Media

I’m not sure how I feel about this week. I already know I’m way too plugged in, and I’m not that sad to unplug for a week.

Here’s what I’m eliminating for the week:

1.       Facebook

2.       Pinterest, blogs, etc.

3.       Apps, except the ones that are actually needs, like GPS and my grocery list

4.       TV and Netflix, except for my kids who watch one episode of Curious George every morning before school if they’re ready and being good

5.       Anything on the internet I don’t truly need (this includes news stalking, which is very difficult in the wake of tragedies this week)

6.       Non-Christian radio

7.       The random phone calls I make when I’m bored, driving, etc. when I just can’t stand the sound of silence

Obviously my job includes a whole lot of time on the computer and internet, but I hid my bookmark bar after I almost clicked on msn.com about 10 times in the first day. I also almost logged on to Facebook within 5 minutes of being awake day 1.

My biggest fear is that I’m going to miss something, but I’m probably not going to. I’ll probably get a lot more cleaning and laundry done, and I’ll go to bed earlier, which is good for everyone. However, I may end up getting really involved in those Curious George episodes…

Stuffed with stuff.

I blew possessions week out of the water. This is not about bragging rights, this is about having WAY too much stuff than a family of four (two of whom are very small) could ever need. 

I purged at least 7 items from every room/area of the house. And it amounted to over 400 items. Some of it had to be thrown out (unless someone wants some medicine that expired before my children were born), but most of it went in a pile to donate.

Emotionally, this was a roller coaster. It was liberating to free myself from a mound (literally, a MOUND) of things we didn’t need. But it was also sickening how much we have that we don’t need, and, if I’m being really honest, probably never needed. And then it was freeing again. Repeat, times 50.

My biggest logistical challenge was time. I happened to be on vacation for much of the week, and busy with work and life the rest of the week, so that was tough. Some of it was maddening. I went through well over 100 pens and sharpies, and purged most of them, but that takes time. Some of it was wonderful. We’re donating 3 trash bags full of stuffed animals to Solutions for Change, which will go to chronically homeless families trying to get their lives back.

I loved involving Carter in this week. I loved seeing him let go. We’ve tried to purge before, and he held so tightly to things he never played with we never got rid of anything. Yet when we put it in the perspective of where these toys were going and why it was important, he started to open his heart and see needs beyond his own. I think his mother could probably learn a thing or two there.

So we have a mountain of boxes and bags, all waiting to go to their new homes (again, time I haven’t had yet). And the craziest thing is I’ve barely made a dent. You can’t tell a single thing is gone. I did a first pass with the time I did have, but there is still so much more. I barely touched one corner of the garage. Moving forward, I want to continue this cycle of careful consideration of what we do have, and be really mindful of what I buy and why. This home can’t possible need another souvenir mug. Ever. 

Undressing Clothes

I finished clothes week yesterday. It certainly wasn’t food, but I didn’t like it. I found that 60 seconds goes REALLY fast when I’m trying to pick out an outfit, and shoes, and jewelry. I also found that more often than not, I wanted to change. I really struggle with feeling insecure in whatever I’m wearing, and there are definitely days I change 3-4 times before I leave the house. Not good. I also realized that I hated one shirt I was wearing (which will no longer be part of my wardrobe), and the whole day I just felt off because of my shirt. My shirt! What a ridiculous, vain, unnecessary thing to ruin a day over!

The biggest lesson of clothes came out of the possessions side of it. I finally got rid of the sophomore year homecoming dress, but more on that later. And, going forward, I really don’t want to buy endless amounts of more. If I buy something, it needs to replace something else and it needs to be necessary.

I know the Lord is working on me, and empowering me to be comfortable in my own skin, but this week really showed me my need to depend on Him in this area.

Cause I am living in a material world

Next up: Possessions. I’m actually doing this in conjunction with clothes week since I’m going to be on the other side of the country visiting my sister for most of the real week 3.

Oh, possessions. I have a lot of stuff. Most of it I hold on to with open hands, but there are *far* too many handfuls.

This week, I’m going to go through 13 rooms/areas of our home and give away 7 things from each. That’s 91 items. Some rooms may have 70 things I could give away. Jen Hatmaker gave away 7 things a day for 30 days, which is 210 items. That’s my second goal: 210 items.

Carter is getting in on this action. He really loves his stuff, and that concerns me. I want to find a local resource, maybe an orphanage or women and children’s shelter, to donate these things to, and I want him to go with me and hand it over. It’s so important to us that he understands how blessed our life is, and how we are called to share with others. I’m not quite sure how that’s all going to go, but it’s so important to shepherd his little heart. And mine, too. 

Week 2: Clothes

Moving on to another area of great excess in my life: clothes. I have a LOT of clothes. More clothes than can actually fit in my closet, which is silly considering I have something like 15 feet of closet at my disposal.

The problem isn't so much that I buy too much, it's that I have bought too much, and I didn't really know my style and for the longest time I didn't know where to shop. It's safe to say, as I'm knocking on the door of thirty years old with two kids and a real job, I'm beyond the Charlotte Russe years. I can probably get rid of the dress I wore to my Sophomore homecoming, right? Even as I type that, there's a little part of me that's yelling "wrong! I might need it someday! I could wear that again!"

So for this week I'm choosing two thing: Go through everything. Be realistic. I did this a lot before we moved and made some first round cuts thanks to my brutally honest sister. Shamefully, that was over 50 pounds of clothes, but there's still more, like the homecoming dress. Part of this ties into next week’s focus on possessions.

Second, I'm going to set a time limit on how long I have to get dressed this week to 60 seconds, and that includes picking out shoes and accessories. So far, I'm 2 days in. Yesterday was good, today was less good but not terrible. I spend an awful lot of unnecessary time staring at the same clothes. And then changing what I’ve already put on and feel super anxious about all of it. So 60 seconds, and praying my focus shifts away from what I want people to think of me. 

A third and unexpected conviction was the light shed on human rights within the apparel industry. I took a few really interesting classes in college on this, but I've frankly been lazy in this area. I cannot stand the fact that my kids' clothing may have been made by the sweet hands of children forced into labor in deplorable conditions. There are some great companies out there bringing data and light to this (free2work.org is one, although a bit limited). 

Reflections on Food

I really think food is going to be my hardest week (famous last words?). I'm really glad to have it behind me, but also really intrigued by what I learned.

I didn't completely launch myself into a plate of doughnuts, but being Easter weekend, I indulged a bit more than normal. And I kinda felt sick.

I didn't even want soda, which is a huge victory.

We hosted a pretty big party yesterday and worked late last night cleaning, washing dishes, and trying to put everything back together, and this morning I was exhausted. I thought I would treat myself to a latte. That was not a good decision. As it turns out, I think my latte days are behind me, it wasn't even worth it and threw half of it out.

But oh. my. goodness. The San Diego Smashburger I ate Saturday? I felt like it was the best thing I've ever tasted.