The Multi-Title Post

So many thoughts are swirling in my head tonight ... so many things I want to share, and yet, I can't seem to organize the things I am thinking about!!?!?!

I want to tell you
MY SECRET FOR MAINTAINING A CLEAN HOME.

But I also want to share
GOD'S CONTINUING PROVISION.

And I want to just remember
THIS DAY - SIMPLE PLEASURES.

So, here goes my swirling thoughts in no particular order and hopefully with some semblance of logical thought:

My house DID stay CLEAN today:  what a blessing that I didn't really have to clean up ONE THING or do ONE DISH!!  The secret, you ask?!   NOT BEING HOME (ha!!).   As much as I love being a homebody, occasionally I go a little stir crazy, especially when Miriam seems to just want to whine all day and follow me around and can't seem to entertain herself.  So, today I decided she I needed to get OUT for a while.  We ran an errand for the church and then headed north to Jefferson City, one our nearer "big cities" (still a 60+ mile drive). 

My mission was to return some things I had bought on Black Friday to Kohl's - and to use my Kohl's cash.  WELL, sadly, when I returned the items I didn't want need, they took AWAY $10 of my Kohl's cash.  Bummer.   But I guess it does make sense ethically.  I did find a pretty sweater (in "lyons blue" which is kind of a marbled peacock blue) for ME (and matching necklace!) and some TIGHTS for Anna that weren't outrageously priced (yeah!!!  Do you know how hard it is to buy tights for an "older," bigger girl who isn't quite into adult sizes??!?!?!!!!!). 

I also stopped by Aldi's and found my one of my (many) favorite German candies!!!  I don't know WHY I love these things, but I just do.  I have a weird way of eating them too.  First I bite off the milk chocolate circle in the middle, then I try to get out the hazelnut, and then I eat the caramel-y stuff in 2 bites.  :)

(Later tonight I also found Nutella ON SALE at Big Lots, yet another hazelnut/chocolate love of my life)

NO DISHES TODAY because .... I also didn't have to cook today!  :)  It was the night of our church/school staff Christmas dinner at a fabulous restaurant (and I got to spend some time w/ my hubby on the ride up & back plus stop by Big Lots too!).  My kids went to stay with my neighbor/friend who made lasagna for them and her family. 

My dinner was DELICIOUS (a 10 oz sirloin, cooked perfectly to my liking!!) - and I enjoyed visiting with the people I used to work with on a daily basis.  Of course, I still go to church with them, but I don't interact with them as much there. 

When I got home, dragging my kids away from the neighbors/friends because they had such a good time there - and got them settled down and to bed, I opened my email and got a HAPPY SURPRISE which is totally God's continued provision for us:
 
Do you remember me sharing about the #Canyoutopthis project from Elmer's??  Well, mine wasn't the most creative or even crafty project that I saw entered in the contest, but I WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I won a $100 Walmart gift card!!!!!!!!!!  My first words were THANK YOU, JESUS because I prayed over this project that I might win because we really could use this money with Christmas coming so fast. 

I even got this nifty blog button thing to display!  I feel like I'm back in Kindergarten - school glue, markers, stickers, "look-what-I-did!" ... but with better rewards.  :)