You see, I save EVERYTHING! You might not know it by walking into my home. Most of the things I save are stored in boxes and totes. They're packed in closets and drawers.
This picture is of my hutch. As you can see from the windows, it's packed full. Last week, as I hung our stockings on this hutch, I decided it was time to go through it all. So, today is the day. I woke before my boys and began pulling everything out.
I found my oldest son's teeth. All his little baby teeth, carefully stored in plastic baggies and placed in a cup (a cup we received as a wedding gift).
Every bouquet of flowers I ever carried to Proms, winter dances, homecoming dances ... all stowed in a silver dish (another wedding gift).
Beanie Babies from my oldest son's early years. Beanies that I couldn't stand to part with when he outgrew the stuffed animal age. As I set each one on my table, I remembered the occasions for each Beanie.
The cap for my middle boy's kindergarten graduation was nestled in behind a stuffed animal from my childhood. Pulling out the flowers I carried on my wedding day took me back to the "I do."
Crafts from each of my son's school days took up the majority of space. I held each one remembering ... The day my oldest son brought home a pillow with Precious Moments ironed onto the front, pinched pots from Clay and James (Kregg's will be next when he enters the first grade), Christmas ornaments from the Henry Ford Museum (not on my tree because I fear they'll break) ...
There were ticket stubs from Monster Jam 2004 and obituaries for loved ones gone. I found newspaper articles on events that touched my heart and ticket stubs from my last trip to the Henry Ford Museum (yearly vacation from my childhood). Artwork from each of my children. I think I would probably save every paper they placed a mark on if I could. This drives my husband crazy. He'll look at a colored page and start to toss it ... immediately I'm there grabbing it and stuffing it somewhere in my hutch. He laughs and shakes his head.
What's the point in all these things I keep? If they're stowed away in boxes, drawers, closets ... no one sees them. But, I know they're in there. If I get an itch to go back to my wedding day or to my children's younger years, I can open one of the boxes and ... I'm there.
So, my resolution ... it started out to be organizing all this "stuff" and getting rid of some "stuff". But, now ... now that I've held these treasures and remembered the good things I've been blessed with ...
My resolution is ... hold on to those who gave me these treasures. Enjoy each treasure and store each one in my heart.
I'm not sure what my hutch will look like by the end of the day. Right now, I'm sitting in the middle of my dining room with treasures piled on my table. I can't decide what to box up and what to keep out.
My middle boy is asking who made what and smiling because I loved his Pilgrim's hat from the Thanksgiving day program enough to keep it.
Do you save things? How do you keep/store your treasures?
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”- 2 Corinthians 5:17
I save things, but my hubby is a pack rat. We are trying to find balance! Last year was a better year for giving away those things we truly do not need and keeping real treasures. I pray this year we will do an even better job of it.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, andrea
I'm a saver, too (that sounds much better than "pack rat"). I have beanies from 1998 that I was certain would pay for my son's college tuition. Ha!!! You have a much better system, though because it's all in one place. And we can't even tell from looking at the picture that all those treasures are there. Mine are all over the house. Most of them in my scrap/craft room. I just cleaned out some junk - real junk, not kid's artwork or anything like that. I can walk from the door to the table without tripping over something. I call that progress! For schoolwork, I am much better now because I can toss things and not flinch. I save their essays and funny drawings - something that has their personality. But if it's just a math worksheet, I have learned to throw them out.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year to you! BTW, in case you're interested, a group of us are reading the bible through the year at Wendy Pope's blog (www.wendypope.blogspot.com). Come and join us if you're so inclined.
Grace and Peace ... I need to practice your advice of throwing out things that don't show my boys personality (like the math papers and so on) that's an awesome idea. I think I will add that to my list of things to change for this year. I'm going to keep the things that reflect their personality. Great idea! :)
ReplyDeleteI have gone through my hutch, buffet and two closets. There's actually room in there for what's supposed to go in there. LOL.
I will definately check out Wendy's blogspot. I've only read through the bible once before and have been thinking about doing it again. That would be a great way to keep me motivated.
God Bless,
Aine :)