Pumpkins, Pizza, Parables and Parties!

Pumpkin Parable:

Okay, this is more for the younger kids but I believe that any tradition you start that the kids enjoy young they will also enjoy as the grow older just because it's a "tradition" and that makes it fun!

Did you know carving a pumpkin is a perfect parable for our walk with God. First we are full of yuck, then he cleans us/forgives us and then he fills us with his light to shine and attract others to Him. Wow! Sounds so obvious once someone points it out huh? It may seem weird to turn carving a pumpkin into this but as I have shared so many times in the past if we are going to have symbols put in front of our faces all the time why not think of FUN ways to make them always draw our hearts and thoughts back to God. I can't guarantee where or how my kiddos will spend Halloween or Fall all their lives but I can bet you that it will be hard for them to ever carve a pumpkin when they are older and not think about the plan of Salvation!



So those are 2 books I highly recommend that are based on that concept to read as you empty out your pumpkin and learn about Salvation at the same time. We do it different each year. Sometimes we read each step of the story as we follow the process with our pumpkins and sometimes we read the book the day we plan on carving pumpkins with dad when he gets home. The first one is geared to I would say 2-5 year old and is written as a short rhyming story. While the second starts with a farmer lovingly planting, caring for the seed and is much more of a story. They both have verses on each page to go along with it as well.

Don't forget this is still supposed to be fun and simple... no being all serious and making them sit quietly around you while you read in monotone!

Also, since we are supposed to be lights for Christ my oldest daughter always carves a candle into one of our pumpkins... it's another fun reminder what this is all about and what we are called to be (a smiley face can be a good reminder too!). And don't forget scary pumpkins are very similar to that pagan festival I told you about a few posts ago.


Pumpkin Party:

If you have lots of energy this year then have a pumpkin carving party and let your kids invite friends over to join in on the fun... maybe invite some kids who don't come from Christian homes and this could be a way to introduce them to the gospel. Just don't do it over your tile without putting something down and don't let them put their feet in the pumpkins... you will be finding seeds all over for days to come... yes, I learned that lesson the hard way! And my husband did say "I told you so" about 50 times!



Or you could read the story and let them decorate a pumpkin instead (doesn't really reinforce the point but it's still fun). I know there are a lot of little ones (girls especially) who think cleaning out a pumpkin sounds super yucky!

And you can decorate pumpkin cupcakes with the theme... SMILE JESUS LOVES YOU!

Pumpkin Day:

So for us... we are turning pumpkin carving day into a holiday of it's own. We will have pizza, pumpkins, parables, pumpcakes and a family pumpkin party the week after we go to the pumpkin patch. I'm not up for making a huge event out of it but we might have to get another family involved to spread the love and the fun!

Let me know what you do!