Indiana Jones and a Ninja

Halloween has never been my favorite "holiday" of the year.  But I did always enjoy dressing up.  My sister and I dressed up until we were probably 10 yrs. old or so.  And I have to say, never dress your child in an apple costume with no arm holes.  They might just fall getting out of the car and not be able to get up! Yes, one thing my mom will never live down.  But I sure was a cute apple.  My mom spent a lot of time of making some of our costumes, like making yarn wigs to make us Cabbage Patch Kids and sewing ears and gloves to make us Mickey and Minnie. 
I have really enjoyed coming up with costume ideas for my boys over the last 8 years.  The year they were airplane pilots was probably my favorite.  This year I came up with the idea of them being Mario and Luigi since that's one of their favorite video games to play together.  But that didn't fly.  So then I came up with the idea of a rodeo clown and a bullrider on a bull.  But that didn't go over either.  Suddenly the fun of dressing up was gone because one of my sweet angels didn't want to go with the flow and just be what I wanted them to be!  And then it hit me, it's really not about me.  It's about them dressing up and having fun.  I sometimes struggle with letting my boys stray from MY plan for them. 

This reminds me that my plan for my boys should be to teach them to trust and follow God's plan for their lives.  Learning to let go of little plans like Halloween costumes, may help me be ready for the day when they are teenagers making big plans like college and career plans.  I will only be able to guide them, not force them. 
Just as God guides us but doesn't force us.  How great it would be if our kids would always do as we plan for them without complaining or wasting time! My pray will always be that they would seek God's will in all they do.

Now I'm off to help make their plans of being Indiana Jones and a ninja, reality.  Love my boys!

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."