt the last month with being so sick
with this pregnancy.  This past week was a "little" better.

Kitty "safe" in a pocket!

 

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be sure to leave a note below!

Next week’s theme:  WINDOW(S)

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National Contest for Adults & Young Writers

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esterday ClubMom Blogger, K , wrote about a novel writing contest on her blog, The Life & Times of this New Mommy. November is National Writing Novel Month and the goal is to get people to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November.  You can read all the basics of this contest here.

BUT, this is not what interested me.  There is also a Young Writers Program for 12 and under writers , and yes, even homeschoolers can participate.  If you don’t homeschool, you can let your child’s teacher know about it.  The child does not have to write 50,000 words to participate, but you pick a word goal.  This can also be done as a family/classroom activity, writing a novel together.  If you decide to go this route, unless all the children are under age 12, sign-up would need to be for the 50,000 word goal. 

What an opportunity this is for homeschoolers to show their quality education and for families to be able to participate in this. For faith-based educators and families, again, what an opportunity! This contest began in 1999 with 21 participants and increased each year since.  Last year there were 59,000 participants!  Now, how well can we inspire our children? !? !? !

National Contest for Adults & Young Writers

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esterday ClubMom Blogger, K , wrote about a novel writing contest on her blog, The Life & Times of this New Mommy. November is National Writing Novel Month and the goal is to get people to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November.  You can read all the basics of this contest here.

BUT, this is not what interested me.  There is also a Young Writers Program for 12 and under writers , and yes, even homeschoolers can participate.  If you don’t homeschool, you can let your child’s teacher know about it.  The child does not have to write 50,000 words to participate, but you pick a word goal.  This can also be done as a family/classroom activity, writing a novel together.  If you decide to go this route, unless all the children are under age 12, sign-up would need to be for the 50,000 word goal. 

What an opportunity this is for homeschoolers to show their quality education and for families to be able to participate in this. For faith-based educators and families, again, what an opportunity! This contest began in 1999 with 21 participants and increased each year since.  Last year there were 59,000 participants!  Now, how well can we inspire our children? !? !? !

Now the Mother of 5 Teens

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am once again the mother of 5 teenagers. Yes, I have gray hairs (actually, they are pure white – but I am still pulling them out!)  My "baby boy" turns thirteen today.  Seems impossible.  I remember his birth very well.  He was our first one born to us after we moved to the country.  We had him at a little country hospital, and the 24 hours I was in the hospital, no one else was in the maternity ward.  It was quite nice.  He kept going breach, and the doctor was able to turn him, but he was stubborn, and would somersault back.  So, we arranged that the doc would spin him around again, and then put me into labor.  It was a fairly easy labor, and what we were planning to be a girl after several ultrasounds, turned out to be a delightful boy! 

He is quite a lovable boy – not too shy or too big to give his mom hugs and kisses often.  He plays well with his siblings and spoils his little sisters.  He is caught in the middle with two sisters older than him, and 4 younger than him.  He is my son too that causes my heart to hurt the most for, for all he has gone through, with being barely four years old when his sister was born with heart problems and our being gone so often for doctor visits the first year, then a 10 week stay in ICU and then he was the one who found his brother.  Though we all miss Matthew so much, I think he is the one that misses him the most, from his golfing partner to searching through the fields for golf balls.  He still has sleeping problems and yet, tries to be strong.  I am thankful he is not showing bitterness, and has a cheeriness about him that is contagious.  God can use him in a mighty way.

Though it is his birthday today, and we gave him gifts and lots of attention, he has been sick, which is quite the bummer.  He went on a hayride yesterday and both he and his brother ate some sausage that seemed to make them both sick, and he still has a headache today.  He has been laying down a good portion of the day.  He’s having friends over on the weekend, so he does have more "celebration days."

So if you have read through the end of this post, please pray for our "baby boy".  And, we will also let you in on a little secret . . . he will only be the "baby boy" until March!  Did you catch that !? !? !

The Scoop on the Poop!

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hile sitting in the OB’s office the other day, I read again on these gDiapers.  I mentioned previously that we are making diapers, but I thought this looked like an additional option. 

The gDiaper system consists of brightly colored ‘little g’ pants, a snap-in reusable liner and a flushable inner refill that gets swished with a swishstick to break-up it up and then down the toilet it goes.   Both the ‘little g’ pants and the snap-in liners are easily laundered in the washing machine when soiled. 

The flushables refill is made from tree farmed fluff pulp which comes from cellulose in trees that is dried in a specific way to make the fibers more absorbent.  It is 100% biodegradable, with no chlorine or perfume.  And the wet refills (NOT poopy ones) can even be  garden composted in approximately 50 – 150 days. 

In pricing these, these do seem to cost more than disposables.  I like the idea that these do not have the chlorine or perfume in it.  I do not like the gel that comes out of disposables is on my baby’s bottom.  I imagine this would be an option to consider if could not do cloth diapers. 

BabyGadget.Net also wrote on these diapers, and there are various replies to their post you might want to read before buying.

I am not sure on these.  What do you think?  Have any of you tried them or something similar?