dress up

So here are the cuties.......just a few notes to share:  notice the absence of Jonathan.  He screamed bloody murder when I tried to put on a furry "bear suit" that someone loaned us.  OK fine. 

 Then there is "Sarah Palin".  OK - I know just the name makes some cheer and some sick - let's put that aside folks - she did look good (thank you Jeannie for doing the hair!) This was not my favorite picture (can't see how good her hair looked), but it was Madison's so there you are.  She was a real hit.  Everyone wanted their picture with her and she was glowing.  One 10 year old male friend from church was dumbfounded:  "Wow, Madison - you look - wow - so different - so grown up!"  She had a lot of fun.  Of course she doesn't know all the details of the fierce debates going on about "Sarah" - just that she is a vice presidential candidate - and some people agree with her and some don't.  Ok and well, maybe her own mother gets a little bit too riled up about it all.  Aargh.  

Then we have Allison the "fairy".  She just kept saying all night at the festival.  "This is so much more fun than cleaning up the house!"  I have no idea what she is talking about.....no we have never tried cleaning the house as a fun Halloween alternative!  

Finally we have Davy Crockett and his sidekick (friend Amanda).  He was lovin that authentic coon skin cap (sorry animal people) and western rifle (ok - also sorry anti-gun people)!  That boy just LOVES the pioneer characters from history like Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett just to mention a few.  Don't worry we have not skinned any animals and the gun was for the costume!

So that wraps it up.  Fun costumes, lots of candy, and lots of fun. 

Happy Reformation Day!

 For ten years (hubby and I) have discussed/debated the holiday of Halloween.  We have never felt comfortable "celebrating" this tradition but could not come up with a good alternative.  We've tried it all.....trying to run away from the house, turning the lights off and being "grouchy neighbors", handing out candy but not letting our kids dress up, having a special family night ourselves......nothing seemed to be "quite right".  

It was last year that we realized however that there was something of eternal value that could be celebrated on October 31st!  The date was October 31st, 1517.  The place, Wittenberg, Germany.  It was the day Martin Luther tacked up his 95 Thesis on the church doors of Wittenburg.  Luther may not have had plans of leaving the church, or starting a public dispute with the church - he probably never dreamed those 95 points would spawn a revolution of thinking in Germany and across Europe.  It seems Luther simply wanted to express his newly-discovered views of the bible. He wanted to discuss them with other church leaders.  Without Luther's knowledge, someone printed copies of his message on the newly-invented Gutenberg press and distributed them all over Germany.  Within weeks, Luther found that he was the subject of everyone's thoughts.  The chief debate was the matter of salvation - how man could have his sins forgiven and be restored to a right relationship with his Creator-God.  The church taught that people could buy forgiveness for their sins.  Luther and other reformers taught that God alone could grant forgiveness.  The reformers also taught that religion and good deeds could not save people.  They taught that salvation came only through faith in God's Son, Jesus Christ.  "Through faith alone in Christ alone...."(No we didn't just realize there was a Reformation, just that the dates coincided)!  

Anyway - last year we began to teach our kids about the history of the date.  We were all excited but of course the kids were like - hmmm.....interesting, when do we get to dress up?  We are attending a new church now and it has been celebrating Reformation Day all week and ended with a "Reformation Harvest Festival" on the 31st.  While the festival was not Reformation themed - the kids finally got their wish: to dress up.  I would have liked to see a little Reformation theme in the festival - but sure appreciate the hard work of the youth who put the festival on for the kids.  It was not unique to other "alternative" celebrations in function really......but for us the difference this year was what we focused on during the week prior and it was nice to end it with our community of friends and family.  

So for us personally we are relieved that now we have decided on a way we can truly CELEBRATE Oct. 31st.  We hope to add new traditions, neighbors, and more friends in years to come. 

it's been awhile

Well I know it has been a real long time since I have blogged much at all.......why is this?  I have been examining it and thinking it over for some time.  When I started the blog I did it for several reasons:  1) to keep family and friends updated, 2) spend a little time journaling (an outlet for me), 3) and just have some fun.  I personally read all kinds  of blogs - personal, political, some that follow famous people, etc.  I didn't want mine to be negative, divisive, etc.  So I tried to keep it to our family news, some of my thoughts and observations and great pictures of our daily life.  Over the last month or two though I have been pouring over political information - trying to read all I can about candidates, propositions, and the implications of election results, etc.  I have transformed from a complete political illiterate (when I was in my 20's) to someone who is really passionate about most of the issues out there.  

Sooo......I have strongly been resisting the unending urge to blog about the issues at stake in our country this election.  I know that many of you fall on completely different sides of the fence......some the same as I and some different.  I still love you all - please believe me!  But it has been painful and driving me crazy not to blog!  You know me - Miss passionate, give her opinion even when not asked - but I am realizing that I really don't think I would be able to persuade or increase anyone's knowledge.  And I definitely did not want to hurt anyone with not well thought out words.  (Something I struggle with in real life conversations).

Honestly I am really just stumped.   I have a hard time understanding sometimes why people believe the way they do.  I am NOT saying people should just think like me - I am honestly saying I wish I understood the rationale behind their thoughts or where they were coming from.   I am realizing that no matter who is elected Nov. 4 - we are a country divided on what America should be.  That grieves me.  I am grieved mostly for my children.  But.....

The whole political scene has been a real distraction for me away from Kingdom endeavors (Matthew 6:33).  "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. "  As one blog I read said:  "Life is too short and the gospel too important to be carping back and forth in ways that do not persuade or are not increasing knowledge." Hmmm....I have been doing a lot of carping back and forth with various ones, but I have spared you....Oh blog readers!  You can thank me anytime.  

Just know this - I will not stop being passionate about what I believe.  No surprise there probably.  I will not stop trying to be informed.  I will be a nut case until after the decisions have been made Nov.4.....then I will finally rest in the sovereignty of God - and try to put in practice Matthew 6:34.."Therefore do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Maybe then my mind will be clear enough to resume life as usual!

private viewing

Merl's family lives just a few miles from the balloon take-off site.  You can walk right out the door in your pajamas and wave to the balloonists!  Well I was taking pictures in my pajamas.....It is amazing.  Do you see Ryan chasing the balloons there on the ditch bank and then right on Merl's street?!  Fun.  Well - maybe next year the skies will be blue and the wind calm again.

shapes......

These are some of the "special shapes" that you might see each year.  

balloons.......NOT!

Well......we hoped to see the balloons this year - but due to weather the last 2 days of the Fiesta were cancelled.  Not to worry!  Last year was beautiful so I am posting those pictures to remind us of what a great time it was!  These pictures are from the field early one of the mornings we went.

chasing Fall

We are experiencing a taste of fall here - but only a little.  I've kept the windows and doors open for a short while in the mornings - but only a few hours - and it is cooling at night into the 60's and 70s maybe?  Of course we can tell it is fall by the sunlight in the afternoons - and then on Saturdays when I see college football everyone else in the country is wearing sweatshirts!  It is playoff and World Series time for baseball (our family's favorite) - which is also an indicator that fall is here.  After Halloween I think it will be officially cool enough to call it fall.  So the kids and I are leaving Phoenix for New Mexico where fall is actually happening!  The International Balloon Fiesta is happening, trees are changing, and the temperature in the day is below 90 degrees.  We are going primarily so my mom and I can attend my sister in law's 1st baby shower.  We are really thrilled to be going - and then will visit lots of other family very rapidly over the weekend!  Short visit - but worth it.  So tomorrow it is into the car - we'll see how many times Allie asks "when are we getting there?" and how many times we stop for the bathroom.  

The above pictures really are of fall in Arizona - just up North in Payson from a fun trip to a friend's cabin this same weekend a year ago.  (Raspberries, apples, and fall leaves along our hiking trail).  When we get back I'll post more fall pictures from our trip so those of you in Phoenix  can "taste" it too!