It finally looks like something has been accomplished

Having my house covered in boxes of clutter for three days has made me think of those shows where they go in and clean out and organize a room. When the crew arrives, there is a room or an entire house with junk piled everywhere. It amazes me that people can live that way. Not that I think they're slobs or mental, just that having stuff piled up everywhere makes me nervous and antsy. I think I just don't like having so much obvious work to do staring me in the face all the time.

When I was pregnant with Charlie, I spent the last two months on bed rest. Melody was just shy of 2.5 and Dowlan worked his full time job, watched Melody, watched out for me and took care of everything. The housework, shall we say, was NOT a priority. It was so frustrating to me because there is no feeling worse than staring at your own dirty house and not being able to do a thing about it. Clutter and mess gnaw at me. They glare and nag and mock me until I get up and do something about it.

So here is how far we've gotten so far today. Our room is still a wreck, but at least 2/3 of the stuff is put away. And several of the boxes you see are empty:




Remember when it looked like this?





The closet has more stuff in it, including the upper shelves organized:






That last shelf is stuff I've bought ahead to grab for birthday parties and other gift-giving occasions. If you are a person I am likely to give a gift to, don't peek too closely. The drawers in the middle picture look so innocent stacked there. From 9-2:30 last night, I sorted PILES of papers from the last 16 years. It is organized by stages of my life.

I looked through all the cards from every baby and wedding and birthday gift from the time I turned 20. It was really neat to remember all those people. It was interesting to be reminded of some, to remember some who have passed and to think about how some people just keep coming into my life. I found the wedding cards from Dixie's Grandma Jane, Granny and Uncle Billy. Who knew then what they would be to me now?

And of course there was all the old boyfriend stuff. It is really weird to see pics of me snogging another dude.

Speaking of guys I snog, here is Dowlan folding laundry this afternoon:



The girls' closet has more stuff in it, like backpacks, sleeping bags and (naturally) vacuum cleaners:


And as I was adding a few more things in, Dowlan said those five little words that nearly ended our marriage: I found more gift bags.

Remember the cards from the aforementioned showers? I still have every single sheet of tissue paper, curl of ribbon and gift bag from every gift, with the exception of the ones that I have already re-used. I have evidently forgotten how much more blessed giving is, because I have been heavy on the receiving and I still have ALL of these, that I had already neatly tucked away:


And then Dowlan had to go and find more:


Gift bags are something I have a fondness for. They're handy. Quick. Easy. AND they are nearly infinitely recyclable. And they are sooooooo cute. Who could throw these away?


Just don't be surprised if the party favors this weekend are piles of gift bags.