Quiet Friday

The only Black Friday shopping I did today was to purchase tickets to Dutch Wonderland for next year (online) and to buy two gift certificates at a hardware store in our town. I like buying bargains, but I do not like shopping in the middle of the night OR shopping in a big crowd. This morning we did a very light day of "school" - reading, Bible, math, and piano. I had considered taking the kids to a play in Bloomsburg. Paul had taken Nadia and Ian to two shows at BTE over the last two years where I purchased their tickets. Every Black Friday they do one free show if you bring canned food, but because it's a popular event I had heard that you needed to get in line a long time before the show to guarantee your spot. Although a free show was appealing to me, the thought of standing outside in 40 degree weather with three young children was very unappealing. Plus I knew I was planning to go to Bloomsburg tomorrow to have the kids do a project at Home Depot and do a program about turkeys at the Children's Museum, and the thought of driving there two days in a row was also unappealing. The show probably was very entertaining, but I am glad we stayed home all day aside from our 10 minute errand to the hardware store.

As November draws to a close I thought I'd write a few more gratitude lists...

1. Yesterday Aunt Millie gave Oliver the cutest hat, apron, and spatulas. My little kitchen helper is going to look even more adorable the next time we are baking cookies!

2. Earlier this week Oliver broke part of the shoe rack. Paul was able to repair it. YAY! During the time we couldn't use it I was reminded of how much I appreciate it. The kids' shoes were just in a big heap on the floor without that wonderful little rack.

3. My dad had a nice time in Chicago this week. He flew in on Sunday and flew back home today. He had a nice Thanksgiving with Wendy and her family. Yvonne and her family had a nice thanksgiving with teammates in Turkey. Maurice had a nice Thanksgiving in Texas with a family he knew from our church in Maryland, and we had a nice time with Paul's family. There were ten of us at their table - our five plus Paul's parents, Al, Millie, and Shawn.

4. Today I bought five tickets to Dutch Wonderland as they were on sale for 50% off and can be used any day the park is open in 2017. I had recently bought tickets for Idlewild (a park near Pittsburgh that we haven't been to yet), and we already have four free passes for Knoebels that we can use in May (thanks to a buy one, get one free promotion when we went with my dad in September). And I will sign up for free tickets for Six Flags. Plus we'll hopefully go to Del Grossos once, and that will cost about $75 for the five of us. Considering it costs $500 for the five of us to spend ONE day at Disney, I think it's pretty wonderful that we can spend five days at amusement parks next summer for less than $300 total. :) To keep our entertainment budget in check I think next year we'll skip going to Sight and Sound, HersheyPark, and Sesame Place (three places we did go this year). I also haven't been buying tickets to see plays in Williamsport like we used to in the past, although I did buy tickets for Paul, Nadia, and Ian to see a Christmas Carol at our church in December.

5. At first when I was wearing some of my mom's jewelry or clothing I felt very sad when I looked at the item, but now that more time has passed I find myself mostly just feeling grateful for the years I did have with my mom and thankful that I have these things to remember her by. Once a woman in choir gushed and gushed about how stylish a coat was that I was wearing (one of my mom's), and that was so sweet. I think of my mom many times when I am wearing things that used to be hers - even something simple as a pair of her gloves. I would much, much rather have my mom, but that wasn't God's will. I am very thankful to have some "new to me" jewelry, coats, gloves, sweaters, purses, etc.

6. The Steelers won last night, and it we had a solid enough lead that I didn't need to stay up until the very end. Although I am glad we don't have cable all year (7-8 months we go without to save $$), it is nice to have it for 4-5 months during the NFL season. The kids also enjoy being able to watch some shows on PBS during those months. Some of their favorites include Wild Kratts, Ready Jet Go, and Odd Squad.

7. Although I regularly shop on Amazon (thanks to free shipping through Prime and because it's much easier to shop online than in a store when you have young children), I wouldn't say I typically feel like I get incredible bargains there. Every once in a blue moon they have a coupon for $10 off an order of $25 or more or something like that, but that's by no means the norm. Right now though they have a code so you can get 25 photo cards with envelopes totally for free. For many years I've written an annual Christmas letter, and then once I became a mom I started including a photo card with the letter. Months ago I decided I wasn't going to send any Christmas cards or letters this year because I really still don't know how to explain the changes. Even someone at the bank asked me (in reference to our refinancing application), "Why is your husband working at Kennedy Concrete with a Ph.D. in Chemistry after teaching at Bucknell for two years?". I didn't know how to answer the question so I said, "You tell me, and we'll both know." Last year I ordered a tri-fold card from Shutterfly that included spaces for text and photos so I used that instead of a letter. Since I didn't want to include any text this year, I was thinking I wouldn't order any cards this year, but then I found a code to get 11 free flat 5x7 cards from Shutterfly and decided to send just simple photo cards (that only said Merry Christmas). I am thankful for the 25 free cards I ordered from Amazon today, but I am dismayed to learn that they are trying to put Shutterfly out of business. Shutterfly's stock has gone down following Amazon's efforts to increase their photo printing services. I hope Shutterfly stays in business for many, many years!

8. The local hardware store was having a sale today where you could buy gift certificates at a considerable discount. We got $90 worth of gift certificates for $50!

9. On Monday I read the book of Ruth to Nadia and Ian. I do love that book of the Bible, and not just because my name is Ruth. What a beautiful story!! Tuesday we started 1 Samuel. I am enjoying reading through the Old Testament with them (I skipped some chapters due to sexual content). We have done Genesis through I Samuel 11 plus Job so far.

10. I have also been checking out books for the library for *me* to read! I finished a quick and easy (sweet) read today - A Baxter Family Christmas. I wasn't keen on Nicholas Sparks' newest book, but I did enjoy John Grisham's newest book.