It's hard to believe it's the end of the weekend already. Time goes so quickly ... and I feel like so much has happened.

For us, Friday night started with a big decision. Our 9-year was invited to a birthday slumber party of a good school friend. He so badly wanted to go. The problem ... we have simply never allowed spend-the-nights, with the exception of family and a couple of longtime family friends.

I immediately wanted to say no. But I knew how much he wanted to go. So the questions began .... What do I know of this family? Who would be at the party? What would they do?

So I called this boys mother, whom I knew from school anyway, and had a lengthy conversation with her. And at the end of it, I felt comfortable with the idea of my son going to a friends slumber party. I had no good reason of saying no.

"No" certainly would have been the easy answer. But then I questioned myself as to who the "no" for? Me. Selfishly I wanted to say "no." But I also don't want parent out of fear and in the end deprive my kiddos of certain opportunities.

We are raising them in a good environment, teaching them good morals and values, they know right from wrong. And I believe as a parent I have to allow them to use those skills ... which in turn will prepare them for their future.

So after considerable thought and prayer, he was able to go to the party. He had a wonderful time and the next morning when I picked him up, he thanked me for being so cautious, allowing him to go and putting my trust in him.


Onto Halloween ....

The kiddos were excited, family and friends came over and the neighborhood was filled with treat-or-treaters.

Fun was had by all!











The carving of our jack o' lanterns ...