I get quite a few questions about what I'm doing, so I thought I would create a page to share the answers with you, just in case you have the same question. If you have a question that isn't answered here, please send it to me and I will post the answer!
What do you count as an item? Could a set of items that go together count as a single item?
In most cases each item is one item.....a t-shirt is one item, a fork is one item, a plate is one item, and so on. In a few cases there is an exception, but at this point I'm not sure if the exceptions have been created in my mind or if God will be ok with them too. For now I have two exceptions; I have a jewelry box that belonged to my mother-in-law, she passed away many years ago, any jewelry that fits into that box will be included as one item. I also have a beautiful cedar chest that my Great Uncle made in high school in the early 1900's. Whatever family heirlooms fit in the cedar chest count as one item. Now I can hear some of you asking "how come you don't count all the books that fit on a bookcase as one item?" If I start doing that I will end up with a thousand items and no room in our cabin. Part of giving items up is to free myself to have more time for my family, God and serving others. My goal isn't to take with me as much as I can. It is to let go and trust God. We also aren't planning on taking a bookcase, I have selected two books to bring so far and I'm planning on two more.
Why doesn't silverware count as one item? It all fits in one drawer.
I don't like doing the dishes. So as embarrassing as this is I will be upfront....when I have 20 forks, the forks will NOT be washed until there are no forks left in the drawer and with 20 forks, 20 spoons, 20 knives, 30 cups, 40 plates, the sink can easily over flow and create stress, a mess, and too much work! We hand wash, so once the sink reaches this point it is horrible to get it done. Having just a few of each, enough for our family to eat a meal and wash for the next, brings peace and order to our lives.
What about furniture, does that count towards your 100 items?
Well it counts towards someone's! Each item we take with us, has to be on someone's list. Since there are 4 of us, there will be a total of 400 items on the moving truck. Some of those items will be furniture.
Are you nuts?
Well I'm not sure that is a fair question :-)
Why 100 items?
I am asked this a lot. A few years ago I told God that I don't get subtle hints and that I really needed big hints to get it. A series of events occurred on a single day and I strongly feel God was giving me clear direction. God was clear about the number of items and about giving up everything except those 100 items, what isn't clear is the timeline. The timeline I created for myself. In four years my older daughter will be finished high school, so I thought four years was a good timeline. Recently I have felt God telling me it is going to be sooner, so I'm working hard to get down to those 100 items so I can be ready.
Why not keep the washer, it would only be one item?
There are a few reasons I'm not keeping the washer. Our plan for the cabin is about 600 square feet, space will be an issue as well as plumbing for a washer. Cost, part of our plan is to reduce how much we spend and the washer uses electricity and water, both cost money. Environment, we want to do our part to keep the Earth, a beautiful gift from God, as healthy as she can be.
What about pins, do you count each pin?
:-) A box of pins counts as one item.
Thank you!
