We have always desired to live simply. To not want a lot of things. To not have a lot of things. To make do with what we have. I love the saying "use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." But living with this mentality is hard for most Americans. We've been raised to want the American Dream. We want and want and want and want. Instead of figuring out how to limit our stuff to what we can afford, we try to figure out how to get more income so we can get more stuff. 

Unfortunately, Robert and I fell into that mindset about a year ago. We had been doing great at living simply and using just what we need. Then when my dad passed, he left us a life insurance policy. We gave to charity, paid off debt, put money away in savings, bought a nice used car, remodeled our kitchen, sent Shiloh-Grace to a private kindergarten (I was not emotionally ready to homeschool), and then we went on a fun shopping spree. It was fun for a while.

Then my depression settled in, and some unexpected expenses popped up. I didn't feel like cooking, so we ate out all the time. I began going to therapy. I gained weight from the emotional eating, so I went shopping for clothes that fit me. All of a sudden we were no longer in the good financial shape we once were in.

Once my emotional state calmed down, the excess spending stopped. But we had a mess to clean up. Mainly in my way of thinking. I had to re-adjust to using cloth diapers, shopping on a budget, cooking every night, to just living simply again. We've done well for the most part. But there are still a few areas that need some tweaking.

Enter Organized Simplicity. Tsh Oxenreider has reassured me that simple living is really what I want. That less really is more. Her book is split into two parts. The first part explains what simple living is and why it is so important. The second is a guide to get you on the track to simple living from your view of things, to your finances, to your decorating.

The first part even had us write out a family mission statement. The books lists 20 questions for you to answer to help you realize what you stand for and what you really want out of life. Then it gives a model of sorts to develop those things into a statement to live by. Our mission statement is this: while making timeless memories together, we desire to give unsparingly, value diversity and creativity, and to be honest, peaceful and compassionate.

Then yesterday, I started the second part: Ten Days to a Simpler, More Organized Home. Day one had me go through each room of my house, look at its contents and ask two questions. Is each thing in this room useful to me? Do I find it beautiful? If I answered no about any object in the room, I removed it, and put it in the garage sale pile (which is surprisingly huge right now). So the only things that are left, are things that I really use and/or things that have great meaning to me. Things that truly bring beauty to my home.

Day two and three will have me clean my living room area from ceiling to floor and reevaluate why I have decorated the way I have. Does my decorating bring true beauty to my family and home. Is it too much? To cluttered? I will clear out and reorganize my bookshelves, media cabinet, play area, magazine rack, desk drawers and so on. All the while asking those two important questions of usefulness and beauty.

I am so excited about this step because even though I keep the surface areas nice, the hidden areas are a wreck. My desk drawers are full of paperwork that I'm sure can be shredded. My bookshelves have books on them that we haven't read in years. There are movies and games in the media cabinet that need to go. And don't even get me started on the magazine shelf...these date way back! The craft/play area gets an overhaul every few months, so cleaning it out won't be too bad.

I already feel better. We've started a new budget and now our home is truly going to express who we are and how we really want to live.