Stuff

Something I've been avoiding doing for about 2 weeks now is unpacking.

Chris and I are still living out of the same suitcases we've been traveling with for over 100 days.

Same clothes, same toiletries, same everything.

I look at the suitcases and boxes at my parents house and my in-laws house, and I cringe. I want to run away and hide.

Sometimes when I'm feeling really brave I slowly unzip a suitcase and peek inside, and I'm immediately overwhelmed.

The wedding gifts, the Turkey suitcases, the memorabilia from childhood, the drum kits, it's all there, waiting to come out.

Which begs the question, if we've lived without all this stuff for this long, how much do we really need it? Why do we have so much stuff that we don't fundamentally need? Why unpack any of it?

Part of the answer is that we've been using other people's stuff. As we're living at my Aunt and Uncle's and with parents, we use their pot holders and their plates and cups and trash bags and sheets.

When we have our own place, we'll need our own set-up.

As for the rest of the stuff, I can only chalk it up to sentiment. Framed wedding invites, Bible, journals, old birthday cards - all that stuff for me is a good reminder of where I've come from and where I'm going.

As of Saturday (or Monday), I'll have to overcome my avoidance of unpacking.

Chris and I have signed the dotted line on a new place to put all our stuff.

A fabulous 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment.

It isn't what either of us planned on doing when we returned, but I think it's a good compromise.

As much as I've been avoiding the unpacking, I am curious to see what's in all those boxes and suitcases.

Let the parade of stuff begin!