Stuff

As I sit here in my living room and look around me I start trying to remember what led me to simplifying. What was it that triggered something in my brain and made me want to start selling all of my beautiful things? When did I decide that less is more? I had worked hard to collect all of that stuff! What changed me?
I think that it was probably the fact that we have moved far too often in the past few years. We humans are quick to assume that everyone besides us must have it all together.  If that is what you think of me, allow me change your mind. As I mentioned in my first post, Jonny and I have had a difficult marriage. We were both very young and very stupid when we married. We lacked patience for each other and had no idea how to love each other.
Back to the stupid part. Because of different bad decisions on each of our part, we have spent the last few years trying to make up for the first several. After our fire we spent the next eight months building our dream home. It was perfect. It was gorgeous!

 Here are a few very bad pics of it. (It has only been recently that I've learned how to take a decent picture.)
We lived here for a short, few months before we lost it in a bankruptcy. Humiliation followed for both of us. Horrible humiliation and shame. People kept asking what had happened and we got so tired of having to explain how stupid we had been.  But we serve a big God and He turned that mess into a blessing. We loved those months of living in the country and although we still had a huge mess to clean up, we made some wonderful memories there. 

 We moved several more times after that (three to be exact. Six moves in as many years.) trying to figure out where we wanted to settle. Every move was horrible. SO... MUCH...STUFF!!! Trucks and trailers full of it. Each time we moved I started wondering why on earth I needed all of it. The last move was last summer. We sat down and decided it was time we changed some things. Really changed. A smaller more modest house was the biggest decision and with that choice came the need to get rid of stuff.

I started off small. Selling a few things here and there and only selling to friends. I guess my thinking was if I ever wanted anything back, I knew where to find it! 

Then it started becoming a challenge...like, a good challenge. I sold a little more and a little more. Bigger and bigger pieces until almost everything you see in these pictures is gone. I'm not just saying that. As I look at these pics I realize that I still have that coffee table and one of those light fixtures and that trunk and thats about it. I even sold my piano! I cried a little over that one but it was one of those huge beasts of a piano that made everyone run when it came time to try to lift it. 

I sold decorations, furniture, Christmas stuff, clothes, art, rugs, ping pong tables, mirrors, greenery. Since I'm such a bargain shopper, I actually made almost more money than I spent! I started looking over everything I owned asking myself "Do I really love you? Do I really need you?" I was shocked at how many times I didn't. My things became less of a treasure to me and more of an opportunity. Losing everything in a fire makes you realize how unimportant stuff is. 

Do you hear me keep calling it that? STUFF... STUFF...STUFF. It is not important. People are. Stuff is replaceable and easily taken from you. Stuff burns up in a fire and you do not even care because your children are safe. Stuff holds you back and clutters up your life. Stuff can become too important if we let it. It is just stuff. 

Now I've gotten myself going and I'm going to have a hard time hushing! So much to say when my fingers hit these keys. But this story is like my journey. A process. Another day readers, another day and I will tell you more.