HOARDER DRAMA and FIGURING THIS DOWNSIZING OUT

BARE WITH ME.  I sound repetitive and redundant, but hey.  Typing this all out helps me figure out what the heck I'm doing to make this downsizing all come to past and I'm alright if someone reads this with opinions different than mine.  Being transparent.

OH HEAVENS.  The front bedroom is calling my name.  I hear you.  I can't seem to rest very long at the moment before I go another round of moving heavy boxes while grouping all my dolls on one side of the room and the heavy BOXES of pictures with excess papers to the other side of the room.  Grunt and move. Doing a lot of thinking as I grunt.   

As I shuffle boxes about and move large pieces of furniture by myself, I grumble that I NEVER want to do this again.  NEVER!!!! If there's a will there's a way, but please add some wisdom in there.  Just because you can doesn't mean you should.  Amen.

I am too old to be so physical with such heavy items.  Way too old.  My attitude is grounding me to be a minimalist.  I am so ready to be there.  I would have never believed that we'd still be dealing with boxes, books, dolls, papers, etc. two years after a move.  In disbelief that I am still digging out from under with this stuff.  Slap my attitude.

I cringe when I think about the storage units full of STUFF.  I have a plan in my head, but know in reality I cannot blink and have it all taken care of.  Realistically with many more hours under my belt, this clean-up has a good year more in it to be where it all needs to be.

A very long and drawn out adventure that I have to be on until I arrive.  Responsibility is honored.  Thankful I have a working plan.  Keep going, kiddo and like Jesus said, "GO and sin no more."  In other words, don't stay in this sinful lifestyle.  You have an opportunity to exercise free will and be different than what you were.

Changing can happen and it needs to.  This is a tough assignment, but it can be done.

Boxing things to sell using smaller boxes than what I have now so the boxes won't be as heavy as they are means less weight and less energy to move.  Perhaps I have learned my lesson.  A sale in the SPRING is coming.  

TODAY.  Digging out two pieces of furniture from under boxes were the pie table and an antique chair.  I carried the pie table and an antique chair to the living room dodging boxes on the floor as I carried the items all by myself.  I folded up the long work table that was in the room.  It was a work out getting this far.  I sweated and panted.  

Standing on my head to get the table folded in very crowded quarters should have been filmed with me dancing about the room trying to fold the table up.  Finally was able to scoot the heavy table to the Dining room.  I got my exercise.  Heavy does it.  With this done, I returned the pie table and chair back to the bedroom to place them next to the windows.  Took more muscle.  

Boxes had to be lifted and placed in a different floor space.  I managed, but I am pooped.  Taking short breaks as I go.  I could have used a crew to help me, but then there would not have been room enough to even turn around in place.  It's that cramped.  I did what I could and then some. I'll be sore tomorrow.  SORE.

I'm about half way done with clearing out the corner of the room where a bookcase will rest for storing quilts.  Getting the bookcase located to the bedroom is another story altogether.  I don't suppose I'll get this completed for a few days, but when I get the bookcase in place I'll celebrate.  

The day will come when the boxes are all empty.  This will take more patience from me.  Time.     

Over the week-end I'll move the crystal from above the stove cabinet to the cabinet to the right of the sink.  Looking at my glassware, I think I will have to get rid of just everyday cups.  Then the area above the stove will hold the many boxes of tea we have that are on the bookcase in the Kitchen.  I'll have to get creative with the other things that are stored on the bookcase in the Kitchen so I can move it to the bedroom for quilts.  This is way harder than I like to admit.  Shucks.

When I finally get to a stopping place where everything is in order, I never want to do this AGAIN.  NEVER.  I pray that I can get to this place faster than fast so I can enjoy LIFE more by doing other things LIKE...  There will be order.  End of subject.  Cleaning out the garage and storage units will take a good year or more.  That's the way it is.  Staying excited about this is taking some effort.  Lord help.   

There is more to LIFE than all this HOARDER drama.  

~d

Hoarder Has Been

Not our place, but think you can get the picture.

WE LOADED BOTH AUTOS WITH ITEMS THAT WE WERE WILLING TO TURN LOOSE OF. A quick trip to Topeka to drop off our donations at one of my favorite THRIFT SHOPPES around.  Before hand we thought the place stayed opened until 8 pm.  They usually do EXCEPT on Saturdays in which they close at 5 pm.

Just an example of hoarding.

We pulled up to the Donation Drop spot at 2 minutes till 5.  Cutting it close.  We were able to drop our 'STUFF'  off and say good-bye to boxes and boxes of goodies.  It's a good thing to part with these things.  I don't want to be in BONDAGE to things I no longer need or want.

If I eBay or try other avenues selling or giving away, I will still be tied down to these items.  I am trying like HECK to be free from these things.  I could look at it as if God has allowed me a way to make some pocket change which would be a help, but then again I can look at turning loose as a way to bless others that might have a need for such stuff priced economically as I de-clutter and downsize.

It has been a laborious work to downsize, going through boxes 'n boxes 'n boxes to even see what is in the box.  I want set free.

Truly, I want to be doing other things that will satisfy the creative part of my soul and/or be the Woman of God I should be.  I choose to be the WOMAN of GOD that I am suppose to be.  Being the middle person when dealing with this stuff is in need of RETIRING from hoarding stuff.  

MAKING HOME A PRIORITY is my priority.  Amen.

In my mind I can see my HOME being better organized and clean.  The way to accomplish that is to actually work on making this become a reality.  So be it.

After hours of working at gathering things that need to go away, my body aches.  It's difficult to walk.  I ache so badly I could cry.  Taking this day at a slow pace.  The task of collapsing cardboard boxes is ahead of me.  Along with clearing out more things in the Living room that I gathered to go away.  Placing more things in the car to go away.  

You may ask how did it come to this?  Why so much JUNK?  Oh, how dare anyone call it what it is.  Junque.  Treasures, goodies, stuff, clutter, etc.  

I collected things for years as a form of entertainment when I couldn't get what I really wanted due to lack of money I substituted by buying less expensive stuff to fill a VOID.  Also with the idea that one day I would sell this stuff at our magnificent Estate Sale when we were old and grey to make 'm o n a y' to help us out in our old age.  Not to ignore pride...greed.  Not being willing to deny flesh comes to mind.  Wanting to be a thrifty diva is another excuse as to why there is so much stuffed in storage boxes that take up so much room that it becomes a headache to account for.  I cannot possibly use all these things in a lifetime.  

One thing has lead to another and the storage boxes consumed our storage space.  The hard task of letting go began.  I now have entered a phase of LIFE where I am needing less clutter and less responsibility of owning so much stuff.  So I am getting rid of it and working as fast as I can to be rid of it.  I could have rented a dumpster and ditched it faster than I am, but then I think my conscious would be telling me that I threw away GOOD STUFF that others could be using.  A catch 22 thing.

It's time consuming to load the car with this stuff not to mention wears old bodies out carrying heavy boxes to the cars and drive to the places of business that want your donations to raise money for their causes such as pay their own bills.  nuff said.  The stuff is migrating to the cars and going away.  There is a sense of satisfaction personally seeing the employees take the stuff away.  Bye-bye.

The first part of AUTUMN is a nice time to downsize.  Thin out.  PURGE.  Turning loose is like cleaning out the garage of the soul.  This is a phase that I have to participate in.   P u r r r r ging.   It is odd to spend years building up ones estate to turn around spending years getting rid of it to simplify.  With all the moving I have done through my marriage, I think I went overboard collecting things SOoooooo I would have to stay put instead of moving every few years.  Rebellion or ignorance.  

That desire to be at HOME never went away.

I became a hoarder?  On a smaller scale.  Think so.  You cannot take any of it with you when you pass away.  We can enjoy having things while we are alive, but it's considerate to help others out when needing things.  Sooooooooo...I will let go.      

Today when it cools off some to where I am not sweating by being in the screened-in porch, I will go box up more and Husband will carry it to my car so I can drop it off at a local ministry that helps with the community.  I hate to keep going on and on about it, but to be a collector (which my children say I'm a hoarder to put it lightly) gets to be a subject to chat about.

So I'm chatting 'bout it and getting off my chest that I have parted ways with lots of stuff.  I want to be doing others things with my time and talent than be under the spell of these items.  Entangled.  

To GOD be the glory...great things He hath done.  I am being set free and delivered.  Praise the LORD!  When others hear me say this, they may think this is petty.  Oh, come on now.  It's not such a big deal or is it?  It is.  I don't have to be shy about admitting that I am a healthier person because I ADMITTED that I turned loose of things.  What is it that the Lord says in Luke 12:15
King James Version (KJV)....

15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Can I admit that I have been greedy?  Yes.

Can I admit that I was not contented with what I had?  Yes.

Can I admit that I need God's help with turning loose of THINGS?  Yes.

Can I admit that I am human in need of a savior?  Yes.

Can I admit that I need to simplify my LIFE?  Yes.

Can I admit that I am wanting to be a KEEPER of the HOME and be a more loving HOMEMAKER?  Yes.

Can I admit that I need to use my time more wisely then I have been also when dealing with money?  Yes.

Can I admit that being a hoarder was and is a selfish way to be?  Yes.

Can I admit that I don't want to be tied down by STUFF?  Yes.

Can I admit that I want to change and have changed?  Yes.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HATH DONE.  Yes.

Making HOME a priority is a priority I desire,
d