We’re not doing Halloween this year. Lydia is just too fearful. And I’m just too tired to deal with screams over cotton spiderwebs. I’ve been thinking about it a lot and if you’re interested, there are some SUPER FAB posts by some SUPER FAB guest bloggers (and one by moi) about Halloween over at Impress Your Kids. Seriously, good stuff.

So, in light of my NON-Halloween-ness, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to join in with Mary’s Giving Up on a Perfect Halloween. (By the way do you read Mary’s blog, Giving Up On Perfect? Well, you should. She is delightful.)

I’ve been wanting to share this for oh, 14 years now. Please indulge me as I share the

BEST IDEAS I’VE EVER HAD ABOUT BIBLICAL HALLOWEEN COSTUMES.

Tell me that is not a hilarious title. I’m giggling already.

Here goes:

1. Lazarus: an unraveling mummy with a name tag that says “Hello! My Name is Lazarus!” (see John 11)

photo by ittiebittiesforyou

2. Lot’s Wife: dress completely in white, paint face white and carry a salt shaker. Or randomly freeze. (see Genesis 19)

photo by zen

3. Plagued Egyptian: dress in standard Egyptian garb but also attach plastic bugs (see Exodus 7-11)

4. Jonah: Dress in tattered Bible-time clothes but add a little seaweed sticking out and maybe rub on some fish smell, too. (see Jonah 1-2)

photo by bibliona

5. Delilah: Bible-time outfit while holding a big pair of scissors and maybe even a few more beauty parlor supplies in tow. You know, kind of Bible Costume meets Frenchy:

photo found at thegoldencloset.com

6. Baby Bible Heroes. There are just so many great babies…let’s see Moses in the basket (cut a hole in the bottom of a basket and wear it with suspenders), baby Jesus (swaddling clothes, anyone?), baby Jacob & Easau (you know, if you were twins, one could be hairy and the other…not hairy) or even young Joseph with a technicolor coat.

photo by catheyse97

7. Adam and Eve. Pre-sin. KIDDING. (see Genesis 2:25)

So, if I was super-spiritual or was looking for a few eye-rolls from every non-Bible-believin’ person I knew, those are the costumes I’d choose. You know I’m kidding right? (Except for Lazarus. That one IS pretty funny.)

If you’ve got a funny Halloween story to share, link up with Mary. She’s giving away PRIZES!!

Giving Up on a Perfect Halloween: 7 Bible Halloween Costumes is a post from: ohamanda.com

I have always loved valentines. When I was little they had perforated edges and tissue paper thin envelopes. Now they come with shiny stickers and holographic words, but still they are delectable. Tiny little cards with yummy illustrations.

The day after Valentine’s Day I always hit up Walgreen’s or whoever has everything for 75% off. Then I look at the valentines to see which ones do NOT have the word “Valentine” on them. Lots of them are pretty non-lovey-dove and say stuff about being best friends or give sweet compliments.

Then I use them as fun greeting cards the rest of the year…

• fill an envelope with five or six and then mail for a fun treat
• drop in your kids’ lunch
• hide in your hubby’s coat pocket or briefcase
• tape to your kids’ mirror as a special surprise if you have to leave while they’re still asleep
• use as a notecard when dropping off food or returning something to a friend
• use as a bag tag for a gift

This is a cheap and cute way to brighten up anyone’s day! And oh, my favorite Valentine ever? Well, I’ve been saving these since 1994. You have to be very special to get one of these bad boys…

(stop by shannon‘s for more great tips!)

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Use Kid’s Valentines As Greeting Cards! is a post from: ohamanda.com

When we were Children’s Pastors in Birmingham, I wrote a two week lesson about Thanksgiving. It was entitled, “Thanks and Giving”. I have no idea what it entailed. But the title always stuck with me. (Did I make that title up? Or did I steal it? I hope I made it up. It’s catchy.) I want my Thanksgiving season to be filled with THANKS and GIVING.

So, this year, I am trying to do the same with Lydia. Last week we did GIVING. Our church collected 12 tons of canned food for a local charity. We gave about 8 of those cans. We made a very big deal about collecting and giving those cans to the people that needed it. (You can see the pics here.) Lydia was so excited and proud to bring her canned veggies to church!

This week is THANKS. So, to help Lydia focus on being thankful, we made a Thankful Countdown Turkey. Creative title, huh? And it just so happens to be a great craft to link up with the Fall Impressions carnival Leigh and I are hosting over at our blog, Impress Your Kids! (Was that a great commercial or what?!)

First I cut a huge piece of brown craft paper. (That was the best purchase ever. It’s like 300 yards long. I’m going to have it forever!) Then a little bowling pin shaped turkey body.  I let Lydia cut out the beak and I cut out the gobble. We glued on some wiggly eyes and our turkey was ready!

Then, I cut out fourteen feathers from assorted colored construction paper.

But we didn’t glue ANY of the feathers to our turkey. We chose one feather and I asked Lydia, “What are you thankful for? What do you really like that you could say thank you for?” She said, “I like flowers.”

So, I wrote flowers. She drew some great flowers..er, uhm some colored lines.

Then we attached it to our turkey and then hung the whole thing up on the wall.

Over the next 13 days, we’re going to pick a feather each day and write down something we’re thankful for on each one. By the time Thanksgiving arrives, our little turkey will be sporting some beautful feathers and we’ll have documented everything we’re thankful for!

Hopefully, Lydia gets the gist of it. I’m excited to see our little turkey and it’s thankful feathers grow!

(To see more fun Thanksgiving-ish crafts, visit Impress Your Kids. And if you’ve got a cool craft to share, link up!)

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don’t forget about my giveaways: tummy time safari, $50 to bn.com, anthropologie s&p shakers and a shutterfly print pack.
I’m going to announce the winners on Saturday…or Sunday…soon.

Thanks & Giving is a post from: ohamanda.com