The Storage Shed

It has been a couple years of paying $45 a month to store our STUFF. 

We moved from a lovely home that had so much space that there were spots that were never even stepped on or used. 

I thought I had done a good job throughout the years, minimizing the STUFF. Don and I have been married for over 35 years so you can imagine we had accumulated years of family memories, holiday decorations, tools and general stuff that we knew that we might need some day.

One day we realized 

the time had come for us to move. 

We moved to a smaller house in town, we affectionately call it The Snuggery

snug·ger·y

ˈsnəgərē/

noun -- a cozy or comfortable place,

We moved 4 adult sized people into a 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom home. 

It had been built in the 50's and is a charming little cottage. 

Our dining room had a table for eating and 

Don's survey business  

- his desk, huge plotter and filing cabinets. 

It house was FULL. 

Wow! That was a big change. 

Initially, we had rented two storage units.

After some purging we were down to one. 

This last Monday we emptied it out. 

Our last child is moved out and married so Don and I get to have the place to ourselves now .. there is an upside to everything. 

Don's survey business is in it's own room now. Wonderful. 

Some pics of all the STUFF we think is so important .. 

The piano had to stay

all the Lamplighter books had to stay.

 As well as the doll house!  

The ole blue rug, we couldn't possibly get rid of that. 

 Down at the bottom of the pile is the really cool camping box that Don made and that has been used in the family for over 40 years! Come on! How do you get rid of that?? 

Boxes full of memories, an old TV, 

a full sized bed.

 mementos 

This is what it looks like now. 

Don and I have mixed feelings. A person can get attached to things. They represent a life lived. 

The kids, on the other hand, are singing hallelujahs because now they know they are not going to have to deal with all that stuff someday. 

I think it's called life. I hope we are keeping what is truly important and letting go of the unnecessary. Likely in the end, I will wish I had kept some things I gave away, and wonder why I kept some of the things I kept. 

But, I am not going to worry about that. 

Overall, it is good to be FREE from those sheds. 

They were good for a time and now we are done. 

I vote we put the newly available $45 a month towards airplane tickets, gas and hotel rooms! 

Christmas All Year - February

Twelve Months of Christmas 

Twelve months of spreading the light of Jesus' love.

Are you looking for a way to reach out to your neighbors or your community? 

Here is a fun idea! 

Every month I am going to send out a blog post with a new idea for that month.

Families can set their calendars to spread the cheer - all year!

After your year of giving you will be the one blessed.

You will have joy in your heart because it feels good 

to care for others.  

February

Don't throw away old magazines or books. 

Donate them to nursing homes, hospitals and doctors' offices for to patients to read. 

Van

Elisa was in a car seat, Benjamin was playing T Ball . We were living in Salt Lake City and going to Southside Church of Christ. 

We had our busy little lives, going ALL over the place. Kimberly and Erin were in Volleyball with SLCA, I was a kindergarten teacher. 

It was a very happy time. 

But, it was missing just one thing .. the one thing .. 

All I wanted ... said with a whiny voice ... all I wanted in the whole world was a 

Toyota Previa Van. 

MAN. Would that be nice. We would be LOOKIN GOOD in that van.

 I would go to Bible studies, school events, date nights .. SWEET!! 

Instead we had what we could afford ... 

 The Ford Aerostar. 

Every morning it started like it was supposed to. 

The wheels went around and around and there was a spot for each family member. BUT it was ... 

BORING!

I'm generally a thankful person so I am quite sure I glad for what we had. 

But, for years I would always see those Previas. 

Until I forgot to see them. 

They started losing their luster. They became just one of the many older vehicles on the road. 

New styles of vans or other shiny vehicles got my attention. 

I wonder how much discontent had been in my heart as a result

 of those years of craving that van. 

I'm not saying I shouldn't want fun stuff, 

instead I want to tell you the lesson I learned. 

People bought brand new Previas. Probably loved them but they paid a HIGH price tag for them. Some folks even went into debt for one (at that point in my life I would have happily gone into debt for one) 

I have been enticed through the years by a lot of stuff, 

it all has one thing in common. 

EACH one has the same problem. 

Time passes and it all gets old. 

The very object I SO, SO loved ends up all used and unwanted. 

I saw a Toyota Previa the other day, I took a pic. 

It illustrates my point. 

How much long term value was in the object of my hearts desire? 

Here today, used and dented tomorrow? 

Today I have my eye on a van I would LOVE to have. 

I also want about a 100 other things I want too, but I have learned a lesson. 

I put all those really fun, shiny things in their proper spot. 

I keep my eye on the eternal goal. 

The long term goal.

 In 10 years, how much am I going to care about what I might think is INDISPENSABLE right now? 

Having lived 54 years and I am in a position to look back I can see the value of stuff is minimal. It's used and discarded. Shiny today, beat up tomorrow. 

How much of my life do I want to trade for that stuff? 

How about you? Do you have stuff that is so enticing that you think it's INDISPENSABLE right now? 

 There is not to much stuff in this life that is truly indispensable.

When you look around to decide what is going to take your attention and your desires consider the 10 year test. 

http://littlebirdieblessings.blogspot.com/2013/04/scripture-thursday.html

Also, if that is a pic of your van,
let me know, I will buy you a cup of coffee.

Waiting

There was little girl about 7 years old, home alone. Awakened by her morning phone call, she found her uniform, she dressed herself for school, after eating some hodgepodge breakfast, she walked out the front door, down a block to the home of her ride to school. 

It's a cold eastern winter, wearing her light spring coat she knocks, they impatiently answer the door and to tell her to wait outside. She waits. Alone. 

Day after day that is her life. A lot of alone. 

 After school, walking up to her front door she finds the key on top of the mailbox. As is expected, no one is there. She makes her way in the house and sits and watches TV for hours. 

In the evening, her father comes home. He has his evening's beer, two tall six pack. He is a kind man, but not a family man, mostly a beer and TV man. 

No family meal, occasionally there is canned soup or a frozen dinner. 

Finally, she makes her way to bed and waits for her mom to come home. 

After working two jobs, 

her mother comes in tired. Spent. 

Lonely, the young girl learns to live, 

she makes her own way in life. 

Bouncing from one thing to another like the silver ball in the pinball machine she grows from year to year. 

As God does, He brings good out of bad. 

That little life was mine. 

I had to learn on my own, I was lonely and alone. 

His sanctification is not done without pain. 

But, the jewels are worth the heat. 

A mother's heart ... 

Our sweet Kimberly 

Don and I had Kimberly. 

So started the warming of my heart. 

The memories of loneliness were being replaced with the love I had for the one that grew in my belly. 

I was never to be alone again. 

She was with me everyday, all day! 

And it was pretty close to true too.

 Not only did we have Kimberly but then there was our bundle of sunshine, Erin. 

After a long stretch of time came our little guy, Benjamin. Lastly, like a gift from heaven came Elisa. 

Years. 

I have loved them every single day, 

every minute of every day, for years. 

Month after month my thoughts were my family.  

As lonely as my young days were, 

full and loved have been my family days. 

Feeling my heart full of sweet tenderness, 

I think about my children. 

But now. 

Our children are adults now. 

My heart is scared. 

My arms are wanting to hold my babies. 

Where did they go?

 Where did 4 of my 5 best friends go? 

As I sit here and cry, feeling SO sorry for myself ... 

I am so gratefully reminded by my God who loves my soul ... I am not alone. 

I am coming full circle. I was that little girl, so alone and lonely, then I was nourished by the all consuming love for Don and my kids - but now, seeing the children reach adulthood, living apart from us, their bedrooms empty - it breaks my heart. 

I want them right here with us, forever. 

My dream would be for us to share 100 acres with our kids and grandkids. You think I'm kidding,

 I have already dreamt about it. 

I have it all organized in my mind. 

But, we all know what the real deal is. You bear them, love them and day by day lead them to adulthood. The actual goal is to let them be arrows for the Lord to use. We are proud of the people they are. Happy for them as they are move into their own lives. 

Going to the Shepherd of my soul .. 

I take a deep breath - I will trust HIM.

I look at the empty bedrooms and the quiet evenings. 

I will open my arms to HIM. 

I am lonely for our children,
I wonder if I always will be. 

Typing, I am listening to 

This Song

I will open my heart to HIM. 

I will wait for HIM. 

I will yell over top of all my emotions.
I will pray to HIM 
and I will WAIT 
for HIS peace,
feeling HIS presence. 
Never alone again.