On a lighter note

 We carved pumpkins tonight!  It's a tradition we didn't always participate in, but it has become a fun family event. 

The boys created faces with theirs -learning tips and tricks of carving.  While our older girls got creative.  They made a cross on one and a dove on another.

We'll set them out on the front step on Halloween when we hand out goody bags.

The kids all helped to make the goody bags.  We buy colorful sandwich baggies and fill them with a gospel tract, candy, and a small toy:

The gospel tract is because we want to shine the light of Jesus to all who come to our door.

The candy because it is the typical expectation.  This year we chose dum-dum suckers.  I noticed last year several kiddos were excited to have a sucker vs chocolate in their bags.

The toy because we know what it means to have food allergies. I don't want any kid to get something from our house and not be able to enjoy at least one item they get.  This year it is a small, rainbow-colored spring with a smiley face on it.  Last year we did a variety pack of things like sticky hands, slap bracelets, etc.

It's fun to hand out the goody bags.  The kids are often surprised that they get a baggy of things and not just a piece of candy.  We've also gotten to know several of our neighbors this year, so we will recognize more of them too, and that is also fun!

Continuing to Simplify

The more I simplify the things around me, the more I am noticing the ability to slow down and take in each moment.

I didn't anticipate that.  It has been an unexpected blessing.

This afternoon I played a game of cards with my son and was able to be fully present with him.  Often times, I am mentally an energizer bunny, but today it was just the two of us and our card game.  No mental interruptions or random thoughts.  It was strange and really nice.

I was recently inspired to simplify my social media.  I unfollowed several accounts on my feed.  Some, I think were only "followed" because my fat fingers hit the wrong button while scrolling.  Other pages that I unfollowed share content that I like to read and learn about, but at this time in my life were just cluttering my brain with information I couldn't put into application right now.

Taking away the mental clutter is freeing.  More and more I can focus on what is most important.  And the phrase that is beginning to take up more living space in my brain is this one:

Live for God's Glory.

I suspect God is teaching me more about this phrase and what it will mean in my life.