Search Results for: halloween

The one day of the year I willingly give my son a play hatchet (it’s not that harmful, don’t worry) as part of his costume and he refuses to use it. I’m constantly taking harmful objects from him that he’s trying to use as a hatchet or some sort of weapon but on Halloween, the boy refuses. The only reason we got this picture of him in costume was because we told him his papa wanted to see his outfit and he put it on for about 60 seconds. Apparently he’s so cute no one required a costume for trick-or-treating and gave him plenty of candy. No one even asked where it was; I think they saw the look in his eye and knew, “Oh yes, that boy is 2 and feisty.” He was very polite though and always said “Trit or treat” and “tant you” when he left.

Jenna on the other hand was an adorable Wonder Woman and had a great evening with her friends and out trick-or-treating. She thinks the candy tax that we’ve put in place is just terrible but hey, that’s what parents are for. Now, I need to throw some out because I’m going to be ill from pillaging so much of the good candy today.

We started out our evening yesterday by having chili and cornbread with some friends and neighbors. We want our home to be one that is always warm and inviting to everyone in the neighborhood so our small group thought we would offer chili before trick-or-treating. We had a few neighbors join us and we had a great time together. We’ll definitely do it again next year. And to top off the evening the weather was amazing. A warm, dry evening. This is the third year in a row without rain (at least during the evening when we’re out). It’s hard to believe really.

If you’re in the mood for a craft for next year, don’t want to carve a pumpkin, and worried about safety, try these mason jar jack-o-lanterns. They were super easy and quick and look cute on the porch lit up (with an LED light of course because we don’t do real flames around here with our small man child.) You just need a jar, some modge podge, paint brush, tissue paper and paper for the face. Glue it all on and you’re good to go. Although if you sit it too close to the edge of the porch and it gets wet, it might just get all sticky again, so you’re forewarned.

Hope you all had a fun evening with your kiddos if you celebrated last night. May the sugar buzz not last too long.

In my travels to many places around the world there is something that I have learned, I have so much to learn; especially when it comes to hospitality, being a good neighbor and serving strangers.

When I was in Africa I had a friend spend hours taking me to the market to buy ingredients, walk me home and help me cook a meal that she wouldn’t stay to eat because she wanted me to have it all. In Croatia we had students drop their plans for the day to spend time with us and take us to one of their favorite beaches. At the time we had only known them for a few days. Another friend in Croatia drove us hours to her village; we ate with her mom and she drove us to one of the most spectacular national parks ever. In many cultures they go above and beyond with time and resources to care for a stranger. You don’t stay strangers for long. My travels and friends around the globe have taught me so much about God’s heart for true hospitality and serving your neighbor.

While staying in a hostel in Costa Rica last year this chalkboard below was hanging above the front desk. I loved it so much that I took a picture of it (and have been thinking about writing about it for a year now).

One of the things that our family values is loving and serving our neighbors. When you’re a good neighbor it helps to build a community, increases safety, and makes it better overall. We all long for connection, to be known, to know that the people around us are looking out for us. We all long for real, authentic community. This can happen in our neighborhoods if we all take some simple steps to be a good neighbor.

These ideas above are awesome! The last suggestion I can’t read the last word entirely but the words learn and uncomfortable ring true. Sometimes taking the step to cross the street or the lawn to meet a new neighbor, maybe attend a block party, host an event, or love people who are different from you in so many ways is incredibly uncomfortable. It can stretch us and make us uneasy but it’s also so worth it. We have so much to learn from each other and offer to one another. Living life with our neighbors has brought our family so much joy.

Here’s a list of some things that we have done in our neighborhood in an attempt to love our neighbor:

• When we moved in we baked cookies and took them to most of the neighbors on our block to introduce ourselves. We didn’t want to wait for them to come to us.
• Took May Day flowers in homemade paper vases one year.
• Attend our neighborhood association meetings.
• Matt now serves on our association board after attending for two years.
• Helped restart the neighborhood foot patrol to make it safer.
• Go  to the two local parks with the kids a lot. Introduce ourselves and make conversation.
• Sit on our front porch whenever it’s nice outside to say hi to people passing by.
• Planted a garden box out front. It requires us to tend to it and it’s a great conversation starter.
• Share our organically grown, tended with love, produce. So Portland I know.
• Take a meal to a family in need or when they have a new baby.
• Give hand-me-downs to friends around the corner.
• Host an event. We’ve done Smore’s and Sparklers for 4th of July, backyard movie nights, chili and cornbread before Trick-or-Treating around the neighborhood, and planned and hosted the neighborhood Easter Egg hunt.
• Invite others over for a play date.
• Invite other kids over to play to help out other parents go on a date or grocery shop alone.
• Invite people over for coffee or a meal.
• Take care of someones mail, yard, or animal while they’re away.
• If at all possible, never say no to an invitation if you receive one to go to a neighbors house or event.
• Take walks around the neighborhood frequently.
• Go to local businesses, cafe’s, and restaurants.
• We hung a swing in our tree in the front yard. It attracts kids and adults alike. My favorite is to see an adult swing on it when they think no one’s watching. Pure joy.
• Lead a small group bible study or book club.
• Pray for the people you know and don’t know yet.
• Find out if your neighborhood is on Nextdoor.com. If it’s not, get it started! This has been an incredible way to connect with neighbors and make our neighborhood better and safer.

There are so many great ways to be a good neighbor. Just start small, say hi, look up from your phone, offer a smile.

I think our greatest example to follow was Jesus. He loved and served, with no strings attached. He wanted people to know that they were loved and he’s asked us to do the same. I fail at this every day. If you speed by my house I may yell at you; if your dog poops in my side yard and you leave it I’ll give you a definite stink eye; if you catch me before a cup of coffee in the morning I might be (okay, I’m definitely) cranky. Ask my friends at the bus stop, they know cranky me. We mess up all the time at loving people but we’re trying our best to love the people we live around and make the place we live better.

What ways have you loved and served your neighbors? I’m always in need of more ideas.

Have you ever read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day? I haven’t either for quite some time but just the title resonates with my day yesterday.

Last week was incredibly full; full of some great things like going to campus to meet with students at Univ. of Portland, Halloween festivities and speaking at MOPS but it was also really stressful with planning for those things, having my usual speaking anxieties and wondering if I really have anything to offer. We were also in the throws of planning our annual fundraising dinner for work. It’s usually a very encouraging evening of sharing all that we’re seeing God do around the city and the region. More than 200 people pack the room to celebrate and give. This year, somewhat last minute I was asked to help a student share her story on stage with three others. I’m not given that opportunity often so it was exciting to think that I would get to be a part of helping others get a glimpse of the incredible things God is doing in changing the lives of college students, and a student that I love and work with.

Well, it began to unravel yesterday when my student came down with a sickness. 3 hours before the even I called another incredible student I work with and somewhat begged her to fill in. She agreed and I knew that God would use her story intertwined with the other students story to be great. As the afternoon and evening progressed I was feeling ill myself, very nauseous, terrible headache, etc. I attributed it to nerves and the last minute plans. As they delivered my plate of steak for dinner though and I almost threw up just at the site of food, I knew I was in trouble. I choked down half of it trying to continue making conversation with the guests at my table all the while praying desperately that I wouldn’t get sick before the night was over. As it was time for us to head up on stage I had already told my student I didn’t know if I would make it, putting her in the most awkward position ever to now be last minute filling in for someone else and maybe even doing my part too. Because I’m stubborn I headed up on stage determined to make it through. As the first people were sharing I began to sweat and feel dizzy and knew that if I didn’t leave the stage immediately the 200+ guests wouldn’t just be getting a glimpse of what God was doing in these students lives but of my dinner being thrown up. I handed off my microphone and slipped off the stage right before it was our turn. Had I not done that the embarrassment of actually leaving the stage in the middle of the presentation would have been much worse. Thankfully I made it to the bathroom where I privately hugged a public toilet bowl (Two terrible events in one). I’ve spent the night remembering why I hate the stomach bug and angry at it’s very unfortunate timing. Oh the sadness and embarrassment I feel.

I’m just glad my mom was there for the evening to see her daughters shining moment because she was able to get me home quickly so I could hug my own private toilet bowl. Moms are great like that.

I’ve been told that Sally, my student who shared, did an amazing job. God still moved and encouraged hearts. He still will provide for our needs of the ministry even if I bolt from the stage last minute. It’s not dependent on me. I have to keep reminding myself this when I’ve overwhelmed with thinking about how the evening went for me personally.

Ugh, I hate terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days. Now, if I could just feel better that would be great.