Carving Pumpkins & Family Traditions!

Happy Sunday!

It is chilly and cloudy this morning and I am so enjoying it!

I'm up way too early, but oh well, it's Sunday, I can sleep later.

Anyway, last night my mom and I carved pumpkins together, and it was so much fun!

I have carved pumpkins all my life, it's a Halloween tradition in my house. But, last night, I decided to carve a pumpkin all by myself. My mom was there with me, carving her own pumpkin, but I did all of mine all by myself.

Mom was carving her favorite, Frankenstein, and I was going for a carving of "Happy Halloween," surrounded by ghosts. I got the "Happy Hallowe" part, but couldn't quite form the "N," that's okay, it still looks quite cool!

I cut off the top, scraped out the guts, and saved the pumpkin seeds for roasting--yum! :) I then dotted (mapped out) my carving and finished it all by myself. I know I sound like a little kid right now, but I've never done this entirely on my own, so it's a huge deal!

When I was growing up, we carved pumpkins around Halloween time each and every year. But, as a kid, I did not like scraping out the guts of the pumpkin and I did not have the patience to carve an entire pumpkin on my own. (Most kids probably don't now that I think about it.) But, at 26, I finally did all of that!

Did I mention it was so much fun? Because it really was!

One of the best parts about carving pumpkins is getting to eat the parts you carve out. And the pumpkin seeds afterwards! I love raw pumpkin, it's so sweet and crunchy and so good for you! It's like a nutritious, entertaining sweet treat all in one!

I really enjoyed carving my pumpkin along side my mom. Even though I'm adult now, I still think it's important to keep some holiday traditions going. Sure, I've grown out of a lot of them, and some of them we no longer have the time, energy and/or money for. I'm sure a lot of people feel that way. And the last two years, I didn't carve pumpkins at all--I didn't even help my mom when she carved them. But, this year, it just sounded fun!

I think holiday traditions are important because they give quality family time, bonding time and a shared common goal. Whether it's carving pumpkins, baking cookies, wrapping presents together, picking out the family Christmas tree together or making a big meal---the point is, you do it together for years on end and these traditions give wonderful treasured memories and continuity as well. It's terrific!

I'm really glad I decided to carve pumpkins with my mom last night. We got a chance to talk about all sorts of things (in reality my mom and I talk a lot, but we don't always see each other that often with our busy grown up lives!), and laugh. My mom is still one of my favorite people to hang out with! While we were carving our individual pumpkins, we kept reflecting on past Halloweens--the corn maze, the year I scared the crap out of myself when I decided to go dressed as a clown (I still don't like clowns, I don't know what I was thinking) the "dead" scarecrow at a house along our Trick-Or-Treat Route one year who really wasn't dead after all. Scared my friends and I so bad we peed our pants. Please note, I don't like being scared, that's why I'm not a huge fan of Halloween. Real life is scary enough to me, all the blood and guts and fascination with frightening yourself on purpose? I really don't understand it and never have. I know a lot of people find it thrilling and exciting, it's just not my thing. It was really fun though to recall all of the Halloween fun we've had together over the years. Even though Halloween is my least favorite holiday of them all, I can still say I've had great times during Halloween.

I think it's important to make, and keep, holiday/family traditions--even if it's Chinese Food on Christmas Day. (Which isn't one of ours, by the way). It doesn't matter. Now that I'm grown, these traditions give me a sense of value, purpose and belonging. (They always did, though.) Most of all, they give me fun bonding time with my family and wonderful new memories to be had--and you can't ask for much more than that!

I am so blessed that my mom is still here with me, alive and well, to sit and carve pumpkins together. We had so much fun last night, we're going to be carving more pumpkins tonight!

I hope you all have a wonderful, restful Sunday and a very happy, safe and fun Halloween!

Here's to carving pumpkins and carrying on family traditions! Thanks for giving me so many wonderful traditions and memories,mom, I love you!

Lord, thank You for a fabulous time last night carving pumpkins, for the time, space, energy and health to do so. For laughter and memories with my mom. For making me enjoy Halloween--to a point. For good coffee, clear skin, and best friends! Please keep the sun hidden today, though, I'm enjoying the clouds! Thank You for it all!

In Light N' Love,
-Sarah Liz :)

P.S. Happy, Happy Birthday to my good friend, Matthew, today! I hope he has a terrific birthday filled with love, fun and many more to come! I'm glad he's in my life! Happy Birthday, Buddy!