#blogtemberchallenge

It’s In The Bag!

~ Teresa ~ 5 Comments

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I’ve been somewhat participating in Blogtember this month.  I bowed out a few days and gave myself a long weekend break.  Today’s prompt was fun and I decided to join in, although it is rather late in the day. Click the title below to see what others have in their bag, then come back here to see what’s in my bag.  You can share what’s in your bag in the comments.  Curious eyes want to know.

Tuesday, Sept. 15: What’s in your bag? Pick up your purse and peruse its contents, then share with us!

So, my bag is one big mess a lot of the time.  I start out organized (smaller bags within the larger and everything sorted by type) and it goes really well for awhile, but a hurried “stuff this here” and an “extra paper or receipt there” and well, before too long chaos reigns and I struggle to find what I need.

You can probably find out a lot about a person by the contents of their bag.  Just saying.

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Before – all the chaos dumped on the table.

I recently, in anticipation of this post, dumped the contents of my happy orange bag on my kitchen island table.  I then wrote down every item that was in my bag.  They are listed for you here in no particular order:

  1. Used tissue (eww! gross)
  2. A list of questions for my doctor’s appointment
  3. Phone (Samsung flip phone – I’m old school)
  4. Altoids mints – cinnamon
  5. GermX hand sanitizer
  6. Billfold (from a trip my sister took to Argentina)
  7. Trident Gum – cinnamon
  8. A bag of goodies (new toothbrush etc.) from my recent dentist visit
  9. Various and sundry shopping receipts
  10. Camera – Kodak
  11. Stella hand lotion (smells so wonderful)
  12.  A map from Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill
  13. A remembrance card from a recent funeral visitation
  14. Checks
  15. Various ink pens (8 and one sharpie)
  16. Pad of note paper
  17. Sunglasses in case
  18. Hair pick
  19. Copy of lab work from recent doctor’s visit
  20. Old shopping list (grocery items)
  21. Make-up bag:
    1. eye drops
    2. chapstick
    3. dream mousse make-up
    4. eyebrow brush
    5. tweezers
    6. loose change
    7. car keys*
  22. Other Make-up bag:
    1. more checks
    2. notepads (2 more)
    3. more receipts
    4. coupon
    5. calendar
    6. $20
    7. business cards
    8. flash drives
    9. dr. appointment cards
    10. smaller bag with house keys & loose change (*the car keys belong here)

Wow!  That’s a lot of stuff.  Most of which I don’t need, but you know, just in case.  I did throw away a lot of items and sorted through everything else and put things back in their proper place (smaller bags and side pockets), so for a few days all will be well again and I might even be able to find the house keys.

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After – everything contained. The lighting is not as good inside the purse, obviously. But, you get the idea. Now, go organize your purse. I dare you.

In other bag news: a new bucket bag just came in the mail this week and soon I’ll be making the switch – here’s hoping it will work for me. I’ll keep you posted. Maybe.

So, really, what’s in your bag – I’d love to know.  Please, please tell me I’m not the only clutter bag out there.

Re-bagging in grace,

Teresa

Restore. Repeat.

~ Teresa ~ 12 Comments
Click the image to find out more.

SEPTEMBER 2 – Describe your ideal day. Where would you go and what would you do?

It’s a day I know well; one that is entrenched deep in my soul; one that restores; one I’m ready for again.

As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  Psalm 42:1-2 NKJV

It is somewhere in the vicinity of morning, there may still be a nine on the clock.  Ok, it’s ten. ish.  I’ve just opened my eyes and realize that I feel so rested and that there are no achy joints.  Today is going to be a great day.

I throw on something comfortable that I probably wouldn’t wear in public and head out to the rocker on the cabin porch.  I breath deeply of the crisp October air relishing in the perfect blue sky.  The fire red leaves pop against the background of sky and the sun filters through the leaves assuring me that today is going to be wonderful.

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I wrap a soft throw around my shoulders and settle into the comfy rocker, hot chocolate in hand, to spend some quiet time.  I listen to the birds chatting with one another.  A leaf floats downward, resting gently on the forest floor, a contrast to the roar of the waterfall in the distance.

*The creek is never silent; always playing in the background reassuring me that all is as it should be. The cool water rushes over the stones staying the course day in and day out. I read a testimony once of a gentleman who immersed himself in the waters of Roaring Creek because he felt the need to have another baptism to mark his rejoicing in all that God had provided.

After a while, I realize that the roaring of the creek has taken a back seat to the roaring in my belly.  Time for a hearty breakfast that will take me to dinner.  My husband is the breakfast whisperer.  He always does the big breakfast – usually bacon or sausage with eggs and toast or sometimes biscuits. I take mine with milk or juice.  I love the smell of coffee, but haven’t acquired the taste quite yet.

Once the breakfast dishes are draining, it is back out to the rocker  with notebook and pen, senses heightened, ready to explore new thoughts.  I may  just soak in the beauty and jot a few thoughts, or I may write feverishly trying to get it all down before the next thought pushes through.  Either way, *October belongs to me, or maybe I belong to October.  October captures my heart every time.

After October has soaked into my bones, I will mosey back into the cabin for some daydreaming, perhaps a little shut eye, stretched out on the sofa without a care in the world.  Later in the day we will drive over to Boone or Blowing Rock and check out one or two of the shops or perhaps we’ll just drive around exploring a mountain lane.

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The drive  will be more about the beauty of the color than the destination.There will be random stops to take pictures of beautiful trees that are drenched in October’s best.  Eventually, we’ll find a yummy place for dinner.  Preferably Italian.  The last time there was a wonderful little Italian place in Banner Elk; hoping it’s still there.

After our tummy’s have said no more, we’ll head back to the cabin, settle in for a long, quiet evening of reading that may or may not involve chocolate at some point.

When the eyes are flickering shut more than awake, we’ll head to bed after opening the window a crack, and sleep blissfully to the cadence of Roaring Creek in the background.  It will be a sleep full of blessings and sweet dreams. Knowing that tomorrow we get to hit repeat.

Restoring in Grace,

Teresa

PS – I just found out about the Blog-tember writing challenge when I read my friend Barbara’s blog earlier today.  I clicked over to Bailey Jean’s blog and browsed through the daily topics, and thought I’d join in on some of the days.

What I like about the Blog-tember challenge is that she gives you specific things to write about each day. Yesterday’s prompt (Sept. 1) was to tell you about me.  Since my about me page is pretty thorough and since I”m a day late I will let you go there to read the story of Who Am I?.

*Links to little poems I wrote about October and Roaring Creek.  This post was inspired by our many visits to Fairhaven in Roan Mt. Tennessee.  A place we discovered several years ago and one that always helps restore and settle us from the cares of life.  

The road less taken