October is the most amazing month… Ahhcotober!

Normally at the end of October I reflect on an awesome entry to the Christmas season… I am excited about the leaves changing, the colorful pumpkins, the ritual of decorating … the month of October is so exciting!  As I mentioned before, I don’t “Countdown” because I am there already – the season is where I want to be.  I have several birthday’s to celebrate in October… my granddaughter, two of my daughters, my mother’s and even my own; I put huge focus on the Hallmark Ornament Premiere and then I put things in order for Halloween.  Of course once Halloween is over… at 12:01am on November 1^st I am preparing for Christmas.   Last year, Halloween was dampened – literally!  We had a snowstorm that nearly ruined the “children’s candy feast”… luckily, we were able to salvage some of the decorations, but it was still cold and wet and the kids had to maneuver through snow to get to each door.

This year we didn’t have Halloween.  The week before we got warning that a hurricane was headed up the east coast… the biggest hurricane ever – Sandy!   We got word from our Governor that Halloween would be postponed and celebrated on Monday, November 5^th … after all, who in their right mind could celebrate the holiday when so many people lost their homes, their businesses, their lives?  All of the kids were out of school all week… most of us lost power at the onset of the storm on Monday…. so the Halloween parade and party was cancelled – there were many sad children.   Instead of getting dressed up and taking my son and granddaughter trick or treating, I was driving around the state looking for a hot meal and praying I would find a hotel for the night; my house was without power and it was freezing!   I drove for hours… finally, I decided that IF I couldn’t find a hotel, I would just crash at the hospital lobby or a 24 hr diner; as I went to give my son his medicine… I couldn’t find it.  I “knew” I had put it in a plastic bag and placed it in the back along side the emergency bags…  but it wasn’t there!  So, I drove back home with the intention of getting the medicine and then heading over to the diner.  As we drove home, we noticed more and more lights were appearing… then the traffic lights …. and finally the lights on MY street were on!!!  Power was back!!!  It looked like Christmas. If you believe…then you will receive; so for me, tonight was the beginning of the Christmas season for sure… full of miracles. God guided me home for the medicine so that I would see the lights… so that my family could bathe and sleep in a warm bed.  Unfortunately, there are many still displaced; many suffering as I write this, and I pray for them all.  I am thankful for the lives spared, for the healing…. God is good.   Thank God.

#StayMerry