Welcome to this week’s edition of the Five Minute Friday link-up!
If you’re new to the community, visit this page to learn more about the link-up and how it works.
Also, if you’ve been around for a while you know that I usually take some time off over the holidays.
Here is our HOLIDAY SCHEDULE this year:
December 13th: Our last link-up of 2024!
December 20th: NO link-up
December 27th: NO link-up
January 3rd: NO link-up
January 10th: Our first link-up of 2025!
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This week’s FMF writing prompt is: STUFF
Setting a timer for five minutes, and . . . GO.
Over Thanksgiving break, we hosted a dear friend from South Africa. Before he arrived, I tidied the house and tried to put away as much clutter as possible.
By the time his plane landed, the kitchen counters were fairly clear, the bathrooms were clean, the lounge had been tidied and dusted.
But after a few days, I looked around the house and realized the fruit of my efforts didn’t last long. We now had Christmas cookie paraphernalia strewn across the kitchen counters, my husband’s homemade kombucha bottles, envelopes with opened mail, pens, Bibles, rubber bands . . . so much stuff.
Where does it all come from?
When our family of five moved from South Africa to America in 2013, we came with ten full-size suitcases and five backpacks.
Granted, we had stored some of my mom’s furniture in a storage unit to use upon our arrival.
Now, nearly twelve years later, we have shelves and shelves full of Rubbermaid totes in the storage room in our basement.
For what?
As I wrapped my kids’ Christmas presents this afternoon, I wondered how long they would last. How soon would they be forgotten?
Though much thought and care had gone into selecting the gifts, the reality is that we can’t take any of it with us when we die.
It’s all temporary.
STOP.
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** BOOK SALE **
Speaking of stuff . . . 😉
I’m offering a steep discount on my books for U.S. mailing addresses, now through December 7th!
Choose any two copies you want for just $22 plus free shipping!
(U.S. addresses only)
Sale ends December 7th, 2024
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Join the link-up with your own five-minute freewrite on the prompt, STUFF, below, then visit your link-up neighbor to read their post and leave an encouraging comment:
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View Comments
There's too much bloody stupid stuff
that I have never thrown away,
way, way, way more than quite enough
to last me through my dying day.
I thought I'd get around to it,
organize, give meet attention,
but in the end it didn't fit,
and it just made for more tension
between the future and a past
that I had long since just passed by,
'cause there is nothing meant to last
under God's great bright blue sky,
so let it pass, let it drop,
and please, mate, let nostalgia stop.
I'm guilty of having too many totes. Some are filled with wonderful memories of family Christmases. I love my memories, but I am willing to pass some things along. Merry Christmas.
Hmmm, I ended up and that same theme - too much stuff I don't know had to let go of. But wishing you a very Merry Christmas and pray that the stuff your Christmas is made of will last forever.