Christians and Halloween?

Today is Halloween--the holiday during which Christian families fall into one of two categories: the ones who celebrate/participate, and the ones who don't. Growing up in a Christian household, we never celebrated Halloween. Ever. I never dressed up in a Halloween costume, never decorated my house with cotton cobwebs, and I've never in my life gone trick-or-treating. For the most part, we ignored the holiday altogether. And, as a kid, I hated it. It seemed that all of my friends (even in a Christian school!) got to pick out costumes, parade through their neighborhoods, and arrive home with a pillowcase full of candy. I mean, really, what kid wouldn't want that? I always knew that I would definitely celebrate Halloween when I had my own kids!

When I got older, I moved out of my parents' house, and I did participate in the festivities! Throughout college, I dressed up in my very first Halloween costumes, carved pumpkins with my roommates, and passed out candy to local trick-or-treaters. It was fun, although I always felt the teensiest little guilt complex about the whole thing.

After Eric and I got married, we celebrated Halloween to the extent that we bought about 20 bags of candy and passed it all out to the millions of trick-or-treaters who visited our neighborhood. Halloween was/is the day before our anniversary, so we never put much effort into it because we usually had better plans for the rest of the week. Eventually, we bought our current home, and since it sits at the end of a quiet, dead-end street (positioned on the side of a mountain), we haven't had much of an opportunity to worry about whether or not to pass out candy to trick-or-treaters because there are none. Still, I figured that our future children would be darling in their Halloween costumes!

Then, we had kids. Nathaniel's first Halloween rolled around when he was only three months old. I asked Eric if he wanted to dress up our baby, and surprisingly, he was the one who declined. Although he'd always celebrated as a kid, he said that he didn't like the "scariness" of Halloween, nor did he want our kid(s) visiting strangers' houses for candy. Since I still had that nagging guilt about celebrating myself, this was the single reason I needed to decide that I definitely did not want to celebrate Halloween with our kids. Halloween is bad! ....right?

This is our third Halloween since having kids, and we've never celebrated it in any way. Every year, strangers, friends, and family members ask what they boys are going to be for Halloween, and we gently share that we won't be celebrating. The most common response is a look of horror like we've revealed some gross child abuse, and a "Why not?!" Our answers vary a bit, depending on the asker--usually citing reasons of too much "scare" or too much sugar. They usually nod and move on, noting us as one of "those crazy Christian-types", I'm sure.

Despite the "Halloween guilt" that I felt when I celebrated, I still can't quite forget about Halloween now. We have not celebrated it, but every year I've imagined our boys in one of those super cute costumes. I mean, is there anything cuter than a baby turkey or a baby lion? And, the baby lobster?! C'mon, baby costumes=greatest invention ever!

Honestly, I've wanted to dress up my kids in Halloween costumes since...well, before they were ever born! And, as of yet, I have not because A) I have no particular place to take my costumed babies, and therefore, no reason to spend the time/money; and B) I've always believed that Halloween is wrong. (Right?)

This year, October began as usual, and I made a mental note that we needed to be careful where we took the boys inside particular stores. Why? Because I have a very observant three-year-old now who will want to know all about the Halloween displays and costumes and decorations....and Halloween is scary. There are lots of creepy, screamy, ghostly decorations, and my aforementioned three-year-old is already afraid of the dark and nervous around unfamiliar people/things. Exposing him to anything that might warrant nightmares later is the last thing that I want to do--and, for me, that means skipping the majority of the Halloween stuff. But, I realize that this is probably the last year that we can just ignore Halloween. Someday, they will notice the costumes and the candy, and they will want to participate with their friends. I remember that feeling well, and it isn't fun. I don't want my boys to ever feel "left out" because of their beliefs--unless, of course, they're being left out of something wrong. But, is Halloween really wrong? I have lots of Christian friends who celebrate!

The more I thought about Halloween, the more I wondered why not just celebrate? Why not skip the creepies, and do it up the way we want to? Cute costumes, carved pumpkins, and artificial dye/GMO-free candies! Why not skip the "bad" parts of Halloween, and simply celebrate the fun parts? Isn't that what lots of Christians do? Why then do I feel so guilty for considering it?!

Well, I thought about it for a long time. Several days worth of thought, prayer, online research, and scripture readings later, I've come to a conclusion. For now, we will not be celebrating Halloween. (Noticed the "for now", did ya?) When the boys are old enough to notice the holiday and desire to participate (most likely next year!), we will celebrate--although not necessarily in the traditional manner.

Here's what I mean...
Halloween, which began as a pagan celebration, has historical roots in the occult. Not cool.
"There shall not be found among you anyone...who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord."
Deuteronomy 18:10-13
Now, I know that Halloween isn't a day full of witchcraft for most people, and it's simply turned into an innocent cultural norm. (Andplusalso, Christmas trees and Easter eggs originated from pagan holidays/rituals too!) I understand that completely, but for us, it isn't the mere costumes or the act of trick-or-treating, but rather the reason behind the entire holiday. To whom does Halloween give glory? It is a holiday that celebrates darkness, death, and fear, and I just can't quite grasp using such a holiday to glorify the One who is light, defeated death, and takes away fear!
That, I realized, was exactly why I had never celebrated Halloween as a child--and why so many Christians still don't celebrate. And, that's okay.

But, I feel like I want to teach my boys a little differently; rather than feeling left out by our Christianity, I want them to think about how we can use Halloween to glorify God and to bless our neighbors. As Christians, we are called to glorify God in ALL that we do ("So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31). Just because the concept of using this particular holiday to glorify God is foreign to me, that doesn't mean that it's impossible. We can use our lives to glorify our Creator any day--even October 31st! Am I talking about passing out carrot sticks and religious tracts to trick-or-treaters? No way! I'm talking about showing our neighbors the awesome love of our Lord and Savior through whatever ways we can think of! Passing out full-sized candy bars with a "Jesus loves you!" sticker, hosting a bonfire (with s'mores!) during trick-or-treat, taking your elderly neighbors a special homemade Halloween treat, helping a needy family out with costumes?? The possibilities are endless!

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:16
As Christians, we are different from non-believers, but that doesn't mean that we aren't to associate with them. In fact, we are called to do just the opposite; we are called to be salt and light to the world.
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."
Matthew 5:13-16
Am I being salt and light by keeping holed up in my living room with the porch lights off? How does completely ignoring a major holiday in our culture glorify God? Just because we're not doing something that doesn't glorify God does not necessarily mean that we are glorifying Him.

How can we glorify God on Halloween? Well, there's no singular right answer. We can glorify God on Halloween just like we do any other day of the year, but we should also keep in mind that Halloween actually offers more opportunities than many other days. A friend shared this article a few days ago, and I found it absolutely fascinating.
3 Ways to be Missional This Halloween.
For me, I've never thought of Halloween as an extra opportunity to share Christ's love with anyone, but that's exactly what it is. This article was eye-opening to me, and I realized that God really can use anything for His glory--including a holiday originally intended for the exact opposite!

Just this morning, I heard this quote, "Halloween is the only day of the entire year that the world comes to our doorsteps in search of something. What are we going to give them?" Think about that, Christians.

Through all of this, I realized that our main reasons for not celebrating Halloween with the boys thus far has been fear. Halloween involves some scary stuff, and I want to shield my babies from it for as long as possible. I don't even want to walk past the holiday aisles in the stores, let alone go trick-or-treating with the neighborhood goblins and monsters. What I afraid of? To be honest, it's my son's fear that I'm afraid of. And, what does the Bible have to say about that? Do not fear. Simple enough? Isaiah 41:10 is one of my favorite verses, but there are plenty of others to reassure us--just type "Bible verses about fear" into your favorite search engine! I found this article to be helpful on the matter of dealing with scary Halloween and kids: 3 Tips for Discipling Your Kids Through Halloween.

So, whether you're dressing up your littles this evening, or staying home to watch [non-scary!] movies, I hope that you have a most blessed day! Your own personal convictions are between you and the Holy Spirit, and I am not saying that Christian families definitely should OR should not participate in Halloween activities. I do encourage you to examine the subject of Halloween with an open mind, a spirit of serving The Lord, and a desire to glorify Him in all that you do today and every day.

This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it!
Psalm 118:24

Happy Halloween!

Wordless Wednesday.

Menu Planning.

Do you menu plan at your house? I try to, but I'll admit that I often don't do it as carefully and thoroughly as I should. When that happens, we usually end up with "nothing in the house to eat" (despite a full kitchen), and I find myself throwing away spoiled food at the end of the week--not good! Menu planning gives me a plan (!), helps me make a more thorough grocery list, uses up leftovers in a timely manner, and makes me take a more in-depth look at our eating habits. Yay menu planning! So, in order to motivate myself to plan a little better, I've decided to start posting my menu plans here. And, bonus: you get to see what we're eating! Exciting....right? Maybe I can give you a few ideas for your own menu planning! If you have a blog, consider posting your own meal plans, and maybe we can trade meal ideas; I'm always up for yummy new ideas for our rotations! What are you eating??

Friday, 10/25
Maple oatmeal
Mac & cheese, corn, watermelon
French toast, local raw honey, bananas

Saturday, 10/26
Graham crackers, bananas
Leftover french toast, local raw honey, yogurt
Chili (crockpot), cornbread, spinach salads

Sunday, 10/27
Whole wheat pumpkin cinnamon rolls with cream cheese drizzle, strawberries
Tomato soup, grilled cheese sandwiches (mozzarella on whole wheat)
Quiche (cheddar, tomato & spinach), watermelon

Monday, 10/28
Leftover cornbread, raspberries
Butternut squash soup, crackers, watermelon
Chicken tacos (chicken [crockpot], wheat tortillas, spinach, cheddar, corn, tomatoes, salsa, sour cream)

Tuesday, 10/29
Plain yogurt with cinnamon, strawberries
Scrambled eggs, watermelon
Spaghetti casserole, spinach salads

Wednesday, 10/30
Steel-cut oatmeal (w/ pumpkin, cinnamon, & maple syrup)
Leftover spaghetti, pineapple
Turkey meatloaf (crockpot), carrots, smashed potatoes

Thursday, 10/31
Smoothies (yogurt, almond milk, strawberries, blueberries, mango, spinach, avocado)
Mac & cheese, kiwi, corn
Parmesan-crusted tilapia, brown rice, homemade wheat crescent rolls, mixed veggies

Friday, 11/1
Cereal, pineapple
Leftover tilapia, leftover mac & cheese, peas
Anniversary Date Night! (Homemade pizza for boys & grandparents)

Saturday, 11/2
Whole wheat blueberry pancakes, maple syrup
Homemade pepperoni rolls (& leftover pizza?), grapes
Coconut Crusted Chicken, baked sweet potatoes, whole wheat biscuits, spinach salads, spice cake with cream cheese frosting

Sunday, 11/3
Steel cut oatmeal with raisins
Baked Ziti (crockpot), pineapple
Ham, homemade mac & cheese, peas

Monday, 11/4
Plain yogurt with cinnamon & granola
Leftover mac & cheese, mixed veggies, apples
Tortilla Soup (crockpot), quesadillas

Tuesday, 11/5
Whole wheat English muffins, local raw honey, bananas
Butternut squash soup, crackers, grapes
Chicken in tomato basil sauce, whole wheat biscuits, spinach salads

Wednesday, 11/6
Smoothies (yogurt, almond milk, strawberries, blueberries, mango, spinach, avocado)
Leftover butternut squash soup, crackers, apples
Amish Country

Thursday, 11/7
Amish Country

Friday, 11/8
Amish Country
Cheesy Veggie Chowder (frozen), whole wheat biscuits

Saturday, 11/9
Whole Wheat Pancakes, maple syrup with apples
Chili (frozen), cornbread
Hamburgers on Wheat Buns, sweet potato fries, corn, spinach salads

Sunday, 11/10
Yogurt with cinnamon, granola, raisins
Scrambled eggs with spinach, cheddar & tomato, grapes
Homemade pizza

Monday, 11/11
Blueberry muffins
Tortilla soup (frozen), quesadillas
Whole wheat chicken pot pie (chicken, carrots, potatoes, peas)

Tuesday, 11/12
Maple Oatmeal
Grilled cheese (cheddar on wheat), apples
Spaghetti, meatballs, garlic bread, spinach salads

All because of a little cheese.....

My Dearest Nathaniel,
I need to write this letter to explain something to you, and I very much hope that you read it someday. You might not remember the things that I'm talking about by then--but you might; I know that I will. You are the Big Brother to an adorable little dude. Levi is an amazing little guy who is learning so very many things right now--and he's too stinkin' cute while he does it! It is often that I'll smile and clap for him, cheer him on, or tell Daddy to watch him. He is learning, growing, and way too cute for his own good--and we are incredibly proud of him! You, like any big brother are very often jealous.
Nate, I want you to hear this loud and clear: WE ARE SO VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU! You are an amazing and incredible boy! You are talented and sweet and adorable, and you have surprised me with your accomplishments more times than I can count. There is no person, thing, or accomplishment in this world for which I am more proud than of you and your brother. Truly. I think that you know that, but it's hard to remember sometimes when it's the baby who's getting the praise. And, who could blame you? You're only three years old! I'm sorry that you feel left out sometimes, and I will try harder to point out more of your own accomplishments.
Nate, there is one thing in particular for which I am constantly amazed by, and I am truly so proud of you for. It is your obvious love and adoration for your baby brother. Oh sure, there's some brotherly bickering thrown in for variety, but the two of you are really an inseparable pair.
Even at this early age, I see you filling your "Big Brother" role around the house by looking out for Levi, helping him along, and always including him in your requests. Always, always you include your "Yiyi".
"Mommy, me and Yiyi have a snack, please?"
"Me and Yiyi watch a movie?"
"Me and Yiyi go play outside?"
"Me and Yiyi.....?"
The questions are endless, but they're always requests for "me and Yiyi". My heart melts when I hear you request a treat for your little brother who likely wouldn't even notice if he was left out sometimes. I've tried to remember when you started this, but I can't. There was never a time when I had to prod you to include your brother; he's just always been a part of your life, and you don't leave him out. You are amazing!
Today, while I was making quesadillas for lunch, you asked me for a slice of cheese. As always, you asked for a piece each for you and Yiyi. Like I often do, I sliced two chunks of cheese off, and handed them to you. Normally, I try to make the pieces of cheese exactly the same size (for obvious reasons); today, I wasn't paying much attention, and they were not even. Like, not even close to being even. Not a big deal, I thought, Levi will never know that his slice is smaller. Right? I watched you hurry over to your brother, then pause and look at the two pieces of cheese. You hesitated for just the slightest moment, and I knew that you saw the difference. And then, you gave that bigger piece of cheese to Yiyi Baby.
Oh Nate, I could have cried right there, I was so proud of you! What a generous and kind thing to do for your brother! You might be thinking now, "Okay, Mom, it was just a little bit of cheese....so what?" It was so much more than cheese, my dearest, it was an act of selflessness for your little brother--one that you didn't think anyone would ever even know about. (You never mentioned it to me at all!) For a three-year-old, it was a BIG DEAL. And, I am so very, very proud of you!
Nathaniel, I might not clap every time you finish a bowl of oatmeal, and I might not snap photos of you every time you walk around with a blanket on your head....but that doesn't in a million years mean that I'm not so proud of you that I could bust! It simply means that you are older, and your accomplishments are more mature and grown up. You are an incredibly kind and sweet little boy. I love you! Your love for your brother only makes me love you more, and I pray that you both remain as close as you are right now for always.
I love you to the moon and back,
MomMom

Wordless Wednesday.

Quips from a 3-year-old...

Nate: (counting grapes) "One, two, fwee, five, six!"
Me: "Didn't you forget a number?"
Nate: "Huh?"
Me: "Try counting them again."
Nate: "One, two, fwee, five, six!"
Me: One, two, three, FOUR, five, six!"
Nate: "Aww, man! That's cwazy!"

*********

Nate: (whispering to Levi) "This soup really yucky in my mouth! This soup really, really yucky! Crackers make it not yucky; crackers make this soup yummy!"
Sadly, we were out of crackers...