October 19, 2026
Okay. This is happening. The thing that we decided to do ten months ago is happening now, and all of the planning, prioritizing, and pivoting will play out one way or the other.
This is when all that decluttering talk gets real. We are moving tomorrow.
It feels like I’m on a river. The current is picking up speed, and I can hear the roar of a waterfall ahead. There’s no turning back at this point. We feel the stress, but the excitement of what’s ahead overrides it. We’re anticipating what’s to come while living in the moment, soaking up everything.
………………..
I wrote those words last week, and fully intended to publish them before the move, but obviously that didn’t happen. Things continued to pick up, and if I had a spare minute, I was too exhausted to write. Let’s go back to what I was thinking and sensing then…
Today is October 7, 2026, and the movers come tomorrow. I look around the room and see boxes and totes that are ready to be filled and boxes stacked and taped, ready to be loaded. We’re down to that awkward packing time when you have space in an almost-filled box but can’t find anything that really goes there. At some point, we just stuff it with paper and call it a day.
We put most of our belongings in storage last spring when we listed our house, so now we’re packing up what’s left. I cannot tell you how many times I have thought (and said out loud), “I’m so glad we decluttered when we did.” John’s response: “It wasn’t a moment too soon.”
We’ll be renting for a while in our new town, so I have to think about what we will need and what will go in storage there. Lord knows, I don’t want to unpack things only to rebox them in another few months.
Prior to packing last spring, we seriously decluttered for months. Oh my goodness, I remember all the hangers, the clothes, and office supplies that “I might use someday.” Five boxes of office supplies leftover from my office days. Five.
We went through every file, cabinet, and drawer. I am so glad we intentionally thought about what we needed and what we could let go of.
And we did all of that while looking forward to this week, when we would lock our door for the last time and sign our house over to a new family.
A few final things, waiting to be loaded onto the truck.
Here are some questions and answers based on what I knew prior to the move. Now that I’m on the other side, I have additional thoughts, and I’ll share them in another post. For now, I think it’s important to keep these as they are:
What has left the house?
We have gotten rid of something in every category in the house. From staples in my office drawer to my husband’s truck, we considered every item, whether we wanted it or not.
I let go of things like my wedding dress and veil that I’ve moved for decades, and my mother’s china. Some things I needed to sit with for a while before letting them go. I knew they needed to go. The decision was made. I just needed more time to think through the best way to do that and when.
Looking back, it feels good to have these things gone. Like when you’ve waited too long to get a haircut, and then you finally do. It feels refreshing and right and good.
What was harder than expected?
Some jewelry was hard, which surprised me because I’m not really a jewelry person. But the pieces that I paused over were given to me by someone special, or they reminded me of an event that I bought them for. And going through keepsakes and photos. Those were a challenge.
What became easier?
Decluttering was hard at first and I really resisted going deeper into things. But I came to actually enjoy making decisions based on what felt right. For instance, I didn’t get rid of everything that I could, but through the process, I came to trust my instincts and to know when enough is enough. I acknowledge that I will probably have things I won’t need in our new place, and that there may be things I need but won’t have. That’s part of the decluttering process. I’m learning along the way.
What does the house look and feel like now compared to when we started downsizing?
It’s strange to be here and not feel at home. For the past several months, it hasn’t felt like home because most of our things are in storage. We feel more like caretakers stewarding the place until it belongs to the new family.
Most everything from upstairs is down. What was in cabinets is out. And there’s an echo that surprises me, even with all the stacked boxes.
I go through the rooms and think of the conversations and memories, grateful for the time we’ve had here. It hasn’t all been easy. Of course we’ve had plenty of ups and downs here. But it’s been good.
What am I still figuring out?
We waited so long for this to happen, and now suddenly it is. We had a quick closing, so in addition to last-minute packing, we’re having to figure out the logistics of where we’ll live, how we’ll get there, which electricity company to use…and how to pace ourselves.
My leg is still an issue, so I’m having to take breaks. I’m limited in what I can physically do, and I’m not sure how many hours we can drive at a time. We’re hoping to beat the movers, but we’ll see! Parts of this journey are still a mystery.
Even though we’re still very much in unknown territory, I am at peace with where we’re at.
What remains?
We kept things we wanted to use and enjoy, like my husband’s kayak and my art supplies. (At least a pared-down version of my supplies!) We packed obvious things like a couch, table, and artwork, but that’s just physical stuff.
We can only plan for what we know, so what also remains are the things that we haven’t discovered yet. That’s both fun to think about and a little unsettling, all at the same time.
One thing that’s become obvious over the past ten months is that, even though I wanted this change, it’s challenging. I try to ease the discomfort by controlling the outcome and minimizing risk, but there’s still a lot we don’t know.
We did everything we could think of prior to listing the house, but there were things we couldn’t control, like the market and potential buyers. Those unknowns brought a different type of discomfort.
It’s like that river I mentioned before and the approaching waterfall. The pace has quickened these past few weeks. A lot has not gone according to plan. And while we hope to have a bit of a breather on our drive to our next home, we will still have to figure out things once we get there.
All of that is part of the mystery. And coming to accept that there will be mystery—those things that we don’t know yet—is another thing I’m learning through this process.
My health has been an area of focus for the past 18 months, so to finally be in this phase and imagining our dreams and plans actually playing out is a wonderful change of pace. I’m practically giddy knowing that the movers are almost here.
Without a doubt, I will say again how glad I am that we decluttered and downsized ahead of time!
The back of our car, as we drive down the road. It holds a hodgepodge of things I wanted with me: plants, stained glass, random things in case the moving truck gets delayed, and my journal, of course.
While I am at peace with our decisions and the process we’ve been through, it also feels weird to be in the middle of a transition. This is what we wanted, and we are excited about where we’re going, but it’s also odd to think that all of our possessions can fit into a relatively small storage unit.
I know the storage unit holds more than we actually need. That realization, combined with what we’ve already gotten rid of, is an eye-opener.
And so I ask, What does matter then? And I realize that it isn’t found in what we own. It’s what I carry in my heart: memories of my children and grandchildren, the thrill of pursuing our dream, and the wonder of what we will experience there. We are doing what we can to honor the Lord in this phase of our lives, and that matters more than anything tangible.
So, I’ll check my list for today. I try to stay hydrated as I run last-minute errands. I’ll pack my go-bag and put the rest of our things in boxes marked “Open this first.”
I’ll give myself grace because of course I’ve never moved this way before. I’m older and don’t have the stamina I once had. I’ve never had a leg that needs this much attention. And we aren’t relocating for work. Everything about this move is different.
We are moving because we believe the Lord has invited us into this new chapter. There are people for us to meet and people for us to serve. For us, it’s not about the doing. It’s about who we are becoming and discovering what that might look like at this stage of our lives. And tomorrow, we’ll start the car and begin the next phase of our journey.
………………..
And so, the movers came the next day. We began our journey down the highway and into our next chapter. I’ll have more to say about that in the next post. But I’d like to know about you.
Where are you, and how are you now?
I’m sharing what I’m learning about decluttering, transitions, and being intentional with both my thoughts and my things on the blog, Clearing the Way. I hope you’ll find something helpful for whatever you’re sorting.
Want to hear from me between posts? Join my email list. I’d love to have you there.