Black Friday

It is now the second week of November and the spoiler websites are beginning to post . . . . yes, it is the time of year when Black Friday becomes another holiday.    Love it or hate it, it is looming closer on our calendar.    Question of the day -- Will you shop on Black Friday?

Sarah's View:    Absolutely!   This is probably one of my favorite days of the year.   I love it when the ads get dropped in the driveway on Wednesday night.   After cooking for more hours than I care to admit,  I spend even more hours looking through the advertisements to compare the best deals against my childrens wish lists.    My goal is to be completely done with Christmas shopping on Black Friday.   I generally have about half done before the big day.    I have three children at vastly different stages in their lives . . . oldest son is 22 years old, then daughter is 15, and small son of age 6 who wants EVERY toy advertised on Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon (minus anything with Barbie, of course!)   I love the rush of finding the toy, meeting all kinds of people in lines and learning about them, and of course saving money.    Please don't think I fall into the commercial sell out of Christmas.   I believe with all my heart that Christmas is about the GIFT of Jesus. . .and I celebrate that.   I put up about 5 Christmas trees and love to decorate every inch of the house.   I make many presents and bake so much that I am surprised I haven't burnt out my oven.   I buy my family way too many presents. . ..  but it is a celebration time from God's love, my heart and hubby's wallet.  

Ruby's Take:  Black Friday is something Sarah invites me to partake in every year and every year I chuckle at the thought. Getting up at an ungodly hour to fight through hordes of  people just so I can come to blows with someone over a Snuggie?! I'll pass. I am so not a shopper I keep waiting to have my woman card revoked. When I need a new outfit for something I either borrow from Sarah or send my oldest daughter shopping, she knows all my sizes and enjoys shopping. (Maybe it skips a generation in my family.) Not only do I not enjoy shopping but I'm the most unorganized person I know. Christmas falls on December 25th every year, without fail, yet somehow it always sneaks up on me. I doubt there's been one Christmas since my kids were born where I wasn't frantically shopping on Christmas Eve. Although, I've found last minute shopping really takes the pressure off gift giving because at this juncture I'm not thinking about getting anyone what they want, I'm thinking I better just get them something. Jar of jelly? Hey! That looks good and the kids like jelly. What goes with jelly? Peanut Butter! Now I don't really buy my kids peanut butter and jelly for Christmas but you get the gist. So while Sarah is out fighting the crowds on Black Friday and finishing up her shopping, I'll be sleeping in then I'll consider doing some shopping online then I'll go back to bed for a while. After all, I've got to get rested up so I can fight hordes of people on Christmas Eve and finally come to blows over a jar of jelly.