Stuff

So, the issue of stuff is on my mind as of late.  You know, our beloved household belongings that somehow multiply over night it seems.  Where does all this stuff come from?  How is it taking over the house? and the garage and every single closet!

Well, I'm a big fan of cleaning out the clutter!  To some people it comes naturally, others have to work on it, and unfortunately some people just never get it.

But the question comes to mind, and the thing I've been thinking about lately is being a burden to my kiddos after I die.  Who is going to have to come in and clean stuff out to sell the place etc?  My kids! It's already such a burden to deal with funeral arrangements, close accounts, etc etc.

So how, you may ask, do we keep the clutter down and not leave such a burden of STUFF to our kiddos?

Well, here's a few things I do to keep the clutter under control:

When I buy something new I try to get rid of at least 2 other things.
I always have a bag ready to add to for donation to a thrift store etc.

If you are completely overwhelmed, start with a drawer.  Dump everything out on the table or some place where you have room to work.  Clean out the drawer and decide what exactly you want to use the drawer for.  Then put only the things back that fit into that category.  Whatever is left, you will need to decide if it goes into another place or if you can give it away.

Ask yourself these questions:
Have I used this in the last year?
Do I have something else that will suffice for the use of this item?
Is it costing me more to store it in my house than if I could go buy one? (your home is so much $ per square feet--how much room does the object take up in your square footage?)
Would I use this in the next year?
Am I saving this "Just because I might need it"?
Might I really need this at all?
Do I want to leave this for my kids to go through?  And will they want it? (don't assume--ask them!and then don't be offended if they don't want it.  It was important to you but may not be to them and that's ok)

Next, you can do a closet! Then a room!  Then the garage!

In all our moves, I've paired down, sorted things and given lots away.  One question I always ask myself is "If I had to pack this in a Uhaul, haul it across the country, unpack it --would I still want it when I got there".   That has actually been a good measurement to the things I really like.

So, how about it?  Spring is just around the corner.  Spring cleaning anyone??

Best tips for Moving

So we are moving again,  but this time just a mile away.  I think these moves are the hardest.  It's just a mile but you still have to pack everything and transport everything.

The easiest moves to me are the long distance across the country moves.  If it doesn't fit in the truck then it doesn't go.  Boom, easy.

Over these last 25 years we have moved 15 times.  I know it's a lot.  See why here.

So, needless to say,  I basically have moving down to a science now.

Here's my process and my best tips:

1.  Go to usps.com and put in your change of address request there.  You can fill in the day you want your mail to start forwarding.  They will forward your mail for a year.  When you are at your new place any mail that has been forwarded will have a yellow forwarding label on it,  use that as your guide to call and update those businesses.

2.  Next, I take everything off the walls.  De-personalizing your space makes it not feel like your home any more and motivates you to start packing.

3.  Make "zones" in your house, whether it be a hallway or a part of a living room, designate parts of your house for --items to give away and then boxes that are going and have been packed.

4.  Start with one room or closet.  Declutter- put aside in one of your zones all the things you don't want to take or move.  Then pack it in boxes.  Smaller boxes are better because they don't become as heavy.  When packing breakables,  use towels, washcloths, sheets, blankets, --all these things you will be packing anyway..you might as well use them for packing material!  Then tape up and label the box!  Label which room it should go in at the NEW place.  No need to label all the items in the box--that just gets too tedious and you will be unpacking it soon anyway (hopefully!)

5.  Set aside items you will need to live with for the next [however] many weeks until the move.  Set aside toiletries, clothes, toys for kids (just a few), and a very few kitchen items. Even though we hardly ever use paper goods in the kitchen, now is the time to use them before, during and shortly after the move.

6. Set aside a box for important stuff you don't want to lose.  All the paperwork, laptops, etc that you need accessible keep that stuff separated.  That can go in the car on moving day.

7.  When packing the kitchen,  buy a huge batch of paper towels.  Paper towels make great--and cheap--packing material.

8.  On moving day, keep all the closet doors and kitchen cabinets open.  That way you won't keep opening them to see if you've gotten everything.

9.  Keep cleaning supplies set aside for moving day as well.  You'll want to clean everything up after everything's been packed up.

10.  Take this time to purge, re-organize, and clean out.  Don't pack anything you don't want to unpack at the new place.  If it's time to have a big garage sale, or take things to the thrift store, do it now!

11.  Tape all screws to the bottom anything you take apart.  Use a baggie and put all pieces inside for anything that comes apart and needs to get put back together. This will save you so much time at the new place hunting for the parts that go to those things!

12.  Get twice as many boxes as you think you will need.  There's always a lot of little things that need to be packed last minute.

Hope these few tips help if you are planning on moving anytime soon!  Give yourself time to pack! It takes longer than you think!

If you have any tips, please comment below!  Would love to hear how you all do your moving!

Why do we move so much???

Since I've been married...coming up on 25 years now... we have moved a total of 13 times!  That's a lot of moving!  It's always been for different reasons.  Sometimes a job leads us here or there.  Sometimes we need a change of scenery.   Sometimes we need a bigger house.  This last time we were ready to downsize and move closer to Larry's work.

I grew up in 2 houses.  One house till I was 5, then we moved and I lived there till I got married when I was 18.  I didn't grow up moving around.  My husband grew up in the same house all is life.  Maybe that's why we move so much.  I really don't know.

Moving around a lot does have it's advantages.  We don't keep a lot of stuff.  We de-clutter quite frequently. I've learned not to grow too attached to my things.  It's just furniture.  It's just stuff.  

It's interesting to see my kids and how they are affected by all the moving.  Some are still nomads.  Traveling here and there.  On to the next adventure!  But I have one that wants to settle down and have roots.  He wants to buy land and stay there awhile.  I get that.  I admire that.  

I'm grateful for all the places we've lived.  We've had lots of great experiences in every state and house. We've gotten to see and experience the culture in many different places.  We've made life long friends all across America. One funny memory was when we were up in Pittsburgh and Larry was trying to order something through the McDonald's drive-thru.  He says in his thick Texas twang, "I'd like to buy some chicken mac bites."  (it's hard to describe how this sounds...just exaggerate all the "i's" to really long sounding "i's").  The girl in the drive thru says "What?"  He repeats again, even thicker and slower.  She says, "Um, sir,  I have no idea what you are talking about!"  Too funny!

I don't think I could live in one place too long (shhh...don't tell my nomadic husband!)  I look forward to the curves up in the road ahead.  Although I don't enjoy the actual physical part of boxing, moving, lifting, sorting... yuck.. I do enjoy new adventures.

What about you?  Have you moved alot?  Would you like to?

What I've been learning lately

I feel like the Lord has been showing me lately that He is faithful.  No matter the circumstance.  No matter how long we pray ...He is faithful.  I have had many unanswered prayers.  Many prayers that aren't answered the way I would have liked.  That doesn't change the fact that the Lord is faithful.  His love for us doesn't change.  He continues to uphold me with His mighty right hand. (Isaiah 41:10).

I went with Larry to Pennsylvania for a job 2 years ago.  It was a great time and I really enjoyed it.  I met some great people and knew the Lord brought me up there for a purpose.  But the Lord called me back 8 months ago.  I was thrilled to be back closer to my kids!  I knew this was a great opportunity and was very thankful for it!  So I came back and we prayed for Larry to find a job here soon.  I just knew that since the Lord brought me back to Texas that He would bring Larry back soon.  But we waited and we prayed.  We waited and prayed.  Finally, 8 months later.....Larry will be returning!  8 months doesn't seem that long to some.  I realize some people wait on God for years to answer their prayers.  I have waited for years for some things.  

The Lord is faithful regardless of how long we wait.  Our circumstances do not change the character of God.  He is faithful.  His Word is true.  I will trust in this. 

And I'll do the happy dance when my hubby returns!  C'mon...do it with me! :)

Psalm 89:8

O Lord God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You.