Life in a box...
All my life I have moved approximately every 3 years.
Sometimes more often, and once we were able to stay in one house for almost 7 years.
Each time we move, there are a few boxes that we rarely even open. They're boxes that contain things like our high school diploma's or our seminary graduation certificates...letters from each other...and silly sentimental things from prom, dates, concerts etc.
When we got married, I assigned one box for my things that were important, and one box to Achilles for his things that were important. As each child comes along, they have their own special box.
Over the years, when I freak out at all the extra 'rarely-open' boxes, and worry that we will be over our moving weight allowance... I take the things out and purge things. From both our boxes. And no...I don't ask permission to purge Achilles's box. *smile* I never throw out anything deemed important--just plain papers, ripped envelopes, orold girlfriend's pictures er, old receipts ..and the like. But then I repack everything into somewhat smaller boxes. He is the origional pack-rat and will rarely throw ANYTHING out. So, I don't ask. I use the "it's easier to apologize than to ask permission" tactic.
I cleaned out the garage today...and saw the stack of 'rarely-open' boxes..and decided it was time to purge. For real.
And my life's little treasured momentoes are now down to one shoe box. A little size 3 shoe box.
I reflected on that a lot this afternoon.
Mostly on the fact that the older I get, the less I feel the need to keep.
I still have my memories, my pictures, (especially now that Mr Computer Geek resuced my computer albums) and the most important things are/will be scrapped into lovingly handled albums....especially the things I want my kids to remember.
About me, and my family. About all the things we did together. Of my life's REAL treasures.
I should purge more often.
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."~~Luke 12:34
Sometimes more often, and once we were able to stay in one house for almost 7 years.
Each time we move, there are a few boxes that we rarely even open. They're boxes that contain things like our high school diploma's or our seminary graduation certificates...letters from each other...and silly sentimental things from prom, dates, concerts etc.
When we got married, I assigned one box for my things that were important, and one box to Achilles for his things that were important. As each child comes along, they have their own special box.
Over the years, when I freak out at all the extra 'rarely-open' boxes, and worry that we will be over our moving weight allowance... I take the things out and purge things. From both our boxes. And no...I don't ask permission to purge Achilles's box. *smile* I never throw out anything deemed important--just plain papers, ripped envelopes, or
I cleaned out the garage today...and saw the stack of 'rarely-open' boxes..and decided it was time to purge. For real.
And my life's little treasured momentoes are now down to one shoe box. A little size 3 shoe box.
I reflected on that a lot this afternoon.
Mostly on the fact that the older I get, the less I feel the need to keep.
I still have my memories, my pictures, (especially now that Mr Computer Geek resuced my computer albums) and the most important things are/will be scrapped into lovingly handled albums....especially the things I want my kids to remember.
About me, and my family. About all the things we did together. Of my life's REAL treasures.
I should purge more often.
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."~~Luke 12:34
Comments