October 31 – “Halloween is Back”

Halloween is back in Gulf Village.  Now, we weren't here, but it looked like a whole boatload of kids returned this year for the post-Ike return of Halloween.  Chris, Mom and I were at a wedding on the beach that started at 5:00.  But Nathan and April and Cailyn came over and acted as hosts for our house.  After the wedding we drove by on our way to the reception to see how things were going.  There were cars everywhere letting kids out.  Nathan and April said they hadn't seen many yet.  It was still light outside, though, and the little guys were just starting to move.  When we finally got home from the reception the lights were out and all the candy appeared to be gone.  It looked like a successful evening.   The wedding was a nice one.  The guy who plays violin in our praise team got married.  They incorporated several different cultural traditions in their ceremony, so it was fun to put together.  They did the traditional rings and vows.  But they also did the Mexican lazzo, or lasso.  An older relative couple placed a beautiful beaded loop around each of their necks.  It had a cross in the center to show Christ was the center of their relationship.  They also did a sand ceremony, where the moms poured different colored sand into an empty jar to symbolize the two families.  Then the bride and groom poured different colored sand yet into the same jar to show the union of their lives into something different and unique – something that can never be duplicated.  Then I put some sand from the beach into the jar to show the "God Housekeeping Seal of Approval."  Finally, everyone was given a small sand dollar when they arrived.  That sand dollar represented a prayer or good wish for the couple.  Each person was asked to think of one special prayer or wish, then throw the sand dollar into the water as if they were throwing the wish before the awesome and almighty God.  That was a new one to me, and it went over very well.   At the reception they put bowls of candy at each table and the children there were allowed to go from table to table trick or treating.  There was lots of dancing, and I heard they were going to break a piñata, but we had to leave before that happened.  Quite a Halloween comeback after last year's dark October following the storm.   1 Kings 8:22-23 says, "Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven 23 and said: 'O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below — you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.'"   Father,  there is none like you who would keep on putting up with us even when we don't continue wholeheartedly in your way.  Thank you.  Amen.