Things at our house are in a bit of an uproar.
After twenty-five years in Ohio, twenty-four years in the same house, my husband and I have decided that after Christmas we will be heading down the road home. We are moving back to Missouri.
Whew! Talk about a mix of emotions. Our kids were born and raised in Ohio, we’ve had more than two decades of fabulous times with friends here, and we have a true church family here, people it’s hard to imagine life without.
And yet we have dear family—my husband’s sister—in our hometown. My husband and I met there, had our first date there, and were married there. We have wonderful friends there who’ve known us since my husband was the king of tetherball and I was the nerdy girl in glasses. (Hmmm. At least I’m consistent.)
Needless to say, these next seven months will be a roller coaster ride for my heart.
But, on a more practical level, there’s that little bit about how we’ve lived in the same house for twenty-four years. The amount of clothing, linens, kitchenware, and just plain junk I need to sort through is formidable.
I’ve made some progress. For instance, I already got rid of a lot of pants, pants that haven’t fit in years and certainly aren’t going to fit any time soon. (Thank you very much, COVID-19.)
But then there are the books. Most of the time these days, I read on my Kindle. But I also have shelves bursting with contemporary Christian romance, mainstream contemporary romance, cozy mystery, Bible study and devotional, and books on the craft of fiction writing, as well as history, biography, and poetry.
So I’ve been reading the current wisdom about how to sort and tidy books. “You’ll never read it again…Books are just information…Your home will be more pleasant without all that clutter…”
Excuse me? Get rid of my Becky Wade and Susan May Warren and Katie Ganshert? Get rid of my Bible studies?
Um, no.
I’ll allow that there are a few books I can part with. But in general: Yes, I’ll read it again. I’ve already read it twice. Or maybe three times. Books are NOT just information. And how could my home feel like my home without my books?
Sigh…
Maybe I’ll just keep all my books and give away stuff I really don’t need.
That sounds a lot better. And, under this plan, the number one item to get rid of is…
The ironing board.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on whether or not books can ever really be clutter and your advice on preparing for a move.
In honor of the upcoming changes to my life, I’m giving away a free copy of Love and Roses, which begins with the hero moving to a new town. If you’d like to be included in the drawing, please comment by Sunday evening, June 7, 2020. One commenter on this post will be chosen at random, notified by email, and announced in a Sunday edition. If the winner lives in the US, he or she can pick from a Kindle copy or a paperback. A winner outside the US will win a Kindle copy.
*Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.*
Sally Bayless writes contemporary Christian romance that features compelling characters, real-world problems, and uplifting endings filled with the power of love. She lives in the beautiful hills of Appalachian Ohio and has two grown children. When not working on her next book, she enjoys reading, watching BBC television with her husband, doing Bible studies, kayaking, and shopping for cute shoes. For updates on her writing and a free insider’s guide to her books, subscribe to her newsletter by clicking the newsletter icon below or visiting http://bit.ly/NewsfromSally.
I would never give up my books! I take them with me each time we have moved🤣! Best of luck in this journey of yours, think of it as an adventure!
Good morning Sally.
We have “thought” about the massive job of downsizing for a potential move someday. We’ve been in place for 40 yrs – after moving 3 times in our 1st three yrs of marriage, I was ready to put down deep roots. Yikes! It’s a scary thought. I helped move one (packrat) sister, and my dear aunt 3x. Another sister is moving into a new home right now. Her txts are overwhelming.
Books. I date them & comment on the inside cover – did I enjoy it? How much? Every book I’ve read in the last 10 yrs has had to answer Yes to the Q, “Would I still enjoy it 10yrs from now? 5?” Then I decide to recycle or keep and then – should it/could it go to Kindle? Is it available? How much? I’ve been converting books for the last 10yrs – slowly, & have all my fave authors on “watch” lists at several ebook sellers watching for Sales. I have gotten rid of some Bible Studies that I Know I won’t review. Bibles – just no. Some fiction I outgrow – young characters with “young” problems. Overall, Books will be the hardest for me to purge (hubby is Not a reader) – but I have reduced my shelves by 50% in the last 10 yrs, with his encouragement. I ONLY buy Kindle now – with a future move date in mind.
It will be (barely) easier to get rid of stuff that isn’t books I’ve decided they’re a lower priority – especially cloz and old furniture. Yet it’s hard, knowing our 3 sons want Nothing! of our “cast-offs.” Our parents had it much easier in that regard (I feel passing stuff to family seems easier, somehow). I dread being my “packrat” sister, someday. She cried for weeks from the “trauma” of purging before her move. Yikes!
Best in Reducing, Sally! I feel your “pain”.
Sally – I have your ebook already, so don’t enter me in your drawing. Thanks! :D
I got rid of my books when I got married and moved into my husband’s house. We are moving into a new house after 13 years and I told him not this time. They are going with us!
Thank you, Paula Marie! Glad to know we think alike!
I tend to hoard my books as I once lost them all thanks to an ex that destroyed them all by pouring paint on them. Then 8 years ago I had to donate most of them as I couldn’t afford to move them. But….God has been restoring them as I read and review now. Feeling thankful and blessed. Beauty for ashes.
Penelope, what wonderful advice! I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it and how much more useful it is than the advice from organization gurus who don’t seem to have the same love of books that we do. I will be printing out your comment and using it as guide!
Your comment is really interesting Pam, especially in light of Penelope’s comment above about evaluating whether I would want a book in 10 years or 5 years. You already sort of did that, when you got rid of books 13 years ago. I know I have popular fiction I’ve had for more than thirty years. Perhaps one, well-thought-out purge in a lifetime is doable.
I am so sorry you have lost your books twice. Thank you for giving me perspective. I should feel blessed that I get to do this on my terms. I am truly overwhelmed by the responses I am getting to this blog. They make me see that God provides exactly what we need. When I was asked more than a year ago if I would like to join this blogging group, I thought, “Sure, that would be a wonderful way to spread the word about my books.” I had no idea what a blessing it would be to me to have this connection with people who love books and Christian fiction in particular as much as I do. You do my heart good!!
I have been doing some “purging “ lately. We aren’t moving, but we are getting older and it is a fact our children will want little of what we have accumulated. They have their own things. I have SO many books! I have been sorting through them, trying to decide which are important to me and which ones I can let go of. I am donating the ones I don’t decide to keep to a local college that has an annual book sale. That way someone else gets the chance to enjoy them. Best wishes in your “new” life!
Sally,
For me, it’s about deciding which Items have highest priority – being ruthless with the stuff that isn’t and working through the stuff that is. It helps my hubby see that I am trying! But again – yikes! Keeping my sisters transitions in my minds-eye helps. ;)
I have lived in my home in Ohio for 28 years. When I move I will not get rid of my books. Last summer I did get rid of a lot of sheets and towels and some kitchen items. I had 3 quiche dishes which was ridiculous. I also matched up all my plastic containers. If a lid was missing I pitched it. It felt so good. Good luck with your move!
A few years ago we remodeled and I was forced to clean the room where I kept all my books. I did purge a box or two of books that I no longer wanted.
Qualifications to keep a book: written by a friend, signed, I’ve read it multiple times, or it was a great story I simply couldn’t part with.
I still have a huge bookshelf of books that is double stacked on some shelves as well as a normal sized one in my bedroom.
I like your idea of letting other things go lol.
We moved 13 times in 20 years. Both hubby and I are readers, and the books came along every time. Now we’ve been in the same small house 20 years. I am super thankful we’ve both switched to ebooks because we’ve run out of room! The bookshelves, and we have many, are full. I can’t see to read paperbacks for pleasure anymore, so I’ve donated almost all of my books unless they’re signed by a friend or are something I might want to loan out. I’m trying to get hubby to whittle away on his obvious will-never-read-agains, but I also do understand why he’s reluctant to part with them!
I’ve had to cull some of my books to make room for new ones on the shelves. But the ones I give away are only the ones I didn’t like much or have outgrown. Most of my print books are like old friends, and no, I couldn’t part with them any more than I could deliberately part with my pet.
In 2005, I had books stacked double on my bookshelves. When we decided to move, I donated about half of them. When we settled in our new house, we had a small room with no purpose for it. We decided to get bookcases to fill it up and create a library. It was a dream for this avid reader. We bought 8 bookcases and I wished I hadn’t gotten rid of my books! So I started buying used books in bulk on eBay. At the time, I read mysteries and I filled all those shelves. Ten years later, we built our dream home and I was reading almost exclusively on my iPad and almost exclusively Christian books. It was time to donate more books. While we were building, I periodically dropped off boxes of books at my new local library. I kept some mysteries that weren’t dark and were clean. I also kept all my Christian fiction and non-fiction. We have a “media” room in the basement with our books, movies, and music.
Isn’t it odd how the things that seem so valuable to us seem almost like trash to our kids? I like your idea of donating the books I do decide to part with. Our local library has a book sale that would be the perfect place. Thank you for your comment!
Thank you, Lori! If only everything was as easy to sort as plastic containers. Where DO those lids go?
Those are good qualifications for finding the “keepers.” Thanks, Kimberly!
Sally, moving is a difficult task, but it has been a way of life for me. Until we moved to Georgia in the early 80s, I only lived in one place 3 or 4 years and sometimes less before we moved. We lived near Atlanta for 9 years, but then started the moving scenario again. Three years in Boston, four years in Dallas, and three years in Chicago before moving to Florida where we spent twelve years until we moved to Arizona. We have been here going on eight years. In each of those moves I got rid of books that I hadn’t even read yet. I hung onto the children’s books I had as a teacher in hopes that my grand children would read them. Some of them they have read, but the vast majority of them they have not because they moved before they were old enough to read many of them. I’ve given away books to readers or donated them to the library. I still have lots and lots of books even with all the ones I’ve given away.
Ooh, you make a good point, Valerie. Some books I have, particularly classics that I could easily get on my e-reader from the library, I might decide to pass along because the type is too small. I can still read paperbacks, but some of those classics have really, really small type. I do love my e-reader and the ability to make the type bigger! And wow, 13 moves in 20 years…
A perfect analogy, Lila!
Sherri, I am enchanted by the idea of a library. Maybe, maybe we will get lucky and find a house with an extra room! I hadn’t even thought of that possibility. Sigh…
Merrillee, thanks for sharing your experiences with books and moving. My goodness, what a lot of moves! It’s clear your love of books had been a constant, no matter where you lived.
I’ve lived in the same house my entire life, so closer to 60 years than 55 years. However, I have had to pare down my books a few times. It’s not easy, but it was necessary. Now, however, if I need to do something, I’m going to see about getting more bookcases. There are some books I just couldn’t even face getting rid of, so I’m thinking I just need bookcases. Instead of a spare room later on, it just might become my library.
Wow, been there and done that a number of times. Sometimes I caved to what other people thought and sometimes not. One time I did about books and regretted it. It isn’t actually the item (the book) that is the issue it was my attachment to it. As you go through and decide for each item in your home, keep, rehome or rubbish, a way to survive it (and it will be gruelling so please do one nice thing for yourself each day to counteract that) is to consider do you absolutely love it, does keeping it enrich your life, would rehoming it bring joy to others and leave you open to the joy of new experiences – the joy on someones face when they receive it as a gift from you may be priceless! Good luck with the move. For everyone else, don’t wait to move house, I would encourage you to keep what you love and let the rest go to enrich other people’s lives.
I’ve been purging my books, keeping what I really, really want and taking the rest to the used bookstore I work at. She buys some, and what she doesn’t want, I’m boxing up; don’t know what I’ll do with them yet. It’s hard to make some of the decisions to keep or not. But with my husband’s health, we may have to move in the near future. Good luck with your move.
Moving is hard, but it can be a fun adventure with the right attitude. My best advice is to work on packing a little each day, starting with the things you won’t need right away. Moving is a great way to get rid of things because as you pack you tend to find a lot of things to either give away or trash. Then, as the moving date gets closer you stop caring and just start throwing everything in boxes just to get it done :) . Good luck on your move!
Books are sometimes clutter. Those books people give you because they know you read but they don’t really know your taste or genre of choice.
I often give books away. First to the town library then another church library and now My own church library but there are many I can’t give away. Earlier this year I had to move my bookcases and I pruned again. I have a pile to cover for the church library. But I also sold around 50 or more LI lines and HP books. Some I had read and others I know I will never read and some I have both ebook and print. I still have way to many but only one shelf is now doubled. (I have 3 bookshelves). I didn’t want to give some away but some I just had to cos I didn’t have the room and I know there are others out there who could really use a good read. The lady who bought some of the books isn’t a Christian but loves reading clean books and was going to share them. I can hope the books will help bring someone to Christ.
I really need to cover the ones I have for the Church (mine and a few donations). Some donated I have to give away cos not everyone looks after books as well as others. (Some are quite damaged and we can’t put them in the library)
I’ve only made one big move in my adult life. That was after getting married and buying a house together… After living alone for 15 or so years I had accumulated quite a bit of ‘stuff’!
I am going thru my books as I real like the larger print but there are books that I do not plan on parting with but I also have books from teaching history and college study skills . I donate to the hospital free library and give some to friends that read. I realize that if I move I need to go thru things so I have started. I will be praying for you as you sort and get ready for your downsizing and move.
I fully agree that there are books that must come along. I’m learning that not *every* book is in that category. A while back, we had to give up our storage rental. Now the boxes of books are making it hard to navigate our tiny townhouse. Having turned 60 in March, I’m beginning to realize that all these books I’ve collected mean less and less to me. Part of the challenge is my “collector” mindset. I may never read it but I like having the “full set”. Those can probably go. Next are the ones that I “should” read but don’t. Also, craft books for hobbies that no longer interest me (or that I “should” do, Creative Memories anyone?). A thought that is helping me, Sally, is that, if there is a book I’m not sure about and I give it away, God is more than able to reconnect me with it at some later date. Besides, He may have even neater things to send my way. If you look at it from the perspective that your library in heaven is going to be absolutely awesome, a little belt tightening now is easier to take :) I know it may sound trite but seriously asking your Heavenly Father what is worth keeping in light of what is yet to come (both here and in heaven) may yield some very helpful answers.
I finally bought an ereader and was collecting books and happily reading them, until the first time it crashed and then the battery died during a gripping scene and another crash. Now, my ereader is used for trying new authors or reading authors I love that aren’t available in paperback. Otherwise, I buy my favorite authors in paperback; I’ll read them again. Every few years, I sort through books I’ve kept, rereading and asking: Is it still a favorite or is it time to let it bless someone else’s life? I also want paperback if I want to write notes in it. I let go of my nonstick pans in favor of 3 cast iron pans. Turns out my SiL was happy to have the nonstick pans. Many years ago, I had over 100 books on my TBR shelf and I gave away almost all of them. I regret that now; there were several I really wanted to read. I ended up re-purchasing some of them. I endeavor to ask God before I buy books now, reminding myself I’m a steward of the money and time He’s given me.
I think you have a perfect plan, Trudy!
What excellent advice, Dianne. Thank you. I especially appreciate your insight that I should know in advance that this will be hard and plan nice things to counteract that. I have used that tactic in the past during hard times, but would not have thought to use it here. Even just going out in the yard and cutting a few flowers can brighten a hard day. Great suggestion!
Thank you, Kathy. You are wise to get ahead of the game. I wish I had. May God bless you!
Megan, I had to laugh at your comment about throwing everything in boxes at the last minute. I have definitely done that before!
A little each day, hmmm? That sounds like a good idea. Thank you!
Oh, good point! I can definitely pass those along to new homes! Thanks, Denise!
Before this blog post, I thought my mother and I were the only people who double-stacked their bookshelves. You’ve mentioned it, though, and so has someone else, which makes me feel like less of a book hoarder and more normal, lol!
I love the fact that you sold some LI to someone who isn’t a Christian! Some of them are such great stories. I know she will be hooked, read the whole thing, and hopefully be moved!
Thanks for your comment!
If you can do it, so can I! Time to start sorting the ‘stuff!’
Thank you, Melinda. I really appreciate the prayers! I had not thought of the hospital as a place to donate books to, but it is a great idea!
Ah, Lincoln, you caught me. Once again I was dashing off, thinking I could handle something on my own without taking it to God. “It’s small. I can handle it. This isn’t the type of thing you pray about it.” Every time I unconsciously act as if that is my mindset, I make my life harder. Thank you for the wisdom. I’ve got some bookcases to pray over!
Judy, you make excellent points. Thank you for your comments. You have given me a lot to think about!
When we moved from our old house to our current houses I got rid of a lot of books, but because of that I don’t think I could get rid of any more if we moved again. I mostly read kindle books now, so haven’t added many to my collection since our move.
Hi Sally, two of my book cases were basically double stacked. I forgot the one in the hall still has about 3 shelves that way. (one is basically all Gilbert Morris books).
One of the reason I sold the LI and HP was cos at church most of the readers (and many from the community who come for a friendship group) are older and the small print on LI is hard for some to read. I kept a lot that are signed to me. I am going to sell some of the books I know won’t get read in the church library when I get round to it.
Isn’t it funny how we always have just one more spot for books that we forgot about? LOL!
Kindle does make it easier, doesn’t it? I’d hate to think how many more shelves of books I’d have if all the books on my Kindle were actually paperbacks!