I used to buy just lingerie for bridal showers. Irregardless of who the woman was and how well I knew her, I would go to Victoria's Secret and pick something out. Hoping to embarrass them but also to supply the wardrobe:) At the ripe old age of 31 I have changed my strategy. I now buy off the registry or give a gift card to the store you registered at. I don't want to embarrass these girls anymore, I'd rather buy them what they want.
Last month was Pastor appreciation month. To appreciate your pastor, a card is nice. A gift is nice. But! A gift card is great, you probably don't know your pastor as well as you think you do when picking out gifts. Christmas will be here soon, have you started buying? Most of us tend to buy gifts that we would like. Nothing wrong with that, as long as the person is just like you. Or we give gift suggestions for our spouse based on what we think they want instead of just asking them. After 12 years, I'm figuring out that Paul likes quantity. He needs a lot of presents to open up on Christmas. He's not greedy at all, but it's more fun for him. (Seriously Paul is not greedy.) This is also how Paul's mom functions. It probably runs in the family. Now my sister Anne likes to be surprised on Christmas. She gives horrible lists wanting you to come up with something on your own. Makes it harder, but also makes it more thoughtful. (Her birthday is this week...I could use some ideas!)
Some people are easy, they are the ones that are excited about anything you buy them. Or they give detailed lists of what they want. Why can't we all be more like that?! One year Travis was only 2 at Christmas and he was the best kid to watch. He was so excited about everything. When his cousins opened presents he was happy about what they got. When he opened presents he couldn't contain the joy! He would jump up and down and yell and smile and say thank you. He's actually still like that. You could buy him a flashlight for Christmas and he would be so excited to have his own flashlight. You can't fail with that kid.
My gift giving hasn't gotten that much better. Last year for all my nephews (6 of them) on the Clarke side I bought DVDs, picking out the newest ones. Come Christmas morning gift after gift was opened and I heard, "I don't like this movie!"from the boy and "You need to say thank you" from the parent. Aunt Sarah failed, big time, on Christmas. Ugh. I wish I could say I've improved or I've learned my lesson but we shall see this year. (I doubt it.) So wish me luck!