Celebrating the 4th….

We are so happy to announce that, in His time, the Lord has chosen the perfect addition to our family!

{finally! :) } 

More details to come! 

Blessing Box

Last weekend my mom whisked me and my sister away for my birthday to the Women of Faith conference in CT.

This was my first official time leaving Adalyn!

I had left her one other time before in February, but that's when Mr. B and I had the stomach bug and my mom came to rescue her so I feel like that time didn't really count seeing as how my time away was spent with the toilet.

Mr. B happened to be away this weekend too so I was leaving Adalyn with my dad and my brothers. 

Cue slight panic attack.

But here's the thing...my dad is a...dad.

Of four.

So I'm pretty sure he can handle a couple days with a toddler. 

My eyes only watered when saying goodbye and the rest of the time I did great!

Oh yeah, and so did she.

And my dad. 

It definitely helped that I was busy with awesome worship by Gateway Worship

great speakers

Angie Smith- blogger celebrity. 

She's our good friend... she just doesn't know it yet. 

Cece Winans brought down the house.

Junk food was consumed.

Unfortunately extra sleep wasn't had. 

That's a definite complaint I have about these conferences.

Hello WOMEN of faith.

MOMS of Faith.

TIRED moms of faith who would love nothing more than to sleep in in a nice dark hotel room. 

C'mon now. 

Can I get an amen?!

Anyways, the next day consisted of more speakers, more awesome worship and a little Third Day concert. 

We finished off our time away with a yummy steak dinner at Texas Roadhouse. 

It was a fun and refreshing time away! 

There's a first time for everything and now I think I can handle a full weekend away sans Adalyn. 

My dad also did a fantastic job at keeping me updated which helped a lot!

He was always texting me pictures, videos or sharing little stories.  

He was in heaven and it was the sweetest thing.

Through this time away I realized how much of a blessing it is for me to give this time to others to be with Adalyn without me- it's nice for everyone. 

It was a special time for them and they all loved it! 

We ended up getting home a little earlier than expected so with that and daylight savings I was able to soak up time with my girl before bed. 

We spent the night at the farm and then I got to wake up to her excited for church and singing her favorite worship song.

{She stopped singing when I recorded, but started back up :) }

Talk about blessed, right?!

Blessed to have an awesome dad who was so very willing to watch Adalyn and soak that one on one time with her. 

Blessed by that time away with my mom and sister.

Blessed to be surrounded my so many women of faith {no pun intended...}

Blessed by a time of worship with so many believers.

Blessed by the words the Lord put on the heart of the speakers.

Blessed by these opportunities! 

What have you been blessed by this week?? Grab the code, link up and share! 

<a href="http://smelly-life.blogspot.com/"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3SqkyEDGYIhjgNOxjZigNPkgAiQ3m9FVn_eTeCXDRLOqr87IAIn2uLYNM14ZjQPJZvJ1Rhz1QJTxCnnaL2kO8DFjFQsGR-I8RcNinirzTXpDv2C4yY5SQoRNC5Mghf1DB8t9KdDIURU/s320/the+blessing+box+10.jpg" width="320"></a>

Why We Don't Celebrate Halloween.

I've been praying, researching and thinking about what I want this post to say.

 About how I want this post to be received. 

 It's a post that I knew I wanted to write. 

It's an issue that I'm passionate about. 

 It's a day that challenges me. 

 My parents became Christians when I was in elementary school and from that point on we no longer participated in Halloween activities.
 Overtime, especially now as a mom, my feelings towards this holiday have only been confirmed.


I know I'm in the minority.
I know this is not a popular stance.
I know I might offend.
But I want to share what's on my heart
and explain why we've made this decision. 

 I had originally planned and hoped that I could just find another blog post about this issue that would perfectly execute, better than I could, why we, as a Christian family, don't participate Halloween.

 I did find one article that I felt shared what's on my heart and what I believe and I will quote a few lines at the end. 

 But much to my surprise {I'm still in shock} there wasn't much out there. 

 How could this be?? 

How is this holiday accepted by so many Christians?

 I won't go on and on about the origin of this holiday
 {but if you don't know it, I'd encourage you to read it}.

 Instead I just want to state the facts. 

The facts that feed my strong conviction to not participate. 

 Halloween was created to not only celebrate the coming of winter, but celebrate and commune with the dead - it is a holiday filled with spirits, superstitions and fear. 

 Jack-o-laterns were intended to scare off evil spirits. 

 Costumes were worn to divert ghosts.

Treats were left out to calm unwelcome spirits.

I realize that due to the commercialization of the holiday, the origin and traditions tend to be forgotten and pushed to the side. 

 I get it. 


But as much as I've heard it said that it's just about cute costumes and candy, I can't ignore the fact that many still celebrate as the holiday was intended.

 Halloween is an opportunity, and one of the main days, for some to embrace the dark side of the spiritual world. 

  

As much as we may not like it to be, even with one search on google, this darkness is seen.

A drive down our street, darkness is seen.

(via)

A trip to the party store, darkness is seen. 

{via}

A family day at the pumpkin patch, darkness is seen. 

Last week on our weekend away, we went to a pumpkin patch.

Adalyn was walking behind me and I turned to hold her hand and I saw her look up in the tree and then look at me with a look of fear in her eyes. 

I looked in the tree and what do I see? 

{via}

I just don't see why, as a Christian, I want anything to do with a holiday that celebrates that. 

It broke my heart when I saw Adalyn's face after seeing that. 

And I know it was only a glimpse into our future of all the other things of this evil world that I wish I could hide her from that I can't. 

When I look at this.

When I look at the reality of Halloween.

When I look at how Halloween is typically celebrated- even with its origin and the rituals of witchcraft aside- I ask myself, is this a holiday that brings honor to God?

Is it glorifying God?

Here are some other facts. 

Halloween celebrates darkness, evil and death. 

I celebrate the God who gives life.

*Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” (Luke 20:38)

*The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

What the holiday represents is detestable to the Lord.

 And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, ¹¹ or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. ¹² Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. (Deut. 18:10-12)

I am called to abstain from the appearance of evil.

Abstain from every form of evil. (1 Thess. 5:22) 

I am called to be set apart. 

* Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.(Rom 12:2)

*But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Pet. 2:9)

*Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Cor. 5:17)

*If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (Col. 3:1)

I am a child of light.

* You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness (1 Thes. 5:5)

*8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord.11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. (Eph. 5:8-11)

To me it's clear. 
God is of light.
Halloween is of darkness. 
Therefore, as a child of light, I want no part in this darkness.

There are some Christians who take a missional approach to participating in Halloween.
My personal belief is that there are other ways to reach the lost on this day without funding or participating in these events. 

It all boils down to personal conviction.
Do I think little kids in costumes are cute?
Yes!
But for our family Halloween is the perfect opportunity to teach Adalyn that we are called to be different.
We are called to not be of the world. (1 Jn 2:15)
We are called to be as a city on a hill. (Matthew 5:14-16)
This is a biblical principle that, through this holiday, can easily be instilled at a young age and an opportunity that comes around every year. 
I find more value in that than any other Halloween festivity.
She can dress up any day.
She can have candy any day.
But on this day she will learn ways to be bold in her faith.
She will have an opportunity to explain why she doesn't go trick or treating.
Why she's not dressing up as her favorite character.
A day that she will be set apart.
Because she is called to be.
Because she is a child of light. 


I know we can't avoid the darkness in this world, but that doesn't mean I am going to
celebrate in this holiday of darkness. 

I'm all for alternatives that put the focus on Jesus.
I'm all for celebrating Reformation Day.
I'm all for a special family night.
I'm all for "treating" neighbors or families in need.

For us, we look forward to a fun family night on October 31st. 
We go out for dinner and play at a local play place.
Making memories, having fun and praising the Lord that He has overcome evil.
He has conquered death! 

I'll finish this post with a quote from one of the articles I read that I feel is spot on.

"Ephesians 5:1 tells us to be imitators of God. Our Lord Jesus would not go to a party to honor the feast of the Samhain. Moses did not come down from Mount Sinai and combine the Israelites Passover holiday with the idol worship that was going on. Allowing children to dress as witches and sorcerers or hanging evil decorations in our windows is imitating that which is evil.

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people. Therefore Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)

The verse says, “come out from among them, says the Lord.” Does that mean come out from among them–but don’t deprive your children from all that fun and candy — celebrate the same pagan ritual in your church building? The Bible is very clear about Christians being involved in such celebrations. "

At the end of the day I think it's important to ask 

"Does this holiday honor the Lord?"

I think the answer is pretty clear....absolutely not!

I think it's important to look beyond the cute costumes and candy, look beyond the feelings of being "left out" and focus on something of greater importance- something the Lord has entrusted us with as parents- to raise up a generation that is not of this world, that is not ashamed, that chooses to be different and that stands firm in their faith.