I mentioned about a week or so ago that pruning is a topic of our current wisdom booklet.  WBs are part of our curriculum and have a different character quality for each one with different projects suggested for all the various subjects.  So, pruning is one of the things we are to expand on...learning about how trees are properly pruned for maximum fruitfulness. My respect for aborists and tree surgeons has greatly increased.  But, pruning isn't limited to trees. No, we are to prune the things from our lives that hinder our fruitfulness. And, from our homes.  That's a major issue for me.  I am constantly battling the stuff that accumulates here like an overgrown vine.  Toys are one thing...I practically beg my parents not to buy toys.  And, while they have restrained themselves, far too often, they are still bringing things into my home that we Do.Not.Need.   I feel like a poor steward because I end up having to toss out something to make room for a new item.  What a waste.   My dad brought an electronic bongo drum thing (no particular special occasion)  knowing that I don't allow drums and knowing that I discourage my children from drumming. I don't like the sound, the beat, I don't like anything about drums.  I bit my tongue and let the boys open it.  Then, I quietly put it back in the box and set it on a shelf in my closet.  It's still there. The children have forgotten about it.  It will be in the trash soon.   Anyway, I got off my point...I'm trying to prune out things from our home in order to have more harmony and order.  I get depressed, discouraged when my home is a total mess. And believe me, it's like that more often than not.  Doesn't take any time at all for it to go from "okay come on in, don't mind the train set on the floor"  to "who opened the door while there was a hurricane outside"

While going through the room that holds all the toys, we came to the decision to part with a beloved doll house and accessories.  I remember buying all the pieces...it is hard to let it go.  But, we decided that if and when we need another doll house, we'll buy a new one for our youngest daughter. She's only 1 year old now, so it will be a while before that day arrives.  The doll houses in stores now are much cuter.   I am a sentimental person which means it is hard for me to see things like this go...I also don't want any of my children to have regrets about getting rid of it.  My oldest daughter is an organizer...a decisive person, cut and dry. She can, in her own words, "get rid of your junk in the blink of an eye."   The only problem with that is that the other children aren't necessarily ready to get rid of the junk...  So, it's a process that takes time.  Even after I make a decision to get rid of something, I sometimes need a little time to get used to the decision before I actually eliminate the item(s) from my home.  This doll house and accesories have been sitting in my family room for a few weeks now, just waiting until I have the guts to haul it into the car and drive it to Goodwill.    We took lots of pictures of it.  Just can't find the file that the pics are in right now.