Sifting through Memories

As part of project Get Rid of the Clutter, I cleaned out the shed this weekend. I had forgotten how many playthings were in there from the girls' younger days: sand toys from the boat shaped sand box, the Barbie® jeep they and their friends drove around the cul-de-sac while playing tunes on a battery operated radio, a myriad of water guns that no longer work, and tiny bicycles that have long since been outgrown. So many memories and so many treasures.

I was able to part with most things, but couldn't quite let go of these:

The twin shovels the girls used to help Paddy clear the snow. That usually lasted five minutes before they wanted to come in for hot chocolate with marshmallows in front of the fireplace.

The bird house the Lil' Diva made on a school field trip and the training wheels off her bicycle when she finally felt brave enough to ride on her own.

As I tucked away the remaining gardening tools in a cleaner shed, those memories brought a tear to my eye. Those days will never come again. But with God's grace, new adventures and fond memories are in the making.