Just beat

Tonight I'm just beat. This storage room clean out is exhausting.  Physically, mentally and even kind of emotional. The boys were actually, surprisingly helpful today. It's typically not their "thing". But most of them were on board.

I feel so strongly about paring down our excess right now. About changing our, well for sure my, mind shift on stuff. I just feel like God is really trying to hit me in the head with this. I'm a regular donator, it's not that I am a hoarder. But this time it's big. I mean this time it's with a different intention. I need things to be more simple.  I need to know where things are...I need not to feel so overwhelmed by our stuff.  

This is what our day has looked like...

Emptied storage room out. Everything out. 

Tommy's bug project 5th grade. Grasshopper. 

Found my fashion plates....

A sweet note from my Grandpa Twig who passed away when I was in junior high. In my autograph book. 

A softball my dad had written on. 

An old thank you note to my aunt. Lol. 

High school dance photos. 

Approximately 3600 notes mostly from my parents. Praising me. Praying for me. I have never doubted their love for me and certainly don't have to with all of these notes and cards. 

The storage room is slowly getting reloaded.  28 bins have been emptied so far... Donate. Trash. Share with intention. I think that's the most tiring part. The sharing with intention. Thinking through everything we give away. Who can we bless with it most?  Sometimes it's goodwill. But friends, Neighbors, Single moms, refugees, new moms, foster parents.... So many people. Feels so good to do it that way despite my exhaustion tonight. 

It's still a mess...but will be so much better. Going to bed now.  This will still be here tomorrow. 

Gods using this book "7" to mess me up...in a very good way. 

Home

We got home late last night. The drive home was LONG.

Left Columbus after we got Stuart off to school. 

Cannot make this stuff up

 When we got home we quickly unpacked and I started laundry.  2 loads in and done before bed last night.  Funny how I did laundry in a Ohio yet still had more. Yikes. 

This morning I continued my mission of purging, spring cleaning and letting go. My heart wants to bless others with our excess. 

Started the organizing with having another shelf put into our basement closet. Photo albums in one place. I'm really praying water never gets into this closet. It never has but I thought about it today. 

I had the boys haul a bunch of bins out of upstairs storage room. Yes we have 2 storage rooms...it seemed smart when we built the house now I'm not so sure. Easy to keep a lot.  The boys each had 2-5 bins of their own to sort through and keep what meant the most. The rest is going to those in need. 

The start of our donation piles...

...the empty bins feel good. 

I may have tried on a dress or 2 of mine from high school dances. :). Kept these 2.  Granddaughters dress up someday?  

A quote from the book I'm reading. Gulp. Convicting.  

Read this today too. Loved it. 

Snuck off for a quick date night. An hour alone was lovely.  

And my view right now.  In our bed. Snoring. I'm putting my feet up. It's amazing how tiring it is to sort through and purge stuff.  And to intentionally donate. Not just pile it all off to goodwill. But think of who would appreciate. Or who could use your extra.  I want to give intentionally. 

Tomorrow there is more to sort through.  Won't the boys be thrilled to know that?  

Wednesday: Farm to Buckeyes

We spent this morning packing it up.  I was busy Washing sheets, cleaning up, Scott was busy helping finish up yard work, I made a ham loaf lunch....Scott's mom wasn't feeling well. His Dad needed help with some projects.  

After we loaded it up we sat down with gma and gpa. Earlier this week Scott had the boys write down 10 questions they each wanted to know about their grandparents. We sat down and the boys asked their questions. Scott video taped it. Questions ranged from their favorite foods to the day they met. It was a special time.  Fun to see his parents share and open up. Such a great idea. 

After that time we snapped this picture and headed out towards Columbus. A 2 hour drive. We drove by Scott's gparents farm on the way...he has so many memories there. We don't know who lives there now. 

Then a quick stop at Shisler's cheese and we were off...

Always fun to see your name...

Then once in Columbus with a quick stop at the Lego store and the Buckeye store...

We landed at the Townsley's house...our Columbus home away from home.  Mike and Scott were best friends at Ohio State.  John was our ring bearer and Jackie a flower girl.  Stuart was yet to be born when we were married. 

This is with John before all of the boys headed to watch Stu play Lacrosse.  Max and I stayed home. It's cold and rainy here. 

Tomorrow we will head home...it's been a really good trip to Ohio. My heart is more grateful than usual after being here.  I think I am appreciating the farm more, family more and the fact that we have so much to be thankful for. We aren't perfect and certainly don't come from perfect families but we are blessed. So blessed...

Tuesday at the Farm

Spring break continues here at the farm in Ohio.  Woke up to French toast made...yummy.  I think most muscles ache on me today from all of the scraping and painting we did yesterday. Up and down the ladders etc....  We slept well and hard once again. 

The sun was shining so the boys were outside early playing. The Kubota was running.  There may even have been golf chip shots in the front yard. Scott raked and loaded it into the Kubota while Drew and/or Jack hauled the leaves away and dumped them way off in the corn fields. 

We all went to WG Dairy for their Spring open house which means FREE meal in farmer language.  I believe most of the county was there with us. ;). The boys loved it and loved the ice cream most of all. 

We spent the afternoon running around outside. Tommy played 9 holes again at the local course. I may have fallen asleep on the sofa for a bit as well. Scott's mom made her third pie of our trip.  This is not helping my project -50 weight loss. But it's so good. 

Tonight we went to the Dalton Dariette for dinner as it opened for the season today and....well so did 100 other people. So we opted forWendy's instead.  A little disappointed but we didn't have an hour to wait. The boys wanted to go to theAll  Star high school game.  Scott's friend had a son coaching. So he wanted to see them. I opted for home with Max and Jack.  Starting to get things packed up.  Tomorrow we leave for a day/night in Columbus before heading home Thursday morning.  

I feel like this week has been less hectic than usual.  It's been fun to watch the boys enjoy the farm so much.  

Golfing.  While Scott rakes...nope he doesn't "sit" well. 

Feeding the puppy "Cindy" treats. 

Jack loves the Kubota. 

Across the street from the farm they own this barn and a house they rent out.  I love the tile work on this barn.

Too bad it was so busy. I'm thinking tomorrow we may need a stop on our way out of town. 

One of my favorite barns to drive by...I love everything about it. 

Almost bought this ice cream today while in town getting some things for Scott's mom. But opted against it since we have 6 other kinds in the freezer here. 

Monday full day

So it rhymes. Monday long day. :). Today was a long, long day.  Good but long.

After another great night of rest we were off to Akron. Drew, Jack, Max and I to begin the prep work of our living room makeover project for Kathy

. So many helpers huh?  Scott had morning conference calls so he stayed back at the farm. 

We spackled holes, we removed outlets, we taped and we sprayed DIF on the lovely wallpaper border.  Then we began to scrape....and scrape...and scrape.  Let me tell you that if DIF called me today and said they'd pay me to do a commercial for their product I would NOT be able to say yes. The stuff is almost worthless. I ran back to Sherwin Williams for gloves and a "scorer" that was supposed to make the previously purchased DIF work better. Hmmm did nothing.  Oh well. We scraped some more. 

We opted for bagels on yet another trip to Sherwin Williams for something... 

Then Drew scraped. Jack, Max and I headed outside to take down Kathy's Christmas lights for her. And then came back inside and cleaned out her fridge for her. All this time she's at work, teaching at school.  She knew we were there of course.

We headed back to the farm to make lunch. Leftovers it was. Yummy. It was a beautiful sunny day too. 

The boys and Grandpa found this Cat house at the junkyard and brought it home for Kitty. She loves it. So funny 

After lunch Drew headed back to Kathy's to help. Scott was able to go as well.  More scraping and then finally painting. 

We quit around 5. ...in time To get home for dinner.  I made grilled cheese for everyone. Fancy I am. 

This afternoon jack and max went on Kubota rides. Tommy tried a different golf course. And Mr Jackson stopped by with a sweet gift for Scott.  He had blown up a picture of Scott and his 4H Grand Champion steer and gone to Goodwill for a frame and wrapped it up in newspaper as a gift. (Back story...the Jackson's live in what I would term a junk yard. Their yard is unbelievable. Stuff everywhere. They don't have much. Their house burned this fall so they've been living in the church parsonage). So for Mr. Jackson to take the time to find this photo. Blow it up. And purchase a frame.  I could have cried.  It shows that it matters how you treat others. It shows my that Mr Jackson thinks enough of my husband to do this. It shows me that how you treat those with less than you matters. And it reminds me Mr Jackson will leave this earth with the exact same stuff I will...nothing.  

After dinner...you guessed it.  Back to finish up. We took Max knowing he'd fall asleep.  Yet reassured that if he woke up he wouldn't be sad we were gone. 

And we left there at midnight with a job very well done I think. Not many before pics but some afters... 

Best before and after shot we have. 

Sunday at the Farm

 I'm beginning to worry about Carbon monoxide at the farm...I have slept hard here.  As a matter of fact after giving Max a bath tonight I was reading in bed enjoying a few minutes alone and well...yep I fell asleep.  Scott just woke me up to get my contacts out and Jammie's on.  So much for being social tonight.  

We had a nice day. Church was good. Their pastor is always so kind to personally welcome us at the beginning of service.  Small town church. ❤️  His sermon was spot on today. I enjoyed it.  I loved watching Max up front with Jack during the Children's moment. Jack then volunteered to take Max to Sunday School in the basement.  He stayed with them. He reported it was fun and that Max was the best listener there in his opinion. :)

After church we had roast and mashed potatoes. Yum.  The boys favorite. 

After church Tommy and I headed to Akron with Scott's sister to work on her living room makeover. She bought a Tv, we found new lamps, ottomans, rug and paint. Tomorrow we will remove the border and paint her room while she is at work. Wish we had taken a before picture of the room.  We are taking the room from 1985 country style to 2014. 

We dropped Tommy off to hit balls at a heated driving range while we went TV shopping too. 

Drew and Jack were great to stay at the farm and watch Max.  He napped even.

Drew sent these to me of the nappers. 

We got home in time for me to whip up some sloppy joes for all of our dinner and for the selection show for March Madness.  

During Max's bath I realized how much I really do love the wallpaper in the upstairs bathroom of the farm. It just makes me happy. 

Saturday on the Farm

TI'm laying in bed next to a snoring husband...it's so quiet here.  The dog barks now and then but that's all you hear.  I always sleep well here.

Today was a pretty simple day,  my favorite kind. We started the morning off slowly. Scott took his mom to her hair  appointment.   Drew and Jack went withGrandpa  to the junk yard to drop off recyclables. Max and I played with Scott's old toys and cars. Tommy slept in a bit which is not typical for him.  I think his sinus infection is coming to an end. 

They have been having some problems with their sewer system and so today they had a neighbor come with his backhoe to dig it up and find the issue.  The backhoe brought plenty of entertainment for max and jack.  They loved that.  They have to put in a new tank on Monday.  This one lasted 100 years guess it's time. :) 

Tommy and I ran to the store to buy some groceries to help make meals. The other boys stayed home and drive the Kubota around the farm. Drew and Jack collected pallets and are making a "hunting blind" behind the barn. 

Grandma made lasagna for lunch and apple dumplings for dessert. Yum. After lunch the Buckeyes played Michigan.  Max needed a. Break and to rest. I didn't mean to fall asleep with him but.....next thing we knew it was 5 pm. Yikes!  That had given Scott time to pick up donuts at the stand just opened today....our favorites.  

Tommy snuck in 9 holes of golf at Lyon's Den by himself.  Golf tryouts are after we get home.  He snapped this shot....

After dinner we drove up to see Scotts sister Kathy. She lives 35 minutes from the farm.  She wants painting help and redecorating  ideas. We moved sofas around and will paint Monday. 

Oh and bonus...look at these awesome jars found in the cellar today!   

Tomorrow is church.....and maybe another nap. ;).