Want anything?

Ell and I are preparing to upset our lives. I've hesitated to talk about it because I wasn't really sure how to explain it or what people would think. We know some people already find our decisions strange; this shouldn't be anything new for those folks. So here it is... After a couple heart-to-hearts this past week, we made the decision to get rid of most of our "stuff", including our house.

Ell and I have always had somewhat of a disdain for "extra" material possessions. In fact, we enjoyed and look back with fond memories the times when our house was bare. When we moved from our first house to the log house, all of our possessions (except for my Lazy-Boy and the refrigerator) fit into two trips in a Volkswagen convertible. And besides cars, very little of what we've owned was bought new. Yet despite all that, we've accumulated enough "stuff" to fill a 1700 square foot home.

Besides the extra "stuff", Ell has grown tired of how much it takes to live in the log house. To live the way we live takes more physical effort that most people realize. While I could grow old doing that work and living that way, I want to see my wife happy more than I want to live out some ideal I've built up in my head. So the house is going on the block. We're probably going to offer it to our friends and family first and then put it on the market, but either way it should sell fast with all it's charm.

To me, the location has never been ideal, the winters are hard, and the problems always present, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't sad to be leaving it all behind. I love that our house is so unique. I love the way Ell has decorated it. I love how comfy it is around the fire. I love the way it invites people into it. I love the size of the logs and the ancient tool marks still evident in their grain. I love it like it's family and I will miss it greatly. But everything has it's season, and ours in that house is coming to a close.

I know a couple of you are screaming, "THE GARDEN, THE GARDEN!" Yes, that's the only thing holding me back right now. I've put a lot of years of sweat and blood and time into that garden. I'm ten years invested into soil preparation, compost, organic matter additions, brick paths, year round crops, lifetime plantings, and so much more. I can't take any of it with me. This pill is almost too big to swallow and if I was honest I'd admit I'm having a hard time moving past it. Maybe a few more heart-to-hearts need to happen. At least for me.

Full circle brings me to the title of this post. Over the weekend we started separating stuff into piles labeled keep, sell, give away, throw away, and leave in the house. Like I stated earlier, Ell and I have never been big on "stuff". We've accumulated it but mostly through gifts and presents and the like. A few years back we tried to slow that by asking people to stop all gifts and donate the money to charities instead. We just didn't need anything else. (Despite repeated requests, we have some family members and friends who politely ignore us and buy gifts anyway. And we love them for it.)

So don't be surprised if you get an unexpected package from us. We give it to you in love, but require nothing in return. Not even the obligation to keep it. Your trash can is as good as ours. Keep us in prayer as we head into this next phase of our journey together. And if you want an awesome log house, give us a call.