A Likely Story

Taking a break from writing a fascinating batch of articles, I felt compelled to recount my horrific Wal-Mart experience on Sunday.  I am doing a butt-load (that’s right I said butt-load) of Christmas baking as gifts for teachers and such.  I cannot afford to buy them what I want to so I’d rather show them some love with the kind of candy and yummies that you can’t buy at the grocery store.  All this baking required a pretty hefty list of supplies that I just had  to get on Sunday afternoon. 

I could have saved myself some sanity going to the grocery store and Target to get what I needed, but something in my crazy preggo brain said, “No!  Go to Wal-Mart and get everything you need!”  Perhaps it’s all the subliminal messages from TV advertisements.  Nevertheless, I gave into the crazy voice and hauled off alone to Wal-Mart despite Jason’s warnings.  I should listen to my husband.  Really, I should.

The parking lot was a sea of badly parked vehicles. I thought to myself, “Man, I wish they had expectant mother parking . . . but then that would be the entire parking lot wouldn’t it?”  Sigh.  I drove around in circles, waited behind cars stalking parking spots and finally decided if the couple in their 80’s could park in Timbuktu, so could I. 

I stepped into the entryway to see that there were no carts left with the exception of two with the infant seats in them.  I considered it for a minute but then didn’t want to seem too desperate for this kiddo to get here!   I grabbed a hand-held instead and took off, list in hand.  Ugh, so many people!  Not only is it a week and a half til Christmas, we were expecting a winter storm.  This understandably sends people into a tailspin after last year’s awfulness.  It wasn’t long before my little basket got heavy and started to get hot, and preggos don’t do hot.  It makes us angry. 

While roaming through the Christmas section I notices an abandoned cart.  Yay!  Two seconds later I realized why someone abandoned said cart; it was in serious need of some WD-40.  Yikes!  This thing squeaked so loud it was causing other shoppers to stare, but my coat was off and my goodies inside. I was committed.  As I squeaked into the craft section I saw another abandoned cart and after noting that it was squeak-free, I ditched the squeaker. 

Okay, a smooth ride, not hot – I felt okay . . . till I got to the groceries.  Apparently I am not the only one who bakes at Christmas (duh) and many of the odd items I had hoped would be stocked aplenty were bare or gone.  I got the last box of egg whites – really?  Egg whites?!  I guess several people will be making royal icing too?  Also, to my dismay, no Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme.  You know, the good stuff in the jar.  Not only was it nowhere to be found, it looked like it had never been there.  Sigh.  Also, no caramels.  For real?!  I just wanted a package of the individual wrapped Kraft cubes.  Sure, I could make my own caramel (I think . . .) but I was not in the mood to experiment.  I searched in vain for a Wal-Mart employee, and like the Toys-R-Us people, I am pretty sure they were hiding from the masses.  I would.

As I was making my final stroll through the baking aisle, hoping in vain to find the Marshmallow creme, another bedraggled shopper looked at me and said, “I hate this place!”  Well said.  Me too. 

By the time I made my way through the snaking line at the checkout I was grouchy, hot again and frustrated that the Wal-Mart commercials had done their duty and made me believe that I could find everything in one place.  Jason ran to Target for me later on and rounded up the rest of my goodies, except for the marshmallow creme.  It appears Oklahoma City has none.  It has all been bought!  However, I googled “Substitute for Marshmallow Creme”  and guess what?  I made my own.  Oh yeah.  I felt pretty sassy.  Large marshmallows and 2 teaspoons of light corn syrup melted in a double boiler.  It’s cheaper too.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed my rant.  Merry Christmas!

One year.  We have now been living back in Oklahoma for one year.  And I am amazed (as I am with each passing year) and how quickly a year can pass.  Then again, I am also amazed at how much a person, a family a country can change within the short span of 12 months, 365 days. 

A year ago we had just moved into a ramshackle townhouse with an abundance of leaks, drafty windows and a crappy landlord (none of which could have been foreseen, it’s just how it goes sometimes!) We were feeling pretty overwhelmed what with Jason’s new job, no church and this getting re-acquainted thing with our families after living 800 miles away for the prior 5 years.  I remember feeling terribly alone, unsure and yet hopeful. 

Here we are a year later in a place we like with a really great landlord and excellent insulation.  Jason’s loving the job (tonight’s the company Christmas party!  Whoo hoo!), we’ve nestled in at Council Road, have made some friends and while family dynamics are tricky no matter where you live, it’s good.    Oh, and to top it all off we’re adding another kiddo to the family.  I laugh thinking that there is no way I could have ever imagined being here with all these blessings a year later.  I would have said, “Yeah, sure.   Okay.”

Just like most people I know, there’s not a lot of extra to spend on Christmas this year.  Like I’ve said before (and I am sure that I have said it before, sorry.)  Having less money to buy gifts with not only forces me to focus on the gifts I already have but it’s given me a much better perspective on Christmas.  We’ve bought Jonah some things as always, but we’re really intent for the first time on sharing with him the miracle and the wonder of Christ’s birth and what is meant and continues to mean for the whole world – Hope.  Sweet, beautiful hope.  A reminder that in what seems like the direst of circumstances – a failing economy for one or over 2000 years ago, a messed up government, a mean king and a young, betrothed Jewish girl pregnant with God’s son, God always offers hope and His love. 

I posted this on my facebook too, but it touched me so deeply I had to post it here too.  It sums up what I am feeling in my heart this year.  A baby really does change everything.