Happy Halloween!
Although I do not like this "holiday" it's been overall pretty fun this year. For a few years now, my daughter has insisted I dress up with her. I really fought this for a awhile. I grew up trick or treating, dressing up, and had a blast. I dressed up some with my son when he was little and even once or twice as a young adult going to adult Halloween parties. At some point, I had not really forgotten the fun parts of Halloween but also how much fun it was to have a few hours to pretend/dress up. This year, I had both my daughters pushing to dress up and have some fun on Halloween. So, I did. We also took time to carve pumpkins, something we hadn't done for years. Since the Midwestern weather decided to turn to crap, we had our own little party at home...lots of music, dancing, a LOT of candy, pizza, and the most fun I've had for a while.
My kids. What can you say about 3 young people that are your world? My son and youngest daughter have been my reason for so many things in my life. Doing what I think is best for them, showing them how to handle themselves not only in differences but also in life generally. Then almost 3 months ago, what began as our foreign exchange student and has fully become the oldest of my girls. I love her just as much if she had been biologically mine. She has not only become part of my family, but is such an amazing addition to it. The 3 kids have blended beautifully together, the 5 of us have become a permanent family even though our Italian daughter will not be staying with us forever.
Let me go into the exchange student thing, for a bit. While our experience has been such a remarkable journey, we've heard so many stories that have not, not to mention there being so much more to hosting than just "welcoming them to your family, providing them meals and a place to sleep." My advice, get to know your student long before they arrive in the states, be upfront with everything when talking to them, truly welcome them into your home and family, be open to learning about your student, their family, their lifestyle at home, be prepared for the their first month in your home(it's a major learning curve for you both), understand before you accept hosting a student that there are requirements for these students while they are here(some more than others), be prepared for some of the required activities they must attend...it will screw up your schedules. I whole heartedly believe that my experience so far has been one that is amazing and wonderful. It's not to say that having to allow strangers into your home to check on your student, even when they are happy, is not irritating; or that them being required to attend events even when they have no interest is not ridiculous in my eyes. I've heard stories of students trying to changing host families because of issues and they are having one issue after another, yet the ones doing well are constantly being contacted. I don't understand all the logistics and I really don't care to. I just know that our host daughter has become another one of my kids. She is happy, adjusting great, content being with us in our little country home, and when she's not required to be at the school, she loves being home with us. So, there is a lot more B.S. involved but, I can say I have have been blessed with another daughter in this experience and we may be giving her an exciting opportunity; she has given us so much more.
So, we all know it's Halloween, but this morning we woke up to about 6" of snow!!! I can't remember having snow on Halloween since I was a kid! Waking up to snow, just gave me a bigger shove to wanting to get my Christmas decorations out and up! Fortunately, I think everyone in my house is on board with that, even if they aren't...they are smart enough not to say otherwise! :) I get a lot of grief because my decorations start going up November 1st. The thing is, they are beautiful and warm, welcoming, and they make me happy! One friend, said he doesn't put his stuff up till it snows...guess what bud?! It's October and it snowed! LOL!!! Sorry, B! Had to!!!
I'm anxious for Christmas this year, as every year....but this year I have the 3 kids to enjoy! We don't go overboard with gifts, ever, and this year will not be any different. I try to get gifts that are meaningful to each person we buy for. Things I know they need, one or 2 things they really want, something to encourage them to keep learning, and usually one or two that encourage them to have fun. My youngest is my artist/musician. She's got the dolls, Barbie's, and horses but art and music have increasingly taken over her interests. I encourage her to keep trying new things. My son has become a little more difficult, since he is older. His list of wants exceeds my spending limits usually, but I think I have some great ideas for this year. My adopted daughter has been a little more difficult, especially since she shows me things, but then ends up buying them! I have a few things already bought for each of them, and have several ideas for her too.
As Christmas shopping goes, it becomes very expensive when you have extended families that keep growing. We had to stop buying for each of our family members years ago. What began as wanting to give to each person something carefully selected, became a burden of buying gifts that took too much money from a very limited budget and wasn't fun. I would stress over buying gifts(because I love to give) and not having enough to cover the bills. So we cut out almost all gift giving, aside from our immediate family. I'd love to see each of our families be able to do more of a name drawing for exchanging gifts that everyone spending foolishly to buy for everyone else. Most of us have what we need and want anyway. I tried making some baked goods to give to family for Christmas and that went over like a lead balloon. So, we stopped all together. I love to give gifts, but spending time with family and friends is the best gift of all!
Every year, we have a Christmas Open House. I spend days upon days, cooking and baking. I love our open house. It's been a way to get family, friends and neighbors together for the holiday; to visit, enjoy some "gifts" made with love and care, and to be reminded of the good ole days when this was a common occurrence. It may seem to be an antique idea, but honestly, it's so enjoyable. I think even more so in these times when everyone seems to constantly be too busy to take time to just visit instead of texting or messaging. It's a time for true human interaction and most of the time, there isn't a phone to be seen!
As my favorite 2 months of the year begin, I will begin my decorating today and the planning for the Christmas Open House, some baking thrown in for good measure, some Christmas music, Hallmark movies, and finishing my Christmas shopping before Black Friday! I want to encourage everyone over the next 2 months to be a blessing. There are some out there that are struggling. Spend an extra $5 or $10 during your grocery shopping to donate to your local food banks, pay for someone's coffee or meal without saying a word, volunteer to help in a local soup kitchen, buy a gift for your local angel tree, donate toiletries to your local food banks(they always need these). Above absolutely everything else, the next 2 months, put your phone down or your computer away and enjoy those around you. Time passes so quickly, our kids grow and leave the nest so fast, our family members are not here permanently. Every single one of us is guilty of bringing our work home, spending too much time online, or making excuses to have our phones front and center in our lives. Put them away! Enjoy the time with your kids, your spouse, your extended family, or your close friends. There is absolutely nothing online or in that phone that should mean enough to cause you to ignore family or friends when they in the same room. Let's get back to having common courtesies, human contact more than internet connections. Put those phones away while you are driving. You may not care if you wreck but your inability to concentrate strictly on driving could hurt or worse, someone who wants to live and has a family waiting for them to come home.
So, as we exit October and begin a new month, I am looking forward to my most favorite times of the year. Even with a few plans being upended already, I suppose I will try to make the best of it all. Goodbye October! See you next year!
Blessings to all,
Salli
