you are a homeschool mom, book lover & pack rat? That's what I was talking with my friend about today. I was looking at our homeschool bookcase, and there were so many books in there we won't use again, that are too young for our kids or we are just not interested in. But see, I'm a pack rat, and the first thing that goes through my mind is the pack rat motto, "What if I need this in the future?" Then, if I can get my mind past that thought, my next thought is that of a homeschool mom, "Maybe I should make the kids use these books?" or "Maybe my grandkids could use these books?" Then if I get past those three questions, and might possibly get rid of the books, the booklover in me comes out with, "But they are books, we never get rid of books!"
I wish I had a picture of my father's bookcase when I was growing up. It was a whole wall that he turned into a bookcase with cinder blocks and 4x2's, and it was from floor to ceiling. Wouldn't it be so great to be able to have a whole wall, from floor to ceiling, as a book case? I know I would like it. (I guess I get my love of books from him ). But alas, I only have a simple bookcase with 5 shelves, so some books have to go. But I have made a compromise, I boxed them up to sell them in the future, because right now I have no time what so ever to try and sell them. I have 2 Usborne books, one history, one science and a Saxon 3 math teachers manual. Plus some odds and ends phonics manuals, but the rest are all old disney books. I don't know if they are worth anything, but I just hate to get rid of them. So I packed them all up, labeled the box, and put it in the garage. Ok, so maybe that's not a huge step, since I didn't really get rid of them, but it was a huge step for me.
Now believe it or not, I completely forgot to take a before picture. So, when you see these pictures, just know that the 'before' had each shelf completely full.
So this is the 'in the middle of cleaning' picture:
And the next two pictures are the box & mess of the middle of cleaning:
And now the after pictures:
And then I cleaned the top of his dresser. Again, no before photos, but believe me, you couldn't see an inch of the top of his dresser, not an inch.
So besides the normal cleaning and laundry, I decided to tackle this today. And it went smooth & quickly. Now tomorrow is park day & grocery shopping in the afternoon.
I bet if you took a survey of us home educating mom's you'd feel really normal! I have books coming out my ears that we never read. I even have some books from my childhood. Books are one thing I don't get rid of as easily. Although I did donate some to church last year when we moved. It was soooo hard!
Jenn
I find it hard to let go of books too!! I just had a book sale though, and as I went through my shelves, I thought "What books could I get rid of that would bless someone else?" That helped ease the parting!
That must feel great to get those two projects done! We have tons of books too. I'm always looking for a new nook for hubby to build yet another bookshelf for me in. My Uncle-in-law had an entire room that every wall was floor to ceiling bookcases, even around the windows and doors. It was about 120 feet of bookcase, 9 feet tall!!! And every inch was filled with books! He passed away, and his wife has just left that room as it is, probably too much to think about going through all those books. It's like a library.
LOL, I love your pack rat's motto - I say those things all the time. Actually, I'm not a pack rat, except I guess with books. Yes, a whole wall of books would be divine, plus one can rationalize that it doubles as extra home insulation. I got rid of a lot of books about a month ago by taking them to a local used book store. It was hard to part with them at pennies on the dollar, but they do me absolutely no good just stacked up on the floor either. It felt good to get them out of the house. I just have one more stack to get rid of and then OF COURSE, ALL the rest I DO use (wink), given I homeschool for another 200 years.
Cute post! I too suffer from the pack rat's motto of "What if I need this in the future?" (-:
I am still moving dad's books to the new bookcase in their room at the nursing home. He had a wall-to-wall bookcase full of great books, much like your dad.
Blessings,Karen
I have tons of books too. I don't get rid of them very often. Luckily, I do have a good reason to hang on to them!!! With 6 years between my two children (and still undecided about a third) I can truly justify hanging on to them!!! hehehehehe!!! :)
My husband can't get rid of any books... I suggested early on in our marriage that we declutter our home (and we are drowning in books we do not read), and he got this look on his face when it came to getting rid of books. Okay--I'm a softie--but I do not ask him to get rid of books anymore. But I DID persuade him to make a wall of bookshelves (and now we are growing out of that.... AAAAAHhhhhh
Sheesh I feel like we are twinkies.... I am saying the same thing as I have boxes still left from the move with homeschool items in it and all those sayings keep going through my head too...
Now this post is reminding me that I NEED to do this. But.....it will have to wait a bit. Next week I will be sending the kids to Kids Kamp and I am determined to do lesson plans. I will have to be firm NOT to let my MIL fill up my time with the garden needs. (please pray for me on this one and for me to be firm)
I pray many blessings and BIG (((HUGS))) for you my SSiC. I miss you dreadfully. If you ever have time give me a call and I will put EVERYTHING down to catch up with you.
This blog is so I can share my journey with the Lord, my journey as a wife and mother, and my journey as a homeschool mom. I pray that you will see the Lord in my life through happy and sad times, and that this blog glorifies the Lord.
This is an award and tag free zone, thank you.
That's what I was talking with my friend about today. I was looking at our homeschool bookcase, and there were so many books in there we won't use again, that are too young for our kids or we are just not interested in. But see, I'm a pack rat, and the first thing that goes through my mind is the pack rat motto, "What if I need this in the future?" 
Then, if I can get my mind past that thought, my next thought is that of a homeschool mom, "Maybe I should make the kids use these books?" or "Maybe my grandkids could use these books?" 
Wouldn't it be so great to be able to have a whole wall, from floor to ceiling, as a book case? I know I would like it. (I guess I get my love of books from him 
So, when you see these pictures, just know that the 'before' had each shelf completely full.
