Happy Reformation Day to all!  Reformation has always been an important day to me, not just because I have a lot of Lutheran pride, but also because the day symbolizes the fight for religious freedom that, unfortunately, is still going on in the world.  I’ve always enjoyed learning about the Protestant Reformation; looking at the events from religious, social, and journalistic views continues to fascinate me.  That, and the fact that Lutheran Reformation hymns are absolutely gorgeous.  Most of all, I’m extremely thankful that Martin Luther fought to express his beliefs. 

Today is also Halloween.  I don’t really remember Halloween being that big of a deal when I was growing up.  Choosing and making costumes for the night seems to have been more memorable than the actual act of walking around with my brother and my father (although Mom accompanied us a couple times, most of my trick-or-treating memories include my Dad) seeking more candy than we could consume for the year.  As I got older, I started choosing strange costumes – my favorite was the year I dressed as Moses, Ten Commandments in tow.  Anyway, I didn’t have any big Halloween plans this year; I really just wanted to relax at home and hand out candy.  Sadly, I got 0 – that’s right, ZERO – trick-or-treaters.  Now I have a pile of candy sitting on my end table.  I’m hoping it’ll take me at least a month to consume it all, but I think that’s me being too optimistic.

Despite the holiday(s), today was a very normal Sunday.  I was disappointed by the music selection at church, but I’m really trying not to judge my Chapel Hill church too harshly.  I truly miss the minor, traditional Lutheran hymns that prevailed at my church in Waco, and I miss the variety of music selection and the passion that the music director at my church in Arlington added to services.  Anyway, the service today was nothing special, even though Reformation is kind of an important holiday, historically speaking, for Lutherans.  After church, I did some laundry and homework, went running, and read some fan fiction.  It was a nice, laid-back sort of day, and I hope that my taking a day to relax won’t result in having a backload of work to catch up on this week!

Sense of the Day: Smell

The olfactory sense has always been one of my favorites – smells just seem to transport you to different places and memories so easily.  Today was filled with the smell of warm laundry, crisp leaves enveloping me on my run, and spicy seasonal candles that acted as a surrogate for a jack-o-lantern.