Carving Pumpkins

We invited some friends over for dessert on Saturday and decided to carve pumpkins!
I started out carving one, but decided to give our friend, Matt, the knife instead.
Before we started carving, I read the book The Pumpkin Patch Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs. It tells the story of a farmer planting pumpkin seeds, him waiting patiently for them to grow, how each pumpkin has it's own special shape and design, and how he carves them to display God's glory. (The parable explains that God takes away our sin--the yuck and gunk like inside the pumpkin, He changes us--giving us a new face, and then He shines His light through our lives!)
Jenna was all about the gross mess on the inside of the pumpkin. Asa, on the other hand, wanted absolutely nothing to do with it. He really dislikes getting sticky! (messy, he doesn't mind, but sticky or slimy...no sirree!)
Rylee liked pulling out the pumpkin guts. I think she understood the symbolism best.
Matt was showing his oldest daughter the insides. She wasn't so thrilled with the idea of reaching her hand inside either.One rule around our house at Halloween-time--nothing scary. We don't want to focus on the scary stuff. No ghosts, witches, goblins, skeletons, or blood and guts. We don't think it's healthy for the age of our kids and we don't think it honors the Lord. But, we do talk about death. It's a reality. And, for those of us who have placed our hope in Christ, it shouldn't be something that's scary!
After Jenna carved her happy-faced pumpkin, she insisted on kissing it! She was pretty silly the entire night, which is typical if you know Jenna.

Chocolate Lover?

I'm not that great of a writer. So, today I'm pointing you to several other blogs and writings. First, I read about chocolate on Heather's blog. Then, I watched the trailer to the movie "The Dark Side of Chocolate" (also on Heather's blog). Then, I hopped over to Mama Manifesto to read her post on chocolate.
Basically, the chocolate we know and love is largely produced by child labor. I'm not okay with that. Heather's writing today really challenged me. I can say "I'm just one person" and go on buying my chocolate as usual. Or, I can realize that every voice counts--including mine.
One commenter on Heather's blog referenced the tuna industry and how some companies were killing dolphins until the public uprising caused the companies to change their policies after they were boycotted.
I know Hershey's well. We lived in Harrisburg, the town right next to Hershey. I've taken their factory tour (a little simulation thing), gone to Hersheypark (an amusement park there), gave birth to my first three babies at Hershey Medical Center, and worked for Milton Hershey School. And, I happen to really like their candy!

But, can I keep eating it? This is hard. I really like chocolate. I like cheap prices. I've been doing couponing for a few months now and sometimes I get stuff FREE. Give up free chocolate?
But, Heather makes a very compelling argument. Now that I know can I just ignore reality?

I think the statement I like most from Heather's blog is this:

I've read a ton about Halloween lately...who is for it, who is against it. Blogland fills up with posts taking sides on this issue. Halloween is as hotly debated as predestination. But I just wonder, if maybe Christians are totally missing the point. Here we are arguing about whether dressing up like a cowboy is satanic when the real issue might be that Christians everywhere will be buying chocolate in mass quantities this month, and the groans and the cries of enslaved children will be filling the heavens. God promises He hears them when they cry out. And who has those children's blood on their hands? Us. We can lick the chocolate off, but the blood is still there. God have mercy on your people, we can be so incredibly stupid.

Thoughts? You can lick the chocolate off, but the blood will still be there. WOW!

An Upcoming Conference

If you're in the DFW area, I encourage you to join us in attending this conference on adoption.

Right now, more than 3,500 legal orphans in the Texas foster care system are waiting for adoptive families. Texas has more than 25,000 churches, and God has given clear commands for Christians to take care of His orphan children.

So if the command is clear and the need is apparent,
why are these kids still waiting?

We want to find out more information and also learn how we can support our friends who are going through the process of adopting a child from foster care right now. I think the members of the church should all learn as much as possible. Scripture is pretty clear on the subject.

Click here for the conference website.