Anyone who really knows me would probably call me a packrat.  I prefer to think of myself as a “saver.”  I save things.  Things that are important.  Things that remind me of an event, person or place.  Sometimes I save things because I think I may need them someday.  Like margarine containers.  Or Cool Whip tubs.  Receipts and old bills from 2000.

I didn’t realize how much I had “saved” until recently.  We just sold our house.  We had lived there for 8 years and all 3 of our kids were born while we lived there.  So we had a lot of stuff.  Some might call it junk.  But not me.  You just never know when you will need the marbles from Hungry Hungry Hippos.  Even though the hippos had gone missing.  Poor Harry, Happy, Henry and what’s-his-name…

So, we bought a 4th trash can and began The Great Purge of 08.  We burnt up a shredder and had to get a new one.  Who knew shredders didn’t appreciate running for an hour straight?  The kids thought this was the best part!  They filled boxes with shredded paper.  Which is great for packing all the knick-knacks that I have collected through the years.

We have some really amazing friends and family who helped with the packing, moving and unpacking.  They unpacked my kitchen, bathrooms, closets.  It was an incredible event.  We are truly thankful. 

During the unloading and unpacking, there were a few special treasures that I saved just for me.  Things that I hold dear to my heart.  Mine and my mom’s wedding dresses and a great little trunk that my Grandpa Bob made for me when I was 5.  It even has a brass plaque on the front that says Dandy 1982.  I keep very important things in there. 

It had literally been years since I’d opened my trunk.  I had put a tiny lock on it so my kids wouldn’t play with the memories I have been storing in it.  I keep my trunk in my 3 year old daughter’s room.  She wasn’t really all that interested with what was inside.  Probably didn’t even think anything was in it.  But E was very interested.  He is 4 ½ and loves to figure things out, can’t stand surprises and definitely doesn’t keep secrets!  He finally persuaded me to open the trunk when big brother was at school this morning.