Freedom Sale

Clutter is very powerful. Thankfully I have a God who is MORE powerful or I might not have made it through these last few months. Seriously they would've had to seen in the hounds to find me in this mess I used to call home...but of recent is has been called the Hole. My kids have stepped it up a notch in making messes and destroying things and hiding wrappers to food they snuck into their rooms these last few months. Coincidentally I have had less energy, motivation, joy and patience, not to mention all the stress that comes when you cannot pay your bills.

So I have been reading (more like skimming) books like "It's All Too Much" by Peter Walsh, "Sink Reflections" by FlyLady and watching shows like Clean Sweep, Clean House and Help I'm a Hoarder....okay so I haven't actually watched the Hoarder show but it really does exist. I got me some boxes and lined them up and down the hall and told my kids these boxes were going to lead us to Freedom so start filling them. If you know me, you know that I love Children's books and I have about 4000 of them. Well I went through every one of them and let go of A LOT. I didn't count but I filled 6 boxes in one sitting. I of course, kept all my favorites and my kid's favorites and a few more...but I put many in the Freedom boxes. I let go of most of my pig collection which I started collecting when I was a kid. Candles, kitchen stuff, vases and such, toys, clothes, more toys, furniture that doesn't fit anywhere, stuffed animals, even more toys, baby stuff etc...etc... We just filled those boxes and filled some more.

Then this last Saturday we had our Freedom Sale (aka Yard Sale). We set up everything Friday night and Jim and Zack camped outside. My parents and our friends came and brought some things to sell and hung out for several hours haggling with people. I on the other hand stayed inside because I hate dealing with people who think $2.00 is too much for my brand new $100 item and try to get me to sell it to them for 25 cents! I get too angry that I can't be out there.

It's not safe! Ha! Ha!

So while the Freedom Sale was going on, Leesha helped Jade and Naissa clean up their room. Here is a before picture. I couldn't get in the room to get a better one.

Believe me, it's a lot worse on the inside!

This is a picture taken from my bedroom window...only 1/2 the yard is shown and you can't really see how much stuff is really out there...it filled the yard, I think we had like 18 tables and a couple of tarps plus all the bigger items.....CRAZY!! Who has this much junk??? :)The kids just played outside. Zack went down the street where his friend got a new, huge skateboard ramp and skated all day. Naissa and Isaac got a little dirty. Leesha did great at motivating Jade and not letting her clean her room 1/2 ass, as usual. I was surprised to see the carpet after only an hour or so. They added to the Freedom Sale as they cleaned too. Notice Harley there in the middle of the room, kickin' it...

she was lovin' the floor being cleaned in there. They didn't shove everything in the closet either! The crutches were from the Freedom Sale,

no one is really using them....just for fun. Jade....enjoying the space on her floor. Overall we had a great Freedom Sale. We made some money and more importantly we let go of a lot of stuff! We also called for the rest to be picked up so it wouldn't re-enter our house!

Unfortunately Naissa took out her pink stick horse and Jim sold it for a quarter!! A hard lesson in not leaving your stuff out on the lawn during a yard sale.

Not Free yet but definately a few steps closer!