Happy Hallowe'en

What fun we had this year! We have missed the Halloween/All Saints party we used to have every year in Yakima, so this year, with two other Catholic homeschooling families on base, we had a party. With popcorn balls, apples, donuts, cider,


an echo story, a Saint walk (like a cake walk but with Saints' names instead of numbers), find a Saint for your costume, and Saint tag.

Blessed Theresa of Calcutta

On Friday, the kids carved pumpkins while I made their costumes. Katie was able to supervise and did a lot of the carving. I helped out with the tricky bits.

Joseph had this design in mind when he picked out his pumpkin. "I need a tall, thin pumpkin, Mom," he said, although he wouldn't say why. Thankfully, we found just the right one at the commissary.

"I'd like a face," Matthew told Katie.

After carving, the kids put their costumes on and we headed over to the base for a quick dinner with John. Then we were off trick-or-treating among friends, neighbors, and the crowd of Japanese children who are invited to participate. Many organizations sponsor groups of children from the local community. The Navy unit where John works brings a group of children from a nearby orphanage each year. It's a bit crazy, but lots of fun.

Little John, Will Scarlet, and Robin Hood

Even when the kids don't choose Saint costumes for Halloween, they come up with Saints who are related to the costumes they choose. Katie found St. John the Evangelist (the beloved disciple) for Little John, who was Robin Hood's dearest follower. Matthew chose St. Martin de Porres, mostly because he likes the Glory Story, but Katie pointed out that St. Martin was a faithful friend of Jesus, like Will Scarlet was to Robin Hood. Joseph came up with St. Edmund Campion because he was a fugitive from the law in England as Robin Hood was. It's fun to think of these relationships between Saints and the costumes we choose. I hope it also keeps the true purpose of this holiday, the Eve of All Saints Day, at the forefront of our celebration.

This year, we even ran across the Hardy Boys during our trek around the base. I'll have to ask Patrick which Saint he thought of for Joe Hardy.

"For God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to bring to light the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of Christ."
2 Corinthians 4:6