start a hope chest

After doing some organizing today, I now have a storage container for my hope chest and I couldn’t be happier. Some people say a wooden chest makes it more special, but the importance of a hope chest is what’s inisde – what treasures you save for your future. I thought of replacing it someday, but I’m trying so hard to save as much money as I can for the years to come.

There’s barely anything in my hope chest now. Just some books. I’ll work on filling it in any spare time I might have. This goal has been so important to me and the great thing about it is even though it’s off my list, I can keep working on it for as long as I need to.

I can’t wait any longer to do more work on this goal! I’m going to use a plastic storage container for now, but first I have to clean it out. Hopefully if I simplify enough, this could soon serve as my hope chest for now.

I can’t wait to get a hope chest! I really want one for Christmas and the waiting seems unbearable, but I don’t have a choice. While I wait, I’m thinking of some more things I could put in it, in addition to what I posted in my previous entry about this goal. Some things from my other goals on my 43T list can be stored in it once they’re completed, like the letter to my future self, and the one telling me about something I didn’t know then that I know now. Also, I would like to put the collection of some of my writings in there too. I found a baby doll pillow and blanket my mom and I sewed when I was little. I have some more children’s books that I can read to my future kids, and I want to have a quilt for my hope chest too.

I’ve been searching the internet for hope chest ideas. I understand that common items for one is household items, like table runners, towels, and dishes. I already have a tea set and some special bowls and cups. Sometime in the future, I want to make a baby blanket. Does anyone have any other ideas or interesting things that can go into a hope chest other than what I’ve mentioned? I’d love to know!

I first heard about hope chests when I was reading about the Amish. (I love that culture.) Ever since, I’ve been wanting to start one of my own. I think this is a really sweet and useful idea for my future and a great way to always have hope. I’ve been looking up the history of hope chests and what you put in them. I know they’ve been around for ages and women usually fill their hope chests with items that will help them when they’re married, but I believe you can fill a hope chest with anything you wish.

I plan on getting my hope chest for Christmas. But for now, I’m looking around my room for ideas and things I can fill it with when I get it. I think I want to fill mine with things I’ll use for my future children one day in addition to household items. So far I have:

• a small tea set
• some beautful little spoons and bowls my aunt gave me a while ago
• my coin bank becuase I’ve been saving up all my change
• a nesting doll and the story that goes along with it

I’m so excited to start this goal!