My mother was a child of the Great Depression. She kept so many things...because she was afraid that she would need it later or that she wouldn't be able to get any more. She hated to waste food, and that means that she was probably hungry at some point in her earlier years...which breaks my heart for her, and makes me even angrier at myself (a subject for another entry). Over the years, I've tried to break some of the same patterns that I see forming in my personality and life. I've read the "Messies" series of books and a couple of books on OCD. I've watched Oprah help those people with stuff piled to the ceilings in their houses and I've watched Peter Walsh on Clean Sweep. I've made progress in the years that I've been married to DH, and even more progress when we moved to the new house. But my craft studio is another story...
There's more patterned paper than I can use up in a year or more. There's about a year's worth of cardstock, maybe more. There are more alphabet stickers than I can count (I try to justify them by telling myself that I don't buy many "other" stickers anymore). There are empty albums waiting to be filled, and three-ring binders waiting to be made into albums (with enough page protectors for all of them). As I look at the organizer on my desk (one of those flatware baskets for picnic tables), I see nine pairs of scissors. That doesn't include the Cutter Bee scissors, Queen Bee scissors (probably my all-time favorite scissors for big jobs), and Honey Bee scissors that are stored on my work desk (yes, I have TWO desks in my room--computer and work). There are pens, pencils, and markers in the organizer, and at least three other containers in the room with pens and markers. I've just placed an online order for about twenty more Galaxy Markers because I've fallen in love with them again after using them on my Christmas cards (and besides, I got them at a REALLY good price...30% off).
I spent about $60 at the Hobby Lobby half-price paper sale this week. I excused those purchases by saying they were for my albums that I'm doing for ME with pictures of my great-niece, and that I was spending some of the "mad money" that I've inherited from Mother. She loved my books, and would be pleased that I was spending "our" money on supplies to make me happy...but she was a fellow hoarder, and would help me excuse my behavior!
Last night, I surfed my favorite shopping places for chipboard letters. I have eight boxes of chipboard letters and shapes, in addition to a couple of zip-loc bags full, but there are more from a particular line that I don't have and think I MUST have. That same manufacturer has come out with two MORE lines of paper that have chipboard letters and shapes to match, so naturally I think I have to have those, too. I haven't placed any orders yet, but the day is not done.
I gave our youth minister $100 last week (again from my "mad money") to help with any young person who needed assistance to go on the summer youth trips. He was so appreciative of the money. How much more could I give him if I don't order everything I want when I think I MUST have it? Our financial situation is much better than it was a year ago (thanks to the lawsuit settlement and my inheritance), and I'd like for it to stay that way. I don't believe God will honor my prayer asking for the quick sale of the other house if I don't act responsibly toward what He has entrusted to me. DH wants a couple of mildly extravagant items, and he deserves them...more than I need ANOTHER chipboard alphabet!
Do the sweaters in my cart at Coldwater Creek count?
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