My Best Black Friday Score Ever
I told you I’d give you the story behind my best Black Friday score ever, so here it is…When my sister & I went out on Black Friday morning, the main thing we wanted were the $5 fresh wreaths & garland the Lowes circular had convinced us we needed. And once we had loaded up the back of the truck with our greenery, we got Peppermint Mochas & said, “Now what?”.We do a lot of our Christmas shopping online, & since we’re not “shop-all-night”, “risk-your-life-to save-10-bucks” types of girls, we headed away from the crowds to a small salvage store we’d never been in before. On the way in, I spotted some fresh-cut Christmas trees for sale at the hardware store next door & told my sister: “Now that is the kind of tree I’d love to have for the piano room.”The thing is, I’d been bugging my husband & brother-in-law all day on Thanksgiving to help me come up with a way to make a small tree look bigger if I were to buy one for the piano room. You know me, I’m so cheap I didn’t want to spend a lot on a big tree because we already have a nice artificial tree for the family room. But, I thought maybe I could find a small one for a good deal & just improvise somehow.But, the trees we saw at the hardware store were huge & beautiful. And, for sure, out of my budget.So, we walked into the salvage store & as soon as we did, the manager told us they’d be having a drawing for $100 cash in just 15 minutes. Of course, we entered & you can guess what happened. They called my name.And the second they did, I knew it was God giving me that tree I’d dreamed of having.We practically ran next door to pick out a tree. I saw mine right away. It was over 10 feet tall & gorgeous. It was the best, most beautiful tree they had. And with a discount & coupon, it cost me less than $50. I made my sister stand right beside it & guard it while I paid for it with my newly-won $100 bill and blabbered on about my winning to an apathetic, gum-chewing, teen-aged cashier.Once the tree was tied to the top of the Tahoe, we drove home as quickly as we could without slinging the thing off the top as we went.The whole family greeted us at the door when we got home & shared in the excitement of my winning the drawing. The little girls all squealed with excitement while the men carried in the tree & the rest of us gave our opinions on where it should go. And when the whole thing was up & I had decorated it with a few select ornaments I had bought with some more of the money, I was just speechless. It’s perfect in there.I wish each of you could come & see my tree in person. I’m pretty sure you’d think it’s beautiful. But to me, it’s a poignant message, from God to me, that says He cares enough about me to bless me with things so specific to my taste that even I couldn’t pick out anything better for myself. That He will exceed all my expectations if I give Him the opportunity. That, even the things that might be insignificant to others, are significant to Him.But lest you think God gives me special treatment, think again. If you know Him personally, you know He does these things for you as well. Have you been noticing them lately or passing them off as coincidences? And for those of you who don’t know Him, let this be the year you meet Him. Ask me how you can.So, that’s the story of my best Black Friday score ever. And I threw in my little Christmas sermon for free. Hope you like my tree. I’m pretty much crazy about it. Someone really awesome picked it out just for me.
Cassie @ Primitive & Proper
December 9, 2011 @ 1:11 pm
wow! it is just gorgeous in there! its so great when you unexpectedly get to have a little indulgence like that!
Jenny
December 9, 2011 @ 1:41 pm
It's PERFECT! I think I gasped a little bit when I saw it all decked out in your home. So happy for you – Divine Intervention indeed. π
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions
December 9, 2011 @ 1:47 pm
Well, you were definitely meant to have that tree, Julie! It does look beautiful and I can tell how excited you are about it just from your post!
Megan
December 9, 2011 @ 2:13 pm
That's a pretty amazing Black Friday win! It is absolutely gorgeous. π
Tracy@GeneralSplendour
December 9, 2011 @ 2:37 pm
OMG what a beautiful Christmas story! Your tree is absolutely gorgeous and perfectly perfect in your beautiful room. I wish you a blessed holiday season with your family and the best accessory you could wish for! Your story of holiday magic is what the season is all about. Merry Christmas!
Kat
December 9, 2011 @ 2:42 pm
What a gorgeous tree in a gorgeous room!!! It's perfect!
Karena
December 9, 2011 @ 2:45 pm
Julie I love, love this story and your precious tree!! God does work in amazing ways, I truly believe that!
Still many surprises coming up in our amazing 12 Days of Holiday Giveaways!! The French Basketeer has a very special offering right now and more open to enter!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Just Simply Live
December 9, 2011 @ 4:20 pm
That is such an awesome story. And the tree looks perfect in your beautiful home.
Krista
December 9, 2011 @ 4:39 pm
LOVE this story! The tree is beautiful and perfect in your gorgeous room. I wish I could see it it person too;)
Haven
December 9, 2011 @ 5:11 pm
Beautiful tree! It is the little blessings that mean so much!
amyblam.com
December 9, 2011 @ 5:11 pm
Beautiful stunning tree! I love Christmas trees. All sizes, shapes, lights, whatever. But this one is super special.
David and Dee Dee Sterling
December 9, 2011 @ 5:39 pm
Love the tree! Love the story! Love it that your girls squealed with excitement when the men carried it into the house! But, most of all I LOVE it when God does special things like this just for us! He is so good!
Joy
December 9, 2011 @ 5:56 pm
I love that God loves us so much He cares about the little things we love. He is SO wonderful!
stopmeifyouveheardthisone
December 9, 2011 @ 7:06 pm
Isn't winning things the absolute best? I just discovered your blog, but I love all your crafty projects! I'll definitely be back π
~Stop Me if You've Heard This One
Sarah @ The Bird's Papaya
December 9, 2011 @ 7:45 pm
What a beautiful gift from God!
I love how you truly shared that your gift was from God, and didn't shy away from sharing his greatness π
My Mom yesterday after spending $146 at HomeSense WON HER PURCHASE! Such a blessing!
Merry Christmas!
Gwen @ The Bold Abode
December 9, 2011 @ 9:49 pm
How amazing! What a beautiful story and what a beautiful tree!
Chessa @ Antsi-Pants
December 10, 2011 @ 12:37 am
Thanks for sharing your heart. You are right-when you know HIM personally you know how He blesses you specifically. What an amazing God we have that loves us enough to send His son in such an awesome and unexpected way. And that same God wants to know us and have a relationship with us. I'm thinking more about these things everyday…
Sheila
December 10, 2011 @ 1:26 am
It is a beautiful tree! Wow! Have you read the book One Thousand Gifts? I think you would like it. It is about recording all our blessings and being thankful to God. Ann Voskamp is the author.
Irene
December 10, 2011 @ 1:17 pm
What an amazing gift Julie. God works in mysterious ways for sure. Your home is absolutely beautiful.
Wishing you and your family many more blessings!
jennibell
December 10, 2011 @ 1:49 pm
Awesome! What a neat story. . .what a beautiful tree. Many more Christmas blessings to you and your family.
Barbara Bussey {The Treasured Home}
December 10, 2011 @ 4:54 pm
Great story! I wish it hadn't taken me so long to realize God's huge presence, but at least I hound him. I'm not convinced he knows my design style but you never know!
Carisa
December 10, 2011 @ 10:41 pm
I'm so in love with your home. It's beautiful, and that tree is gorgeous! Lucky you!
Barb
December 12, 2011 @ 1:46 pm
Great story and what a beautiful home you have to put it in!
Dawn Duddy
December 13, 2011 @ 4:13 am
God is SO amazing! I LOVED your Christmas sermon! π Such a sweet testimony of the love our Father has for us! ~ Dawnee @ http://www.thisbeautyisee.com
Becky Dunham
December 13, 2011 @ 6:19 am
What a sweet story Julie! I do believe that God gives us things that might seem trivial – He loves us after all and He is our Father and likes to give us treats as much as we like to give them to our children π We are just so spoiled that we don't realize everything that He gives to us! Thanks for sharing this story and your faith π
Jessica
December 13, 2011 @ 8:32 pm
What a great Christmas tree story! π I know exactly waht you mean about the Lord's blessings and gifts to His children. He has blessed me in so many big and little ways! What a Savior we have!
Gloria Fox @ Potentially Beautiful
December 15, 2011 @ 2:18 am
What a great story and a beautiful tree. I LOVE your sofa too.
Merry Christmas!
annewalker
December 1, 2013 @ 6:25 am
am I looking at a home decorating magazine right now? No?? Wow that was an amazing tree! i so love it! I'd love to feature this in my blog if you'd let me. Cheers!
Anne Walker
Christmas tree decorating ideas