Monday Moments with Mimi--Cleaning Houses!

Hi!  Happy Monday!  Whew, we have had a terrible storm here.  I am so thankful that all my sweet family is now home and safe and sound.  

Tonight's post from Mimi made me giggle out loud.  I am the daughter in question who caused her so much angst over a plastic suitcase of doll clothes.  Who knew she was so worried?  Never fear, the suitcase and clothes are now safely in my own daughter's possession.  Read below to understand more.  And thanks so much for stopping by!  Shannon :-)

Cleaning House 

I have begun the grueling task of my spring cleaning…cleaning out. I do mean grueling, and I do mean cleaning out. 

Over a period of precious time—as you lose your aged parents and empty the nest of children—somehow you wind up with more belongings. I don’t know how it happens! In the losing and emptying process, I have gained more personal effects than I have room for!!!! 

This season I have planned and purposed to totally organize and thoroughly empty my house of clutter. I started in the attic because if I can clean out the attic, I will have a place to which I can transfer some of the more valuable contents of my closets and extra bedroom. I actually may have a real extra bedroom after all!!! 

I do have a method to the madness. This has been going on for several weeks, and I have worked diligently to “haul off” things and not just relocate them. On my first run through, some of my attic finds were my childrens’ old toys that I am “hauling off” to their homes. Their toys are often in the way when I try to add more to the small planked storage space of my attic. 

I did not realize it, but as my girls went off to college and then married, I remained in possession of their various memorabilia. One particular item that I found was a doll suitcase that both of my girls enjoyed. I didn’t even clean out the contents. Dirty as it was, I just took it to my oldest daughter, still full of clothes. 

As I drove with my car trunk loaded with things to discard, donate, or deliver, I remembered precious moments of the girls’ childhood playing. All of a sudden, I was establishing a bond with this dirty suitcase that I was delivering. This thirty minute trek I was making to my daughter’s house afforded me enough time to reminisce about early childhood games and play times with them. 

I left instructions with my daughter that the doll clothes inside would have to be delicately hand-washed, and the suitcase gently wiped and disinfected. I was a bit remorseful and unsure that she would adequately take care of it. But, it was now hers to do as she pleased. After reiterating my instructions, I was off and back on my way back home for another section of cleaning. 

For a couple of weeks upon my visits to her house, I noted the suitcase remained just where we left it. I would peek inside to see if everything was still OK and in place. And it was. After a little time, the suitcase was moved, and I asked her if she had washed it out. Her response was no, not yet. Then I worried. Where was it? Was it lost? Was it being properly kept? Was it thrown away? The last time I was there I actually, asked my grandson about its whereabouts, and he just looked at me with a funny expression and said, “I don’t know.” That wasn’t a very comforting answer to the whereabouts of this toy item—that I discovered I had formed an emotional bond with. As long as it was in my attic, it was under my watchful eye, and I was the sole proprietor of its safe keeping. (How silly we moms can be!!!!!!) 

I smiled later and told my daughter that my “cleaning house” episode was much like releasing my children’s situations and other problems over to the Lord. I find that I do much the same thing. I place the situations in my proverbial trunk—drive away to rid myself of them—stop and unload it all at heaven’s door—but then keep going back to have a peek!!!! 

We say we are through with it, ready to hand it over, but then we find an emotional reason to hover around, keeping our own watchful eyes on the situation. And at the same time, we continue to fret… how silly we moms can be!!!  Lord, help me to trust you more, in all situations and despite my own worries.

I have since then started on another closet, and WOW!!! I have found most of my girls’ Western riding clothes that they had when they rode their own horses. Don’t worry—I am not even going to put this into my trunk and subject myself to the emotional fiasco…I have a perfect spot already picked out up in the attic! Blessings, Mimi (AKA Anne) 

II Timothy 1:12 “because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.”