New Traditions Started This Halloween

Last year’s Halloween was sure one for the books, but this year was a different story! This year we were able to start some traditions of our own, since this is really the “first” Halloween spent back in Michigan. What a FUN day it was. Mazy was looking so forward to dressing up in her ladybug costume that we borrowed from my sister, though the day before, she was tricking me because she was wanting to wear the costume she wore last year – the puppy dog. But, when it came down to it, she was all ladybug and oh my was she adorable in that little costume! There is something about little kiddos in costumes, isn’t there? Just so adorable.

We left our house at about 1:15 to go see my parents, just so that we didn’t have to rush around – plus, Mazy didn’t have a clue that we were “early” in the festivities. To her, it just meant she could wear her costume longer! Then we headed to my grandma’s house for a bit, then went downtown Zeeland to participate in their annual trick or treating event with the local businesses. Such a fun afternoon! We then headed to our friend’s house for supper and Mazy and I drove to some friends of ours for a bit. Though at that point she didn’t care about the candy, but only the kittens they have! Then it was our turn to hand out candy and Mazy thought that was JUST as fun! After visiting a few neighbors, I took her around our little neighborhood, and then once we ran out of candy to hand out, we called it a night. And the day didn’t go by without her seeing her cousins! Always a highlight of her day – she calls all her cousins her sisters :).

Enough with the words, here’s what our sweet Mazy looked like:

Trick or treating with friends downtown!

Visiting friends…I was able to steal her away from the kittens basically just for this picture! A family who loves Mazy as their own and a family we are incredibly blessed to know!

Heading over to the neighbors!

Mazy loved the responsibility of handing out candy herself…

Don’t ask me where she gets those crazy faces from…

At times the day was hard. I had many flashbacks and found my mind getting “stuck” in moments again, but I know that it probably won’t happen again, so no need to replay and replay them. As certain hours hit, I thought “oh, that’s when this happened…” But I know that God truly has taken me so far. It will always be something that I carry with me, but it doesn’t define me. It is a part of my story, but it’s Christ that defines me. I’m glad that date is behind me to say the least, and I am so so thankful to have created different memories for this day, this year. I couldn’t have enjoyed the day anymore than I did and oh to see sweet Mazy’s delight and joy too. Sure makes this mother’s heart leap with thankfulness.