Showing posts with label Halloween. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Halloween. Show all posts

Friday, October 31, 2025

Halloween Pasts

I'm right here, in the middle, hanging out with my two buddies!  

I'm five and a half years old! 






My claim to fame was being spotted by a San Francisco Examiner reporter who invited me to do the twist! I was also on the evening news. That night, when I went out trick-or-treating, I felt like a true celebrity in my Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. What a fun memory!







Here I am just before I’m about to hit the neighborhood -  

you can tell I was feeling pretty cool! 😎


Since it's Friday night, the mischievous teens and young adults will be out and about -  terrorizing the streets with their loud music and favorite tunes, and embracing the spirit of not being a child anymore. 

Have a wonderful evening, whatever you choose to do! For us, it feels like any typical Friday night. With fewer kids around the last couple of years, our neighborhood has gone dark. There are so many fun alternatives for the children that parents seem to prefer.  From church harvest festivities and Trunk or Treat events in parking lots to parading through the local malls and nursing homes.


Believe me, the little children are not lacking in candy or dress-up fun. 


Debby


For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6;12

Thursday, October 23, 2025

Just a little this and that

Source: FORE

Guardian 

They’re back! 

Our Redding eagles 🦅 have arrived.  At this time of year, coming off their summer vacay in the high country, they're back home, cleaning up their nest - hauling in sticks to cozy up their love shack. This is where they will commence their mating rituals, and, well, you know... I never realized how passionate they could be! They really are the epitome of love birds. 

Egg laying won’t commence until late February through March.



Liberty returned to the nest for her first night - 

 Imagine, she comes into the nest and sees a mess! Probably wondering what the heck happened in here during her absence - the flurry of other birds and critters that have ventured into her nest - violating her carefully cultivated sanctuary. 

I know I wouldn't like it!


Without a doubt, her mate, Guardian, has quite the to-do list of 'honey do's' to tackle before the exciting journey of egg laying can begin!








Max the apple-head chihuahua

On Saturday, we attended "Civil War" days at a nearby park. They even had reenactments happening. It was my first experience with this. I’ll write about it in a couple of weeks. I still have a lot of posts and photos saved in my drafts. Just haven't found the time...



This adorable chihuahua was just the cutest. Although I'm usually a fan of larger dogs, this little fellow, Max, was incredibly soft, well-cared-for, and so affectionate. As a child, I had an apple head chihuahua named Sassy, whom I loved dearly. My sister and I would often dress her up. I recall she would bark quite a bit, was very protective, and was sassy.








No, this isn’t my latest picture - while taking our late afternoon stroll the other day,  we stumbled across a house that was adorned with an extravagant amount of Halloween decorations.






It's not really my preference, but it was fascinating to see all that they had and the lengths they went to for their decorations.





A unique fence - designed for establishing a graveyard. 








It’s funny to remember that my mom would stick up three cardboard cutouts of two jack-o'-lanterns and a witch! She used the same ones year after year. 

That was all there was to it, back then. 

Simple. 







I came across this information at BSF regarding Susie’s upcoming memorial. It has since been made public. I'm unsure if I will go. Events like these tend to make me quite emotional, and I prefer not to display those feelings in public. I'm sure it will be wonderful, featuring live Christian music and attendees from various places. Everyone cherished her.

I’ve added two more ladies to our BSF group, and that’s it. We meet in the Gym kitchen, and we’ve reached our limit. Too large a class, and we lose that intimacy. 





Our first winter storm is approaching this weekend. While we'll experience only rain, areas at 5000 feet and higher in elevation will see snowfall, which is typical. Both Mt Lassen and Mt Shasta are currently covered in snow. It's always a lovely view, typically seen in late September or October.

We really enjoy our rainy seasons up here! Following a long, scorching, dry summer, it's what rejuvenates our region after 7-8 months without rainfall. 

I'm planning to make some chili and bake. After this storm passes, we're looking at sunshine and mild temperatures until the next one comes in. 






There's magic happening on my backyard hill as the leaves of this tree start to transform. Meanwhile, the sweetgum trees in front of the house are still holding onto their green, waiting for their moment to shine. 





This tree is about to shed its leaves any moment now, likely right after this weekend's storm hits with the wind gusts. 






In the backyard, some flowers are still blooming. 

I never take them inside. I leave them there through the rainy season and will repot them in the spring. I've had this plant for several years now. 





My gerbera daisy always pleases me. 






A massive tomato plant is trying to choke out the Roses; however, we won't allow it to suffocate them. The tomato will get cut back.  The roses have been here for at least 25 years. They've endured more challenging times...





The last of the lavender for this year. It bloomed 3 times this year. 

Can you see the bee?







Yesterday, my husband went to the dentist about the tooth pain. So we're waiting on a referral to an Endodontist -  the nearest one that takes our insurance in Chico, about 50 miles from us.






When loyalty to country becomes loyalty to a lie, one teen risks everything to expose the truth. With the Gestapo closing in, he must decide what it really means to be a good German.

A couple of my friends from my BSF study recommended this movie, especially since we've been having discussions about persecution and suffering, so my husband and I decided to purchase tickets to watch it last night. It's a true story. Although we don't often go to the movies, we support films like these that educate and enlighten. 






Thursday, October 31, 2024

My Annual Halloween Dilemma


“I am glad that Christian parents let their children worship the devil at least one night out of the year. Welcome to Halloween.” 

Anton Le'Vay




Me - 3rd Grade





Halloween always held a special magic for me during my childhood. I vividly remember the thrill of dressing up in imaginative costumes, transforming into everything from a princess to a provocative flapper, and the excitement of trick-or-treating through the neighborhood with friends, collecting candy in our paper sacks or pillowcases. 





My Halloween Dilemma 


After I made the decision to accept Christ as my Lord and Savior, at age 30, I found myself grappling with the mixed messages I received from fellow Christians and various churches regarding Halloween. With a heart aflame for Jesus and a desire to grow in my faith as quickly as possible, I encountered a bewildering contrast. Some believers assured me that Halloween was perfectly acceptable to celebrate. This left me feeling confused and unsettled. While the Bible does not specifically mention Halloween, it does provide guidance on how we should strive to embody Christ-like qualities in our daily lives. It seemed unlikely that Jesus would partake in the festivities associated with Halloween, leading me to question the alignment of such celebrations with my newfound faith. 

  1. Romans 8:29 - This verse speaks about God's purpose for believers to be conformed to the image of His Son, indicating that being Christ-like is part of God's plan for us.

  2. 2 Corinthians 3:18 - Paul writes about believers being transformed into the image of Christ with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. This transformation is an ongoing process as we grow in our faith.

  3. Galatians 2:20 - Paul declares that he has been crucified with Christ and that it is no longer he who lives, but Christ lives in him. This verse highlights the believer's union with Christ and the new life that results from it.

  4. Ephesians 4:22-24 - These verses encourage believers to put off the old self and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. This reflects the new identity and nature we have in Christ.

  5. Colossians 3:10 - Paul speaks about putting on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. This renewal is part of becoming more Christ-like in our thoughts and actions.

These scriptures serve as a powerful reminder that embodying a Christ-like character is not a matter of relying solely on our own efforts or strength. Instead, it is about fully embracing and expressing the new identity we've received through our faith in Him. This transformation is made possible through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, who guides and sustains us in our journey to reflect His love and grace in our daily lives.




As a young believer, I wrestled with my convictions regarding Halloween. Though I had my doubts and reservations, I ultimately succumbed to the pressure and allowed my boys to celebrate the holiday. Deep down, it never sat well with me. I didn't want my children to miss out on the excitement and what I had experienced as a child - simply because I was steadfast in my beliefs. I always had a nagging sense of guilt that weighed heavily on my conscience. I felt like a hypocrite, caught between my faith and my desire for my boys to enjoy their childhood. 

I often find myself reflecting on how difficult it might be if I were to have grandchildren feeling the way I do—would I find the courage to take a stand even knowing that it could potentially alienate them? In times like this, I am thankful I do not have grandchildren. 






Last Year 



And, Wouldn't You know it...


After my sister passed away, I found myself the unexpected owner of Munster's Hawthorne Village, a charming collection of miniature buildings that I inherited in pristine condition. My husband loves it. I didn't display it this year, perhaps next year, so the struggle is real. 







Last Year







Last year 

My sweet daughter-in-law gave me this placemat, and I turned it into a pillow. 
I didn't display it this year. 




 


It's incredibly challenging when I want to take a firm position but it feels like everyone else is moving in a different direction, viewing me as a stick in the mud who refuses to embrace the fun. 


 Oh well…

Until Next Time,

Debby


PS

Plus I’m studying Revelation and the seven churches so that had me thinking as well. 






 

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