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Tuesday



October is Pastor Appreciation Month...but really, pastors can be appreciated any time. If you've noticed that your pastors need encouragement, this is a great and easy idea to get the entire church involved...and no one says it HAS to happen in October.

October Pastor Appreciation

*Just to give you context...I'm a member of a small church (about 250-300 members). Sometimes these things are a bit easier to make happen if you attend a small to mid-size church.


Pastor Appreciation Ideas @michellepaigeblogs.com

For the past 7 years I've been volunteering at our church by leading a Ladies Bible Study. Each October, I've asked the Bible Study Ladies to contribute cards, letters, treats and gift cards to give to our pastors and staff. It was wonderful! The ladies spoiled our church's staff and really encouraged them.  I never thought we should change things up until it occurred to me that we were being exclusive. Those who weren't a part of our Ladies Group weren't given the opportunity to bless our staff....so, we decided to open up the invitation to the whole church.
*I often have friends from other church's that ask me for step-by-step directions...so here's what I did to make this happen.

First, I got permission from our church chair. (Always get permission so you don't mess up anything the church might already have planned!) The Church Chair wanted only the pastors to be honored for October. We will do something similar for the rest of the church staff in March or April.



Easy Ideas for Pastor Appreciation Month @michellepaigeblogs.com

You know how it's always more fun to give than to receive, right? Well, people love to give, especially in the church, but they need to know exactly how and what to give. So I made it easy for them.

I emailed the pastors to find our their favorite treats.
This is crucial! You don't want people to give them candy or coffee cards if they don't eat sugar or drink coffee--and yes, we have some very health-conscious pastors!

I asked each pastor to tell me their favorite:
-snacks
-treats
-drinks
-gift cards


Then, I took a trip to the Dollar Store to get supplies for the display. I purchased:
3 buckets (for 3 pastors)
1 foam board
1 pack of white mini pails
1 pack of colored popsicle sticks.

I already had:
tissue paper
colored cardstock
light wire
glue
tape


In a Word document, I printed out the pastor's names and their
information to create the poster. I backed everything on colored cardstock and glued it onto the board.



Pastor Appreciation Ideas @michellepaigeblogs.com
  
The mini pails had metal hangers that I stuck right into the foam board and taped securely on the back.

Pastor Appreciation Ideas @michellepaigeblogs.comPastor Appreciation Ideas @michellepaigeblogs.com

I made signs for the plastic buckets and taped them onto popsicle sticks to stand up out of the buckets.



Ideas to celebrate Pastor Appreciation Month @michellepaigeblogs.com

After getting approval from our church's chair, I wrote this for the bulletin. It was printed in the bulletin each week for the month of October.
October is Pastor Appreciation Month ~ 
Join us as we show our Pastors appreciation during the month of October by 'filling their buckets'. To participate, please write a note and/or purchase a small gift for our pastors. Labeled buckets are located by the Welcome Counter. Drop your notes and items in the buckets.
Here's a list of our pastor's favorites:
Pastor David: Favorite snacks: kettle corn, nut butter-filled Clif bars. Favorite drinks: English breakfast tea. Favorite gift cards: REI, Amazon.
Pastor Amy: Favorite snacks: Apple Pie Larabars, pistachios, apple chips, seaweed snacks, very, very dark chocolate. Favorite drinks: sparkling water, kombucha, unsweetened ice tea. Favorite gift cards: Amazon, Target.
Pastor Scott: Favorite snacks: RX Bar (coconut and chocolate flavor), figs (or other dried fruit without added sugar). Favorite drinks: coffee & kombucha. Favorite gift cards: iTunes, Goodwill. 


Pastor Appreciation Ideas @michellepaigeblogs.com

The buckets and poster were put on display every Sunday morning right where everyone would see them. Each week, little gifts and notes started filling up the buckets.
After the Sunday services, I bagged up the pastor's gifts and stuck them on their desks. This gave the pastors little treats and notes to read all month long. In the past, I usually just gave one big gift basket--but little things all month long is even better!


Pastor Appreciation Ideas @michellepaigeblogs.com

Of course the pastors were overwhelmed! They were delighted and blessed and encouraged. I loved that it wasn't just one group in the church honoring them, but the entire church body.  (Of course not everyone participated, but the invitation to participate was open to all...and there's always next year.)

Our appreciation for our pastors doesn't stop in October.  The Ladies Bible Study loves on them during the year on their birthdays and Valentine's Day. Take a look at these pastor appreciation ideas we've done in the past.


De'LIGHT'ful Gifts
Pastor Appreciation Ideas @michellepaigeblogs.com 

REDiculously Awesome Pastor
Love on your pastors for Pastor Appreciation Month


A BAG-FULL of LOVE
Pastor Appreciation Ideas @michellepaigeblogs.com


Retirement Party for a Pastor
Pastor Appreciation Ideas @michellepaigeblogs.com


Pastor Appreciation Table Decor
Pastor Appreciation Ideas @michellepaigeblogs.com



Tie-Themed Pastor Good-Bye Party
Pastor Appreciation Ideas @michellepaigeblogs.com


Pastor Appreciation for Valentine's Day
Paper heart garland


**Does your church do anything for your pastors?
Leave a comment...I'd love to hear.



 
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It's time for a university check-in again. AH (Awesome Husband) is back on campus with his trustee meetings, and I'm tracking down the students we know from our church. This year, we have all girl students attending our Alma mater.
I was so tempted to go with an all-pink package theme--haven't done that before, but instead decided to 'hunker-down' with a theme that's full of 'unbearable' puns.  Yep, you guessed it---a bear theme.



College Care package ideas @michellepaigeblogs.com



Our school does not have bears as a mascot, but this would work perfectly with a school that does. Did you know there are a ton of bear-labeled food products out there? I found so many items in my local grocery store, but you could shop online and come up with even more.

College Care package ideas @michellepaigeblogs.com


Check it out!

I made these cute little bear tags and attached them to the treats.
There's some blank ones if you'd rather write your own bear puns or have no puns at all (gasp!). I printed my tags on brown cardstock.
Click here to print your own tags.

College Care package ideas @michellepaigeblogs.com



Here's some of the bear items I included:
Golden Crisp cereal, Teddy Grahams, 


College Care package ideas @michellepaigeblogs.comBear themed College Care Package @michellepaigeblogs.com

Kodiak cakes, bear honey
Bear themed College Care Package @michellepaigeblogs.com Bear themed College Care Package @michellepaigeblogs.com

Sleepytime Herbal Tea, Gummy Bears--of course...
Bear themed College Care Package @michellepaigeblogs.comBear themed College Care Package @michellepaigeblogs.com

and don't forget a teddy bear hug!


Bear themed College Care Package @michellepaigeblogs.com

A few extra pun tags decorated the bag.

Bear themed College Care Package @michellepaigeblogs.com
Bear themed College Care Package @michellepaigeblogs.com


The college girls were super excited with their bags!
Fun ideas for college care packages @michellepaigeblogs.comFun ideas for college care packages @michellepaigeblogs.com


Fun ideas for college care packages @michellepaigeblogs.com





 
Here's some more college care package ideas for you:

Stick With It!           
                   
Stick with it!  College finals care package ideas @michellepaigeblogs.com   

Orange Survival Study Sack                       
Orange foods and treats for gift package. 

Brighten Up Your Semester!
Yellow themed gift ideas @michellepaigeblogs.com


SMART Gift Bag                                     
Creative college care package ideas @michellepaigeblogs.com   

Caramel Apple Dippin' Kit
Package up apples, caramel and toppings to give as gifts.


SNAP To It!                                                            

Punny College Care Package








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Monday



If you've followed my blog for awhile, you know that I love to give creative gifts and parties with puns.  AH (Awesome Husband) introduced me to the power of a pun when we were first dating. Over the years they have grown on me and now almost 25 years later, I can't seem to get them out of my system. 
Recently, my mom asked me for some flower puns to put with a floral birthday bouquet she was giving a friend.  Once I got started,  I couldn't stop!  So now I have quite a list to share with you... over 60 puns!

Flower puns @michellepaigeblogs.com


Use these when you're giving flowers or a floral gift to someone. Use a pun or two to make a card. Maybe you'll find yourself hosting a flower or garden party and you need lots of puns everywhere?
Let me know how you use them.

**As I create more printables, I'll add the links to this post.



Gift giving with flowers and puns @michellepaigeblogs.com



Generic Flower Puns
Put these puns with any flowers or bouquets.
We've grown so fond of you.
Thanks a bunch!
Thank you for helping me bloom. Click here for post.
Bloom where you're planted (Welcome to the neighborhood.)
Thanks for helping me grow.  Click here for post.

Seed you later.  (Have a great summer!)
Hey bud--How's it going? (Use flower buds.)
To my best bud.
You're my bud.

Here's some color to brighten your day.
I blossom around you.
Blossoming love for you.

My love for you grows and grows.
Hope you have a sweet and flowery day.



Leaf Puns

Put these puns with any plant, leaves, or a leaf shaped gift.

You are unbe'leaf'able!   Click here for printable.
Never leaf me!
Hang in there. (hanging plant)

Don't stop beleafing!
Don't leaf me hanging!
Beleaf me, you're the best!

Beleaf it or not, it's your birthday!
Beleaf it or not, the school year is over!
Plant one on me!  Click here for printable.

Around the Home Printable Love Notes @michellepaigeblogs.com



Specific Flower Puns

Put the exact flower with the corresponding pun.

Gift giving flowers with puns @michellepaigeblogs.com




What's up, Buttercup?
What in carnation happened to you? (Welcome back.)
In all of carnation, we could never replace you.

You're looking fresh as a daisy.  (Glad you're feeling better.)
Not a daisy goes by without thinking of you.
Not a daisy goes by without missing you.
Iris you a happy day.

Iris you great success.
I really lilac you.
I lilac working with you.
I lilac being your friend.
Just a lily bit of love for you.
I love you a lily bit more each day.
You're no pansy, way to go!
I a'rose' thinking of you today.
Oh, snapdragon! I'm late for your birthday!
I love you, mum.
Just for you, mum.
For my mum.
I want to kiss you with my tu-lips.
These tu-lips are waiting for you.


Succulent and Cacti Puns
Put these puns with succulents and cacti plants.


Aloe you very much.
Aloe there!
You had me at aloe.
Just wanted to say, aloe.
Thistle will show you that you're loved.
Life would succ without you.
Pretty fly for a cacti.
I'm parched for you.
Stick with me.
I'm stuck on you.
Thanks for sticking with me.
Sorry that hurt, know that you are loved.




Herb garden idea for Mother's Day @michellepaigeblogs.com

Herb Puns  
Put these puns with the corresponding herbs.
To spice up your life.
You're a big dill.
Let's make a dill.
Dill or no dill?
For my wise and sage mentor.
Some sage advice.
I oregano it's your birthday.
No need to tell me, I oregano.
We were mint to be.
That mint so much to me, thank you.
We're mint to be together.
Thank you for your commit'mint'.
Thank you for your thyme.
I'll love you till' the end of thyme.
Wanted to add a little thyme to your day.



**I'm always collecting puns.  Please leave me a comment if you have more to add to this list.

Mother's Day Floral Bouquet @michellepaigeblogs.com

This bouquet of roses has love notes tied on the branches for mom.  Sometimes you don't need puns, just love.  Click here for post. 

These puns can be used with handmade plants and flowers as well.  
May Day Flower Craft for Kids



Ribbon Flower Craft






 
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