challenge

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

My Health Is Worth It

~ Teresa ~ 3 Comments

I did something today that I have never done before.  I paid for a gym membership.  And I walked the track around the basketball court.  Twenty-two laps equal a mile. I walked twenty-two laps.  I think.  I got distracted once, talking to a lovely older woman and may have lost count.  She did 56 laps.  Baby steps.  One day soon, I too will do 56 laps, which according to her is about two and a half miles.

The only other time I have been to a public gym for exercise was on the seminary campus and it was free to students and their families.  Well, technically, we actually did pay a lot for that gym membership if you count the tuition.  But to officially join a gym that required me to commit up front to a three month contract without possibility of refund.  Today was a first.

I did this because I decided that my health was worth it.  When we lived on campus we went to the gym and walked fairly regularly, but we took it for granted and so missed quite often and didn’t really take full advantage of all it had to offer.  Well, Mr. Piano did join a water aerobics class once.  The women were very gracious to him.

Anyway, moving on, my health is worth the moola.  Back in the summer we were walking at the park quite often and it was a work out because there were mountains.  Ok. Hills.  Small ones. And it felt good and I was noticing a difference.  Then, it got cooler and then cold and we dwindled down to once a week, then not at all.  Every time we went it was like starting over and I would use any excuse not to go.

Did I mention that my health is worth it?  It makes me feel better to walk.  My clothes fit better.  I have more energy.  But, I need consistency.  I need to know that I’m going three to four times a week rain or shine, warm or cold.  So, for the next three months until it warms up a bit, I’ll be walking at the local gym.  Every day.  Minus three, or four.  The point is, I will have no excuse for consistency or lack thereof.  Unless of course the roads are impassable due to a blizzard.

I figure by spring I’ll be back in the swing and feeling much better and transitioning to the park again will be easy peasy.  And those hills?  They’ll be a new challenge that I’ll be ready to meet.  And, Mr. Piano?  Joined also.  We’re like that, the two us, we do things together.  He’s a showoff though.  He did more laps than me and he jogged part of the time.

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Hopefully in 2013 we will REMAIN healthy.  How’s that for using my word of the year?  Go me.

Remaining in Grace,

Sadie

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Na Na Na NaNoWriMo

~ Teresa ~ 3 Comments

Please hold me accountable.

We are down to less than five hours before the month of frenzied writing better known as NaNoWriMo begins.  I said I was going to do it this year.  Just do it.  Right.

I just finished a 31 Day Challenge on my blog so writing a novel in 30 Days for the month of November is like jumping from the frying pan into the fire.  You have to question my sanity.

You may be asking why.  You would not be alone.  I am asking myself that question hourly.  I don’t have a concrete answer.  I may have at the end of the 30 days if I make it that far.

Stay tuned.

In other news this will be my 50th post on this blog.  Yea Me!  Most people would wait until 100 to mention it, but I’m rather proud of 50, so thought it deserved a mention.  I thought  my 50th post would be something really profound and eye opening, but I guess not.  Just goes to show that you can’t be too sure.

And finally, a picture for those who need the visual because they don’t like words by themselves.  You can make up your own story about the picture. Deal?

NaNoWriMoing in Grace,

Sadie

31:26-28 Weekend Blog Hop

~ Teresa ~ 4 Comments

Doing this 31 Day challenge has been challenging, but also rewarding.  One of the rewards is in discovering new blogs to read.  I thought I’d share a few of the one’s I have found enjoyable.  Some of them are also 31 Day participants and some are not.  But I found them all through this 31 Days of Writing.  Some of them found me and I in turn found them.  I may not have read their blogs every day, but I have visited them more than once and found myself captivated by their stories.  A few blogs I have visited have led me to other blogs, either through an interesting comment by another reader that made me curious about them, or by looking at the blogs they follow.  So, in no particular order, and certainly not an exhaustive list I give you some suggested blogs to visit on this my first  blog hop.

Encouraging Words for Writers

Claygirlsings

The Stanley Clan

Flower Patch Farm Girl

Chatting at the Sky – discovered before this 31 Days, but had to include as it is a favorite

Roots & Wings

Decor to Adore

thewaywereallylive

Patheos

Susan In Words

Annie Blogs

Crawford Paul

Nesting Place – this is the one that started it all – discovered a few years back and a favorite.

Happy Blog Hopping.  If you have a favorite blog you think I’d enjoy please feel free to post in the comments.

Hopping in Grace,

Sadie

Days 12-15 – Weekend Rewind and Moving Forward

~ Teresa ~ Leave a comment

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight                                                                                                                                    Proverbs 3:5-6

Obviously I didn’t post for a few days, which means I didn’t write.  On Friday I probably would have late in the day, but yet again, my Friday was interrupted by circumstances that threw me into a tailspin.  This time it was a horse of a different color, but nevertheless, it is a situation that would be in the top two on my angst list.

It made me feel out of control and helpless.  And I learned something about myself.  1.) I really have control issues. 2.) I find it really hard to let go of things. 3.) I allow things that aren’t in my control to derail me. (I’m sure I already knew this, but it really hit home to me and I need to say it out loud.)

I also came to the conclusion that God is challenging me, through my circumstances, to give up all control to him in these situations.  I know I need to and I honestly have been trying.  Just when I think I have, something new develops and I derail.  It has taken me most of the weekend to gain perspective.

Because of circumstances and the derailing I didn’t write.  I put something I’m passionate about on hold, due to a temporary (hopefully) circumstance that I have no control over. I realized that this is a pattern that has happened before – I’m too ready to throw in the towel and sabotage myself when I feel helpless or out of control.

The situation is what it is, God is still in control (so I don’t have to be), and my role is to Wait on him.  To trust him.  To rest in him.  To listen to him.  He has this.

My role is to move forward with purpose.

Moving on in Grace,

Sadie

PS – What about you, do you ever derail when a situation makes you feel out of control?  How do you gain perspective?