9 Comments
User's avatar
Joanne Thorstenson's avatar

Keep going, Amanda! We love your ability to articulate what we experience in life. I’m ahead of your season in life but you have refreshed my memory of how I navigated those decisions in the past and have reminded me how I still need to zoom in to what is important today. God bless

Expand full comment
Amanda Nowlin's avatar

Thank you Mrs. Joanne. I appreciate your encouragement. Maybe you can give me some tips on how you made those decisions!

Expand full comment
Becky Backman's avatar

Boy do I identify with your post, Amanda. I’ve made the mistake of filling every drawer and closet in every house we’ve ever owned all in the guise of “being organized”! Why did I think I had to organize so much “stuff”?!

I spent the last 3 years since buying our home in Florida doing exactly what you’re describing minus “kid stuff”! It was all “our stuff”! I tried giving away furniture and household items after Hurricane Ian but people had lost their homes and didn’t have any home to put them in. Bargain Basket got most of what I never really had needed!

I think I’ll have to purge every year. It’s a good feeling!

Love you

Expand full comment
Amanda Nowlin's avatar

Totally. What a great idea to bless those impacted by Ian though! Yes , me too on annual purging- physically and spiritually!

Expand full comment
Holly's avatar

Amanda, do NOT ever empty your writing box!!! Your words, and the wisdom and insight you share in them, would be missed!

Expand full comment
Amanda Nowlin's avatar

Holly , thank you again for being one of my biggest cheerleaders! Miss you.

Expand full comment
Joanne Thorstenson's avatar

Sweet Amanda, you are so respectful. Please call me Joanne. The saving grace for me was living in a Florida home where we did not have much storage space. So when clothes were outgrown and toys no longer captivated the attention, the items were easily donated or thrown away if worn out. I only kept items with sentimental value and tucked them in high out-of-the-way places. My daughter says we are very sentimental about our things. So it is a process. It really was hard to let some things go. But we assured ourselves we were making room for new favorites and growth in them. It is almost like paying it forward, where you know someone is going to really enjoy what you have given away. So be free to let go, making space for the new season and have fun creating the future. But hang on to those few precious memories that brought you to where you are now. You will cherish those select items with their tender memories and marvel at how quickly those years have passed.

Simply put, 3 boxes - Throw away, Give Away, Put Away.

In the grip of His grace, Joanne

Expand full comment
Cherrie Stojisavljevic's avatar

Beautiful and relatable! I’m feeling all of this! Thanks for sharing 🫶

Expand full comment
Amanda Nowlin's avatar

Thank you for reading, Cherrie. It means so much.

Expand full comment