Boo! 👻

Yesterday was Halloween! I have a lot of fun and happy memories of Halloween…trick-or-treating with cousins and my Dad and Uncle Alex, until our bags were full and we’d walked every street in our neighborhood. I enjoyed picking out a costume or making one up. I used to like those stupid inflatable scary costumes that you’d wear on your head and then you’d paint your face! Hilarious…I’ve always really enjoyed Halloween.

After I married Jason and we got a house, we started having Halloween parties. Some years we have lots of family and friends. Other years it’s a smaller group. Some years there have been lots of little kids and some years, like this year, not so much. I still enjoy seeing everyone who does come. It’s fun to decorate and watch The Great Pumpkin and other movies. It’s fun to see some of the outfits the kids wear. It seems there aren’t a lot of trick-or-treaters lately, but we still seem to run out of candy.

I miss my family and friends when they can’t come, but I know I’ll see them again soon. Lately, I’ve learned you have to focus on being thankful for what’s in front of you. So today, I’m glad my sister made it, even if it was only for an hour. She’s still here with us as she, her husband, and daughter walk a hard road. We pray every day that she’ll get what she needs and look for ways to help where we can.

I’m thankful my Aunt could join us again and wanted to come and asked for a ride. She is such a good example of someone who loves her sisters and is kind and compassionate. I missed seeing her boys, but I’m glad she was here with us.

I’m thankful that my daughter still wants to watch The Great Pumpkin with us. I’m thankful her godparents could stop by and play bingo, eat food, and chat for a while.

I’m thankful my mom could come. I remember after my Dad passed away six years ago, the last place she wanted to be was a Halloween party, but she came anyway and has come every year since.

I’m thankful our friends, the Gates, could come and that their daughter was able to trick-or-treat for a little bit with my niece. I’m thankful for Jason, who organized games and called Bingo, even though he might have been a little sad that his family had other plans and couldn’t be here.

I could be sad about who didn’t come, or I can be thankful for who did come. Since this is a blog about thankfulness, I choose to be thankful.

Many years ago, we lost our Baby P just before Halloween, on October 23rd. We still had our party because I wanted to be with my family and friends. It always brings me comfort and peace to be around them, and it was true that Halloween, too.

I’m also thankful for another giant pumpkin! We’ve grown two of them this year, totally unexpectedly, and I guess sometimes the unexpected is the better thing.

So, for Halloween parties, the people who were able to come, and giant pumpkins! I Give Thanks!

Running…going ok…think we’ve gotten a smidge faster…still on the search for shoes that are good with my orthotics…it’s been a battle to find them…but KOR!