We're celebrating

While I never intend to ruffle feathers, I realize sometimes I do. In case this ends up being one of those posts, I apologize in advance.

Each year there are somethings that are the same for me about October:
1. A final goodbye to insanely hot days and fighting the summer time frizzy hair.
2. Root veggies make their appearance at the farmers market.
3. Candy inevitably becomes a daily tease.
4. Some ridiculous stores put out Christmas decorations. Note - I try to avoid most of those stores.
5. Fabulousness arrives at Einstein's: The Pumpkin Bagel

And finally, let me not forget

6. People post their annual blog about why they don't celebrate Halloween and how they will hand out bible tracks instead of candy.

So this year I am posting my First Annual (actually probably won't be an annual thing, I think once is good, don't you?) Why We Will Celebrate Halloween. As previously mentioned, this isn't meant to ruffle the feathers of those guilty as charged for #6. Instead I just want to let you in on the Crack Team thought process behind the coming holiday. We aren't just derailed by candy and cute kids in costumes...we too have a purpose.

I will not be making my house a Haunted Home. My child will not be a ghost, witch, or devil (though I was a witch as a child and my brother was a devil and neither of us has been zapped up by the evil one yet). We will not attempt magic.

We will however welcome the neighbors. As our friend Kenny pointed out this is the one night of the year the neighbors will be coming to knock at our door. We will take our cupcake who won't be a cupcake door to door for as long as she'll last. It's also the one night of the year the neighbors will for sure be welcoming us to their door. We will use this night to enjoy community with the friends we know and make a point to get to know others so we can see them again soon after. We will eat candy. (Just being honest here!)

We won't be handing out bible tracks, we will be handing out hot chocolate and candy. (Please Lord make it cold in Texas on Halloween night so Hot Coco is appropriate). I personally have had the best outcome with bible tracks in the context of a relationship. Now I know that someone who is reading this has a sister who has a cousin, who's roommate once went on a mission trip during Spring Break and handed a bible track to some scantly dressed, alcohol ingesting teen on the beach who dedicated her life to Christ right then and there. I'm also sure someone's Grandpa is 90 years old and has smoked everyday of his life. That doesn't mean I'm going to smoke and expect the same. So, as my secular neighbors swing by with their tots in tow ready for ohhs, ahhs, and candy, I'm not going to greet them with a non-celebratory tot and a bible track. Somehow I think it just puts a big old boring, party killing, restrictive feel to a loving, forgiving, graceful Heavenly Father. Instead we'll try our best to meet them where they are, relate to them, find a way to connect, and of course oooohhh and ahhhh at their kiddos while dropping candy in their pails.

We won't do it perfect because we aren't perfect. But, this Halloween, the Crack Team is celebrating because the opportunity for new friendships with our neighbors is worth a celebration!!!

Now back to October....here's a look at what eating local, in October looked like for us tonight:

Local raw milk cheddar cheese, local apple slices, kale butter made from local kale, butternut squash soup (local butternuts) in a pumpkin shaped (not flavored) bread bowl made with flour, water, yeast, and my own two hands.

YUM, YUM, YUM....if I can say so myself.