Oh Happy Day!

“Dear Lord, please equip me for today. Amen.” It’s a simple prayer, but it’s one I find myself praying at the start of most days. For when the times get tough, and for every time in between, this simple gift of a framed prayer will remind the new mom and dad that God is with them and will equip them for what’s ahead. Check out DaFont.com to find the perfect font to use for the prayer; and for a wide selection of frames in various sizes, check out HobbyLobby.com. We particularly like this Copper Metal Hinge Frame ($7.99, HobbyLobby.com; also available in a similar style in gold).

Personalized Baby Block

Created by Craft-E-Family, these unique blocks are a special gift for baby and parents because they are laser engraved with all the details of the baby’s birth: baby’s full name, date of birth, time of birth, weight and length, name of parents, and location of birth. 

Easy-to-Prepare Meals

A couple of weeks after we brought our son home, my friend blessed us with one of the best gifts we’ve ever received: a multitude of frozen homemade breakfast burritos and a gigantic bag of homemade pasta sauce. If you would like to bless new parents with delicious meals that are easy to prepare, here are some wonderful recipes, courtesy of my dear friend Rebecca.

Breakfast Burritos (Qty: 30) 

Ingredients:

• 30 fajita tortillas (or any medium-size tortilla)
• 45 eggs, scrambled (approximately 1.5 eggs per burrito)
• 2 large onions, diced and sautéed
• 1 lb. breakfast sausage
• 2 lb. bag of tater tots (between 3–4 tater tots in each burrito)
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic) to taste

Directions:

• Brown sausage and drain. 
• Add scrambled eggs and sautéed onions to meat, and stir together. 
• Once you’ve compiled your ingredients, set up your burrito making station!
• Scoop egg and meat mixture into tortilla and place 3–4 tater tots on top. Add cheese to your liking.
• To roll, put the burrito stuffing slightly lower than center. Take the edge of the tortilla that is closest to you and fold it over the stuffing. Pull the stuffing back toward you using the tortilla. Fold the two sides of the tortilla over your first fold. Proceed to roll the tortilla up to create the burrito.
• Place rolled burrito on clean surface (cookie sheet, counter, etc.)
• At this point, you can either wrap each in a paper towel then securely wrap in plastic wrap for reheating in the microwave, or individually wrap each in aluminum foil for reheating in the oven.
• Freeze the burritos, and that’s it!  

Pasta Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 24 oz. can of tomato sauce
• 1 24 oz. can of crushed tomatoes
• 1 24 oz. can of petite diced tomatoes (drained)
• 1 14 oz. can of tomato paste
• 1 lb. of ground beef
• 1 lb. of spicy Italian sausage
• 1 medium onion diced
• 1 carton of mushrooms
• 1 medium size carrot
• 4 large cloves of garlic, crushed or diced
• 3 Tbsp dried parsley
• 3 Tbsp of oregano
• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• Red chili flakes to taste
• Salt to taste
• Pinch of celery seed

Directions:

• Shred and dice carrot (I use a vegetable peeler and then finely dice the peels).
• Dice onion, mushrooms, and garlic.
• Heat olive oil in pan.
• Place onion, mushroom, and garlic with herbs in oil and sautée until onions are translucent and soft. Then, add chili flakes to taste.
• Put carrot, beef, and sausage in pan and brown (leave everything in the pan).
• Add about a pinch of celery seed.
• Once meat is browned, add tomato paste.
• Once tomato paste is incorporated, add tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, and drained diced tomatoes.
• Salt to taste and simmer for 15 minutes.

New Homeowners

Pie & Ice Cream

Whether you bless your new neighbor with a homemade pie and some ice cream or a store-bought treat, a special dessert and a chance to meet their new neighbor is a wonderful way to be welcomed to the neighborhood or area.

A “Get to Know Your Neighbors” Party

When we moved into our second home, some family friends lived on a street over, and they were kind enough to host an evening get-together at which they introduced us to many of our neighbors. My husband and I thought it was such a kind and generous gesture, and it made settling in to our new neighborhood that much more fun. Because instead of waving to strangers while we worked in our yard or went on a walk, we saw friendly and familiar faces. Whether you know your new neighbors well, or they’re complete strangers, use the Pie & Ice Cream idea to get to know them better, and then if you’d like, invite them to a gathering in your home where you can introduce them to more of their new neighbors! 

Empty Nesters

Movie Tickets & Backgammon

For the parents who find themselves with an empty nest, you can give them the gift of a date night out with movie tickets or a date night at home with a classic board game for two. Backgammon is one of our family favorites, and it comes in a convenient case that makes it easy to play on a table or on the couch while a favorite movie plays in the background. 

Retirees 

Membership to a Local Garden or Museum & E-Reader

Stereotypically, retirees tend to find themselves with more time on their hands and fewer obligations. Treat them to something that will speak to their interests and help them discover ways to spend their newly found free time. Whether they’re a fan of the local botanical garden or a museum, or they love to read, your gift of a membership to a local attraction or an e-reader is sure to make them feel special!