It’s the start of Thanksgiving weekend, and I’m sure many of you are eating leftover turkey sandwiches, doing a little holiday sale shopping, and perhaps decorating your home for Christmas. That is pretty much what we are doing around our house too! Thanksgiving weekend is always one of my favorites. Good food, time for family, and diving into the joy of the Christmas season.
Growing up, my mom and I began this special weekend with a beautiful Thanksgiving meal, followed by shopping early the next morning. She raised me to be a bargain hunter, and the day after Thanksgiving was our main event. We sprawled out on the floor after dinner and pored over the Thanksgiving newspaper and ads, circling items on our wish list like kids with a toy catalog. In those days, stores opened at the before-dawn hour of 6:00 am.
Mom and I would wait in line at Target, Dayton’s, and Kohl’s, and we would choose our first stop based on the free gifts they were handing out at the door. Yes, they used to do that! Over the years we collected snow globes, stuffed animals, lawn chairs, and fleece blankets. Then we would wander the store, standing in lines with our treasures, waiting to check out, giddily thinking about the recipient’s face on Christmas Day when they would open the perfect gift we got them. On the way home, we’d stop at a gas station for hot chocolate and donuts, our hands cold but our hearts warm from spending time together.
Black Friday shopping was a big deal to me, because it meant one-on-one time with my mom. Years later, she admitted to me that she actually hated getting out of bed to stand in lines in the freezing cold, but she did it because I loved it and she loved me.
The great deals we scored were just the icing on the cake.
These days, I take my newspaper (yeah, I still get an actual newspaper) and sit by the fireplace with my daughters. We browse the ads, making piles and lists. . . and then we shop online. Yes, we do! We’ve still got donuts and cocoa in hand, but we don’t have to brave the bitter cold or change out of our pj’s. We still get quality time and fun, all while looking for great deals on meaningful gifts. It is one way I know that we’re starting to welcome the Christmas season.
Black Friday shopping isn’t what it used to be (gone are the days of free gifts in line, and stores waiting until dawn to open), but it can still be fun, helpful to your holiday budget, and meaningful too.
With that in mind, we’re super excited to tell you that EVERYTHING* at Dayspring.com is 35% off with the code FRIDAY!
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During this Christmas season, our goal is to point you back to the hope and joy that Jesus’ arrival brings — and DaySpring is here to help as you prepare your heart and home for Christmas too, with Christmas Cards, Gift Bags & Wrap, Decor, Ornaments and Family Activities, each one centered around the birth of Jesus and the joy He brings.
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Step into the season with intention, and focus on the arrival of Jesus, prioritizing Him above all else. As you’re shopping for gifts, choose those that can bring an eternal impact to friends and family, planting seeds of His love. Give a gift with a life-giving reminder of God’s love, no matter who you are shopping for this Christmas.
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Whether you are heading to the mall or shopping from your phone, may your 2022 Black Friday be filled with lots of coffee and great deals on meaningful gifts!
Do you have a special Black Friday or Thanksgiving weekend tradition? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!
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When our folks were alive we flip flopped the holidays. The year with my in-laws for Thanksgiving was my favorite Black Fridays. My sister-in-law & niece we’re the newspaper circling, route planning shop all day connoisseurs. I on the other hand had shopped bargains all year & my Christmas buying was usually done by August. That meant Black Friday could be a day of sleeping til I woke up then lingering at the breakfast table with my Mom-in-love over 2nd & 3rd cups of hot tea & coffee. Hearing the stories of my husband growing up & her heart for her family & Lord are precious gifts no store could ever offer.
Ruth, how sweet that you named your husband’s Mom your “Mom-in-love”.
That is a title I am aspiring to for my daughter in law, especially since her Mom has passed away.
Sadly my husband’s Mom passed away when he was young so I never knew her, I never got to have a Mom -in law/love.
Thank you for this posting. My mom and I would collectively cook and create a lovely thanksgiving but secretly look forward to getting up early on Black Friday, taking the train to San Francisco, and spending the day shopping. We would come home on the last train of the evening having totally enjoyed our time together. We shared a sweet satisfaction knowing that we scored a good deal. My mom passed away about 4 years now and I still miss our time together.
Anna,
My family didn’t really have traditions. We would assemble a big “blue spruce” tree & decorate it. Loved & still enjoy listening to Christmas music. The one custom hubby & I have is watching the Charlie Brown holiday shows-we own all three (Halloween, thanksgiving & Christmas). When we were dating we watched Charlie Brown Christmas & my hubby cried. You see his wife had left him a year ago & he was alone watching it last year. Now he had me to enjoy it with & it has made life more special for us both.
Blessings 🙂
On Black Friday we usually went hiking with our boys.