Monday we went grocery shopping.
At Walmart.
Enough said, right?
I have said before that I make a 10-meal menu for our family that lasts us about 2 weeks.
Well, yesterday was Walmart-day.
We had a huge grocery list along with a decent-sized list of other essentials for the house so I was prepared for a long trip to Walmart.
We arrived and found a good parking spot.
I slipped Samuel's chupi (pacifier) into my purse, anticipating the need for it about 1/2-way through our excursion, and we set out for the door.
I decided to get the cosmetic products we needed first.
As we were deciding on a hair gel for Pancho Katrina informed me that she needed to use the bathroom.
Now!
So, we grabbed the closest gel and started speed-walking to the restrooms in the back of the store.
There is a family restroom back there that I prefer to use.
We made it and she was able to go to the bathroom.
Lately she has been getting bad belly aches before and after using the bathroom so I put her inside the cart and we continued to the grocery section of Walmart.
I tried to be as quick as possible grabbing milk, butter and cresent rolls.
White corn tortillas were the next thing on my list.
I could not find the corn tortillas anywhere in Walmart.
I looked in the dairy section and in the bread section (because we have found them in both places before).
I re-looked in the dairy and bread sections which I dislike doing very much during these big grocery shops but I had no choice.
I even asked a dairy guy and he said they don't carry corn tortillas anymore.
Why?
Who knows!
So, we went about the rest of our list and while we were in the jell-o aisle Katrina began to cry and say that she wanted to go home.
She had been fine but then her belly started hurting again.
Now, let me remind you of our situation:
The cart is half-full and Samuel was given his chupi a long while back (meaning my time is limited).
There is still at least half of the grocery list to go and at the rate we are going, we are going to need at least another 45 minutes.
I stopped the cart and asked Katrina, "What do you want me to do for you, Katrina?" in a kind voice.
She said she wanted to leave and I told her that unfortunately that would not be an option.
Then she said she needed to go to the bathroom again.
Ok.
Last time she needed to go NOW.
This time she needs to go NOW!
I put her back into the cart (she had wanted to get out) and we went running this time, not speed-walking, to the same restroom.
She cried the whole way.
I will spare you the details of what happened in the restroom but let's just say we made it, both shed some pretty heavy tears and exited.
We returned to the grocery section of the store and hurredly finished our shopping.
As I approached the check-outs I scanned to see if I could find one with a short line.
No.
I don't know about you but by the time I get to the check-out after these big grocery shopping trips I am exhausted and the worst part is that the job is only about 1/2 over.
I still have to unload everything from the van and then put it all away, which is more difficult than it sounds because the kids are either starving for food or starving for some attention.
So, we got into a line that had 2 people in front of us and I began to think.
I was super tempted to leave the cart there and go home.
Of course, I did not do that!
As I stood there thinking, though, I started to think about having a thankful heart.
Katrina has a CD that has a song that says that a thankful heart is a happy heart.
Boy is that ever true.
So, I started to review our entire excursion...
I chose to be thankful for the good parking spot.
I chose to be thankful that Samuel has a chupi and that he stayed calm the entire time we were there (which was nearly 2 hours!).
I chose to be thankful that Katrina could use the bathroom.
There have been so many times when she is blocked up and cannot go.
I chose to be thankful that I do not have a job outside of the home and I can do this with my kids and have a fun time in the process.
Katrina and I had fun making up songs and she learned some new fruits and vegetables she was not familiar with before.
There were so many opportunities for me to choose to be thankful.
And that is the key:
choosing.
When I got home I had another opportunity to choose thankfulness when I looked at this:
I chose to be thankful that I am capable of putting it all away.
I chose to be thankful that we have a deep-freeze and a pantry that will store all of this food.
I chose to be thankful that Pancho works so hard so we can have good meals.
I have a notecard on the bathroom vanity that says,
"I may not always feel thankful. But I can always choose thankfulness."
Thank You, Jesus, for helping me to choose thankfulness. It is true that a thankful heart is a happy heart.
At Walmart.
Enough said, right?
I have said before that I make a 10-meal menu for our family that lasts us about 2 weeks.
Well, yesterday was Walmart-day.
We had a huge grocery list along with a decent-sized list of other essentials for the house so I was prepared for a long trip to Walmart.
We arrived and found a good parking spot.
I slipped Samuel's chupi (pacifier) into my purse, anticipating the need for it about 1/2-way through our excursion, and we set out for the door.
I decided to get the cosmetic products we needed first.
As we were deciding on a hair gel for Pancho Katrina informed me that she needed to use the bathroom.
Now!
So, we grabbed the closest gel and started speed-walking to the restrooms in the back of the store.
There is a family restroom back there that I prefer to use.
We made it and she was able to go to the bathroom.
Lately she has been getting bad belly aches before and after using the bathroom so I put her inside the cart and we continued to the grocery section of Walmart.
I tried to be as quick as possible grabbing milk, butter and cresent rolls.
White corn tortillas were the next thing on my list.
I could not find the corn tortillas anywhere in Walmart.
I looked in the dairy section and in the bread section (because we have found them in both places before).
I re-looked in the dairy and bread sections which I dislike doing very much during these big grocery shops but I had no choice.
I even asked a dairy guy and he said they don't carry corn tortillas anymore.
Why?
Who knows!
So, we went about the rest of our list and while we were in the jell-o aisle Katrina began to cry and say that she wanted to go home.
She had been fine but then her belly started hurting again.
Now, let me remind you of our situation:
The cart is half-full and Samuel was given his chupi a long while back (meaning my time is limited).
There is still at least half of the grocery list to go and at the rate we are going, we are going to need at least another 45 minutes.
I stopped the cart and asked Katrina, "What do you want me to do for you, Katrina?" in a kind voice.
She said she wanted to leave and I told her that unfortunately that would not be an option.
Then she said she needed to go to the bathroom again.
Ok.
Last time she needed to go NOW.
This time she needs to go NOW!
I put her back into the cart (she had wanted to get out) and we went running this time, not speed-walking, to the same restroom.
She cried the whole way.
I will spare you the details of what happened in the restroom but let's just say we made it, both shed some pretty heavy tears and exited.
We returned to the grocery section of the store and hurredly finished our shopping.
As I approached the check-outs I scanned to see if I could find one with a short line.
No.
I don't know about you but by the time I get to the check-out after these big grocery shopping trips I am exhausted and the worst part is that the job is only about 1/2 over.
I still have to unload everything from the van and then put it all away, which is more difficult than it sounds because the kids are either starving for food or starving for some attention.
So, we got into a line that had 2 people in front of us and I began to think.
I was super tempted to leave the cart there and go home.
Of course, I did not do that!
As I stood there thinking, though, I started to think about having a thankful heart.
Katrina has a CD that has a song that says that a thankful heart is a happy heart.
Boy is that ever true.
So, I started to review our entire excursion...
I chose to be thankful for the good parking spot.
I chose to be thankful that Samuel has a chupi and that he stayed calm the entire time we were there (which was nearly 2 hours!).
I chose to be thankful that Katrina could use the bathroom.
There have been so many times when she is blocked up and cannot go.
I chose to be thankful that I do not have a job outside of the home and I can do this with my kids and have a fun time in the process.
Katrina and I had fun making up songs and she learned some new fruits and vegetables she was not familiar with before.
There were so many opportunities for me to choose to be thankful.
And that is the key:
choosing.
When I got home I had another opportunity to choose thankfulness when I looked at this:
I chose to be thankful that we have a deep-freeze and a pantry that will store all of this food.
I chose to be thankful that Pancho works so hard so we can have good meals.
I have a notecard on the bathroom vanity that says,
"I may not always feel thankful. But I can always choose thankfulness."
Thank You, Jesus, for helping me to choose thankfulness. It is true that a thankful heart is a happy heart.
I cannot tell you how many times I have looked for those same CORN tortillas too!! It sounds like many a Walmart trip for us. Choosing to be thankful right along side you! =)
ReplyDeleteThey moved them to the Bakery section. It's on an endcap by the bread! Took me FOREVER to find them!!!
ReplyDeleteMorgen
I thought about this post this afternoon while I was scrubbing the floor on my hands and knees...I chose to be thankful that I could still get down there and do it! :)Thanks for the much needed reminder about choosing thankfulness!! Jenni K
ReplyDelete