putting stuff in it's place

Hi Again,

I've obviously not given up completely (yet) on blogging. I can't seem to fit it in but I sure want to.

The picture relates to nothing in genreal. Just a day with a box full of Kiley's clothes that needed to be gone through and gotten out of my house or put into the "Jillie may use this" catagory.

Tip #1 If your girls are 10 years apart in age, you really should not be saving very many things at all! What was cute and in style and couldn't be parted with in 1996 doesn't look quite the same in 2006! Yikes!

So another box sorted and a few pieces saved or put into circulation (do you like the vest?) . I have figured out that at the rate I am able to go through these boxes which are taking up the entire storage side of my basement, I will have a neat and organized basement somewhere in the neighborhood of 2010. Yup, just in time to wonder what to do with every last one of these Fisher Price and Little Tikes toys I have been saving, recycling and letting my kids hang onto for oh. . 20+ odd years.

This is so nuts. I actually participate in resales, consignment shops, give things away regularly, and keep the donation boxes at goodwill quite full on a regular basis so where oh where does this all come from? Guess the secrets out of the bag, I love to shop and love even more when I get a bargain. oh bother. (which reminds me, picked up 2 winnie the pooh tapes videos for 1.50 today. . .)

So all of that to say this, it's just stuff. Having 6 kids sometimes really makes you stop and think. Tonight the thoughts are how precious each one of them are. Different, unique, even trying but precious, absolutely precious.

Sometimes stuff clutters my life so much I lose sight of what matters most. I get busy with cleaning or sorting or shopping or even attending Bible study or church and before I know it another day is gone. Finished. Over.

This week baby Jillie had a one day stomach flu. Yuk. Just plain yuk. But not completely. I found myself relishing the entire day of holding her, cuddling her, knowing she needed me in a big way and then, even though I was dead tired and not feeling so good myself, I found myself looking at each of my other children and wondering how it would be if I never forgot what a special gift they were and never thought about tomorrow with them but focused on today?

Guess I needed that "slow down" more than I wanted to admit. Sure am glad the good Lord knows what I need and when. I never seem to on my own!

And so tonight, after Jillie was in bed (well, Daddy put her down after we went out the door. . .)
Kiley and I had a little bit of Mommy and daughter time at the Old Navy and the WalMart. Yup, she doesn't fit into any of the clothes in her closet at the moment so we have to pack them all up in a box ( no, just kidding, we are over that! really! just save one or two of the bestest things) and go hunt for more! Fun stuff! But so tiring. Good shopping, good company, good memories.

Not sure what the point of this post was but just wanted to think through my fingers maybe. . .

'nite.