Starbucks and Flax Seed Oil

Yesterday I took a trip to our local health food store to purchase some Flax Seed Oil. I recently read an article about the health benefits so it seemed quite worth it to me. I was excited to open the bottle and try the so-called "nutty" flavor. Have you ever tried to eat a whole tablespoon of vegetable oil? That is what this tasted like. The only "nutty" thing was me trying to swallow it. My whole mouth and throat were warm and well lubed. Ugh. Let's hope this stuff really does boost serotonin levels!

So, I was well adjusted with the Flax in my system, now let's start the day. Read bible. Check. Pray...sort of check. Interrupted by a child screaming "MOMMY!!!!!!" at the top of their lungs. A quick prayer for patience as I head up the stairs. My day started with the oil, the yell and then the dreaded pink-eye. My daughter's eyes had looked a little funny the night before and now they looked really yucky!

I made a call to the doctor who simply called in a prescription. No problem. I need to return some library books and then I will pick up the drops. I gathered up my children, one from behind the couch and one from the floor who was, of course, spreading the library books all about. "I just hunted all of those down! Please don't mess up my pile!!" Ugh. The kids must have seen the frustration in my face because without me saying a word they both quickly hurried to the door and put on their own shoes. I didn't think I looked that scary without a shower, but then again....

We headed out the door and to the library. I returned the books, well almost all of the books. We had tears about a couple that I just threw back in the car to renew as my serotonin levels were starting to plummet after all of the yelling and screaming. We made it to the pharmacy. Now, every 2 seconds I told my daughter not to touch anything as pink-eye is very contagious. We get to the desk and of course the prescription is not ready. We went around and picked up a few items all with me saying, "Keep your hands to yourself. No, to yourself I said!" They need to make a mommy doll that says that when you squeeze her hands!

As I stood in line to pay for my things my daughter started to cry. "Mom, my brother got a toy stuck in my hair!" The clerk actually laughed out loud. I looked over to see my daughter with a toy helicopter stuck in an incredible rat's nest of hair. I told her to stand still while I finished paying. We stepped aside while I tried to get the airplane out. Under my breath I told my flax seed oil not to fail me now! I ended up breaking the helicopter and my daughter's hair was going to have to be cut to be fixed. I walked over to customer service to tell them what happened. The clerk was gracious and did not make me pay for the toy. We made it back to the pharmacy desk and picked up the drops. Then, we made it back to the car with a couple of $1 toys to keep the kids busy while I made lunch. "I have to go pee, pee," I hear from the back seat. Of course I couldn't have been told when we were 3 feet away from a restroom inside the store. Now we were a quarter of the way home. How convenient.

Starbucks to the rescue. I looked out the window and that was the closest store with easy access to the restroom. As a mom you are forced to know these things. We ran in to go potty of course (getting myself a coffee was an afterthought...don't believe me!). After my son went potty, I washed his hands and set him down with some paper towel to dry them. As I washed mine I glanced in the mirror and saw him digging, yes digging in the sanitary napkin waste basket. What is with my son and sanitary napkins???? "GROSS!" I yelled as I scooped him up. We washed hands again.

As we exited, the kind barista from behind the counter asks, "How are you today?" I quickly replied, "Fine thanks, and you?" As she started to answer I interrupted her and said, "Actually, I'm sorry, I just lied to you. I am not fine." She looked at me perplexed as if she had been hit with a stun gun. Starbucks must not train their employees to "handle the truth!" She kind of laughed and quickly said, "What can I get for you?" Now, I was very tempted to say, "Where do I begin? I could use a housekeeper and a nanny for the day. And while I am thinking about it, I would love Supernanny to stop by and help me with some sharing issues we have in our home. I desperately need a haircut and a style for that matter and I am running low on some of my cosmetics as you can tell." Instead, I chose the better option and smiled while saying, "One Grande Nonfat Mocha, please." I paid and the barista said, "There is a Chicago Bear signing autographs next door." Maybe she thought that would help.

What a great idea! I took my coffee and headed next door to Kinkos. I got in line and felt kind of funny as we are Broncos fans and I had no idea whose autograph I was standing in line for. I politely asked the employee as she handed me, my son and my daughter a free football for the autograph. "Mark Bradly," she said. "Oh yes, of course," I replied. So there we stood. A little girl with pink-eye and a rat's nest, a little boy who was sucking on the zipper to his coat and who just finished digging through the sanitary napkin bin next door and me, the clueless mother who needed a shower. I began to panic as our turn got closer. I realized that the Kinkos employee was snapping photos! Yep, this will be one to put on the Christmas card. I tried to politely step out of the picture so just my kids would enjoy the moment but the employee insisted on me squeezing in there next to old Mark Bradly. Poor handsome fellow had to endure pictures with crazy people like me for an hour!

We were excited as we left, because we were sure that Daddy would be jealous. We immediately called him on his cell phone. "Guess what?" I said. "What?" he replied. "We just got our picture taken with Mark Bradly." "Who?" my husband asked. "You know, Mark Bradly, the Chicago Bear!" I shrieked like I had known who he was. "Hmmm, I don't know who that is," my husband replied. Good grief. We thought that this would be exciting. Don't you know that we stood in line with bad hair, gross eyes, coffee breath and germy mitts to get these footballs!

We got back in the car and headed home. At least I got a Mocha out of it. Just another day in my life as a mom. Starbucks and Flax Seed Oil may help a crazy mom like me, but we all know that my only true help in found in Christ. He can lift my spirits and His holy oil doesn't gag me. He energizes me with His love that doesn't cost me $3.95. He says to us, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9. His grace is all we need. He gives us strength in our weakness. I am so thankful for that because most days I feel pretty weak. Today I am powerful because of His strength in my weakness! I have the power through Christ to handle whatever this day holds. "His grace is sufficient!" I need to remind myself of that. Say it out loud with me, "HIS grace is sufficient!" Thank you Lord that you are not surprised by my weakness but you have a plan to fill and use me despite it. I love you today, Lord. Amen!