Happy to be Here

Today is Halloween, Fall Festival, or whatever you want to call it. People seem to freak out about all the things people do to celebrate, and I agree that some of it is valid. But tonight we experienced Trick or Treating in our neighborhood, and it was such a sweet and fun time! We tried this out last year, but went too early and not many people were home. This year we decided to avoid all the crowds at pumpkin patches and festivals and just walk up and down the street together. There were kids everywhere with their parents, looking for porch lights to be on, ringing doorbells, and hollering, "Trick-or-Treat!" I felt for a moment like it was 20 something years ago, when it was safe to run all over your neighborhood ringing every doorbell and being scared silly. Then I realized that some things can just simply be the same as "in the old days" if you let them. We have an annual block party each summer, so we know most of our neighbors, but it was great to meet more. Some of the older people just looooved seeing all the little kids come to their door. They were sitting there waiting for the next ones to come. It was so sweet. I could see that regardless of what we believe about celebrating some holiday, THIS is what it means to "love thy neighbor as thyself." We were out having fun, getting to know each other, meeting some new people, catching up with some old friends, and loving on the kids that we passed on the sidewalk and who came to our door. We were being "neighborly," and building relationships. I know this is how Jesus wants me to love...unconditionally...just giving what we have away to the ones around us that want and need it, even if tonight it was in the form of a Nestle Crunch bar. I feel secure with my kids on these streets, knowing most would watch out for mine as I would for theirs. Don't you all remember not being able to wait any longer to go wear your costume, to be someone else for a night, to ring a doorbell, to have so much fun?? I remember a Halloween that I was dressed as a clown. I had my face completely painted and a purple clown wig on. We were done in our neighborhood and went to see my Nanny so she could see our costumes. When we rang the doorbell she was so excited to have some cute little people to give candy to. She gave us our candy and said to have fun and started to shut the door. She didn't know who it was!! I asked her if she was going to let us come in, and she got a confused look on her face. I told her, "It's me, Nanny! It's Melissa!" She just laughed until she cried, hugged us and let us in. What a great memory. I am so happy to be in a place that we can go and trick-or-treat with friends and have a wonderful time making memories. Here are some pictures of our night!

Spiderman gone bad


Hannah Montana


Hannah, Little Lamb, Good Spiderman


Trick-or-Treat!


Ky singing the Mailey Baby song


Mim and Pop prizes!


Too cute for words...