At Considerable Cost

I think this year was the first one I remember when there was not a single message about Halloween posted on the server for our Catholic mom's prayer group.   There was one article posted on the Facebook group page, but no arguments ensued on the main e-mail server.   That was nice.   We'll see how we get through girl scout cookie season.   And no new Harry Potter novels or movies, so that shouldn't come up, either. My memories of Halloween contain no gore, no horror movies.   I looked forward to the huge hot dog and marshmallow roast at our friends' house.   Dressing up was fun and it was the only time I got to wear make-up during my elementary school years.    That was back in my pre-Catholic days.   Pre-baptism of any kind days.   The only people I knew who didn't celebrate Halloween were Protestants who thought the holiday evil because of its Catholic origins/connections.   I w...

The children had such a fun night Sunday.   We live in a very quiet neighborhood, where many of our neighbors are retirees who enjoy seeing our children dressed in their costumes.   In the past, we've used the same costumes for both All Hallow's Eve and All Saint's Day, but this year, we gave the girls the chance to choose separate costumes if they wanted them. Joey and I have such sweet, simple memories of trick-or-treating.   I also have special memories of the annual hot dog roast held at Mrs. Carmel's house.   Her children and I would watch the pile of limbs grow over the month of October.   I looked forward to that special evening for weeks and the taste of toasted marshmallows still takes me back to those times.   Our children made similar sweet memories this year! An angel, Minnie Mouse, and a friendly gator! Ready to head out!  Then came Monday night and the big celebration of All Saint's Day...