Not Quite Joy

I've been trying desperately to write my JOY post. After all, it has always been my favorite week during Advent. The week of Christmas caroling until you're blue in the face. The week of all things happy and exciting. It's coming but slowly and since I wanted to post more frequently this month and I haven't worked in four days I needed to write this post to get myself back in the habit and also to get some things that are bugging me...well...gone.

Shopping. Agh! The shopping. Most of our Christmas shopping has been done for a long time. Some things we ordered online and some things I made. So I am not braving the malls in the consumeristic spirit of needing to get something for someone just for the sake of the gift under the tree. Instead I am trying to do regular things. Picking up our photos, replacing watch batteries and well, groceries, which I need to do at least once a week unless I want my itty bitty children to fade into nothingness. Now to be fair, I don't like shopping at the best of times. EVER. I used to believe it was because I didn't have money, and then when I had money I believed it was just the thought of spending it. But that isn't true either because I often pay too much for things just to "get it done". So it must just be choice. Too much of it. Too much label reading to be sure that this was made with fair trade practices, or that that is the right size or color, or that the food will inspire me to cook healthy meals without waste or return trips to the store. Too many decisions. So I don't like shopping when it's not Christmas. Add the crowds and the rude, angry people and I'm tipped over my hypothetical edges. Take today for instance...the kids wanted to buy flowers for their teachers...a simple trip to the Supermarket. Except that the four of them almost got run over in the parking lot twice, people were yelling at clerks and others sighing in disbelief.

Cold. That's the other thing that is bugging me. I can't say I've ever liked it. But now I actually hate it. Hopefully that will change as the children grow. But right now, I have to dress them in snowsuits and boots, make sure they all have tuques and mitts and that they keep them on. Once we are back inside somewhere, I have to keep track of said mitts (that's 10 mittens including mine). And attempt to make sure that some insensitive clod doesn't run his shopping cart/stroller/walker into my baby. And attempt to make sure that my children stay somewhat out of the way of the flow of traffic, not tripping that gentleman with the cane or stepping on someone's toes...like herding cats (as Steve so aptly says).

Ah that's much better. Moving onto Joy. Tomorrow hopefully.