Orien Family News

Caroline kidded me a bit recently that I had not blogged about their visit to Alaska this summer and all the fun we had. So as a measure of my love and devotion to them, I shall procrastinate no longer . I did post photos a while back but now I will say in writing how much I loved having her and Jason here for a couple of weeks this summer. We went camping, fishing, and golfing but we mostly hung out at the Lake House and played in the water. They are definitely fun to be with!

Caroline’s sister Annette also came to visit, as did Nathan and Joseph, thus making a good sized crowd which added to the fun. The weather was gorgeous their entire stay and the days were amazing with the sun out in all its 24 hour summer- time glory. Caroline and Annette were amazed that ‘night’ didn’t really ever come even though the clock said otherwise.

We love the lake and the Lake House so it was fun to be there all together for a couple of weeks. We have spent so many wonderful days there with family and friends over the years and this summer was no exception. One euphoric moment for us that actually brought tears to my eyes was pulling 3 of our grown up adult sons slalom skiing behind the boat…all at the same time. We haven’t done that since they were little boys and weighed a lot less so it was quite a feat. To see them going around the lake together like that having so much fun was wonderful. I am so happy they are good friends and enjoy being together as a family.

We were sad to see them go home but we were happy to welcome Erin, Jason and their girls when they came for a month long stay. It was fun to have them here too. We had a great time and enjoyed every minute of our time with the two smartest and most beautiful little granddaughters ever (no exaggeration, no bias)…and their parents too of course. I posted lots of photos of their visit as well.

Now, to address the “stuff” title on this particular blog. Orie and I will be heading out soon on a mission for the church, so we have decided to sell our home and all that is in it. We are down to the nitty gritty of pulling ‘stuff’ out of the cubby holes and closets as we empty the house. Oh man! The stuff we have stuffed into this house for the past 22 years is unbelievable. We have been pulling it out for weeks and there seems to be no end to the ‘stuff’ we have accumulated. Of course it would help if our six kids would come take their ‘stuff’ and stuff it into their own homes. Jason did whittle down the boxes of his stuff this summer into one small box and the rest he tossed with nary a backward glance. I wish I had done that multiple times over the years.

Anyway, this house is a DISASTER like you wouldn’t believe with ‘stuff’ covering the entire floor space. We can hardly walk around. How much stuff can be stuffed into a house? Well lemme tell ya…lots! It is unbelievable. I had no idea we had all this ‘stuff’ until we pulled it out. The next house we build will have very few closets so I can’t ‘stuff’ them. Closets are bad!

I would advise anyone considering buying any ‘stuff’ not do it. You’ll only have to toss it out later or worry about where to store it until the day your kids can toss it out when you are gone. They won’t want it. Trust me…Megan has let me know she is not interested in any of my ‘stuff’. It is junk to her.

Yep, it is downright diabolical what happens when you open the closet doors and start pulling it all out. I can’t believe that I actually carted all this stuff into my house one thing at a time and paid good money for it. Orie is amazed that I have 15 pairs of outdoor shoes and a boat load of dressy shoes and I am equally amazed that he has four (4) double burner Coleman gas stoves…and equally amazing boatloads of other items he never uses. Why didn’t I wear out one or two pair of shoes before buying more….lots more? And why didn’t he look harder for that Coleman stove before he bought 3 more? I could go on and on.

In addition to the question of why did we buy all this stuff, I am asking myself another question: Why oh why did I save good things to use or wear ‘someday’ and in the meantime wear or use the old stuff? I have a beautiful set or Noritake china that my brother bought for me in Japan when we got married. I have used it maybe twice in the last 36 years as I was saving it for a special occasion. Now I wish I had used it every day and enjoyed it. I must have a mental illness! It’s Insanity!

My best advice is this: if you aren’t going to eat it or use it all up in the next couple of weeks or few months, or if it can ever be labeled ‘stuff’….don’t buy it. Don’t go shopping and you won’t be tempted. One person does not need a boatload of shoes or Coleman stoves or ‘stuff’. Save your money.

From now on I vow to simplify and get out of the mode instilled in me by my Depression Years aged parents of saving everything you ever buy for a rainy day. I saved and stuffed this ‘stuff’ for the past decades only to now toss it out. I hope I don’t live to regret it someday and wish I had all that ‘stuff’ back. Wouldn’t that be ironic and more insanity?