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Sunday, February 26, 2012

40 Days= 40 Bags, 400 000 Steps and 40 Photos!

It kind of snuck up on me.
Lent.
It always does.
I'm always trying to figure out  how I want our family to recognize this time of waiting.
This time of making do with less.

We eat our pancakes on Tuesday.
We wear our ashes on Wednesday.

And I'm always a little annoyed with it all,
because it still arrives whether I'm ready or not.

So here we are five days in.
And I've finally figured out what Lent will look like here at Bungalow'56.

40 days of eating at home.
No Tim Horton's, no Starbucks, no Opa's, no Wendy's, no Menchies...
no nothin, except good o'l Bungalow grub.  sigh.

I'm clearing things out.
We are working towards a life of less.

And I've started.
Oh have I started friends.

Some items have in fact been a little too big to be thrown into bags.
We said goodbye to a desk, a set of drawers, a school desk, an ottoman, and a bookshelf.
The house is feeling lighter.
More spacious.
We can breath.

My crazy attachment to decor magazines has also been addressed.
Four very large wicker baskets were placed randomly around the house 
filled to the brim with magazines from years gone by.

I gave myself an ultimatum.
If the year was older than 2009, I had to throw it out without flipping through it.
It was so hard for me.
But I did it.

As soon as I was done,
I ran downstairs and begged The Agronomist to get rid of them for me.
He looked at me like I was touched.
And said "Just bring them to the truck."
I told him. "I couldn't," and that at any moment,
"I might crack, and put them all back."

So without looking up he said, "Well get one of the girls to do it then."

With the help of Youngest they were quickly removed from the premises.
Youngest understood when she saw the desperation in my eyes as I looked over
at my beloved mags.
I was weak.
I knew if I had been given the chance I would have changed my mind.

A few tears may have been shed.
But deep down, I knew it was worth it.

As for my own 40 days.  I've decided to add something this year.
40 days + 10 000 steps = 400 000 Steps.
I want to walk a little closer to God.
Take a few steps towards him.
I've always had more questions than faith,
so I figured he and I might need to go for some walks and have a few chats.

And as for photos.  
I will take forty.
Forty Faith photos.
I have no idea where I will find them, and of what they will be.
But I hope to be inspired.
And as they download from my camera I will share them here 
every Sunday during Lent.

Six weeks folks!
I can't wait to be forty bags lighter,
400 000 steps further
and forty photos richer.

Lent is a time of waiting, watching, and wondering.
I for one, am looking forward to the journey.

Along with a Grande Starbuck's Skinny Mocha to celebrate that 400 001 step.

xoxo,

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18 comments:

  1. Sounds great. I am clearing out too, but only because we will be moving in the near future :)

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  2. I let go of my decorating magazines about 5 years ago (I had a SERIOUS addiction) and it felt great. I find that now, with so much available on the Internet, I rarely buy them anymore. Pinterest to the rescue! My goal this spring is to clean out the house too. Hubby and I just talked this morning about getting a bin and cleaning out the basement. Good luck with your goals!

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  3. oh, I feel for you. I am a decorating magazine junkie too (and yes, I have some additions that go back to 2005). To get rid of them would be like losing friends. On the other hand, I am slowly decluttering my house and I like the 40 Days/40 Bags challenge. What a great thing to do during Lent when I've given up eating out and scrolling thru Facebook.

    My challenge this week is to clean the spare room, er, my daughter's room, before she arrives home for her college spring break. Oh well, the challenges of living in a 800 s/f home :)

    Have a good Sunday.
    Greetings from PEI

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  4. Dana, I think I will have 40 bags and more! Moving is sure a lot of work, but it makes me smile to think how much we can donate to others! Happy Sunday!

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  5. Good for you! I admire that you didn't go rummaging through the truck in the dark after everyone was asleep. And wow, you are stronger woman than I with no eating or drinking out. I'm looking forward to your faith pictures.

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  6. hi dana - a little inspiration for my day - thank you :)
    Michelle

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  7. Love this post. I love cleaning stuff out and getting rid of excess. It's funny how it really does seem like you can breathe better in your home. You have inspired me to do a little more cleaning out this coming week. I know you live up North and all, but I can't get over all of that snow. :) Oh how good that Starbucks is going to taste to you after Lent!!

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  8. Love the 40 photo idea!!! Can't wait to see them

    And the40 daysof not eating out. . .oh, fab idea! One we at the Olson household would certainly feel!

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  9. All great ideas. If you're looking for a place to share some of your excess, check out the blog houseunseen (you'll find a link on my blog). This Michigan family may appreciate some of your extras.

    Also, I can't wait to see the 40 faith photos. This is a fantastic idea. Love it.

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  10. Wow. This is awesome. Except the no Starbucks part. ;) xo

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  11. I have been thinking about this post! I want to do something big for Lent now.

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  12. Love it! I am fasting dinner....
    I want to do the 40 bags thing! I keep reading about it. Can I still do it, or does it have to be daily? No matter - I can do it my way - 40 bags must go!! BTW...what size bags are we talking about here... :)

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  13. Yay for 40 photos, 400K steps and getting rid of 40 bags of shtuff. Can't wait to see your upcoming photos of faith!

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  14. Love your Lent ideas. And good for you unencumbering yourself a bit.

    =)

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  15. i need someone to come swoop in and take charge of my magazine hoarding problems, dana ... i am envious that you were able to make the separation, it must be so liberating!! looking forward to the day when i can do the same :)

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  16. Love the idea Dana - faith in action.

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  17. Hi Dana!
    I'm a new follower to your blog. I wanted to tell you that you inspire me!
    I love how you are so open to share about your faith and your family and what's important in your world.
    I'm quite inspired with your 40 days project. So much that I've started my own 40 project. I'm too late to link it to official Lent, but instead 40 in March. (You see, I'm turning 40 {ack!} this month, so it's perfect!)
    Thank you for sharing your life!
    Andrea

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