Celebrating Samhain

Why I celebrate Halloween: It's the one holiday we encourage ourselves to look into the darkness and drag our fears into the light and hopefully see them for what they are: An opportunity to be brave and reclaim our power over them.

Shelley's "Frankenstein" explores the folly of men pretending to be God. Stoker's "Dracula" reveals the horror of those who live by taking from others. I can't imagine a world without Poe, and his willingness to expose the monsters within. We prevail when we choose good over evil.

The early history of Samhain, what would later become Halloween, was a celebration of the end of the harvest and the end of the year as well as the beginning of a new year. Leave in the past what no longer brings life and love. Welcome the opportunity to start fresh with the old and withered swept away, making room for the new. A time to seek God's protection in the coming winter.

For the record, I don't do scary. Growing up in it means it isn't entertainment for me. Dress up is fun. I've always had a fondness for jack-o-lanterns, the cheerful flame flickering inside. Not to mention my love of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. The promise of cooler weather, a definite bonus in the desert. The changing color of the leaves, which people generously share through pictures. The prelude to the coming triad holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year (gratitude, giving, and starting anew). Enjoy the day. Indulge in a treat. Laugh.

Some of my favorites to fit a Halloween mood:

Most people will recognize this piece of music but may not know the name. From Carmina Burana ~ O Fortuna by Carl Orff performed by André Rieu:

https://youtu.be/EJC-_j3SnXk 

Ride of the Valkyries by Richard Wagner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRU1AJsXN1g

Gustav Holst's Mars from The Planets

https://youtu.be/Jmk5frp6-3Q

Hall of the Mountain King (Peer Gynt) by Edvard Grieg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLp_Hh6DKWc

Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by J. S. Bach needs to be heard as an organ piece.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho9rZjlsyYY

Night on Bald Mountain by Mussorgsky:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCEDfZgDPS8

 

Thankful Thursday

Service/help opportunities 

Church

Cool enough to leave the door open

 New book

Gospel study with friends 

God's grace

Gentri "The Impossible Dream"

https://youtu.be/h5kd_XnuzjE?si=ni652hAYsmH22mYH 

 

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Quote from Secondhand Samhein

 Thanks to Donna Keevers Driver for creating this for me:

 

Sunday Scripture

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 

 

Saturday Links

I love beautiful pictures and Tales from a Mid-Lifer shared this sunset:

https://family5power.com/2025/10/01/last-nights-sunset/ 

Suzanne Askham makes an inspiring observation: 

https://suzanneaskham.com/2025/10/01/wellbeing-notes-leave-peace-and-kindness-in-your-wake/ 

God bless.

Halloween is next Friday

Celebrate with a story.

Secondhand Samhain 

The seventh novella in the series.

Welcome back to Holiday, USA, small town America, where nothing happens, except holidays... and a little romance, if the hero and heroine trust God.

Jan Connor, the new manager of the secondhand shop Vintage Holiday, loves her job, her town, and her life. She doesn't need anything except a little bit of help. Her annual Halloween birthday party isn't coming together, and her antiquated computer system is only making it worse.

Trent McDonald, computer guru extraordinaire, is looking for a place to call home. His brother, Cowboy, suggested Holiday might offer what he needs but never mentioned Vintage Holiday's pretty shop manager.

Between one breath and the next, God changes everything...

http://www.amazon.com/Secondhand-Samhain-Holiday-USA-Book-ebook/dp/B01A0IBBQI/ref=sr_1_1

If you prefer paperbacks, Holiday, USA Anthology 2015

All four novellas published in 2015 are available in their entirety in paperback, including the covers on the back, for those who enjoy collecting a series.

https://www.amazon.com/Holiday-USA-Anthology-2015-2/dp/153018617X/ref=sr_1_22 

Thankful Thursday

Serving others

Church with family

Surprises from friends

Gospel study with friends

New books by favorite authors

Weather cool enough to leave the door open 

God's grace

Gentri - "All I Ask of You" featuring Laura Osnes

https://youtu.be/NF7Y_E9Nz7k?si=i1WMVE9FEhw8pNcT 

 

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Quote

Sunday Scripture

1 Corinthians 15:55-56 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

 

Favorite Book Friday

Dreams by Starlight (The Dream series Book 1) by Staci Stallings Christian romance. Loved it, again.

Reunion (The Dream series Book 2) by Staci Stallings Christian romance. The two books are really one book, with a 10-year break in the middle. Loved it! 

Thankful Thursday

Sharing dinner with friends

Lunch with my sister

Blessed rain 

Visiting with a friend

Worship with fellow believers

New books by favorite authors 

God's grace

Visual Melodies shared an hour of Discipline Over Comfort 

Epic Motivational Music for Power and Focus

https://youtu.be/Q0H6X3opNuY?si=1NgpfnVGWh3oIChw 

 

Wordless Wednesday

Sunday Scripture

1 Corinthians 15:53-54 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 

 

Saturday Links

Author Patricia Johns shared Chex Marshmallow Squares recipe:

https://patriciajohns.com/2025/09/10/delicious-chocolate-chex-marshmallow-squares/ 

If you need prayer ideas, Joyful Moments in Christ shares a list every month; this is October's:

https://joyfulmomentsinchrist.com/2025/09/30/31-prayer-ideas-for-the-month-of-october/ 

God bless.

 

Favorite Book Friday

Coming Undone by Staci Stallings Christian romance. The hero is facing his father's passing. The heroine works in the hospice center. I read this book, the first time, around the time of my father's passing. 

 

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Quote

 The best revenge is none. 

Heal, 

move on 

and don't become like those who hurt you. 

~ Pamela Short

 

Sunday Scripture

1 Corinthians 15:50-52 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

 

Saturday Links

Rainer, The Devotional Guy, proved mistakes don't have to ruin your day if you keep your eye on what matters most - the human soul:

https://thedevotionalguy.blog/2025/09/01/my-monday-cup-but-god-only-god/ 

Writers in the Storm shared How to: Make Your Poems a Book, for those who are curious: 

https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-make-your-poems-a-book/ 

God bless. 

 

Favorite Book Friday

Cowboy (The Harmony series Book 1) by Staci Stallings Christian romance. Imperfect characters helping each other find and hold to God and love. Yes, I've read this series before and will read it again.

Lucky (The Harmony series Book 2) by Staci Stallings Christian romance. Love watching characters grow into their faith journey. Love even more when I find inspiration that helps me on my own faith journey.

Thankful Thursday

Much needed blessed rain

Worshiping with fellow believers

Remember, reflect, repent, resolve, renew, repeat

Cool mornings, enough to leave the door open

Air conditioning for too warm afternoons 

God's grace

Mat and Savanna Shaw - Hello My Name Is:

https://youtu.be/ijHK6B3-wcg?si=AbcVBC3DcACm2UzU 

 

Wordless Wednesday