Pumpkins, Lions, & Palm Trees

You know why I enjoy Halloween? I enjoy Halloween because it's a night where we come out of our four walls, into the streets, and experience a sense of community among our neighbors. The kids look adorable and the candy isn't so bad either, haha. I do find it very odd that probably only one house out of the homes in our whole neighborhood who decorated for Halloween didn't decorate their house with gory, bloody figures everywhere! Geez Louise! When we went on our power walk around the neighborhood this week, Jude and I had to dodge a skull with a knife in the eye hanging from a tree. Haha! In Tennessee, I feel like more often you'd see mums, pumpkins, corn stalks, scare crows,  and gourds as decorations. These poor kids were scared last night, haha! 

We enjoyed trick-or-treating with the Elliott's this year and as Desire Church! It was an unusually cool and pleasant evening. Blake and I agreed that last night was one of the best memories we've made here in SoFlo. You can't beat great company, hugs, honest and uplifting conversation, good belly laughs, meeting new faces by the dozen, sweet children running around, a soothing Florida breeze...and chocolate! There are countless blessings to be thankful for. I remember poor Jude sweating in his costume last Halloween...

 We did something a little different this Halloween. We set up a little tent as Desire Church to hand out hot dogs, candy, drinks, and basically to just love on people. Last year, we saw how a local church plant handed out free hot dogs, candy with their church logo on it, and drinks and we admired how they took advantage of an opportunity to spread the love of Jesus, love on their neighbors and happen to get their church name out. We (the ladies) were a little skeptical about handing out hot dogs but people actually went crazy over them! See, trick-or-treating here in SoFlo is like one giant block party. We noticed that most people didn't stay in their homes, wait for the doorbell to ring, and go back inside. I guess since it's so nice outside, everyone just camped outside. It was so much fun! 

As a church, our desire is to invite people into a true community where they can find their purpose, hope, and grace in Christ. I enjoyed meeting some really sweet and scary looking children along with their proud, grinning parents. I caught myself thinking about how some of these children may not know the Lord, most likely are going home to broken families, and how they long to know that they're loved. I pray they see Jesus all around them!

My favorite costumes of the night! I respect the fact that these kids knew who Steve Urkel is and that they possibly watch "Family Matters." Haha!

Liam, looking fierce!

Katie's beautiful wreath added a nice touch to this grumpy lion picture. You can't blame him for not wanting to cuddle with me with all that candy waiting! Although, he didn't actually eat any of it...yet. On the other hand, little lady Herron was hungry. ;) 
This would be shots of us pretend trick-or-treating while singing, "If you're happy and you know it, say hooray!" I can't believe we are 25 weeks pregnant. Little lady will be here before we know it!


Daddy's turn to sing :)

Jude would NOT sit still unless we were moving, haha! 

Time to go get some candy! Katie and I matched and didn't even plan it

CANDY!

Our pumpkin carving party on the back porch.... GO VOLS! I'm watching them play right now! (this is random but that's what blogs are for, right?) As a child who grew up in Knoxville (home of the VOLS for you silly Florida friends) I always thought that anything orange had to do with the football team. For example, all the extra orange around Halloween, orange caution cones, and the orange and white construction barrels on the interstate. Haha! I miss living in a football town. 

Blake is so talented at carving pumpkins! Silly Jude didn't want anything to do with it...