It's the little things

So unless you are freakishly organized and stocked up for a nuclear war, when you're a busy mom, you have to go the store all the time. And I mean ALL the time! You can probably swing by once a week but darn tootin' there's something you're gonna forget or some strange item your child will need for their Science project that will require you to go back to the store multiple times in one week. If I had to guess, I would say I go to the grocery store at least 8-10 times a month. And that's not just because of lack of planning, it's just what it is.

Anyway, my point is, as much as I haul my buns out there, I should have my own parking space by now and kinda like at the restaurant, they should have a cart ready for me, the good wheels preferably, filled with some of my family's staples to get me started. Now, until recently, I seriously dreaded going to the store. Not like going to the dentist dread, but more like taking the trash out dread, wish someone else would do it, but not the end of the world. And it's nothing against the store itself, it's all good, just not something I enjoy doing every 3-4 days.

But something happened recently that has changed my tune about the ol' grocery trips. No, they did not start offering delivery service, which would be wonderful as far as I'm concerned. But something slowly occurring over the last month or so that has crept up in a positive way and I can't be happier.

A month or so ago, I left the store on one day, came back the next and voila....the whole dang building was freshly repainted with clean, crisp colors and looked like we got a brand new store in our town. I don't know how they pulled it off in one night? Maybe the crews from Grocery Store Crashers were helicoptered in at dark and then 300 workers slaved through the night and presented us with an overhauled store. I don't know? Amazing though and it looked awesome!

THEN....a week or so after that, I walk in, after once again admiring the exterior paint colors and my eyes are suddenly drawn to some new flashing lights and a little maze of registers stating "Self Checkout". WHAAAATTT??!!!! I love Self Checkout! And it's something I've barked about since I moved here. I always wondered why in the heck they didn't have self-checkouts for busy moms who often have to run to the store for just a couple items in a limited amount of time. Do they realize how many times I had to call the school to tell them I'd be late because I was stuck in the checkout line, with my four items, behind the lady with 872 items and writing a check? FINALLY! I couldn't believe it! My dream had come true! I couldn't wipe the smile off my face and sorta wanted to go hug the manager and then do an all store moment of silence, thanking the Lord above for saving me time in the future!

But it didn't end, the good just keeps coming! Since the checkouts, now the produce aisles got refurbished, there's super good clearance items set out so I can see them, and there is an awesome new employee hangout area outside the store with flowers and pretty pergolas. Makes me want to grab a sandwich and go have a little picnic out there, get to know some folks.

I'm telling ya, whoever is in charge of all this needs a huge shoutout! You're making this busy Mama so much happier and now I kinda look forward to making a trek out to the store 3 or 4 times a week! Whoo hoo!!! It's the little things in life......