Trick or Treat or Not? Preparing for October the 31st!!!!

There are two times during the year when I sometimes cringe when out in public- Halloween and Christmas.  Questions involving those holidays can invariably lead to hurt feelings or defenses rising among people.  So this month has been a long month of trying to gently turn down invites to spooky parties, haunted mansions, and meeting up to trick or treat.  The funny thing is I like a good spooky party and a haunted mansion as much as anyone just not in conjunction with Halloween.  :-) 

It is hard because truth is that this is a Woodpile decision.  I truly have no opinion on what another's personal decision regarding Halloween is.  It is one of those grey areas where one searches their hearts and prays for the answer for their family.    One man's enjoyment may be another man's sin.  We do enjoy taking the opportunity to meet new people and hand out candy if you grace us at our door. And I love to see the pics of your sweet littles in their costumes.   And hear the excitement as they tell Mrs. Becca about their fun.   Please do not take our non-participation as judgement on yours.  I would really appreciate that.  I HATE awkward silences and evasive looks.   I trust that you care and seek to make the right choice for your family.  And I trust that you have.  It's all good. ;-)

I am not going to debate right or wrong because it is all subjective really.  For us it not about ghosts, goblins, and mummy's.  We have two reasons mainly that we abstain from the Halloween fun.

1) Its origins- The Samhain.  While most of the holidays we celebrate are pagan in origin.  This is really the only one still pagan.  Not reason enough alone for us however with the second one it was marks a turning point for the Woodpile.

2) It is one of the most sacred days in the Wiccan religion.  All over the world there are people who do still celebrate the evils of darkness on this day. I Cor. 10:20 says this. "But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils."

Those are our reasons in a nutshell.  So what do we do.  Well lots of fun things actually!!!   We do attend Fall Festivals if they are not on the day of Halloween.  We love Fall Masquerades.  Best time of the year for it as it is cooler plus afterward lots of costumes are on sale.  And finally we celebrate something really worth celebrating - Reformation day: a day for us to remember that by grace we are saved, to remember we need to stand up for our God, and a day to remember that the Word of God is His voice to us. What does Oct. 31st look like for the Woodpile?  Here ya go! (Although this year it being on Sunday we will celebrate on Nov. the 1st)


1)Luther transcribed the Bible and so do we! Each child has their own passage and special materials- quills, beautiful handmade parchment scrolls, etc.(you can make this by tearing the edges of  a plain white sheet of paper then crumbling.  Smooth it out and place on a window screen. Pour black tea or  coffee over.  Let dry.)

2) We refresh our minds by reciting Ephesians. 2:8,9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast" and singing A Mighty Fortress.

3) We reenact the story with wooden hammers and copies of the  95  thesis.  Yes they get to knock on a door. :-)

4) Starting next year we will be back to full blown Bible or reformation costumes.  Events/day changed my plans a little this year, and we are going basic.

5). Read Martin Luther: A Man Who Changed The World by Paul L. Maier (We do also talk a little bit about denominations after reading this.)

6). Medieval line dancing like the Official Branle. (See this site for simple intro-http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-do-renaissance-branle-charlotte-dance-247365/ )

7) Participating in the Diet of Worms (gummy worm eating contest), a throw the indulgence into the trash relay, and bobbing for apples are some games we may play.

8) This year we are creating a stained glass window in our school room ( using tissue paper)  in honor of Luther's work in restoring churches.


A website with great ideas for taking this much farther than we do at this time (littles are too little) is http://www.lovetolearnplace.com/SpecialDays/Reformation/activities.html

So there you are! Enjoy whatever your plans are for October the 31st.  Have a FABULOUS time.

A Happy Transfer of Germs

What a strange title one may say to which I would have to agree.  But then as those who have known me longest can attest I tend toward strange thoughts at times.  Especially when I have a lot of time for thinking.  The last few nights have given me lots of time to go off on winding mental paths.  I am writing this begging no one to call me a Pollyanna.  I really dislike that.  Maybe because I tended to be called Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm a lot growing up.  I mean how unoriginal is that. 

The Woodpile has been ill.  The yucky kind of virus that has one up all night (7 nights to be exact) cooling feverish brows and calming croupy coughs.  This virus was denounced repeatedly in many forms and many ways.  Now denounce does mean public reprimand, and most certainly my family and friends would have probably preferred me to be less public about it.  Remember I said repeatedly.  Some got to hear it more than others- thanks Hubby, Mom, and sisters!!!  (Side note- isn't it great to have family that has to listen to your whining because well... they're family!!!)  Amongst all this whining and bemoaning a still small voice was persistent in being heard.  One at times has to be VERY persistent with me.  And in the middle of one of those long nights I started thinking of the others who also where going through this with their families.  Namely many of our church family were also struggling with it.  Shame slowly arose as I realized yet again I was being selfish- an affliction I tend to struggle with.   This virus was not attacking just ME- making only my life difficult. I was not its personal vendetta as much as it might feel like it.  We shared the germs around.  Lots of love in our church, but it is not the only thing that sometimes gets around.

Remember I said I go off on strange paths.  Well I went from boohoo me to sympathy for all fellow church family viral warfare-rs   to thinking about how blessed I really was.  Because you see as I said above we share a lot of love in our church.  I saw this daily while sick. I saw it from texts, facebook messages, voicemail (because I couldn't talk to answer the phone I wasn't dissing you I promise.  Well maybe you, Han.  But hey, you are my little sister.  You have to be dissed at times.  It keeps you humble) from the offers to help, the heart and body nourishing soup brought by a friend who had her own sick blessings etc etc.   I saw it in the FB message from my friend Tina that left me feeling hugged and assured me I am not the only one who gos off on strange paths. ;-)  I don't think she will mind if I share parts of it.  Just remember while reading it that Tina sees in others one of her greatest strengths.  Magnifying them in those around her- especially me.

So sorry to hear you're sick, Mama.
I read this and thought of you: "Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart...." 1 Peter 1:22. As I observed you this past weekend, it occurred to me how fervently you love people............Your love is contagious. God bless you! Get some rest, friend. Love you......

First I smiled through tears because it came at a low point that day.  But of course she was listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. He sent it at the perfect time through a willing vessel.   Then I laughed because I was thinking the same thing... that love can be contagious.  Tina will not be surprised.  We tend to do that.

Germs are not the only contagious thing.   My kids and I might have caught a few germs from our wonderful church family. (and er, maybe given more than a few).  But they give us oh so much more.  I think of one little boy who models a gentle spirit.  Another little girl who gives the gift of laughter to others so easily.  The young lady who lets our Cupcake hang all over her and listens with a gleam in her eye to Brownie's non-stop talking.  Four boys who share their joy of being in our oldest son's presence without shame but freely show their love. The young lady who uses her talents for the enjoyment of others and the edification of  young friends.  The little one who sees my Brownie look longingly at her beautiful pink leotard and says, "you can borrow it if you like even though it is my favorite".  A friend who shares her weaknesses making us all feel better about our own.   Another friend who listens so well.  The friend who is going thru difficult times right now but her smile speaks of Christ's love and her words speak of His comfort. I cannot speak of them all.  The joy they bring, the way they show our family what true Christian love should be.They give and give and give.  And we are better for it.  That transfers to us every time we are in their presence.  What are a few germs compared to all that.  

Yes, Tina.  Love was truly contagious in the last few weeks.  Living Faith Baptist Church I will happily share your germs any day!!!  

But what about Christ's love- it is not just contagious. It saves us all.   John 3:16  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  Do you know this love?  The love behind all love!  Because without His love all we would be sharing would be germs.

The beginning and the end!

The beginning of what you may say?  And what exactly would be ending?  Well I am hopeful that this is a beginning of an outlet for the never ending cycle of thoughts that take place with every second.  Alas in an effort to displace them allowing room for common sense to arise I often make these posts on FB that break the allowed word barrier.  Then begins another whole process of turning "and" into &'s, abbreviating every word possible, toning down the numerous adjectives.  Updates I am told (most of the time with a good natured smirk) are supposed to be one MAYBE two liners.  I however have refined the art of the fb status update paragraph.

Ahh! But yes I mentioned ending.  What I am hoping will end is this question-  Becca, do you have a blog?  Why not?  And the immediate feeling of total uncoolness that promptly follows.  

What should one expect from this blog, dear indulgent family member or friend?  Lots of rambling because that is what I am really adept at second only to laughing....... so expect long posts!  Poor writing with comma splices, run-ons, fragments, strange punctuations, capital letters where none should be and so on and so on.  I used to be embarrassed about this fact. Now I am just embarrassed that I am know longer embarrassed.   Especially when it comes to one's attention that I am a homeschool mom.  But lets clear up a misconception here (rabbit trail time I know, I know.)!  Just because one is a homeschool mom does not make it follow that she is excellent in grammar, could write a best seller, thinks calculus is a cinch, can fill the periodic table without a cheat sheet, and knows every history date you throw at her.  We just do our best, research constantly, and PRAY like there is no tomorrow.   This wisdom comes not from me rather stems from the many sighs I have heard and have made myself during homeschool discussions.   There that rabbit trial followed all the way to its conclusion.  Back to what you should expect.   I truly would like to assure you that this blog will give you wonderful words of wisdom,  words that speak like poetry, helpful little tips on being a wife, mother, homeschooler, decorater, a frugal woman.  Beautiful pictures of mantels, homemade crafts, yummy new recipes, and God's nature to enhance the words.  There is a big however here though!  I so admire those bloggers.  This sadly is not a blog of such caliber.   I will talk a LOT about my children and husband.  I am quite certain that I have the absolute best husband and children that ever were created!  Here it is, reader of one or two, my little tidbit of the day. ;-)  if you do not think your hubby and children are the best ones in this world I encourage you to take another look.  Notice I said think not that they are.  And not that you should be blind to imperfections.  Just that focusing on their amazing greatness will help you get through those days when it gets tough.   Focus on the bad the world turns dark quickly.  Focus on the good and things are so much better.   God gave us that hubby.  He allowed those children to grow in our bodies and hearts.  Sometimes in some blessed cases just the mothers heart.   So I shall talk often of  my Love and my Blessings. They are my best fit, and I am theirs.  How reassuring is that!!! There is such joy in this.  Do you feel it?  Does it not just lighten your heart?

And most certainly,   I will talk of a God who lives within me. He who is my everything.   He directs my steps.  He sent His only Son.  Can you fathom it?  Exodus 15:2 says "The Lord is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation: He is my God and I will prepare Him an habitation:my father's God, and I will exalt Him.