As for me, I had a hard time purging baby clothes b/c I always hope we’ll have more babies. Most of the clothes we have had were from yard sales though, and since most people hold onto baby clothes for at least 2 years or so before selling them, and my oldest DD is 5 now, her baby clothes would be at least 7 years old, if not older. I have given away all clothes that DD 3 1/2 y.o. has outgrown. Rather than hold onto something I may never use, I’d rather it go to someone who needs it now. If we have another girl, God will provide clothes for her, and babies need far fewer clothes than most people suspect anyhow. (I always found myself putting my kids in my 5 favorite outfits regardless of their size!) I’ve given all of my 2 y.o. son’s clothes he has outgrown, to my nephew. I’ve kept my 1 favorite newborn outfit for each baby, and one favorite pair of baby shoes. Works for me, at least for now.

I have no advice for purging books. It’s not my strong point.

In this past year, I have spent a great deal of time organizing and learning to live in a smaller area. Now that we will hopefully be moving again soon, I have decided that I can purge even more. I have already gone through all our stuff and have learned that lots of my stuff is getting old, so when we move I want a fresh start with my decorating/furniture, so I am getting rid of a lot of stuff and when I bring new in I will be very selective. I also have learned that if I can keep a thing in storage for a year or so, I probably do not need it!!!!! So I am getting rid of stuff I thought I had to have!!!!!

On a side note, my mother died a year and a half ago and I have had to completely sort her home-my father is a minimalist and doesn’t want most of the things Mom had, she was a packrat and had as well kept all the things that belonged to my sister who died when she was 30-17 years ago. So I have had to sort through both my mother’s and sister’s stuff, figure out what to do with it all, what to keep, what to get rid of and where it was to go, etc.!!!!!! That process is almost finished-I just have pictures and some keepsakes to sort. Thank God all that stuff stayed at my father’s house and I sorted and got rid of things from there. I did keep a few things, gave a few to my children, but got completely rid of most of it. My memories are in my brain, not in stuff!!!!!

I have kept one outfit from each of my children and a couple blankets in a small box. Most of the things I had for the babies I got rid of years ago. Since my son age 12 is just a few years older than his nephews and niece I passed all his stuff along to the grandkids. I had lots of money when my son was little so I had purchased very high quality clothing. It was a good purchase-my third grandson is wearing it now and it still looks like new!!!!!!! So I have enjoyed my son and grandsons in the same cute clothing.

As for books, I am passing some on to my daughters and getting rid of everything else that I do not plan to use with my son. I will keep a few reading books for my own reading pleasure but I have finally gotten to the point that I can get rid of books. This has been the hardest area for me. But after almost four years of most of my books, both school and personal being in storage, I have decided it can go. I also am using ciriculum that is different from what I used with my daughters. I am now using HOW and the HOW materials are more what suits my sons needs. I am not involved in the same things I once was, so several books relating to those topics can go. Something else I have discovered is that due to the internet, I really do not need the volume of books I have had for research and such.

So I am down to my final book sort. As soon as the weather warms up a bit I will be in the garage at least a couple days a week, sorting, sorting, sorting.

I acutally cannot bear to see my dear husband have to move all my stuff yet one more time so I really want to get rid of tons of stuff. I know he will be happy!!!!!!

Sorry this post is so long. You can see that purging has become a large part of my life!!!!!! I will be so glad when we get moved out of this apartment and I can start fresh with much less “baggage”!!!!!!!

God bless you in your sort!!!!

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