Black Friday is coming, and while you may not recognize it as a holiday in your house, I certainly do. Every year I get my thrills from looking for the best price on certain items, searching the internet for leaks about the sales, and begin with great anticipation to make my list. Yup, it's my favorite holiday.
Black Friday is the only day of the year that I willingly acknowledge the time before the sun rises as part of the day. It's the only day of the year that I will willingly begin my day well before my children do. I'm not a morning person...at all...not even a little bit. Black Friday is not a normal day, though.
This year I have my plan, but no partner. My mother usually will go with me, but this year she is visiting my brothers for Thanksgiving. I'm kinda dreading going alone. Normally this is where I would make my husband get up and help me, but I can't do that because he has to watch the kids. Still, I will brave the lines and the people alone because there is no way I am going to miss it.
I have missed my favorite shopping day in the past. Sickness, visiting relatives, and various other things have kept me from hitting the streets, but this year there really isn't anything in my way except for lack of partner. This basically ruined my holiday season...well, not totally, but I did regret it.
This year there isn't really a whole lot on my list (mostly because I don't have a whole lot of money), but that doesn't stop me. I have literally gone in order to get a couple of $10 items before. I really just like the thrill of it all.
I know. I'm odd.
Every year I get out in whatever line that I happen to decided on and I think about what an awesome ministry opportunity it would be to go and serve these people coffee or something. One of these days I am actually going to do it. I'm pretty sure I would be blessed more than I would from getting a bargain. Each year I think about it and I think that I'll do it next year.
Another tradition that we have is that once I have finished my shopping craze (which doesn't usually last until noon like the sales do), my husband and I go out and people-watch. It's just funny to see all the people throwing elbows over some toy that their kid put on their wish list. To think that someone would actually care about something so insignificant is really amusing. I'm not the elbow throwing type. I just want to get in and get my cheap stuff, but if I don't get what I want, I'm not going to be upset about it. It's just stuff.
I remember going as a kid to the Black Friday events. It wasn't nearly as big of a deal back then as it is now. One didn't have to be up at 2 am back then. People weren't nearly as dangerous, either. I would squeeze my little way through the isles and get the coveted items. It was fun.
I would never take my kids with me today...ok, I did take the twins with me when they were very small babies, but I had one strapped to me and my mom had the other. They didn't take bottles, and I knew that I would need to feed them while in line, so they came. We went to Best Buy that year and avoided the fist fight that erupted and anyone who looked like they might throw an elbow. I still got the stuff that I wanted that year...well, not all of it, but I didn't really care about the stuff as much as the safety of my babies. Still, I wouldn't take my kid to squeeze through the mob. It just isn't safe anymore.
I really developed my love for shopping on Black Friday events when I was younger. It was really the only girly thing that I could claim. My mom and I would shop and I would sniff out the best deals. It's still something that we do together. One day Becca will join in. She does love to shop, but for totally different reasons. She's pink and frilly and all about trying things on like she's playing dress up. I'm all about finding the bargain. She's learning that stuff, too. She just had to get some math skills first. I'm sure when she is a bit older I will introduce her to Black Friday. When she has more self-defense skills mastered.
I can't wait. Thanksgiving will be a day filled with food, family, and football. I don't mind the food, I love my family, and I am learning to endure football. I will be thankful...then the next day I will shop!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Night Time
As I sit here at 11-ish on a Sunday evening I begin to reflect on my evenings and nights lately.
I am really busy.
Sundays are busy all day. We have church activities pretty much all day from morning to bedtime.
Mondays I had a really great Bible study that I decided recently (today, though I have been praying over it for over a week) to quit because of how busy I am.
Every other Tuesday evening (or pretty close, it's the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays...so almost every other Tuesday) I have what is called "Girlfriend Time" at our church. It's like a Bible study, but we chat a lot and do girly stuff. I know, not really my thing usually, but it hasn't been horrible, and I'm trying to be supportive and get to know some other women in the church. Since that isn't every week, I really hadn't been counting it (plus it's only been going on for like a month or so). Still, it really is on the schedule, so I should count it.
Wednesday evenings I spend with our church youth group. I have the awesome opportunity to help lead young people to Christ, and/or a deeper relationship with Him and every Wednesday is a blessing. I really don't want to quit that, and honestly, I really feel God has called me there to stay. He keeps calling me back every time I try to quit, so I'm probably there for the long haul.
Thursdays, our family has joined a "Life Group". It's basically another Bible study. This time for the whole family...well all the family goes, but the kids go and hang out while Tony and I have a Bible study for us. I don't know that I have gotten a whole lot out of it besides getting to know some new people a lot better. The kids enjoy going and hanging out. Still, I don't know how long Tony will last going. He's not really the social type and I think it's starting to get to him.
Fridays and Saturdays Tony and I (if we aren't completely exhausted from the rest of the week) have our dates or shove in other activities that may want to do. We have family time before the kids go to bed and then Tony and I might go out if my mom is home to watch the sleeping kiddos.
Do I seem kinda busy? I really like being busy, so that really isn't a problem. I am also only talking about the evenings, the rest of the time I am doing all the SAHM stuff. I felt kinda bad about leaving the Monday night thing until I really looked at my schedule. My kids aren't really suffering for the schedule, because really they only do Thursdays and most Wednesdays...though they really don't have to do the Wednesdays. Tony is home with the kids the rest of the time, and he is with them if they go to church on Wednesdays. What I didn't like was spending most of my evenings away from my husband. I actually like the guy. I want to be around him, not just tag him "it" as I run out the door and he comes in. I really do see Tony, though. He and I are usually up late and hang out together after whatever activity we have is over. We are both usually pretty tired, but we spend our time together anyway.
Still, I'm praying over lightening the load. So far God really hasn't given me a clear picture of what He would have me drop. I'm waiting and listening. I dropped my Bible study on Mondays because He led me to do so, so that may be enough. I look around and notice some stuff at home that could probably be done during my busy times, but then, I'm home all day, I could probably do it then, too. I don't know. I was hoping for a peace when I made the decision to drop Monday nights. It hasn't come. I'm waiting and listening. Maybe something else will have to drop.
I am really busy.
Sundays are busy all day. We have church activities pretty much all day from morning to bedtime.
Mondays I had a really great Bible study that I decided recently (today, though I have been praying over it for over a week) to quit because of how busy I am.
Every other Tuesday evening (or pretty close, it's the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays...so almost every other Tuesday) I have what is called "Girlfriend Time" at our church. It's like a Bible study, but we chat a lot and do girly stuff. I know, not really my thing usually, but it hasn't been horrible, and I'm trying to be supportive and get to know some other women in the church. Since that isn't every week, I really hadn't been counting it (plus it's only been going on for like a month or so). Still, it really is on the schedule, so I should count it.
Wednesday evenings I spend with our church youth group. I have the awesome opportunity to help lead young people to Christ, and/or a deeper relationship with Him and every Wednesday is a blessing. I really don't want to quit that, and honestly, I really feel God has called me there to stay. He keeps calling me back every time I try to quit, so I'm probably there for the long haul.
Thursdays, our family has joined a "Life Group". It's basically another Bible study. This time for the whole family...well all the family goes, but the kids go and hang out while Tony and I have a Bible study for us. I don't know that I have gotten a whole lot out of it besides getting to know some new people a lot better. The kids enjoy going and hanging out. Still, I don't know how long Tony will last going. He's not really the social type and I think it's starting to get to him.
Fridays and Saturdays Tony and I (if we aren't completely exhausted from the rest of the week) have our dates or shove in other activities that may want to do. We have family time before the kids go to bed and then Tony and I might go out if my mom is home to watch the sleeping kiddos.
Do I seem kinda busy? I really like being busy, so that really isn't a problem. I am also only talking about the evenings, the rest of the time I am doing all the SAHM stuff. I felt kinda bad about leaving the Monday night thing until I really looked at my schedule. My kids aren't really suffering for the schedule, because really they only do Thursdays and most Wednesdays...though they really don't have to do the Wednesdays. Tony is home with the kids the rest of the time, and he is with them if they go to church on Wednesdays. What I didn't like was spending most of my evenings away from my husband. I actually like the guy. I want to be around him, not just tag him "it" as I run out the door and he comes in. I really do see Tony, though. He and I are usually up late and hang out together after whatever activity we have is over. We are both usually pretty tired, but we spend our time together anyway.
Still, I'm praying over lightening the load. So far God really hasn't given me a clear picture of what He would have me drop. I'm waiting and listening. I dropped my Bible study on Mondays because He led me to do so, so that may be enough. I look around and notice some stuff at home that could probably be done during my busy times, but then, I'm home all day, I could probably do it then, too. I don't know. I was hoping for a peace when I made the decision to drop Monday nights. It hasn't come. I'm waiting and listening. Maybe something else will have to drop.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Imaginary Friends
Should I find it irritating or encouraging that my daughters' new imaginary friends are called "My Pink Mommy" and "My Purple Mommy"?
It's been really kinda annoying. "I was talking to my pink mommy!" is often heard around here. Yesterday Ali got in trouble and I heard "but my pink mommy said I could have some!"
Grr.
Becca's imaginary friend was a teenager named Crispy. She lived in Mexico. She rode on her skate board to visit Becca. She still shows up every once in a while, but not very often now that Becca has so many school friends.
I thought I would get around the imaginary friend thing with the twins because there are two of them to play together. Little did I know that they still needed scapegoats. They don't tend to blame each other for things, though they will blame Becca or Micah for anything. The pink and purple mommies are the way to get around it, I guess. They know that they have to obey me, but they figure that if they make up another parental figure that will let them do things, they are ok.
They are just too smart for their own good.
It's been really kinda annoying. "I was talking to my pink mommy!" is often heard around here. Yesterday Ali got in trouble and I heard "but my pink mommy said I could have some!"
Grr.
Becca's imaginary friend was a teenager named Crispy. She lived in Mexico. She rode on her skate board to visit Becca. She still shows up every once in a while, but not very often now that Becca has so many school friends.
I thought I would get around the imaginary friend thing with the twins because there are two of them to play together. Little did I know that they still needed scapegoats. They don't tend to blame each other for things, though they will blame Becca or Micah for anything. The pink and purple mommies are the way to get around it, I guess. They know that they have to obey me, but they figure that if they make up another parental figure that will let them do things, they are ok.
They are just too smart for their own good.
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