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A Nine Month Detox For Our Home

Near the end of April I came across a blog post that was encouraging people to get rid of items in their house every day for a month. So on the first day you get rid of one thing and on the second day you get rid of two things, so on an so forth. In total you would be giving away 496 items if you do this in a month with 31 days. I thought, "hmmm that's interesting" and then went on with my day. Levi and I met up with our friends Jake and Courtney for lunch and I was telling them about this blog. Some how we all (except Levi) came to the agreement to do it together! The deal was that Courtney and I would text each other pictures of what we were getting rid of that day. The plan was set and I was so ready for April to begin. To some that seems strange (yes, I am referring to Levi again) but God started working on my heart many months ago. Let me explain...

When we moved to Coeur d'Alene Levi and I had to get rid of a plethora of items from our house in Truckee. We lived with friends for the last 3 months in California and being the cheap money savvy people that we are we rented the smallest storage unit possible and gave away the nonessential items we had accumulated over 5 years in Truckee. But then while unpacking our stuff in CDA I realized we still had way to much stuff. Stuff that we didn't need. One of the first sermons I heard at Lake City Church was about not being pulled into the consumerism mindset of America. To realize that our treasures are not stored up on Earth. That it is possible that our "treasures" could be holding us back from bigger plans that God has for us. Then I heard a sermon on podcast from Woodland Hills Church that addressed the same issue. God started a stirring in my heart to go through my house again, especially my closest. So I did. I went through all my spring/summer clothes and gave away probably 200 items of clothing. Then when winter was over I went through those clothes and gave away the ones I did not wear once during that whole season. This number probably totaled 100. I still felt a need to go through more boxes and our kitchen, that number totaled another 100 items. Now if my estimates are correct I had already given away 400 items. Thinking about it now that might have been Levi's hesitation to do this new challenge because he already felt that I had given enough stuff away. Poor guy, thought I was about to give him away next. But after reading this blog and talking with Jake and Court I still felt like God was saying, "More, I want you to give up more." And so here we are. 9 months later we have given away over 1000 items (that does not include the stuff we got rid of before we moved).

It is not as complicated as some one would think. An item could be as simple as an earring that doesn't have a match. OR CD's you don't even need anymore! Anything that is taking up space and storage in your house or garage. We gave some items to a second hand store and some items to friends. The only thing we sold or should I say trying to sell is a set of snow tires. Here are some of the items that will never see our house again!

See as easy as 1 torn blanket


Or as easy as random items in your desk


Alright this one was not easy for me at all. I love my running shoes and those Salomons were my first two pair. It was very difficult to say Good Bye. But I did! 


 Our strategy was to tackle the upstairs first and then the garage. Those tubs in the back I was able to give to a friend when we went to Truckee! How neat was that! If I wasn't doing this I wouldn't have been able to give her something she needed!


Blast from the past CDS! This made an easy day 31!

Books. I am a book hoarder so I was able to go through and get rid of lots! Another difficult task but I did! 

I am not being sarcastic when I say I am proud of Levi for going through his shirts and getting rid of some. These aren't all that he got rid of. If you know Levi you know how difficult this was.

The tires! If you know someone who would like to buy them let me know ;) 

Minus the tubs this is all the stuff we took to the second hand store...

Bye Bye stuff! 

Just a final word...I did learn from this experience. Even though it is only the 6th of June, Levi and I both feel willing to give things away more freely. If we aren't using it and we hear someone has a need we aren't stuck on keeping it. God has changed our hearts and continues to mold us into people who give freely. God is good and it's just STUFF! You can't take it with you 

Comments

  1. UnknownJune 6, 2016 at 11:56 AM

    SOO GOOD.

    God has really been helping me separate my since of worth from my stuff as well. Focusing on my worth as a Child of God (I know, Christian cliche, but, being a cliche doesn't make it un-true!)

    I keep things because of sentimentality or worrying that I might need it someday...you know, to be prepared for any situation, like a MAN!

    I feel lighter now. Seriously, God is changing the way I view stuff and I like it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Emily PonczochJune 6, 2016 at 2:54 PM

      Exactly Jake! Our value is found in Christ alone! Love going through this change with other peeps! :)

      Delete
  2. DanielleJune 6, 2016 at 12:11 PM

    Awesome post, Emily. And now I feel guilty for promptly filling those *huge* tubs with winter gear! We have SIX OF THOSE TUBS with just winter stuff. My crawl space is maxed out with kid clothes, shoes, winter stuff, Christmas decor... Ugh. Now I want to be like you and purge until those tubs are empty again. :)

    (Don't hold me to it... Yet....)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Emily PonczochJune 6, 2016 at 2:53 PM

      Haha well D, you have 3 children and we just have Tucker...;)
      But if you need someone to help you go through stuff call me! I will be there in a heart beat :) well maybe not that fast

      Delete

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