secret pal..... i've never done this before! eeek!

well, I'm VERY BORED here at work... (which is nothing new to me!)  So, I am trying to come up with ideas for my secret pal.   at church they started a new round of it for the new year.  so, i thought it would be a good way to get to know some more people.   at the meeting i received a piece of paper with some interests that my secret pal has, but sadly, my secret pal didn't give me enough, especially since i really don't know everyone at church that well yet.  so, it might not be enough for me to go off of..... i want to be creative and i don't want to do the typical little trinkets that I think of when i think of secret pal gifts.....

so i have been doing a little bit of research.....  there are not as many ideas as I thought there would be out there.... but i did find one good list..... but certainly came up with some of my own.... but i would love to hear from any of you if you have any ideas.  email me (thehoekstras101808@gmail.com) and let me know if you've been in this situation and had a good experience from something you gave.

but here is a little list of things that i research and thought i could twist to make my own:

1. Tin/Jar/Box with Bible verses in it  

   (One for every day of the year/a new one to put in there every so often)

2. Homemade Journal 

   (that you would give at the end) - it would have prayers/verses/poems that you want to share/tell your secret pal.

3. Worship CD's 

   (hymns/praise/christian songs)

4. Candles

5. Homemade Baked Goodies! 

    (with recipes to go with 'em!)

6. Spa Day Set 

    (Bubble Bath, Nail Polish, Pedicure/Manicure, etc)

7. Include their kids in what they like to do!

    (Cooking with Mommy, Scrapbooking for Mom & Me, etc.)

8. Flowers

    (Real or fake) 

9. Books/Magazines that go with hobbies that they like!

10. Gourmet coffee/coffee mug

11. Gift Certificate to a place they really like to shop/eat/go 

     (nothing expensive, just to help lighten their load)

12. Things to go with their interests  - little by little learn your self how to do that hobby and see what is something they would appreciate getting for that hobby!

(Cooking/Baking, Jewelry Making, Scrapbooking, Quilting, Needlework, Sketching/Drawing)

13. Themed presents  

     (to go along with Bible verses that you think might help them out, even it's just a little thing       and a bible verse attached to it)

14. Christian Book/Plaque/Saying

15. Cards every now and then to just encourage them

16. Candy & Chocolate is ALWAYS good... 

  (unless they are allergic to it!)

that's all i got..... help?

in other news.....  we have finally got a treadmill. Matt put it together last night and I am so super excited about it and can't wait to go on it tonight for the first time! (thanks again babe... you're the best!!!)  i have been feeling like a bump on a log with no energy ever since we got back from our honeymoon and really haven't had the resources to go walking/running as i would like!  So, hopefully this will boost my energy and get me back on the right track!