| All of us know that the greatest gifts in life don't | | | | 6. Write a brief memorable, even funny story for |
| costmoney. They do take time to think and create. | | | | each oneof their years. For expectant fathers or |
| Whether youare looking for ideas for a 21st birthday, | | | | mothers memories,record the funny moments of |
| 16th, 3rd, or65th, these ideas will help you create | | | | pregnancy. |
| some memorablemoments and affect lives. | | | | 7. Create a special album with one picture from each |
| Substitute the X for the birthdaynumber. You can | | | | oftheir birthdays. |
| even be creative and use these same ideasfor | | | | 8. Write about your hopes and dreams for them as |
| expectant mothers. | | | | you seethem on this particular birthday. This is |
| 1. A list of X things you most appreciate about him or | | | | especially well foryoung children. Accumulate them |
| her. | | | | over the years and record howthey change as you |
| 2. A gift certificate for X things to do together | | | | both get older. If they are too youngnow, save |
| thatdoesn't cost money. Give this some forethought | | | | them for later. |
| and matchwith what you love to do and what they | | | | 9. Share your wisdom of what to do when life |
| love to do. You cancreate the gift certificates on the | | | | serves lemonsbesides making lemonade. For their |
| computer or buypreprinted ones at an office supply | | | | 18th birthday it can beabout the 18 best coping skills |
| store. | | | | you ever learned. |
| 3. Ask each member of your family and friends to | | | | 10. Start a family journal dedicated to them. Pass |
| thinkabout something they hold most dear and | | | | thejournal around before the birthday or on their |
| cherish most aboutliving. Ask them to create X | | | | birthday andallow each family member to write an |
| number on a list and send itto this person for their | | | | inspirational messageor a memorable moment. Use |
| birthday. You can give them analbum to place all of | | | | the same journal year after yearto build on these. |
| them. | | | | If the family member is away at war and can't be |
| 4. Gift certificate for X favors and privileges that he | | | | home fortheir birthday, create a journal with some of |
| orshe may exchange for services later. Such as | | | | these items,make a copy, and mail it to them. Tell |
| cooking aspecial meal, teaching them to cook a family | | | | him or her that theoriginal will be waiting for them |
| recipe,cleaning out the garage or car, a picnic in the | | | | when they return. If yourson/daughter is away for |
| Spring, or afoot massage. The more creative, the | | | | any reason, you can use any ofthese ten things to |
| better the gift. | | | | make creative, memorable birthdays. Thesewould |
| 5. A list of the X things you wish someone had told | | | | work whether you are on a tight budget or the |
| youwhen you were that age. They can be the | | | | richest personin the world. Honestly, when you learn |
| simplest of thingslike not to change a flat while close | | | | to give from theheart you are the richest person in |
| to the road, don'tpour bleach directly on clothes, or | | | | the world anyway. |
| don't lick a frozenpole. Go ahead, I know you can do | | | | (c) Copyright, Catherine Franz. All rights reserved. |
| better than this. | | | | |