COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET

WHEN I MOVED TO OUR CONDO, 8 1/2 YEARS AGO,

IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT!

WE MOVED IN ON THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING.

IT WAS SOOOO FUN TO HAVE EVERYTHING NEW!

ALL THE FAMILY HELPED.

BUT, I WAS ON MY OWN FOR PACKING UP THE HOUSE!

I HAD WORKED ON IT FOREVER!!!
(CHRIS & McKAY MOVED THE STUFF)

LITTLE THINGS LIKE PURGING VIDEOS TOOK FOREVER!

AND, EVERY PAPER, EVERY LITTLE THING,

I HAD TO GO THROUGH.

I SPENT HOURS AFTER THAT NOVEMBER DAY

GOING BACK TO THE HOUSE AND WORKING!

I SPENT EVER SATURDAY IN DECEMBER FOR ABOUT 16 HOURS.

AND A COUPLE OF DAYS A WEEK FOR 3-4.

OUR HOME HAD BEEN THERE FOR DECADES,

WITH THINGS IN THERE FOR OVER 75 YEARS.

ALL OF THIS WAS DONE IN THE MIDDLE OF

POM POM PILLOWS, CHRISTMAS VILLAGE, 
UNITS, CHRISTMAS SHOPPING, JAZZ GAMES,

PREPARING TO SPEAK IN SACRAMENT MEETING, ETC.

OVERWHELMING!!!

A LOT OF THINGS WERE MOVED TO THE CONDO,

BUT NOT ORGANIZED.

I HAD NO TIME.

SINCE RETIREMENT, THE DECORATION/STORAGE ROOM 

WAS ORGANIZED WITH THE HELP OF ASHLEY, KIM, AND COURTNEY.

KATIE ORGANIZED MY HOLIDAY TUBS EARLIER.

SHELVES WERE PURCHASED.

(SOME THINGS ARE STILL NOT OUT OF BOXES FROM MOVING,

BUT IT'S BETTER.)

JAYCIE HAS HELPED ME WITH ALL THE DRAWERS

AND CUPBOARDS DOWNSTAIRS THIS SUMMER.

YAY FOR FINDING THE "CONTAINER STORE!"

ALSO, BEFORE I MOVED, I PURGED MY CLOTHES.

I TOOK ALL OF THE REST TO THE LAUNDROMAT TO WASH

THEM ALL!  I WAS THE ONLY ONE THERE!

AND THEN, HERE CAME McKAY!  I WAS ABLE TO FINISH!!!

SO, FOR 8 1/2 YEARS, MANY CLOTHES HUNG IN CLOSET...AND THAT

WAS ALL THEY DID!

I HAVE THE MOST WONDERFUL CLOSET!!!

THE PLUMBER FORGOT TO PLUMB FOR THE BATHTUB, THEN

HE WENT TO EUROPE.  IF I WAITED FOR HIM TO RETURN,

SOMEHOW IT AFFECTED THE OTHER 2 CONDOS.
SO, I SETTLED ON A TINY BATHROOM WITH NO TUB (2 UPSTAIRS),
AND WE TOOK THE SPACE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
THE BATHTUB, AND ADDED IT TO THE CLOSET!
BEST DECISION OF THE CONDO!

SO, BRITNEY, THE GIRL WE WORKED WITH,

HELPED ME DESIGN A DREAM CLOSET!

AND...EVERY SQUARE INCH WAS FILLED!!!

I SPENT A WEEK AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS AUGUST 

PURGING MY CLOTHES.
(I'VE COLLECTED WHITE, PLASTIC HANGARS . . . HUZZAH!)

THEN, ASHLEY'S KIDS HELPED ME WITH ONE RUNG,
THE SPORTS, AF, ALPINE, DIXIE RUNG.

IT WAS A GREAT SORTING ACTIVITY FOR THEM!

WE TOOK 5 HUGE GARBAGE BAGS OF CLOTHES TO THE D.I.

PROBABLY WORTH $1,000 - $1,200!

ALL THE ALPINE ELEMENTARY SHIRTS THAT I GOT RID OF,

WE THREW AWAY.

(WHO WANTS AN ALPINE ELEMENTARY SHIRT?  ALPINERS

DO NOT GO TO THE D.I.)

I WAS TEMPTED TO TAKE MANY "BEFORE" PICTURES,

BUT, IT WAS EMBARRASSING.

I WISHED I HAD.

HERE'S MY PROJECT:

BAGS OF CLOTHES FOR D.I.

LARGE SIZED WOMEN SHOULD BE ECSTATIC!!!

FROM THIS PROJECT, I HAVE REALIZED I HAVE A "CLOTHES PROBLEM."
EVERY GIFT SHOP ON EVERY TRIP, I DIDN'T BROWSE.
MY MINDSET WAS:

BELL
SPOON
MAGNET
SHIRT

I'M A COLLECTION HORDER!
(ALSO, CHRISTMAS, DISNEY, US HISTORY, HOLIDAYS)

THE KIDS SORTED, AND COUNTED.
JAZZ SHIRTS . . . 41
(SHIRT ON TOP IS THE JAZZ 9-11 SHIRT)

JAZZ SHIRTS SORTED BY COLOR


AMERICAN FORK . . . 9

ALPINE ELEMENTARY . . . 23
ABOUT 25 YEARS WORTH
(TOP SHIRT WAS OUR 2002 OLYMPIC SHIRT)

BYU . . . 20

DIXIE . . . 8

I ALSO HAD 12 "HOPE OF AMERICA" SHIRTS.
KEPT 1 OF EACH COLOR, AND 2 WHITE THAT I WEAR
OVER SWIM SUIT.

COMPLETED:
TOP RUNG
SPORTS, AF, ALPINE ELEMENTARY

BOTTOM RUNG
TRIP SHIRTS AND DISNEY

TOP OF BLOUSES & PANTS ARE 
STADIUM OF FIRE PICS I PARTICIPATED IN
PICTURES OF THE KIDS FROM AGE 3-13

SHELF
TOP:
JOSEPH SMITH BUST, GORDON B. HINCKLEY "B's"

TWO:
DISNEY FROM TRIPS WITH CONRAD

THREE:
LADY & THE TRAMP FROM McKAY'S FAMILY

FOUR:
SLIPPERS

FIVE:
SHOES

AND I HAVE TONS OF SHOES ON FLOOR
ALL STRAIGHT AND MATCHED UP...JUST IN CASE
I CAN WEAR THEM AGAIN.
WITH MY CHARCOT FOOT, I WEAR
BLACK DR. SCHOLL SHOES, AND I DON'T CARE!!!


LOOKING DOWN CLOSET.
AT FAR END, ARE SKIRTS AND DRESSES.
MY HOLIDAY CLOTHES WERE SQUEEZED INTO THERE, 
BUT THE HAVE BEEN PURGED, AND FOUND A HOME
IN THE GUEST BEDROOM CLOSET.

BLOUSES ON TOP
PANTS/CAPRIS ON BOTTOM

 DISNEY/STUFFED ANIMALS

 LONG SHELVES
THE TOP ARE PICS OF THE KIDS AGES 6-16
SCRAPBOOKS FROM 1ST 5 YEARS TEACHING
UEA PLAQUE
MIDDLE SHELF HAS
 6 WHO'S WHO AMONG AMERICA'S TEACHERS PLAQUES
(NOMINATED 7 TIMES.  2 IN ONE YEAR)

BLANKETS
BYU RAIN PONCHOS & PJs
(the white...booties to slip over shoes)
3 LAUNDRY BASKETS ON FLOOR UNDER LONG BOTTOM SHELF

 

BOOKSHELVES
AND OF COURSE, CRUTCHES.

HOW SCARY WILL THIS BE WHEN I 
"KICK THE BUCKET?"

I HAVE VISIONS OF MY FAMILY ALL SITTING AROUND,
DIVIDING MY STUFF (ESPECIALLY ORNAMENTS!)
BUT, IT WILL PROBABLY BE PUTTING IT ALL ON E-BAY,
AND MAKING A LITTLE MONEY!

NEXT PROJECT?
CHEST OF DRAWERS!