Lately I have been in a very adventurous mood. The type of mood that can only be induced by cold weather, Pinterest bucket lists, and being cooped up in the house due to mild sickness. The kind of mood that makes you want to do a four hour photo shoot with your friends, or go on a hike to Niagara falls, or ride in a hot air balloon, or shop at the mall while your favorite music plays in the background like a cool music video.
Unfortunately, this is the real world and it is a little harder to conjure up an inexpensive, last minute adventure. So this morning, while I was babysitting I decided to begin my adventure for the day. The baby, Brooklynn, had a rough morning and had not gotten her nap. I knew that a walk in her stroller would knock her right out, and I was craving a warm, Christmas-y peppermint mocha.
Thus began the planning of my wonderful adventure. As I thought more about it I started to picture myself with my warm gloves and coat, enjoying a sunny yet crisp afternoon walk to the coffee stand a block away from my house. I would be listening to my music, and I would be happy, and stylish, and I would be having a good time.
That is NOT what I got.
As I first left my house, all bundled up and listening to my cheery Christmas music I felt on top of the world. I was getting out of the house. I was on an adventure. I was a confident young lady. And though I am not even five feet tall, I felt big. I felt like things were right in the world.
At leas the first eight minutes of my walk were nice.
You see, the trek from my house to the coffee stand is interesting. First you go from the sweet little street where everything is fine. Then you turn the corner to the road. There is only a sidewalk on one side of the street, and sadly, that is not the side I wanted to be on. So it was the shoulder of the street for me.
As I walked down the shoulder I steered the little stroller in front of bushes, through garbage cans, and made sure I was behind the line. It was like a maze. And with For King and Country playing in my ears, cheering me on, I could do it. I was tall, I was confident, I was on top of the world.
Then it gets a little harder.
You come up to "Dog poop corner" this is what we have labeled the corner of the road filled with gravel, puddles, dog poop, and items that have been dumped despite the "No Dumping" sign.
Okay, maybe it is not AS bad as whatever you are picturing right now, but it is pretty bad. As I charged Brookie and the stroller through Dog poop corner I started going over what I would say to the kind barista who awaited this naïve teenage girl.
I'd like a tall peppermint mocha with whip cream, please and thank you.
I'd like a tall peppermint mocha with whip cream, please and thank you.
I'd like a tall peppermint mocha with whip cream, please and thank you.
Yes. I probably sound like a dork. But don't go judging me, I know you've done this too.
The only thing is, when you talk in your mind you sound a lot more.... well, what is the word? Better.
I murdered my sentence. I still have no idea what I really got. Although, that may be due to the fact that I burned my tongue on the first sip and couldn't taste it for a while. Anyhow, after awkwardly ordering my drink the purple haired barista with the cute cardigan started making my drink.
The sad thing about going to a coffee stand with only one barista is you have to do something. You see, when you are standing there, doing nothing, and she is making your coffee, it is pretty quiet. And immensely awkward. I am ashamed to admit I may have pretended to be playing with the baby, who by the way, was fast asleep....
Once my drink was ready I thanked the barista, gave a small tip, and gave her a farewell "God bless," as I headed off. To be honest, she looked completely shocked when I said that. But I was too mortified to do anything but hightail it out of there. The only problem is that no one ever tells you the trouble of driving a stroller with hot coffee in your hand.
It. Is. Impossible.
I am serious, don't even try.
Before I took my walk, I thought "Oh that might be a problem." but I guess I ignored it due to the fact that I REALLY WANTED COFFEE. And adventures.
So, I tried to steer the stroller with one hand. I figured that would work. I have strong arms. It should work. Right? Wrong. Dead wrong.
The stroller had a mind of it's own. It decided to head for the ditch. Yes, brilliant idea, Mr. Stroller, please go kill yourself. It would've saved me a lot of trouble. Unfortunately, the baby was still in the stroller, so that was not an option. Instead I would have to put my other hand, which held the coffee, on the handle.
Bad idea, Nicole. The coffee slowly, drip by drip, MANICALLY FLEW OUT OF THE TINY HOLE IN THE TOP.
Then came the devil gravel of dog poop corner. Devil gravel, I tell you.
After completely soaked gloves, a burned tongue, frozen body parts, and an adventure gone wrong, I entered my home in a huff. I stripped of my hot coat and coffee soaked gloves and walked very quickly to my room. I may or may not recall growling something at Sarah, my sister when she asked how my walk went.
However my sweet mother took care of the baby, the gloves, and my coffee. After a while she came to check on me.
I reassured her that I would be okay, and told her that I was going to start a blog.
You see, my friends, I have discovered that writing a blog was A) Doing something on my bucket list, B) An adventure, and C) Therapy from my disastrous coffee/stroller walk.
Looking back, I could have handled it better. I could have stopped, sat down on the side of the road, finished my coffee, and prayed. Sadly, that is not how I handled things; I must say I am unhappy with how I handled things. But oh well. Maybe next week I will try again. (Or not.)
Jeremiah 29:11-12 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me and I will listen to you."
So, dear friends, don't make the same mistakes I did. When you are caught in a difficult situation sit down, breathe, sip your coffee, and simply talk it out with God. And for goodness sakes don't drink coffee while pushing a stroller.
Love~Wishes~And~Puppy~Kisses
Nicole <3
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