Fall...and Nightmare

It's been a while, I know, but it's been a little in the Beach household. First off, it's fall and it's my favorite time of the year! I absolutely love fall for many reasons: scarves, rain boots, jackets, darker hair color changes (I worked at a salon for 3 years, I think of these things), hot cocoa, hot tea, hot beverages of any kind, Pumpkin Spice frappuccino at Starbucks, holidays, more family time, campfires, football and basketball...I could go on and on. literally.
But, one of my absolute favorite things is during the month of October my church puts on an absolutely amazing event: The Nightmare. Just in time for all the haunted Halloween houses to open, our church chooses to display real-life events and scenes that teenagers, and adults, face every day and the consequences that ensue. The entire event is put on by a cast made of church volunteers. As individuals finish their wait in line they are escorted through a domestic violence scene, a drinking and driving car wreck scene, a club scene, a drug/overdose room, a suicide, as well as a Jesus whipping room and Jesus on the cross. At the end of the Nightmare, each individual is given an opportunity to give their life to Jesus. This event is one that changed my life 8 years ago and one I am so passionate about because of the difference it made in my life. And each October when the season changes and the weather gets cooler it always feels like "Nightmare time."
It's been four nights and we've celebrated more than 1,800 salvations! It's truly a phenomenal event and one of my favorite things about fall.