Life Through Death

     When I woke up on the morning of my birthday last week, I eagerly checked my phone to see all the birthday texts that I had received. It’s secretly everyone favorite part of their birthday- looking at all the wall posts and shout outs from various people and feeling like the most popular person of the moment. But in the midst of the “HAAPPPPPYYY BIIIRTHHDAAY OMGGG” texts I got a very saddening and disheartening one that simply said, “Did you hear about Garrett?”

     Flash back to Garrett Luce, a one of kind talented high school friend of mine with a huge smile that could positively draw others to him. He was Troy Bolton when our middle school performed High School Musical, and then every lead in the school plays after that. He was the starting catcher on the Second Baptist School baseball team from freshman year on. He was and is one of the best gentlemen to every girl he met and was definitely valued by both boys and girls as a great friend. He would sit in yearbook class with my friend Brooke and I, and just talk to us because he wanted to know about our lives. He was a goober but we loved it.

     I spent the day between tears and laughter as I was with friends who didn’t know Garrett but when I would think of him and tear up they would comfort me. I kept thinking about his parents who lost the only child they had, and the brightest light in their lives. I had never lost a friend before and simply couldn’t wrap my head around it.

     Coming home for the funeral, I was surrounded by classmates I hadn’t seen since graduation. A majority of my friends were even closer to him than I was and it was heart sickening to see them shudder with sobs as we watched a video slideshow of Garrett. The funeral was a beautiful time of celebrating his life and sharing hilarious stories of Garrett as well.

     But afterwards, when our friends parted and came home and we each sat by ourselves and processed everything, we began to come to grasp by ourselves how death affects us personally.

     Being a strong believer in the Lord, I took utmost comfort in knowing that Garrett’s strong faith secured him in the presence of Jesus the moment he was taken from us. I want to live the way he did, carefree and joyful.

     That being said, I encourage each of you to embrace life for the very essence that it is life. Our days that are most filled with love of life is what makes our life our own. Wake up every morning thankful to have another day of life and constantly remind yourself of that throughout the day. If Garrett can have such an impact on people in his 19 short years than we can seek to live each day the fullest.

    

Pumpkins A Plenty

     The season of fall wouldn’t be quite complete without a trip to the local patch. The pumpkin patch offers a great photo backdrop as well as a great selection of pumpkins to adorn the front porch or carve into an assortment of faces. Sculpting the pumpkin aside though, the round orange squash actually does have a variety of other options.

Hair Mask/Face Mask: The high amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C and zinc in the pumpkin can do wonders for dry and damaged skin or hair.

For the face mask:

Mix 2 tsps. of purred pumpkin, either from a can or cooked fresh from the pumpkin with a touch of honey and milk.

Apply to your face for fifteen minuets and relax. Scrub you face off and enjoy a fresh glow!

For the hair mask:

In a food processor, mix one cup of fresh pumpkin and four tablespoons of coconut oil together. Spread the smooth mixture throughout wet or dry hair and let sit for 30 minuets. Wash out the mixture thoroughly from your hair and enjoy a new shine!

Pumpkin Pinata: What better way to smash a pumpkin? Carve out a pumpkin and fill it with candy. Then hang the pumpkin by a string. Blindfold players one at a time and let everyone have a turn smashing the pumpkin. Perfect idea for a Halloween party!

Pumpkin Seeds: A favorite of our families, this recipe is easy and the pumpkin seeds last a long time.

Ingredients:

One medium sized pumpkin

Salt

Olive Oil

1.  First pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.

2.  Scoop out pumpkin seeds from a pumpkin and separate the seeds from the rest of the pumpkin mass. Measure the pumpkin seeds in a cup measure and them dump them in a medium saucepan. Add 2 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of salt to the pot for every half-cup of pumpkin seeds. Bring the mixture to a boil and then let simmer for 10 minuets.  

3.  After draining the seeds, coat the bottom of a tray with olive oil and spread the seeds out on the tray. Bake the seeds in the oven until they begin to brown, probably about 5-20 minuets. When the seeds begin to brown, take out the tray and let the seeds cool. Once the seeds are cool, they are good to eat!

Since everyone has their own family traditions with pumpkins, let me know yours and I’ll feature it on this blog! Happy Fall, ya’ll!