Blessings From Home

Major Changes

I found this link through Deanna's blog, and have just loved looking through all of the wonderful archives. One thing that definately stuck out to me here lately was the post where she spoke of helping her children learn to care for their things little by little. Meaning, she cleared their rooms of everything except the basic needs and gave them only 3 outfits and their bed to care for and once they were able to care for those things properly, she gave them more to tend to. This is something that I am going to be doing...for several reasons. First of all, because my children have become incapable of taking care of their things, chaos has ensumed, and mom's not happy about it. And secondly, as we are striving for a more simpler life this year, I think it will help them to appreciate their belongings a bit more, and give me a chance to do a major decluttering. So over the next few weeks, I am going to be doing a major overhaul. I am going to go out tomorrow and find some boxes, as many as I can find, and then I am going to start going through their rooms. Everything will be packed away, except for one set of bed linens, one pajama set, 3 outfits, and one toy. As I pack everything away, I will keep one box for garage sale/give away and another box for toys to be earned back, and another box for clothes to earn back. I am hoping and praying that this will give my children the chance to respect their parents and their belongings a lot better.

And while I'm at it, I will be decluttering throughout the house. I plan on getting rid of so much stuff, not just out of want, but out of need. The clutter in our life takes up too much space, not only physical space but mental space. I'm tired of spending all my time worrying about what I'm going to do with all this "stuff". Laundry, for instance, it's piled a mile high on my dryer, and why, because I don't know what to do with it. Why do we do this to ourselves? I want so many things for my life and for the lives of my family? But I know we will never accomplish these things, if we don't simplify and organize what we have, and if we don't have respect for the belongings that we do have.

While reading through the Little House books over the last weeks, I often wonder how these families were only able to pack what they could get on their wagon. It's because they only had what they needed, not what they wanted. That's not to say that we shouldn't have things we want, but we need to really consider why we want these things. Is it because somebody gave it to us and we would feel guilty if we got rid of it, even if we don't love it, need it, or use it? For instance, my MIL gave me this creamer that looks like a cow, that's ok, but it is painted in these awful colors that makes it look, well, nothing like a cow. I don't love it, need it, or use it, so why should I keep it. Would my MIL be mad if I got rid of it, well maybe, but I think she would be happier knowing that I'm happier without it.

I will be blogging about some major changes in our life in future posts. We've made such significant changes just since last year, and we have grown so much. I think that this next step of major decluttering will help us grow even more. I'll try and post daily about how much I've gotten done and what I've done to simplify our lives and to save us money.

In other news, today we rung in the New Year with some blackeyed peas and cornbread. We did some cleaning and a little decluttering. We are supposed to talk to somebody tomorrow about getting financing for a house. We'll also talk to the realtor about looking at that house that we found that we have both fallen in love with. Please continue to pray for us as you see fit. This seems so right for us, but may just be out of our grasp. Blessings,

Sara    

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{ 11:25, Tuesday, January 1, 2008 } { Posted by gabbie427 }

Wow. You definately are making some changes!!! I am interested in seeing how your children respond to the toys and clothes, etc. being taken away and needing to earn them back.

Coulod you share with me the website you are talking about??? Thank you!!

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo


~~~Here's the link-http://www.oldpathsfamilyfarm.net/blog/

I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks.
Blessings,
Sara

Edited by Sara on Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at 10:50

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{ 12:50, Wednesday, January 2, 2008 } { Posted by maa }

This is a very good post, it talked to me. I have a lot of stuff that needs to be given away.

I hope everything goes well with getting a home.
maa's mom

decluttering

{ 07:05, Wednesday, January 2, 2008 } { Posted by melaniedawn }

Sara,
What a wonderful attitude you have about decluttering!!!! Your blog encourages me to keep on with my plans of decluttering throughout 2008. Keep us posted on how the plan to teach your children more responsibility goes, sounds very interesting!!
Melanie

Simplifying and decluttering...

{ 07:27, Wednesday, January 2, 2008 } { Posted by Anonymous }

Another great read is Carla Lynne at www.carlalynne.blogspot.com. I know she had six children adn last year they sold everything and are traveling in two RV's now. She told how they downsized and how they only have what they need. The kids are happier and I think she said each child had five outfits and only a few toys.
I think its great that they are traveling and teaching folks about simplifying. I bet they are having fun homeschooling too!
Love your ideas. I'll be watching to see how everything goes.

The Traveling Herbalist.