Reformation Day, Octoberfest, and Other Holidays

We celebrated the 499th anniversary of Reformation Day this weekend. Just imagine...next year will be the big year in Germany, when people will travel from far away to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's reformation of the church. Ninety-five thesis nailed to a church door in Wittenberg, meant to be talking points for how to put Christ back in the center of faith. Little did that monk know that they would spark a revolution!

That's the beauty of the reformation. The church is not reformed. The church is reforming, every day. And every day, I have to remind myself that I need reforming, too. I need Christ in the center of my life and my day.

We celebrated at home with an Octoberfest-inspired dinner! Brats in beer gravy served over spatezle noodles, with my German mother's traditional red cabbage recipe served on the side.

It was SOOOO good!

For dessert, I made a really delicious apfelkuchen, or apple cake. Warm, with a nice scoop of vanilla ice cream. Mmmmm! Sam played some German carols for us at the piano. It was a fun evening.

After dessert, Sam decided that he wanted to carve a pumpkin. And I really really really dislike carving pumpkins. I'd much rather leave them whole and use them as a decoration all the way to Thanksgiving. So I told Sam he could do it himself, start to finish. And when he was done, he agreed...that was a messy job!

But I will admit, it does give a cheerful glow when lit from within.

I'm not one to celebrate Halloween in a big way. I pass out candy, and that's about it.

So you may be wondering...what is that thing hanging on Mary Rose's door? Well, brace yourself. This not-so-subtle wreath was a gift given to us this year, and we've had a good laugh over its gaudiness!

There it is...your laugh for the day!

Blessings, cafe friends!