“My concluding charge is this: First, love and honor your parents in all areas of life. You graduates are going to be leaving home, but do not let your heart leave your parents….
Second, love God in all areas and corners of your life. You graduates will be leaving your homes, but do not let your hearts leave your God.“
~ from a graduation speech given May 26, 2007
used by permission from Mr. Boyd, emphasis mine
Here’s a question: do you ever have standard gifts that you give for special occasions?
I’m looking for new ideas for graduations, weddings and baby showers. I used to buy five copies of The Joy of Cooking at a time, so it was handy and available whenever I got a wedding invitation. There is something serendipitous when you find the perfect item, on sale, and pick up several for the future. I’m a little low on serendipity these days….
A Living Pencil 
Lovely charge. Yes to the standard graduation gifts. For a number of years I have given Os Guinness’ The Call. and a copy of John Calvin’s But while I walked through B & N last week, I saw one of their suggestions on a graduation gift table that would be so perfect: The Intellectual Devotional! Janie
For Weddings where we know the bride even a little bit, The Southern Living Cookbook. It’s got everything in it- Clam Chowder, Tortillas, etc. as well as Southern. When we got one for our wedding, we thought “?”, but have used it at least monthly for the past 11 years.
For graduates we know well, a year’s membership to AAA. For girl graduates we don’t know well, a photo album. Haven’t got a standard for guy acquaintances yet.
My mom used to give nice big dictionaries for highschool grads. We are still using the one she gave my husband, lo, these thirty-one years ago. These days I usually give a money gift. Our kids did appreciate the extra cash. *For the most part* it was put to good use. We have a nephew graduating and then going into the army soon. Rather than gifts he will have no need of at Basic, I think we will ask if calling cards and so forth will be useful.
I thought Mr. Boyds address was exceptional! We had a good discussion of it over lunch Tues. at Providence I was glad my daughter was with me. ; )… but indeed I was convicted of not being the kind of adult daughter my mom deserves. I went to see her Monday.
Yes, I have standard gifts……….or rather standard choices within a classification/event. For weddings, I almost always consult the bride’s registry and go from there. Your selection of Joy of Cooking is superb in my opinion. It’s like a reference book and should be in all kitchens.
For high school graduations, my gift denoting the highest compliment is a dictionary, but I have been known to give book plates, bookends, or inspirational books, ie 9 Things Graduates Must Do.
These things come in spurts, but I love being prepared with a gift box/closet/stash where I can take care of it right away….without leaving the house.
Dana in GA
I have and love and use the dictionary I was given by my brother Jim when I graduated. I guess if I had more faith that the kids *might* use it I’d keep giving them for gifts. They are so much more oriented to the internet.
One thing I have done in the past for wedding gifts is to give an assortment of beautiful Christmas ornaments. It sounds funny, but they have been well appreciated. You can buy them at the end of Christmas sales and make a lovely box of them for nearly nothing. Of course, you have to plan ahead. But if you’re buying 5 copies of Joy of Cooking at a time, that’s not your problem!There is also a list of “bride’s ornaments” out there on the web somewhere – a collection of 12 ornaments that each have a meaning–and that is fun to try to put together. Others, I just go by the interests of the graduates–though usually a book with a small gift card tucked inside.