Happy Halloween!

Today will be a great day! Minus the spiders (why, of all creatures, did spiders have to be a main feature of this otherwise fantastic candy filled holiday?) Halloween has always been a fantastic celebration and full of happy memories. A few favorite things:

1. Dad's Birthday. "He would be born on Halloween", is usually the response I get when I tell people. It's true, too. Who better to be born than my dad on a day that celebrates characters, tricks, treats, laughter, and candy? No one, that's who.

2. Candy. 

3. Did I mention candy?

4. Pumpkin Carving. My brother in law takes the cake on this one - he is a brilliant pumpkin carver. Like a true artist, he is never satisfied with his work, but we all stand around "oohing" and "ahhing" over each year's new creation. This year he made one pumpkin with his kids' hands/feet as the face. It was brilliant! The other, was a beautiful carving of "Singing in the Rain", complete with a street lamp and umbrella. Again, gorgeous.

5. Cute kids in costumes. Grayson is Tigger this year, and growls for candy. It doesn't get much better than that! Brooklyn is a beautiful winter Belle, and curtsies while saying "Merci!". And Madi, when in Jaime's carrier, becomes a little popcorn baggie. So awesome! Props to Jaime for her creativity and craftiness on that one as well.

All in all, Halloween is a fun, whimsical, candy-filled day with lots of laughter and love. Plus, it is the unofficial kick-off to the holiday season. From here we speed right into Thanksgiving, then it's just a few short weeks to Christmas and New Years!

Happy Halloween!

O, Holy Night!

The Christmas Eve service at Church was splendid. The message was meaningful, but not overdone. Our worship was full of joy and celebration, which is absolutely what Christmas is and should be! And, new meaning was brought to the song "O, Holy Night" for me. It was quite stunning. The whole family was able to be there, with lots of visiting with friends afterward. It's fun seeing how much this church has become a community for those I love most.

On a less delightful note, during the candle lighting ceremony (which was serene and beautiful) I accidentally lit my candle holder on fire. I noticed a brighter light where my candle was from the corner of my eye, and looked down to a pretty hefty flame. I did my best to be discreet and blow it out, but the paper started falling, so I had to stamp some out with my foot. It didn't quite add the moment like one would have hoped! To make matters worse, my niece, who was recently coming out of a long time fear relationship with fire, was eye to eye with the flames and looked absolutely horrified. She was really starting to get over that fear....*sigh*....

All in all though, I'm grateful for this evening and all that we were able to experience together!

Merry Christmas!