November 1 – “Reformation Day Remembrances”

Aaaaaand … another month has passed.  There was excitement in the Waco branch of the Vaughan household.  Caleb was beside himself with excitement.  Why?  Because baby Luke’s own personal “worm” finally fell off.  He now officially has a belly button like the rest of us, so I guess that makes him unquestionably human.  I’m excited, too, Caleb. 

Ah, Reformation Day.  It went well here on the Island, I suppose.  Not many cases of vandals nailing thing up on people’s doors, though.  Ever since I heard about Reformation Day, I always thought that particular brand of mischief would be especially appropriate.  But, sadly, so few people would understand the historical significance that it would just be lost in the array of nonsensical hooliganisms that generally accompany the Halloween season. 

We had a much smaller crowd this year than last.  I’m pretty sure the morning and afternoon of solid rain and thunder and flash flooding reports might have had just a little to do with it.  Oh, we still ran out of candy, make no mistake about that.  And we gave away 387 New Testaments, so that was a major plus.  We actually had two little guys dressed as firemen this year.  That has become my special treat costume.  The first little fire fighter got here just after I had greeted one of Galveston Fire Department’s captains who was out with his young son.  Oddly, the captain’s son was dressed as a police officer.  His Dad said the boy had told him he was tired of being a fireman.  Wanted to try something different.  So back to the little fireman.  This first one received an extra scoopful of candy.  His parents didn’t really understand my reasoning, but who were they to argue, right?  The second little fire fighter came much later, and I almost missed him.  His special prize was an Easter egg.  Think his parents didn’t wonder what that was about?  I made sure they understood that it was because of his choice of costume, and I’m pretty sure they will assist him in spending the three dollars bills I put inside. 

We could certainly have continued long past the 8:00 or so cutoff we established, but in deference to our neighbors, who were all turning out their lights and shutting down for the night, we responded in kind.  That didn’t stop the hangers-on, though.  We were still seeing folks traipsing around the neighborhood in the dark with very small children in tow until well past 9:30.  Much too late for the tiny ones.  Now it’s on to All Saint’s day, and preparations for Thanksgiving.  If we can avoid the Christmas decorations for another week or so. 

Psalms 118:25-26 says, “O Lord, save us; O Lord, grant us success.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you.”

Father, thanks for the fun our kids had realizing giving away Bibles is, well, fun.  Amen.