Project52: Blur

It was just over a year ago that I learned to sew.

You see, sewing is still a mystery to me. It is simple yet complex all at the same time.

During one of my early sewing lessons, my mom's Swedish friend told me{in her lovely Swedish accent}, Sewing is not perfect, and if I really mess it up, I just throw it way and start all over again.

What is this nonsense she had just told me?  You can't get it perfect?  You just start over?  There is grace in sewing?

Lo and behold, she was right.

One year later, I have yet to sew something perfectly.  I have started over more times than I can count, and for the first time, I have rejoiced in giving myself grace.

Some days I hate it.

Some days I love it.

But, on most days, I am thankful for my sewing machine, that grace filled Swedish voice, and the freedom that comes with creating.

It is a Blur how I got to being the girl carrying around a sewing machine.

But I did.

And, I am thankful.

Please head to the terpblog to see what is a Blur in her world this week.

Ready? Set? Go!

It's go time.

Who's ready to start purging one space at a time?

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1. Bedroom Closet: Time for a fashion reboot. Let's get real: will you ever fit into your post-high school, pre-baby pants again? Are you holding onto things you haven’t worn in a year? Are hangers being wasted on shirts you bought (tags still attached!) but never wore? Say goodbye to the past and hello to the new you.

2. Hall Closet: Let go of the skeletons. Pick a closet, any closet: perhaps your coat closet, your linen closet, or your catch-all closet? Choose the worst offender or sort through them all. Fling open the door and face your hidden holdings.

3. Shoes & Accessories: Set off on some sole searching. How many pairs of shoes do you really need? Can someone else benefit from your 4th pair of black flats? How many purses/bags/totes can one girl really own? Cut them loose. Keep what you love. The rest is just baggage.

4. Kid Closet(s): Managing the monsters in their closets. It’s time to find a new home for those too-short jeans, too-tight shirts, and too-small shoes. Could someone else find joy in the dress shirt that makes your child cringe? Are there any other “monsters” hiding out in the deep, dark corners? Banish them once and for all!

5. Toys: Send Polly Pocket packing. Get the kids involved! What toys do they no longer play with? What could they do without? Explain to them where their extra toys are going: don’t be surprised when they are more than happy to share with less fortunate kids. Start with the absolute must-keeps and then streamline (i.e. toss, donate, or sell) the rest.

Now, just grab a button and link up your Instagrams, tweets or posts here.

<center><a href="http://hpartyoffour.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="our five...un.tied" src="http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t504/terpblog/projectpurgeb-01_200.jpg"/></a></center>

A Project Purge Link-Up!

The excitement is building as we get ready to officially begin our purge on Monday.  We have explained our mission and the heart behind it. Now, it's time to link up if your up for the challenge.
If you feel called to clear your clutter for charity, link your blog, blog post, Instagrams or Twitter url's below and be ready to be amazed at the power of community.

Project Purge & Your Story

A story. We all have one. 

Unfortunately, in modern day America, it seems as if everyone is trying to live everybody else's story.

Which means that if our friends have the newest trend, we too need the newest trend.  If everyone in our neighborhood drives nice cars, then it must be time for some new wheels to grace our garage. And, even more startling, is the competition of stuff between children.

It is time to start changing the path of our story.  It is time to stop and ask ourselves why we have the possessions we have, and what purpose they are serving in our lives.

By asking ourselves these questions we can turn our excess into justice, Jen Hatmaker by supporting The Manasseh Project, who through community education and collaboration... provides support for victims of human trafficking and empowers the people of West Michigan to end modern day slavery.

Why Project Purge? Why now?

Because we have a story.  They have a story.  And, if we combine our stories we have the power to say, 

This is not the way this is going to end. 

In the words of the great Donald Miller, 

The story you live will be up to you and God. I think God is pretty creative, and I think you're fairly unique, so my guess is it's going to be a good one.

Make it a good one.

If you would like to make Project Purge a part of your story, please contact me or Katie, and be sure to head over to the Terpblog for all of the details of how we {you and us} are going to rock this mission.