Free Your Space, Free Your Mind

A short while ago, I began reading the book Designed to Last by Ashley and Dino Petrone. I had been following this couple on Instagram for several years. Their book has sat on my Amazon wish list for quite a while, in the hopes that I someone would buy it for me for Christmas or my birthday. One day, I saw it on sale and decided to just buy it for myself. And, let me tell you, it was perfect timing.

If you're unfamiliar with this couple, Ashley and Dino are home renovators, parents of four children, and quite possibly the best example I've ever had of radical obedience to God. At one point in their story, Ashley and Dino sold nearly all of their possessions and moved their family of five (at that time) into an RV. They both say that although that change was challenging, it was one of the most influential things that ever happened to their family. Through that season, they learned to fall in love with each other, not with stuff. Ashley became very intentional about what she brought into her home and what she allowed to stay. She has kept that intentionality in the years since and continued to demonstrate what's truly important in life.

As I read the part where Ashley was talking about loving each and every item in her home, I began to look around my own home. The majority of the items that my eyes landed on were items that I did not love, did not use often, and did not serve much of a purpose. Why am I keeping this junk? I thought to myself. I knew it was time to clean house, and I got started right away. "Your home is a representation of your mind," God whispered to me, "You've been collecting and clinging to old beliefs that no longer serve you. As you clean your home, we're also going to clean out your mind. By the time you're finished, you will have a fresh slate in more ways than one." Typically, this is the type of project I would start on and get burnt out about halfway through. But that simple statement from God was all I needed to push through until the end.

My goal is to have my home completely decluttered by the end of the summer. My daughter and I both have birthdays at the end of July, so it would be ideal if I could finish before we bring more stuff into the house. I'm tired of not knowing where to put things. I'm tired of keeping things that are collecting dust just because of who gave it to me. I'm tired of constantly feeling stressed by my home because of the number of things my eyes have to look at. I think I'm just fed up enough to see this project all the way through. Would you join me?

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At first, I thought Ashley and Dino's book would be a cute little design book with snippets of their life's story sprinkled throughout. I was pleasantly surprised by how impactful this book was! Here it is, if you'd like to check it out for yourself! https://amzn.to/4cAeAXL