Cheap Can Be Elegant

I love to decorate for birthdays,

and make the day feel special for my children,

but am a little miserly about spending money on

things I am just going to throw away.

Each package of plates, cups, napkins, silverware

and party favors can cost $3-$4 at a party store.

They come in stingy little packages of 8,

so sometimes one is not enough for our celebrations.

It's like throwing away money.

I was feeling bad that I didn't have time to run to the dollar store,

my favorite place for party supplies,

in time to decorate for Bethany's 20th birthday.

She was celebrating a step closer to adulthood,

and I was celebrating the fact that I will

NEVER AGAIN

have three teenagers living in my house

at the same time.

Then again, I just reminded myself that I have

three children over 20. 

Now I feel old.

Then I remembered the treasures I've been buying for Thanksgiving.

I blogged about this meal 216 days ahead of time.

(Yea, I have been planning for the past nine months.

My MIL is coming for the first Thanksgiving in 24 years of marriage.)

I had a vision of making the table beautiful and elegant,

like my daughter, with my newfound  treasures.

I pulled out the gold chargers from a thrift store

in Helena, MT this summer for $.25 each.

They were topped with the gold trimmed china plates I found

10 for $7 in Fargo, North Dakota this summer.

The gold goblets, about $.50 each, were added.

Thrift store goblets cost less than a package

of paper colored cups from the party store.

Gold napkins were gently bound with a simple piece of lace,

clasped together with vintage earrings.

There wasn't enough time to fuss more,

but I dreamed about using more vintage jewelry

and putting bows on the chairs.

Maybe for Thanksgiving.

Afterall, this was a trial run.

I have 59 days left until my MIL comes.

But, who's counting?

I am counting

on a lot more beautiful family dinners,

without counting out any more dollars for decorating.

And I am counting

on Bethany having a wonderful year,

growing in grace in the Lord Jesus.