Principles...

There is an old saying, well it might be a practice, if you are feeling down, depressed, just look for someone who is worse off than you, then you will see that it could be worse and you will feel better about yourself. There is truth to that. Not a lot of truth, but nonetheless truth. It tends to help our emotional state just to acknowledge that. However, I believe this to only be apart of what helps us to feel better. The rest is this, after finding that person who is worse off than ourselves, find out exactly what is wrong and help them to overcome it. It is through doing good for others and focussing on their needs that we can be filled with joy and find comfort in our own struggles. 

I have noticed that with my own family. When my kids are struggling and I am just too tired to deal with it, when I take the time to help them through it my own weariness doesn't seem to be that big a deal. Likewise, when I look at my church family and the number of people who are struggling to find work, I ask myself what can I do? The answer is simple, but it requires the efforts of everyone. The solution centers on another principle I am learning, the closer it is to me, the better it is for me. That may sound selfish because it puts the focus on me, but in truth it is the only way to make any kind of lasting change. Since my church is an extension of my family, whatever I can do to better them helps everyone. In our congregation we have nearly every line of work. Many own their own companies. So the question is, if I need a product or service why look out side of my family? Looking outside takes those much needed blessings away from those who are most important in my life. 

Forgive me if I am coming to this conclusion late. Better late than never. 

History Helps

I was helping my oldest daughter with her history homework. She doesn't see why it's important to learn about dead people. I explained about learning from the mistakes and successes of others so that we won't have to have the same struggles that they had. I tried to liken the history lessons in her book about the rise and fall of the Roman Empire to our own country, but I was way above her head and may have confused her more. 

As the night went on my son wanted to make brownies. We followed the directions to the letter. The batter seemed really thick to me and so I said to the kids who were around, "should we add more water?" They told me that's what mom did. Remembering the cake like texture those brownies had I said, "then nope we leave it the way it is." While we were enjoying the fruit of our labour, I used that to further illustrate my point of learning from the experience of others. I told my oldest, "history is important because without it I would have made the same mistake that mom did and our brownies would have tasted like cake." I got an eye roll at that one. 

Dumbing it Down

I am sick of the school making the work easier for my kids, while at the same time making it more difficult in other areas. We chose the school because it would be challenging. The school decided it was too hard and really slowed it down. They pulled my oldest out during a different subject to "help" her with one she is struggling with. I wrote a nasty note telling them to challenge my kids and not pull them out during subjects they aren't getting help in. 

It wasn't that long ago when 15 year olds were moving out on their own and supporting themselves. When did it become the norm to treat kids like invalids?

Halloween fun!

We, in fact, did celebrate the great tradition of all hallows eve, or Halloween. A tradition that goes back along time. Where it originated, I don't have a clue. All I know is it can be a lot of fun. Growing up, my mother would make costumes for us. She would start them at least three months before, spending hours sewing and crafting them. Then we would enjoy them for one night and whenever we had an incling to drees up. My kids are not as fortunate. They have to settle for creating their own costumes or buying one from the store. 

Last year we had a lot of trick or treaters, but not many people handing out candy. This year we had a few more handing out the sweet stuff and very few asking for it. We were tempted to drive to another neighborhood to get our candy begging fix in this year, but that seemed like too much work. I believe everyone should know the truth, I am really lazy. 

We started off by ourselves and gained a neighbor into our group right after we got to the first house. This of course gave me the brilliant insight of getting together with others and going in a big group, we will have to try this next year. That is if there is any trick or treating next year. It seems as if that part of our heritage is going away. Every year participation gets less and less, both on the part of the givers and takers. This is another sign of the apocalypse. It just shows that we typically don't know our neighbors or communities. As we drift further apart, we will stop doing these kind of things. 

On to costumes!

T made up her own costume, it changed depending on the day. First she was a princess fairy. Then amid in a wig and dress and mask. Finally, for trunk or treat, she was herself. She is at that age where she wants to be a kid and everyone tells her she has to grow up and do things older kids do. All she wants is to go back in time and stay 5 forever. I like how reluctant she is about growing up, I hope it means she will learn to enjoy life as close to childlike as possible. No sense in rushing things. 

D went as the queen of hearts. She has no idea who that is, all she knows is it meant wearing hearts. It would have been funny to hear her saying, "Off with their head!" To her it was an excuse to wear a pretty dress and get candy. 

K was a cat. That is if you can call her that. She didn't wear her ears so she really looked like a little girl wearing a cat dress and the wig that was passed around from T. 

L wanted to be Spider-Man. We could not get him to wear his mask or gloves because, "It's hurting me." We tried a dearth mal costume we have In our closet and got the same response. So he went as Peter Parker in the process of changing. For trunk or treat, he fell into some mud and wanted out of his costume this meant he went around as himself. 

Me, I dressed as Obama. Not the dolled up version you see on TV. I went as his true self, Death. So if your not following, I was Death with an Obama mask. For those who like his policies and think I am insulting him and you take offense, you are right it was meant as in insult. Next year I am thinking of dressing like Jon McCain, does anyone have a donkey costume?

And the Wife dressed as an Arizona Cardinals fan. It's a stretch, but I think she pulls it off quite nicely.