Megan Stielstra's Blog

Lately, we’ve been throwing out all the random stuff that's collected in our closets and cabinets and drawers: the Christmas decorations and summer clothes and old files and boxes (you’re never exactly sure what’s IN those boxes, only that you NEED them). I'm always amazed by the sheer volume, as well as the fact that I have no idea where the majority of it all CAME from.

ME: Is this your plastic penguin?
CHRISTOPHER: What do I need with a plastic penguin?
ME: You think I need a plastic penguin?
CHRISTOPHER: (wisely remains silent)

Some of the stuff, however, is gold: Christopher was going through an old box from when he was a kid, so I sat on the floor with him, looking at all sorts of old photos and letters and journals, and remembered that he had this whole existence entirely separate from our current life together. I like those moments: they remind you that there's always more to discover.

For example, Christopher had to write a Personality Sketch in the seventh grade, and his dad thought that was such a cool assignment that he did it for him.

My father-in-law is AWESOME.