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.
