The Start.

It's been almost a week since we made a seemingly small decision that has somehow grown in scope with every passing day. We decided to sell our house to relocate closer to a few things that are important to our family. Then we decided, as long as we're moving anyway, it could be good to buy a smaller house and cut our expenses. Just for frugality's sake. Then we decided that we'd have to get rid of a few things in order to downsize without being buried in scrapbook paper and outgrown baby clothes. Then we decided if we're going to have a smaller house, we'd like it to be the perfect house. 

And on into a spiral that led from this:

"Let's move closer to my in-laws."

To this:

"Lets.....

Sell/give away what will amount to probably half of what we possess.

Sell our house.

Buy a total dump of a house on lots of land with lots of potential for not lots of money and completely remodel said residence into a charming little Pottery Barn farmhouse.

Live outside city limits.

Acquire chickens.

Get a beehive.

Live off the land."

In essence, we feel like we have decided to do a little experiment with minimalism.

I thought we didn't have that much stuff, that this wouldn't be that much of a stretch for us. But over the last 5 days I have realized that we have more belongings than any family of four would ever need. It has driven me to tears multiple times this week as I have tackled areas of our house to sort through. 

Which has made me ask this question to myself multiple times:

Why do we own so much stuff that I am mentally, physically and emotionally overwhelmed by the sheer excess of it?

That's what we hope to answer and overcome in the coming weeks, months and years as we choose to change our path.