To Keep, or Not to Keep...Sentimental Attachments

I have been thinking a lot lately about the reasons why I keep things. I would not consider myself a "pack rat" by definition. (A collector of miscellaneous useless objects, according to Dictionary.com) I would, however, fit into the category of someone who keeps things for sentimental reasons.

In the past 24 hours I have read two articles that addressed this issue. One was about making decisions regarding sentimental clutter, and the other was OrgJunkie's article on letting go of stuff and clutter excuses. When addressing the issue of emotional attachment, OrgJunkie said "Our memories are so wrapped up in physical material possessions…..that isn’t where the memory is and you know it. It’s in your heart…the stuff just triggers the memory for you….so many of us are afraid we will forget."

That's me. I tend to keep things because they trigger an emotional memory for me. Perhaps I think one day I will not be able to recall certain moments in life unless I have a physical item to cling to. Maybe I just have a hard time letting go because I wish that I could hold on to the past. Some things I have kept simply because they remind me of a loved one that has passed away.

I'm working on it. I don't save cards anymore unless they have a special, hand written letter in them, (like the ones from my grandmother) and those have a small box that houses them. I no longer collect key chains or other souvenirs when we go on vacation. If I really want something I buy a t-shirt instead and then when it's worn out and its usefulness to me is gone, I toss it. I take pictures of my kids' special projects and store them on my computer instead of in a box.

This challenge has really got me looking around my house and asking myself a lot of questions about the things I own. I'm finding myself on the road to simplicity and I think I'll like it there once I arrive!

What is your #1 reason for keeping things around?

So Long Insecurity...

I'm joining an on-line book discussion group at the LPM blog. The book is Beth Moore's new one called "So Long Insecurity: You've Been a Bad Friend to Us." I'm excited to read it along with many other women (over 1,000 have signed up so far) and participate in the discussion each week. I read an excerpt from the beginning of the book and it looks very promising. I will probably be posting my thoughts here once a week. If you'd like to join in, you can visit the blog for more information.

Happy reading!

Monday Miscellany

It's Monday, and I'm ready to face another week! If only I hadn't stayed up so late last night!

Do you like the new look of my blog? I figured, as long as I'm giving my laundry room a makeover, I might as well do the same for my blog! Thanks, A, for letting me be your guinea pig as you learn a new program! :) I love how colorful it is.

Speaking of the laundry room, I'm still making progress. I have cleaned off the desk and am ready to take it apart. The huge "L" shape just does not fit well in there, so for now, we'll just keep the hutch. I'll be spending quite a bit of time down there today doing laundry, so hopefully I'll get a lot more accomplished.

I took Saturday off from the project to spend the morning at a friend's house making projects of a more creative kind. My sweet friend A (the same one who designed my blog) let me use her craft supplies to make valentine boxes for my kids. Last year the valentines that they brought home got spread all over the house. This way, they can be kept in their special containers. Thanks again A!

Today over at Home Sanctuary Rachel Anne is helping us Menu Plan for an entire month! I tend to be a weekly planner, (I have about 9 weeks of menus, recipes, and grocery lists saved on my computer so far) but if you've never menu planned before, her instructions are a great way to start! Then there's no guess work involved in what's for dinner. :)

Well, I had best get started on my laundry and other chores for the day!
Have a great week all!
~Melissa~

Company Girl Coffee 2.5.10

Welcome! Come on in and have a virtual cup of coffee or tea and visit for a while. It's been a busy week here. It was packed full of appointments, lunch dates, and school awards assembly. I also worked on my new project, the laundry room. Many of you know Org Junkie. This month I joined her 28 day Organizing Challenge. You can just scroll down to read about my progress, or take a look at my before pictures.

In my perfect world, the laundry room would be spotless, with cupboards for this, and shelves for that. There would be a beautiful tile floor and neat, organized stations for laundry, household supplies, and perhaps even some linen storage. I dream of stainless steal, front load washer/dryer on pedestals so that I can do the laundry with ease. It's a picture perfect, sparkling room right out of Home and Garden magazine!

But let's get real here...

I am lucky to have a fairly large sized laundry room. It runs almost the full length of my basement. There is plenty of room for junk, um, I mean storage, under the stairs. I've got floor to ceiling shelves at one end of it that serve as my overstock pantry. Plus, even though it's under ground, there are two windows to let the sunlight in. The problem is, since the room is so large, it has become a collect-all space! Thus, the reason for my joining in the challenge.

Yesterday a friend of mine came over and together, we came up with a plan. It has three phases, and I will be sharing them here. Stay tuned this month for the great transformation! :)

What's your "catch all" room in your house?

Have a great weekend everyone!
~Melissa~

The Laundry Room, Day 3

I thought I'd post an update on how my laundry room is coming along. I'm having so much fun with this challenge! If you don't know what I'm talking about, just scroll down to the next post and take a look at my before pictures.

On Monday I started by just picking up any obvious trash that I could find. Not just trash, but broken toys and full coloring books and whatever else looked worn out and no longer able to be used. That filled up one bag.

Then yesterday I dug in and began to go through some of the containers on my shelves. I threw out any expired food in my pantry overstock and re-arranged the food in an orderly manner. In my household supply overstock I threw away any expired medicines and old lotions. I also went through all my cleaning supplies and took inventory of what I have and what I need.

Today I picked up any stray toys and returned them to their proper homes. I packed up a few files that we have to keep for another 5 years but won't need to get into unless we get audited and moved them to the garage. I sorted the dress-up box and tossed any torn, unusable items in it.

When my DH got home, I discussed the idea of separating the parts of the desk (which is a whole other mess) and just keeping the hutch up so that the kids would still have a place for their computer and playstation, but it would take up less space. He agreed.

Tomorrow I have a good friend that I trust coming over to help me take inventory of what I should keep, give away, sell, move, or just plain throw out. She's also going to help me come up with the best way to use the space with the furniture and storage containers that I already own. Yay!

Progress! I'm feeling better already. Well, that is, until I have to confront what's lurking under my stairs...but I'll save that for another post.

The Clutter Trap! Organizing Matters

It's Monday, and it's the first day of February! I love it when the first day of the month falls on a Monday. It seems to motivate me to keep moving and get things done. :)

This month I have joined ORG Junkie's 28 Day Organizing Challenge. I am finally fed up with the way that my laundry room looks! It functions as a laundry room/ toy room/ furnace room/ tool room/ craft supply room/ pantry/ playstation & computer room! You think I'm kidding? Just take a look at my before pictures! :) It is a clutter trap, but I'm up for the challenge! If you are fed up with a room, or even a small space in your house, and you're up for the challenge, check out ORG Junkie and join in the fun! Did I mention there are prizes involved?

Ready, Set, ORGANIZE!

My Worship Experience

Thursday night was worship night at our church. I had a really hard time getting all the kids ready to go (because my husband is the Worship Pastor I was on my own) and I didn't have a very good attitude by the time we got to the church. But I just knew I needed to be there. In my heart of hearts, I knew God had something for me.

The first set was good. The songs were all ones that I love and the room had a good vibe going. Our Pastor came up and prayed, and took an offering. My DH took a few minutes to read a devotion and then we had two minutes of complete silence. During this time, we were supposed to listen to God. Not pray and ask Him for things or even spill out our hearts to Him, just simply listen. Tears began to roll down my cheeks as I felt the Holy Spirit minister to my heart. He simply said over and over "My daughter, I love you. I will not leave you. I want all of your heart."

The band started up again and by this time people were sitting or kneeling to pray all over the sanctuary. When they began to sing the song "You Won't Relent" I felt a stirring in my heart to stand up and stretch my hands out into the air and receive His love for me. I hesitated, because I didn't want to disturb those around me and become a distraction.

Don't we do that sometimes, not only when we are worshiping, but even just in our day to day walk with God? We have a hard time simply practicing a childlike faith because we don't want to be "noticed." We'd rather blend into the crowd. I tell you, this child of God is done blending into the crowd! I want to be noticed for Jesus!

Priscilla Shirer talks about a young lady in her book "He Speaks to Me" that did just that. She had a child like faith that stood out in the crowd. Her name is Ryan, and she is Autistic. Here's what Priscilla had to say about her:

"She hasn't learned that her style of worship should please and impress people. Her worship hasn't been tainted with religious pomp and circumstance. She doesn't pay attention to the people around her or worry about what they might think of her. Out of her childlike relationship with her Savior, Ryan just gives Him everything she has."

We could all stand to be a little more like Ryan.

I did end up standing up and giving Him everything I had in me. I sang loud and I raised my arms as high as I could get them. I sang "Come be the fire inside of me, come be the flame upon my heart. Come be the fire inside of me, until You and I are one." And I cried. And I cry still.

Come Lord, Come.

I'm so glad He doesn't relent. Aren't you?