De-Cluttering and Simplifing

That's what I've been doing for the last week. I can't believe how much "stuff" we accumulate as a family. It is almost sickening. I really feel that life has to be de-cluttered and simplified on a regular basis, especially with six people in a family. We had a garage sale for our 3 Day as a fundraiser and that started this process. I took at least 2-3 van loads of "stuff" over to Carey's house and that really didn't even put a dent in our mess. So this week I started going through our "stuff" with a different attitude this time...how long has it been since we used this? If it's been longer than a year, out it goes!
You see, Scott and I are quite the pack rats. We both want to hang on to everything because we might need it someday. Well, you know what happens then...it sits in a drawer somewhere and takes up space and collects dust. I'm just about done with the downstairs with the exception of mine and Scott's closet, which is a very large walk-in. So you can imagine what it looks like after almost 5 years of being a storage area. We used to joke about how large it was and you could almost make it a room. Now the two of us can barely stand in there together. But it will be done by next weekend! Hopefully the rest of the house as well. I just don't want to let this happen again, though. I don't see any reason to have this much "stuff" in one house! I've also been struggling lately (as stated a few posts ago) that there is just too much going on in my life with volunteering. I'm still working through that and I've come to the conclusion that God doesn't want me to do everything and say yes to everything, even if it's something that I feel I'm good at or would love doing. God wants me to use my time very wisely and be here for my family as well. I struggled with this when I first quite working to stay at home. I wanted to volunteer for anything and everything with the kids and their school. I'm much better at it now where school is concerned...but then along came church. And that's where my struggle is now. But it's becoming much clearer that my life has to be simplified along with all the de-cluttering.

The other reason I started this de-cluttering process is that we are moving Cassie into Dylan's room and Dylan and Justin are going to be in the same room together, which is now Scott's office/Justin's room. Then Scott will move into what used to be Cassie's room...the master retreat is what our home builder referred to it as. It was always intended to become Scott's office and now we are going to make that official since he's working from home. Besides, Cassie needs a room of her own with a door and a closet. Not one that is connected to mom and dad's room with only a stair case...if you know what I mean! Scott can't wait to have his very own space that will be just his. I'm really excited about it for him as well. He needs his own space that kids are not going to come in and take over. Can't wait to show off my decorating skills when we do his room with all of his travel items and his Star Trek "stuff". That is really going to take some skills, but my teacher says it can be done!

Well, hopefully my next post will be about how my house is completely de-clutterized and how my life is becoming much more simplified!

Until next time...