AS I SIT HERE TYPING UP THIS BLOGPOST, the locust are singing rather loudly outside probably from the huge trees. They may be out of sight, but not out of mind. I hear you. It's a familiar Summer sound that I'm use to in Kansas. They must love the weather as they are extremely loud. The weather is very pleasant today. I have got to get around and take a shower so I can shampoo my hair. I can't seem to find the time to curl her as I will be putting her up on my head in a hairclip so I can dash off to work on the COTTAGE.
I'll be sanding baubles off of the tall kitchen cabinet. When I get this done...more papers to go through. Lord help. Hubby said he came across a couple of storage tubs in the Carriage house without a clue about what's in them. I sighed when he told me there might be more papers to go through. More? I thought. More. Take a deep breath and don't get emotional. It has to be done. Amen. The sooner the better.
On the other hand the piles of paper I haven't already gone through that I am keeping have been moved to the dining room table so I can stand while sorting them. Bending over to get into the boxes requires more effort and this old body needs help making this task easier.
Sleeving pieces of paper with vinyl paper protectors that I plan on keeping has been uplifting as I see some order take place amongst our paper stash.
I will be sleeving my children's papers and Grandchildren's such as Birth Announcements, Birthday Invitations, Graduations, notes, cards, etc. Planning on making up individual binders for each child so there will be binders on the bookshelves in the near future.
I have large yellow envelopes that will be gone through so the papers can be sleeved. I am how many years behind...maybe 20? Better than 30 years behind. I'd encourage Parents of young children to keep a file box with folders to save fun papers from their children as they grow up then make up binders with sleeve protectors holding a few papers for each year for remembrance. I think it is easier on the nerves to do this in real time instead of waiting until your 67. Anyways...it's taking place.
I have baby books on my children sitting on the shelves. I gave my daughter a scrap book with certificates/programs in it a little while back. Now as I group other papers, I have to decide if I should give the kids their grade cards, birthday cards from loved ones and friends, hair trimmings and baby teeth that their momma saved behind the scenes. The grade cards and birthday cards...yes. Hair trimmings...maybe. Baby teeth?
Recent studies have indicated that stem cells can be retrieved from baby teeth that might help with health issues later in life.
https://kidshealthyteeth.com/what-to-do-with-your-childs-baby-teeth/
BINDERS MADE FOR GRANDCHILDREN and CHILDREN papers. Vacations, Inventory warranties, important purchases, recipes, newspaper clippings, what else...decorating ideas and creations from magazines. Antiques, dolls, Christmas ornaments. Photo Albums. Special greeting cards. THE YEAR OF THE BINDER 2022.
As of date, I have a Christmas Ornament binder of my Hallmark ornaments also one for my children's childhood ornaments. If the kids choose to throw the ornaments away...well then I have a picture of the cherished ornament and when I get HOMESICK over a simple ornament, I can look at the picture for recall. These ornaments are the kids' and I need to be done with it. Not even the cute wooden ones my folks gave to them each year when they were little. Shed a tear and go on. They all have children of their own now and guess who gives the grandchildren a Christmas ornament each year? Oui. I'm not sure it means anything to the grands, but I know I have a tradition that I repurposed from my folks. A simple tradition.
Binders to hold important papers and pictures to me...I will be relieved to have them worked up and sitting on a shelf for easy access. Having some of this in the cloud would be a smart thing to have as a back up.
I've worked up a large turquoise binder full of sleeved obits of loved ones and friends. I know more dead people than alive these days. It's a bit sobering. Still rounding up obits. Sigh. I am blessed by knowing these peoples.
THIS MORNING, I sleeved up the 25th Anniversary Cards we received 23 years ago. As I sleeved them, I reread the cards. Beautiful messages. Some had hand written notes that I had attached to the cards. Gosh...this brings back such good memories of the friendships I had while living in Tulsa through Christian Women's Club. I spent more time today looking at the cards and notes then I did 23 years ago. I'm in disbelief that it has been 23 years since I last saw some of these friends and have lost track of them. That part saddens me.
New friends have been made and I pray there will be more friendships formed as a 67 year old.
I will get a binder and put the sleeved cards into and there they will be. I haven't the heart to pitch these at the present. The cards are gorgeous and I think the people that gave them to us are very special to me. SO for now, the cards will be on the shelf.
I am spending hours dealing with going through boxes filled to the brim with PAPERS. I hope I see the day when I have all this dealt with. Next are the financial papers. Retirement, checking, banking, expenses. More thinning to do. Making headway. PRAISE THE LORD.
