Why I Do Not Celebrate Halloween

I thoroughly enjoy the changes fall brings. Falling leaves blanket the ground with an assortment of colors. The air becomes chilly and jackets and coats are brought out of storage. I love fall!

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I celebrate fall with my children using it as a time to teach about God and His beautiful creation. I do not include Halloween celebrations in my fall festivities. After an in depth study of Halloween and the origins of this holiday, I feel that participating in the rituals and routines associated with the world's practices is counter productive to how I am raising my children.

Halloween originally came from a Celtic holiday called Samhein. It was known then as “The Day of the Dead”. It was believed that the spirits of those who had died roamed freely about during that night – Oct 31. The carving of faces on pumpkins was done to keep the evil spirits from coming near the homes. Wicca, the official religion of witchcraft, regards this holiday as one of their sacred holy days.

A study in the Bible will reveal that when spirits roam the earth and are active in doing evil – it is not just an “active imagination” or a “spooky” little story – it is real and it is satanic. Halloween, at it’s roots, is a Satanic holiday.

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I feel that allowing my children to participate in this holiday will desensitize them to the evilness of Satan. I want for my kids to know that the devil's objective is not treats and candy; but rather his goal is to deceive and destroy. Even if my focus of the holiday is not on the evil of the holiday, but on the fun aspects of the time of year, I still can be sending a mixed message to my children.

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As a Christian Mom, my goal in child raising is to raise children that are set apart for God. The Bible tells us that we are to be salt and light to an evil world. That means the way I live my life should be different from the world. I feel when the world has a "satanic" based holiday - my testimony, my walk with God, my conscience, can not condone participation in that holiday.

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One of the greatest tools I have as a Christian is my testimony. How I raise my children and the things I allow my children to participate in, should give God a good name. I feel the best way for me to do that during this holiday is to refrain from celebrating all together. If I was a missionary in the heart of Africa, it would be imperative to my ministry to not participate in the rituals and customs of the African's spiritism and false religion. In choosing to participate, I would be sending a mixed message about why I was there. I believe the same can be true in America - there are certain traditions, and rituals to which our culture has become accustomed. In order to send a clear message - in order to not confuse why I am here - I must choose to not participate in certain culturally accepted American customs.

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My heart's desire is to see Christ magnified in everything. I believe that not participating in Halloween traditions and customs - is the best way to ensure that Christ is lifted up in our home. To my children - and also to the people we come in contact with everyday. May other's see Christ in me!!

May Christ be glorified – in everything.

Trust you are having a wonderful week. Thanks so much for stopping by!

~Jane

The Omelet Man

I am married to a wonderful man. He can make me smile at the drop of a hat. He is kind, and does his best to cheer me up when I am having a bad day. He is an absolutely wonderfully Daddy to my children and loves them very much. He enjoys playing golf - but he does not do it often - - most of the time when he goes he takes me along. I enjoy being with him. He loves to read; and usually he has two or three books going on at one time. They are all conveniently placed around the house for him to read if his is in the general location of a particular book.

These are just a few of his qualities. I thought I would let you all in on a little secret. He does something better - I think - than anyone else I have every known. I have decided that if we ever need extra money we would be able to market his little known talent - selling the by- product to waiting customers. I have told him, that this skill he has will keep me married to him forever - (as will the vows that I said on our wedding day. :) If the Lord took my husband home - and I was left remaining - at the funeral I would cry because I missed him. However, some of my tears would be shed because I would no longer get to feast on his talented concoctions.



My husband - in my eyes - is the world's greatest omelet maker! I LOVE his omelets. Perkins, IHOP or Village Inn can not hold a candle to Rob's omelets. They are without a doubt the best. Sometimes he whips me up one after the kids have gone to bed. The are "to die for!" I LOVE his omelet's! Through the years, I have tried to take lessons from him on how to make the perfect omelet. Mine never turn out like his - I usually end up destroying them while I am flipping the over.



This past Wed night I decided to do omelets for dinner. I was going to have them hot and ready for him when he got home. I was determined to get the flipping part right and turn out a great omelet. However, Wednesday nights - are chaos nights! Kids are busy getting ready to go to church - going through their Kids for Truth verses one last time before they have to leave - and doing their best to turn out a decent homework paper so they do not loose their free time the next day - needless to say, it gets a little hairy here on Wednesday nights. Alas, last Wed - I was not able to get the omelets pulled off in time before Dad got home. He walked in - and saw me - apron on - ingredients waiting - skillets heating - and asked me what I was doing. I told him that the omelets would be up shortly. He, in need of job security, told me he would make the omelets. So, reaching for the apron that I had on - he promptly set to work. I thought I would share of few pictures from that night. If the pictures look like it was a little wild at our house - they are true and accurate. Enjoy.

(I think this is the most handsome man in the world - with a white shirt on and a tie - along with the apron - my heart skips a beat!)

(Zak here is doing a "before - dinner - jig". (I think that "jigs" are an acceptable way for a Baptist to celebrate as longs as the participant is under the age of 10 :) He enjoyed rice pasta noodles with spaghetti sauce for his dinner. (He is allergic to eggs!)

Bon Appe'tit!

No children or animals were hurt during this production. The kitchen was all put together before we left for church - and church started on time!

Thanks for stopping by! Hope you are having a great week!

~Jane

Was Blind - But Now I See!

Our James started having headaches during school and reading time at night. So hubbie and I thought we better get him into the eye doctor. Let's just say - he NEEDED glasses. *When there were six letters on the wall - he only could make out 2 of them!) I was gasping for breath as I sat there through the exam.

The long wait for the new glasses came to a halt this afternoon. Mom and James ran to the store to get the glasses that "were in"!

I thought I would share photos of the "old" James and the "new" James.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a great weekend.

~Jane