An IKEA Break from the Norm

On Monday evening I travelled with three friends to Minneapolis and spent the night in a hotel, then yesterday we went to the wonderful world of IKEA!! We spent hours shopping (mostly looking!), oohing and aahhing, and laughing and enjoying ourselves. We even had breakfast and lunch there. Breakfast was 99 cents and was a large plate full of eggs, bacon and hashbrowns, and lunch was only 1.99 and was a large plate of pasta and sauce. I could not finish either one, it was a lot of food!

I am still in awe over the hugeness of that one store, and the good prices and quality of most of their merchandise. I found a bed I would love to get, it was a metal-framed bed that had a vintage look to it, and it was only $149. Not bad for a bed! (Mattress not included, lol!) I also saw a couple of lovely light fixtures that I would really love to own. I walked around with my camera, gleefully snapping pictures, until an employee came up to me and said, "You cannot take pictures in THIS store!" I was quite surprised and a little embarrassed. I apologized, told her I didn't know, and she said there was a sign at the front of the store, which I didn't see. Oh well, live and learn.

After we were done at IKEA we went to the Mall of America. Oh, how I wish my kids could have been with us! We just walked around, looked at as much as we had time to see, and enjoyed ourselves. We went to the American Girl store and I wish my girls had been along, and we also went to the Lego store, and I wish my boys had been along! There were so many fun things to see, more than the eyes could take in. Plus the whole mall was beautifully decorated for Christmas. Fun!

Being in a big city made me realize once again how much I love and appreciate the rural life we live. Give me the tiny library, clinic, post office and grocery store any day! Visiting a city is fun but living in the city is definitely not for me!

I must also take a paragraph here and thank and praise the Lord for a much-needed break for me. My whole family pitched in and made this little trip possible. It's not easy for Mom to get away and it has been years since I have done something like this. I must confess that last week I was crying out to the Lord for a "calgon moment" because I was in dire need of a break. On Sunday a dear friend invited me along for this trip - and by Monday evening I was on my way! God is always so good to bear our yoke when we need it the most. Thank you, Lord!