I have a family leaving our church family cause they are moving and we are having a going away party. What can you get a whole family as a going away gift? I thought about a picture of us put in a photo frame with a card. What other ideas can you all come up with?
why not a family devotion book? a bible with your favorite verse inside the cover?
If you have pictures with them over their time at the church, or big things that happened (new buildings, a new pastor, some big answer to prayer, etc) you could get a small album and put it in that. Then you could write memories or scriptures on notes cards and put those in some places. The last one could be the blessing from Numbers 6 (I think it is--the one that starts "May God bless you and keep you, may He make His face to shine upon you"). If you don't have pics of them or events, you could do a pic of you and write a note on the first album page and verses on the others. If you know what restaurants they will be near you could get them a giftcard. Sometimes in the middle of moving it's nice to go out to dinner so you're not worrying about where the box with the pans/dishes was put, and it can be a nice stress-relief.
How about giving them a basket of games for a family game night or perhaps a movie night basket? It could include your family's favorite DVD popcorn, soda, candy etc.
My family loves game night we play games like Uno, Scrabble, Pictionary, and our family favorite Say Anything. We have older children and games have been a great way for us to bond as a family.
It truly depends on your resources and what financial spending you were speaking about.
The Christian Store(Arrowhead)has some wonderful gifts for a whole family and to throw together a bag of things too.I could run off a list of ideas alone with what I've purchaed for friends ,loved ones ect. as such.Scented satchels with T-shirts,under20$(the satchels have "neat" prints ex.:"When you can't sleep,don't count sheep.Talk to the SHEPHERD.(vanilla/lavender),Pair w/family Dollar Gift Bag and you have it done?
I second Jeanna's idea about gift cards for restaurants. Or you could get a gift certificate for a pizza place that delivers which is sometimes better because when you are moving pizza is easy and it comes to you when you are so overwhelmed with unpacking, cleaning, etc. and may not feel like getting cleaned up to go out or taking the time to.
We recently went through a move and I think we ordered pizza 10 times just to have lunch/dinner quickly and easily.
The photo albums with written notes are also very nice and don't cost very much - just the time to put it together mostly.
I call it evidence of a life once had. A memorabalia that can be carried anywhere and shared with any body or just stored in a special place at home. All you have to do is gather all pictures taken of the life honoree. Especially pictures of gatherings and or events and when he/she was caught in silly, classy, dignified or compromising (be careful with this one) positions. Take all these pictures to a production company (I went to K.P. Productions.biz) and they can form a bound book of all your pictures with any captions you would like around the pictures, that would express the memory you would want the honoree to take with him/her on their travels forever and a day. I did this for a retirement colleague and she loved it so much she cried. I got everyone in the building that had a special connection with her to submit one picture and the sentiment they wanted attached.
It was beautiful and surprisingly inexpensive.
Our church gave a picture of the members, plus we collected money. There is a Bed and Breakfast gift card that you can get to use in a lot of different places. We put all the money together and were able to give the couple a quiet weekend with service after they were all moved in!!! They really were surprised and loved this!!
N. in Md.
