Packing Up

the moving truck

Today, the shippers came to pack up and ship our belongings to Luxembourg. We've sent everything we don't think we'll need for two to three months (that's how long it will take, at a minimum to arrive in Luxembourg).

PwC provided a moving allowance of 5,500 euros, which worked out to be about next to nothing.

Shipped: 

our queen bed
nightstand
winter clothes
books
personal belongings
home decorations
christmas decorations
toys
supplies such as wipes, dryer sheets, soaps, deodorants, lotions, razors, makeup, etc.
dishes, bowls, utensils, pots, pans, and other kitchen items
laundry and cleaning items
towels and linens
apple tv
computer monitors
tools and other items from the garage

the shipper

In preparation, we've also sold or given away: 

the John Deere riding lawn mower
the Honda Accord
the GMC Sierra
bookshelves
dressers
beds

We've put in storage: 

butcher block
couch
piano
kitchen supplies
anything with a plug
baby gear
clothes
rocking chair
decorations
personal belongings
pretty much everything and anything we thought we could live without for two years

playing in bins before packing

And we will pack the rest in bags and bins to make the flight with us.

We've allocated one bin for kitchen, linens, bathroom, toys, and shoes. Clothes and miscellaneous will be packed in dufflel bags.

We tried our best to figure out what we can live without for two months and live as minimally as possible -- one plate, cup, bowl, fork, spoon and knife for each of us. About two-weeks of clothing, except for Ben and Ingrid. We packed the majority of Ben's work clothes and Ingrid will be growing out of sizes and needing new clothes before the shipment arrives.

We packed a few toys, books, games, and puzzles for entertainment. Pillows, sheets, blankets and towels took up the most space.

We bought a scale and carefully measured and labeled each bag and bin as we packed them so there wouldn't be an issue with weight at the airport. Ben drilled holes and secured each bin with zip ties. Additionally, he put a ziplock bag of zip ties taped to the inside of each bin lid in case security searched the bins and they needed a way to secure them again.

It was harder than I thought to divide up and decide what should be shipped, what should be packed, and what should be forgotten about for two years. Neither Ben nor I really know what to expect or what we'll wish we had packed, so I feel pretty unsettled about it all.

Additionally, this process made me realize how much value I've foolishly placed in material things. I sobbed the day we sold the John Deere. And I felt equally sad the day we sold the truck. I'm not sure why. Maybe some of our things are more than possessions -- it's symbolic of our life in Pleasant Grove, or our time together, or our young family, or of how hard we've worked to be where we are.

I feel like we are going backward and that can be a bitter pill to swallow as I feel like I've restarted my adult life over now three times. But, I trust Ben, and I trust the Lord. And life is more than couches, tractors, and trucks.

Heaven help us as we live out of five bins for the next three months.