Carving stuff has me thinking… Yes, I’ve been watching “Halloween Wars” reruns this weekend. Carving pumpkins and cakes has me thinking about the ‘carving’ I am tackling in my life.

As they cut away on the screen, I think of what am I cutting away. Will I cut away too much? What will be the end result? Will it be fabulous? Or will I be broken? This thought dashes through mind as I watch a sugar glass creation smash onto the floor into dozens of pieces.

My blog is all about the change transforming my life from a career mom to a vibrant writer and independent feisty senior citizen with hopefully an empty nest.

(Note: I actually typed ‘hoefully.’ There’s a word for ya! LOL that made me smile! And you wonder where I get my crazy made-up words. Sadly its misspellings; not my wit {wink}.)

In order to be ready for the new adventures ahead, I choose health two years ago. The first task my Doctor gave was; Stop eating all bread and cake. It wasn’t easy but I did it. Was I perfect? Absolutely not! I was terribly disappointed when I couldn’t convince the Doc that cookies weren’t cake! Yes the cookies went too…{whisper} for the most part.

The discipline however has made massive changes in the way I eat and has taken twelve pounds off my frame. I successfully carved out foods toxic to me and created, or carved (if you will allow the pun), a food plan designed for my biochemical make-up.

Time is the next area needing carving. I’ve been working on it. Otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten my book edited or started my blog. I haven’t been as successful in this arena as I would like. The emergencies do not slow down just because I want to do something else.

Dreams need me to play with them. Dreams need me to work towards them. Dreams need to be nurtured and pursued to come to life. Meaning I have to carve out time for my dreams.

Every writer struggles with balancing the pressures. It is something I’ve never done well. I usually hyper-focus on the big priorities (aka emergencies!) then, I shove the other goals aside until I finish the most urgent tasks. Right now I need to be serious about my writing and my home. Usually these two areas get shoved into the wait pile. I can no longer wait for my dreams. As a friend told me recently, “Go Get Your Dream!” Unless of course the hot water heater decides to flood the living room! Go ahead and laugh it happened summer 2016.

Along with the time for dreams, it is time to un-stuff the home. Things I enjoyed in the past are no longer part of my present. I sure don’t want to pack them up last-minute and move them to another state to sort out when I get there! I’m carving away stuff.

I felt a twinge in my heart when I gave my cross-stitch supplies away a couple of weeks ago. That cut hurt. I had not cross-stitched in over a decade. I looked at the cute designs and stitched pieces that never got framed. I could not see myself stitching in the cabin. I saw myself writing. I hope someone enjoys those supplies as much as I did.

Today brought to mind, scripture of God pruning and taking away:

“He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.” John 15:2 (NABRE)

God prunes: As I carve out my deadwood (toxic food, wasted time, stuff…), God is also carving spiritual deadwood out of my life (worry, angst, anger…). This way I can bear more fruit. Think of a well pruned fruit tree, it is beautiful bearing the fruits of its, and the Master’s labors.

(John the Baptist’s Testimony to Jesus)  “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”” John 1:29 (NABRE)

Jesus takes away: Jesus carves the sin out of my soul. This is the only way I will be able to stand before the Father. Even one tiny spot of sin will keep me from my final destination. I want a life with God the Father in Heaven. I want to be perfect in the eyes of my Father. I cannot do that without avoiding temptation (my part – like no cupcakes in the house) and trusting Jesus to cover me in the wedding garments of the King’s Son (Today’s Gospel in the Catholic Church was Matthew 22:1-14 – the Kings wedding feast for the Son). Jesus makes us beautiful in the eyes of the Father.

As I watch the chefs make incredible food creations, God is creating something incredible in us.

Don’t give up…Keep carving!

Milly