We lost power from Friday to Monday this past weekend. I have a 5 month old and a 3 year old and we are in a 3 level townhouse that gets very very hot even with AC, so without it is unbearable. (literally 90+ on 3rd floor where the kids sleep!) Anyway, good friends of ours left for vacation Saturday morning and offered that we could stay at their house until our power came back. This was a lifesaver for us and such an unbelieveably nice thing for them to do. They come home Saturday and I would like to have a nice gift waiting for them to show how much we appreciate what they did for us. They have 2 kids - 5 and 2 and a very large loveable doggie. I was thinking of making a gift basket or something? What do you think? I am not the most creative person so I would love to hear some ideas from those of you that are! I would prefer something that does not take a whole lot of time to put together (would be fine with buying a gift basket that is already made if you have suggestions!)
Thanks!
I love the idea of having dinner ready for them! Just send them a text and let them know....so they don't make other plans.
Or stock the fridge with milk, a veggie tray, and some fruit?
Or get them a gift card for a nearby sub/pizza/kid friendly place that they can grab a meal before they grocery shop. Put it in a basket with some fresh fruit?
How nice of them to save you like that! So gracious of you to properly thank them.
Food! Put yourselves in thier shoes. When you come home from vacation you are so glad to be back in your own bed, in your own home, looking forward to home cooked food....But the fridge is empty because you didn't shop, not wanting anything to spoil while you were gone! I would make a big lasagna and greek salad and put them in the fridge. Set the table for dinner. Leave a bottle of red wine and a loaf of crusty bread on the table. Even if they get back in the morning, it will be a nice suprise to know dinner is one less thing they will have to worry about.
I'd leave a couple bottles of wine or some beer (if they drink) with a gift card to a restaurant that they enjoy. Maybe throw some fresh flowers in a pretty vase on the kitchen counter as well with a nice handwritten note from you and signed by you and your husband. Now that's something I'd like to come home to! What a nice friend!
I would do a nice gift card to a local grocery store or a nice place to eat! We always enjoy those!
I find the 'thank you' I appreaciate the most is a hand written note. A vase of fresh flowers is a nice idea also, as well as leaving a lasagna or similar easy to heat meal in the refridg. I am not a big fan of giving or receiving gift cards, however. To me its assigning a monetary value to the act of kindness. I often wonder if there is much of a difference between slapping a $20 bill in a card or a $20 gift card. Plus, they can be a pain to use, and usually end up costing me more money (if the value wasn't large enough) or end up wasting if i end up with only a few dollars left on the card.
Updated
I find the 'thank you' I appreaciate the most is a hand written note. A vase of fresh flowers is a nice idea also, as well as leaving a lasagna or similar easy to heat meal in the refridg. I am not a big fan of giving or receiving gift cards, however. To me its assigning a monetary value to the act of kindness. I often wonder if there is much of a difference between slapping a $20 bill in a card or a $20 gift card. Plus, they can be a pain to use, and usually end up costing me more money (if the value wasn't large enough) or end up wasting if i end up with only a few dollars left on the card.
I would: Clean house. It sucks to come home from vacation to a house that needs cleaning.
Make up a couple of casseroles and put them in the fridge.
Write a heartfelt thank you note.
How nice. I like the dinner idea. We once had strangers have us in their home. We were traveling back from CO with our 8 week old. There came a blizzard and they shut all the roads down. They opened up the community center for people. One local family took pity on our young family and invited us to stay in their home. We didn't know the people, but to thank them, we purchased a nice wagon lamp to go with their western decor and mailed it to them with a thank you card.
Love the idea of a grocery/gas gift card and some either homemade or bakery goodies--and a big box of yummies for the dog!
Definitely dinner in the fridge. I'd do a lasagne, italian bread and a salad and probably a bottle of wine if they drink it. Or you something delivered for them like pizza or chinese.
Edible Arrangements...that's what I just did for a friend who helped out in an emergency. It's something healthy that the whole family can enjoy, and it's kind of fun and unique.
Of course, I'm sure you'll clean up the house after your own family, that goes without saying....
I do think that making a meal is a great idea. Especially after they've gotten home from vacation! I don't know what time they'd be home on Saturday, but the last thing you want to do is make dinner ;) So to look in the fridge and see the makings for dinner would be so touching. Or if it's late on Saturday when they come home, they've got dinner for Sunday. Either way, I think they'd appreciate it, considering mom is probably backed up on laundry and the fridge is empty from being out of town.
I kind of agree about the gift card idea.... they can sometimes 'seem' thoughtless. I think there is a time and a place for them... ie. a teacher for classroom supplies, children learning the value of money, etc. I'm sure your friends would not be mad to receive one ;) but I like the more heartfelt gifts anyways.
Good luck!
Praise the Lord for small acts of Kindness,
KATIE
