The Bucket...

In the corner of our laundry room next to the dryer sits our well-used "bucket". It's actually a storage bin, and we use it to gather the clothes that our children have outgrown.

There has been a bucket in that spot since my oldest was a baby. My friend Hayley told me not long after I gave birth to put a basket there and toss the clothes she had outgrown into it as they came through the wash. She told me it would save me lots of time and help me "purge" the clothes easily, and she was right!!

That advice has served me well over the last few years. I can honestly say that I have never had to do a major closet purge with either of my children. The thought of that, to me, is so refreshing! By having the bucket in the laundry room, I save myself hours of sorting, folding, and organizing. It's also nice to know that there's already space available when I'm ready to put new clothes in the closets.

When an item that is outgrown (or a little snug) comes through the laundry room it gets washed, dried, folded, and placed in the bucket. When the bucket gets full, we snap the lid closed, and fill in the label on top. Then it goes up to the attic where it is stored until I decide what I want to do with the clothes. Over the past few years some clothes have been sold, a lot passed on to other families, and the rest remain in the attic in hopes of being made into a quilt someday.

As I look at this bucket, lid on, full, and waiting on it's turn to be carried up the stairs, I think of how blessed my family is. A new bucket is placed next to the dryer now serving as a reminder that my children are growing up, and my time with them is short. I am thankful that they were loaned to me by a mighty Creator to train up. When I look over at that bucket while folding the laundry, I smile. The clothes inside are well-worn, but the memories made & lessons taught while my children wore them were worth all the stains and faded hues. It's hard to believe how fast the years have gone by.

What do you do with your children's outgrown clothes? Comment below...

Finding Contentment,

Kimberly