Black Friday Opt Out-- Grandkids Fun Day at Sky Zone & KARM Christmas Store!

Friday Nov. 28, 2025

Black Friday 2025 after our family Thanksgiving we planned to do something fun as a family and with the grandkids. Everyone went to the KARM Christmas store together. Afterwards we all went out to eat at Pizza Inn in Knoxville. After that we took the grandkids so their parents could shop. We took them to Sky Zone for the first time. I think Tessa had been once before. It was a fun day!

KARM stands for Knox Area Rescue Ministries. We are big supporters of their efforts.

They help restore people's lives and save their souls. They help people get off the streets. They help people come to know Jesus and salvation which transforms lives. They help end homelessness. They help get women and children away from abusers. All monies raised stay 100% in our area. Their Christmas store which comes each November through December is a Christmas wonderland to behold. It is also a place you can come out of there with a buggy full of deals for your home decoration. The money you spent will not go to line Wal-Mart's pockets or retail businesses, but helps our social situation here at home. This Christmas season they got 65 people off the streets. That is the tip of the iceberg. I heard a lady say she needed a new artificial Christmas tree and did without since she wasn't paying $500 for one in a retail store.

I filled her in the other day on where she can come out with a far better deal.

Our family had an awesomely fun time shopping and seeing all the beautiful Christmas decorations. I came away with so many cool Christmas shirts.

Griswold Family Christmas
Tender Tennessee Christmas
Merry Woofmas
and Feliz Navidad!

I put up three trees this year. Two of them were from the KARM Christmas store.

above: upclose view of some of the ornaments on the bedroom Christmas tree.

Above: I got this Angel at the KARM store many years ago.

Below: I made this little angel out of hemlock cone and beads and feathers.

Below: The ornament below is delicate. It came from Village Garden Center in Fishersville, VA. Another family tradition we missed this season.

above: Happy is climbing the Christmas tree. This tree was a KARM Christmas find from last year and we love it! $50.

above: my third and final Christmas tree of the season is a pencil tree from KARM. $50.

above: One of my all time favorite ornaments. Kurt Adler German wooden ornament. There was an old woman she lived in a shoe.. she had so many children she didn't know what to do!

Below; Mia gets her picture taken with one of Santa's reindeer. It's Dasher!

Below: Mia and Gabe in front of the Gingerbread house

Above: my living room tree survived despite being climbed! It came from the KARM Christmas store last year.

Below: Grandson Gabe age 9 is Elf on the Shelf taken by his mom Lydia I believe.

Below: I found this gem in the KARM store for my daughter Crystal's cosmetology class!

Below: my downstairs Christmas tree got climbed at least once by Happy

above: Gabe with his shaved eyebrow done by his crazy mama Lydia. She talked him into it on haircut day.

below: Happy the Tuxedo Cat is up to no good!