Thankful thought of the day - Today I am thankful for anticipation.
I love having something to look forward to; the excitement of things to come. This time of year is always full of anticipation. If you know anything about me, you know I love to shop and I love a bargain. Today starts my anticipated countdown to Black Friday. The countdown is just mere days. It no longer measured in months or weeks, but just SIX days.
As with anything I do, I approach it with planning and preparation. Really, let's be honest here. For me, the process of planning for Black Friday is a major production. I have been visiting http://www.bfads.net/ for weeks, updating my "wish" list so I can have an idea where to shop and what to shop for.
I'll get up early Thursday morning to get my paper. It will be full of ads of all the wonderful sales going on. I'll sort the paper, pull out all the ads and place them in two stacks. One stack will be the stores I frequent and one will be the stores I don't normally go to, but I look at their ads anyway.
My husband loves to cook and Thanksgiving dinner is his BIG day of the year. So I will have made my cakes and cookies the day before and I'll stay out of his kitchen on Thursday. While he cooks, I'll do any last minute housekeeping that needs done before the kids arrive. Then I will settle down with the ads and meticulously go through each one to find that perfect gift at that perfect price. I'll start a list of "ideas" that I might want to look for.
When the family comes over later that day, we'll have a wonderful dinner and then relax together as we go through the papers yet again. The kids & grandchildren will give me ideas of things that would please them and I add those to my idea list.
When they journey back home, I shower and get my jammies on. Then I settle down on the couch with a glass of milk, some chocolate oatmeal cookies, my sale papers, and, of course, my list book. While hubby relaxes with his favorite shows, I look at the idea list and compare prices for the different stores. I decide what items I just "have" to have for gifts.
Then I make my master shopping list per store and plan my day for Black Friday. I'll take the sales papers with me that I need in case I have to check back on anything. I'll change purses to one that can go across my body, making it easier to shop and being able to keep my purse safe. I'll get the papers and lists organized, finalized and placed in a tote to carry in the car. I'll lay out the clothes and shoes I want to wear. Finally about midnight, I'll head off to bed. I'll toss and turn most of the night, looking forward to my alarm going off at 4 AM. Within minutes after it rings, I'll be dressed and ready, heading out the door munching on peanut butter and toast and carrying a cold Pepsi.
For those of you who have never done Black Friday, it is something to experience. You hear horror stories, but they are not as common as you would think. I've never witness any violence. I see mostly people asking "Do you see a Sponge Bob in size 4?" "Can you hand me one, I'm too short." Most people waiting in line are cordial and friendly. It's a very relaxing atmosphere believe it or not. Everybody socializes. Being in a tourist area, the thing I hear most is "Where are you from?". It never ceases to amaze me the distance people have traveled to spend the holidays in our little town. When the frenzy of getting what you want is over and you are waiting in a long line to check out, it is human nature for most people to strike up a conversation. One of the things that I enjoy most about those conversations is realizing how many times the subject turns to God and the amazing things He does. It seems like He always places me in line right beside someone who is talking about church and the reason for the season.
Overall, the experience is something I look forward to every year. It's something I'll continue to do as long as I can. I love the thrill. I love the pace. I love the anticipation.
As with anything I do, I approach it with planning and preparation. Really, let's be honest here. For me, the process of planning for Black Friday is a major production. I have been visiting http://www.bfads.net/ for weeks, updating my "wish" list so I can have an idea where to shop and what to shop for.
I'll get up early Thursday morning to get my paper. It will be full of ads of all the wonderful sales going on. I'll sort the paper, pull out all the ads and place them in two stacks. One stack will be the stores I frequent and one will be the stores I don't normally go to, but I look at their ads anyway.
My husband loves to cook and Thanksgiving dinner is his BIG day of the year. So I will have made my cakes and cookies the day before and I'll stay out of his kitchen on Thursday. While he cooks, I'll do any last minute housekeeping that needs done before the kids arrive. Then I will settle down with the ads and meticulously go through each one to find that perfect gift at that perfect price. I'll start a list of "ideas" that I might want to look for.
When the family comes over later that day, we'll have a wonderful dinner and then relax together as we go through the papers yet again. The kids & grandchildren will give me ideas of things that would please them and I add those to my idea list.
When they journey back home, I shower and get my jammies on. Then I settle down on the couch with a glass of milk, some chocolate oatmeal cookies, my sale papers, and, of course, my list book. While hubby relaxes with his favorite shows, I look at the idea list and compare prices for the different stores. I decide what items I just "have" to have for gifts.
Then I make my master shopping list per store and plan my day for Black Friday. I'll take the sales papers with me that I need in case I have to check back on anything. I'll change purses to one that can go across my body, making it easier to shop and being able to keep my purse safe. I'll get the papers and lists organized, finalized and placed in a tote to carry in the car. I'll lay out the clothes and shoes I want to wear. Finally about midnight, I'll head off to bed. I'll toss and turn most of the night, looking forward to my alarm going off at 4 AM. Within minutes after it rings, I'll be dressed and ready, heading out the door munching on peanut butter and toast and carrying a cold Pepsi.
For those of you who have never done Black Friday, it is something to experience. You hear horror stories, but they are not as common as you would think. I've never witness any violence. I see mostly people asking "Do you see a Sponge Bob in size 4?" "Can you hand me one, I'm too short." Most people waiting in line are cordial and friendly. It's a very relaxing atmosphere believe it or not. Everybody socializes. Being in a tourist area, the thing I hear most is "Where are you from?". It never ceases to amaze me the distance people have traveled to spend the holidays in our little town. When the frenzy of getting what you want is over and you are waiting in a long line to check out, it is human nature for most people to strike up a conversation. One of the things that I enjoy most about those conversations is realizing how many times the subject turns to God and the amazing things He does. It seems like He always places me in line right beside someone who is talking about church and the reason for the season.
Overall, the experience is something I look forward to every year. It's something I'll continue to do as long as I can. I love the thrill. I love the pace. I love the anticipation.
