Graduation Gift Idea Needed

[MissScripture]

So, my little sister just graduated from high school, and I had an idea for a gift for her, but then, it was bought for her for Easter by someone else. So, now I need a graduation gift idea for her quickly, but it needs to be something that she will use up before the fall, when she enters the convent, as she will obviously not be bringing a whole lot with her (and already has most of what she needs). Any ideas?

[JTheresa]

[quote name='MissScripture' date='29 May 2010 - 11:39 PM' timestamp='1275190777' post='2120537']
So, my little sister just graduated from high school, and I had an idea for a gift for her, but then, it was bought for her for Easter by someone else. So, now I need a graduation gift idea for her quickly, but it needs to be something that she will use up before the fall, when she enters the convent, as she will obviously not be bringing a whole lot with her (and already has most of what she needs). Any ideas?
[/quote]
Hmm, interesting that you say this; I am a graduating senior who is also entering in the fall.
You're her Sister so I understand that you would want it to be something special ( meaning other than money or gift cards)

- maybe a prayer book that would be similar to the order/community charism that she is entering? (ex. I'm entering the Franciscans and I got a st Clare prayer book) they also have ones particular to some of the popular patron saints like Therese of liseuex, saint Catherine and saint Faustina.
-a little statue of her patron saint, Mary or Jesus.
is she into reading? You could get her some sort of spiritual classic, the Imitation of Mary is good, since Mary is the model for all religious women, or a really great one is And You are Christs by Thomas Dubay (but that might be a nice one to get her for vows or something)

you could also try talking with her postulant mistress or vocation director and see of there is anything that would be nice for her to have that we normally wouldn't think of cuz we don't all live in convents.

You could always get her favortie flowers and some chocolate. that's kinda original, but it's totally up to you.

[Sister Marie]

Since she really has almost everything she needs for her entrance how about making her a little calendar to countdown with from graduation to entrance with a little spiritual quote on each page and a promise to offer a rosary/novena/Communion etc... for each day on the calendar.

You could do it a number of ways but it would be easy enough to get a pretty note pad with pages that come off without ripping (she might want to keep them!) and write each day on there.

Hope that helps!
Sister Marie

[Cherie]

Depending on the community, many communities do not allow their Sisters to bring "extra" possessions, so if you're thinking of a rosary, prayer book, etc., it really would be a good idea to contact the Vocation Directress or someone in the community (if you can!) and ask what would be an appropriate gift your sister could take with her to the convent.

Also, Sister Marie has an excellent idea! Another idea would be to prepare a Spiritual Bouquet as a gift, which I'm sure your sister would appreciate very much!

[CatherineM]

My son took the summer after he graduated to have fun with his friends. He was going into the Navy in the Fall, and wouldn't see any of them for awhile. I bought him a gift card for the big movie chain, and one for Blockbusters and for his favorite fast food place. He spent the summer renting video games and eating pizza at this buddies houses and going out to movies. He also went to Busch Gardens, and took a trip to visit both sets of his grandparents.

[vee]

My idea is similar to CatherineM's. Do lots of fun things with her like camping, roasting marshmallows, mini golf, throw a few random water balloons at her and that kind of thing. Just be spontaneous and silly. Throw her a surprise birthday (or unbirthday) party. Be lazy and sit around in your pjs all day eating pizza and watching movies.

[laetitia crucis]

[quote name='vee8' date='30 May 2010 - 11:32 AM' timestamp='1275233572' post='2120668']
My idea is similar to CatherineM's. Do lots of fun things with her like camping, roasting marshmallows, mini golf, throw a few random water balloons at her and that kind of thing. Just be spontaneous and silly. Throw her a surprise birthday (or unbirthday) party. Be lazy and sit around in your pjs all day eating pizza and watching movies.
[/quote]

I second this as well.

When I was in the convent, a lot of my friends always had a really difficult time when it came to Christmas or birthday presents. They really wanted to get me something or do something special, but they never really knew what that could be.

In my former community, if we received presents for some kind of special occasion, we'd have to show our superior everything we received. Then the superior would decide what we could keep and what we'd have to give to the community.

I think it was just easier on my friends to do something fun for me. Like a movie night, or going out to dinner. Things like that, and like vee8 said.

We also went out for Cold Stone ice cream on my home visits.

----

This time around, I've found out that in my (God willing) future community, I can keep books. It's something tangible that my friends can get me. Along with black socks (for postulancy).

[Chiquitunga]

What kind of community is she entering? cloistered/active, etc.? A lot will depend on the community as far as what she can bring with as others have said. But personally I think the best gift, or at least the one I would like best, would be to have Masses offered for her or a spiritual bouquet of some sort .. along with a beautiful holy card she could use in her breviary .. just an idea. I gave someone entering Carmel a holy card from the Carmel in Bethlehem with a 3rd class relic of Blessed Mariam of Jesus Crucified, and she's bringing it just for that

Edited May 30, 2010 by Chiquitunga

[MissScripture]

[quote name='JTheresa' date='30 May 2010 - 01:26 AM' timestamp='1275197198' post='2120602']
Hmm, interesting that you say this; I am a graduating senior who is also entering in the fall.
You're her Sister so I understand that you would want it to be something special ( meaning other than money or gift cards)

- maybe a prayer book that would be similar to the order/community charism that she is entering? (ex. I'm entering the Franciscans and I got a st Clare prayer book) they also have ones particular to some of the popular patron saints like Therese of liseuex, saint Catherine and saint Faustina.
-a little statue of her patron saint, Mary or Jesus.
is she into reading? You could get her some sort of spiritual classic, the Imitation of Mary is good, since Mary is the model for all religious women, or a really great one is And You are Christs by Thomas Dubay (but that might be a nice one to get her for vows or something)

you could also try talking with her postulant mistress or vocation director and see of there is anything that would be nice for her to have that we normally wouldn't think of cuz we don't all live in convents.

You could always get her favortie flowers and some chocolate. that's kinda original, but it's totally up to you.
[/quote]
I was going to get her a gerbera daisy plant, but that's what someone got her for Easter. I was thinking chocolates as a possibility. I just know she wouldn't want a TON, because she is very health conscious and doesn't like gorging herself on something like that, so I'll need something else, too. Oh, and the book idea has already been taken by someone else. *sigh* Why does she have to have so many people who love her buying her stuff?


[quote name='Sister Marie' date='30 May 2010 - 07:12 AM' timestamp='1275217945' post='2120617']
Since she really has almost everything she needs for her entrance how about making her a little calendar to countdown with from graduation to entrance with a little spiritual quote on each page and a promise to offer a rosary/novena/Communion etc... for each day on the calendar.

You could do it a number of ways but it would be easy enough to get a pretty note pad with pages that come off without ripping (she might want to keep them!) and write each day on there.

Hope that helps!
Sister Marie
[/quote]
Hmm...that's a really good idea...


[quote name='vee8' date='30 May 2010 - 11:32 AM' timestamp='1275233572' post='2120668']
My idea is similar to CatherineM's. Do lots of fun things with her like camping, roasting marshmallows, mini golf, throw a few random water balloons at her and that kind of thing. Just be spontaneous and silly. Throw her a surprise birthday (or unbirthday) party. Be lazy and sit around in your pjs all day eating pizza and watching movies.
[/quote]
I am throwing her a "bachelorette party" this summer. Unfortunately, we live 6 hours apart, so we only get so much time together, this summer. Especially since she's doing a bunch of traveling to visit all of our other relatives (some of whom she may never see again). But we are both super excited about the "bachelorette party!" We're going to start out at Adoration, then go to my parent's house to roast marshmallows and hot dogs and stuff. Then watch a bunch of "nun" movies most of the night, and then head to Mass the next morning! It's kind of weird, though, because I'm inviting people I used to babysit to the party. I feel old!

[MissScripture]

So, I'm going with the countdown calendar idea. I'm telling her what prayer we are praying for her each day, and putting a quote of a Saint whose feast day it is on there. Not only will she benefit, but my husband and I will improve our prayer life, too! All around beneficial gift! Oh, and my husband is going to make her banana bread, because she loves his banana bread. I'm so excited for her grad party!

[brightsadness]

[quote name='MissScripture' date='29 May 2010 - 08:39 PM' timestamp='1275190777' post='2120537']
So, my little sister just graduated from high school, and I had an idea for a gift for her, but then, it was bought for her for Easter by someone else. So, now I need a graduation gift idea for her quickly, but it needs to be something that she will use up before the fall, when she enters the convent, as she will obviously not be bringing a whole lot with her (and already has most of what she needs). Any ideas?
[/quote]


On Friday my women friends took me out for a spa day. It was a wonderful treat and we had so much fun together. Maybe you can do that with your sister. I'm pretty sure we won't get those in the convent.[img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/lol_roll.gif[/img]