My most recent cuttings in hand-painted pots.

Today I went to a baby shower honoring a young woman at our church. The ladies of New Heights Chapel did a beautiful job decorating the party and making the soon-to-be mom feel special. She received tons of gifts, and her little boy will come home to a well-stocked nursery. I am at that point in life–early 30s–when it seems almost everyone I know is having a(nother) child. This is joyous and so much fun, but practically, babies can get expensive for us gift-givers too!

When David and I married, I bought a Jade plant. I had the idea to start a new plant from ours for each of our children. Jade plants can bloom when they reach about 30 years old, so I thought my children would look at the blooms when they turned 30 and remember how I love them and have cared for them (and their plants). This seemed doable since Jade plants are famously easy to grow (I water mine about once per month, if I remember), and are even easier to propagate. You literally pinch off the top of a branch and poke down in the soil. It roots in a couple of weeks, and voila! You have a new plant.

I still think this is a great idea, so I’m imposing it on my friends’ children. This is an economical and special gift. For each child I spend a little money on a tiny pot and paint it with his or her name. The pots probably won’t survive 30 years, but with just the right amount of neglect, the Jade will bloom for my beloved kiddos when they (or maybe their wives!) are just old enough to appreciate it.