Frugal Thursday - Merry Christmas Eve!

 Happy Frugal Thursday!

Here is how we saved money/made extra money/spent money wisely this week:

- Last week when my parents were here, Mark drove up north to Jockamos so we could surprise my mom with pizza that she loves. The waitress was kind enough to give Mark a 50% police discount (he was in uniform as he went straight from work) Mark was paying cash so he gave her the other 50% AND the tip we had planned to tip. Merry Christmas Jockamo Pizza Angel. 

- Friday we took my parents to the Johnson County Museum of History. We enjoyed exploring all of the changes since we had been there last and all voted for our favorite trees in the Festival of Trees. It was wonderful to be able to still do this family tradition. We made a donation to the museum as it's free/donation only. My parents treated us to lunch out - thank you!

- Saturday our sweet neighbors brought over a Christmas card and coffee cake. I switched around our dinner plans and we had breakfast for diner with their cake as the highlight. 

- Also on Saturday, our sweet friend Katelyn brought over a gingerbread decorating kit. The kids loved decorating and eating their little houses! Thank you Katelyn!

- Sunday afternoon we all enjoyed our first NFL game. The Indianapolis Colts offered an awesome deal on a Family Four Pack of tickets so I snagged them. It was AWESOME to watch a game with a teeny-tiny socially distanced crowd! We didn't have anyone's knees in our backs, no one's tall head to look over, and no strangers next to us - perfection! Along with the great deal on tickets, the game had a TON of freebies. We came home with foam horseshoes, cheer towels, arm bands for the kids, face masks for all, and "First Game" pins/certificates. Colts beat the Texans 27-20 in a great game!

Annabeth was SO excited to see the cheerleaders!

                                                                            Go Colts!! 

- Monday night, just after sunset, we went out to see the Christmas Star. We enjoyed visiting with neighbors from across the street and next door as we all looked at the skies.

- Just as we came inside, a car pulled up and it was a former teacher of Mark's and his family. They surprised us with everything we needed to make a chilli dinner. It was wonderful to visit with them for a while! The Ploss Family has been incredibly genersous to Mark, and in turn all of us, over the years. Many times when we have prayed in college and our early married years "Lord, how will be pay that bill?" God has answered with a call from the Ploss Family. Mark has done a great deal of work on the house and in their yard over the years and they have provided vital income, giftcards, and meals. 

- Tuesday we celebrated Christmas with our best friends. We did homemade Lunchables for lunch and they brought fruit and dessert. We exchanged gifts and talked/played for six hours which felt like 10 minutes. We love you Eblings!

- Tuesday evening Owen received the rank of Lion. We are so proud of his work at Cub Scouts and look forward to helping him earn his electives in the spring.

- A friend had gotten a call about meal bags from a local school system that was going to toss the food if they couldn't find families to take them. She generously brought us a bag and the kids enjoyed fun, new food - aka school lunch food that Mark and I grew up with. 

We are so thankful for another Christmas Eve, another year to celebrate the birth of Christ today and everyday! If you don't already know, don't fully believe - I encourage you to reach out and ask. We'd love to share more about how a tiny babe, born in a stable in Bethlehem, came for the world. He came to live a perfect life and He came to die on the cross. He died for you, for me, for all sinners so that we might have the Life Eternal. In a season filled with lights, sugar, presents, and general busyness, I still find time to slow down and remember Who it's all about. Monday night, looking at that Christmas star, hoping the clouds would stay away so we could enjoy it. I thought about that first Christmas. How a cloudy night might have prevented the sheperds and wise men from seeing the star or their own selfish desires might have kept them from following it but as always, God's will was done. So, dear friends, find the star, see the Light, and follow the One from Whom ALL BLESSINGS FLOW.