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Dec 9, 2021
Resources

Catholic Girls and Christmas: What to Give and Why

This post contains affiliate or associate links with several businesses (which means if you shop through the links, I earn a small commission). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Catholic Christians believe that God made each and every one of us unique and unrepeatable.

No one is a mistake.

No one’s gender is a mistake.

In fact, we believe in the beauty and wonder of God’s creation and that our bodies and our souls reflect .

Our culture is sending out a ton of messages that girls are hearing as young as age 4.

Some messages are not bad. Kindness, compassion and loving ones neighbor is certainly valued by both our society and our religion.

Some messages are confusing and quite misleading.

As a mother of a young Catholic daughter, I hope to cultivate a place in my daughter’s heart that will allow the seed of faith to take root so that she can remain in Jesus her whole life.

I want my Catholic daughter to see value in virtue.

I want her to find comfort in prayer and the Sacraments.

I want us both to go to heaven, and while we are striving to make it there, I was us to experience awe and wonder of our great God!

As someone who worked with young people since college – as a camp counselor and an educator – I can say with confidence this – I understand the adolescent age group well.

They are pure. They have huge dreams for the world to be a better place. They want to be loved. They long for approval. They want to feel respected and admired.

When we are thinking about giving them gifts this season, here is what I suggest.

Catholic Girls and Christmas: What to Give and Why

1.Give Longer Moments of Undivided Attention

It may sound cheesy, but even though girls act like they want to be treated like an “independant woman”, they really crave our eye contact, our active and engaged listening, our smiles, compliments and yes – even hugs!

Why?

Daughters want to hear stories from their moms (and dad’s) lives!

These campfire mugs are popular in secular gift guides this year!*

When I interviewed a Chastity speaker for the article How to Talk to Your Catholic Tween About Sex, this advice was given with great conviction:

Katelyn D’Adamo, Director of Generation Life, also wants you the parent to know, your child wants to hear from YOU! Generation Life speakers go into classrooms and discuss Chastity and find this truth over and over again. The students want to hear from their parents. It might be awkward, but young children will appreciate that you had the courage to speak with them about this topic.

*Camp mugs are fun to give and yes, I love that there is a cute, Catholic option. . . . but there’s something deeper here.

There’s 2. Your daughter might have outgrown tea parties, but she has not outgrown one on one time with you. Whether it’s mugs with hot chocolate and a promise of a date in the kitchen, or a gift card to Starbucks, this gift can have a beautiful memory attached too.

2. Give Advice They Can Use

Have you ever heard a piece of advice and thought, “I wish I heard this YEARS ago?!”

That’s how I felt when I heard this quote from Mother (now Saint) Teresa:

“Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.”

As a young girl I often questioned God’s will and purpose for me. I didn’t realize the importance and significance of little acts of love.

One of my favorite pages in the girl’s Be Yourself Journal has this quote in the middle of a practically blank page.

The directions on this page encourage the owner to make a collage around the quote of pictures of her and one other person.

There is plenty of room for her to create a “scrapbook-like” page featuring herself with friends and family members!

This fun activity is meant to remind young girls that God sees incredible beauty in little acts of love…

That little things often are really quite significant.

If you have a pre-teen or young teen daughter/niece/Goddaughter or sister, consider giving them
a fun mini Instant camera,

These mini-cameras are on lots of gift guides for teens and tweens!

Give a camera and a journal, and put a bookmark or sticker in this page! She’ll have a great time with your gift and you gave her some great advice that will save her from some unnecessary stress in life!

3. Give Trendy Styles with a Catholic or Christian Twist

The mini cameras are on lots of gift guides this year. I highly suggest giving this camera with the girl’s Be Yourself Journal so they have a place to put the pictures they take and channel that energy into a fruitful, learning opportunity!

Another gift guide I was looking at under the “Girl/Teen Gift Guide” category for this year listed:

“Zodiac perfect tiny stud” earings.

There are plenty of cute stud earrings that have a Christian message that girls will love!

Love these ones from Pink Salt Riot:

Light of the World acrylic stud earrings

White Heart Acrylic Post earrings

Unicorn Stud Earrings

Gold Cross Stud Earrings

Silver Moon Studs

4. Give a journal

Every gift guide I see for this age group suggests a journal.

Having taught 7 through 12th graders I can assure you, many times they have NO IDEA WHAT TO WRITE!

This doesn’t mean journals are not a good idea – on the contrary, journals are a great idea and getting our daughters to get in the practice of keeping a journal will help them have a richer prayer life and greater success in life.

I was on a business call recently and a woman who I was talking to about business tips and help held up her journal and said something about journaling. I told her that I have some Advent journal prompts for her if she was interested and what she said next I have to share with you . . .

She said:

“I have never been a journaler, but every successful person I follow on social media seems to journal and recommends it, so I am going to try it.”

We need to encourage our girls to journal. But let’s make sure they know the most important person we need to bring our thoughts, fears, feelings and aspirations too . . . Our Lord Jesus.

5. Give Girls Cozy and Comfy Gifts

They might feel to old to ask for stuffed animals – or maybe you have just banned anymore from coming into your house – but that desire for something soft and huggable – does it really ever go away?

I am going to say as a grown woman – no, it does not lol!

Most girls and women love a cozy throw blanket.

Depending on the girl you are shopping for style, she might like the one pictured above or

This one from Rakstar Designs: Catholic Fleece Blanket

Or this Tapestry Blanket from Pink Salt Riot: You Are Tapestry

Rosary beads from Small Things Great Love
Pop-it Rosary Bracelet from Catholics Sticker Club

Let’s not forget the comfort of prayer.

A prayer journal, a Rosary, even a Miraculous Medals necklace – these things can and will bring comfort when held and used.

Want more ideas?

I have more ideas over at Spiritual Stocking Stuffers: Catholic Edition

Want Catholic gift ideas for the whole family? Check out this list!

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Previous Post: « A Catholic Woman’s Christmas Wish List
Next Post: A Saint, a Miracle and Your Catholic Christmas Gifts: Plus a Huge Giveaway! »

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Comments

  1. Victoria says

    December 13, 2021 at 11:42 pm

    That Ave Maria blanket is gorgeous! I remember one year I got a “20 minutes of mom’s undivided attention” ticket and to this day, I haven’t “cashed” it in because I treasure it so much. Of course, she and I have had many, many moments of undivided attention but there’s some attachment I have to that ticket and won’t let go of it.

    • Amy says

      December 15, 2021 at 3:18 pm

      Wow! What an incredible testimony that our parents attention means so much to us when we are young! Thank you so much for sharing!

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Striving for Sainthood can be as simple as this… Striving for Sainthood can be as simple as this… 

This type of advice can be really helpful for all of us… especially for a young girl navigating middle school or her early teens.

This advice would have helped me.
Why?

Because it takes some pressure off the high expectations often felt by us as individuals.

It makes God’s will for us feel achievable and realistic.

It’s totally relevant to a student in junior high
(And a slightly stressed out adult)

This page in the Be Yourself embraces scrapbooking fun- just like the back cover. Only this page encourages photographs. Yes, actual printed ones 🎞️📸

Take a deep breath.
Love the next person that comes near you.
#Catholicmom #Catholicsaints #middleschool #juniorhigh #Catholicquotes #inspirationalquotes
A prayer and the story behind the picture… Oh S A prayer and the story behind the picture…

Oh St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, 

I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your divine son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, our Lord; 

so that having engaged here below your heavenly power I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of fathers. 

Oh St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while he reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss his fine head for me, and ask him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. 

St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for us.
Amen.

My children had off from school on Friday. I had committed to an hour of Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays from to 2 to 3 during Lent… so since they had off, they had to come with me.
It was stressful.
They CAN NOT sit still.
Once I got one to stop walking around or talking, another one started.
But in the middle of all this… I witnessed a sweet moment.
I hesitated to pull out my phone because I really try not to during Adoration.
But, the beauty of the moment struck me, and I had to capture it.
📸 
Motherhood is hard. Parenting is difficult.
But I’m often reminded it’s like farming… and I’m planting seeds.

I just hope and pray I’m planting more good seeds then bad ones.

Thank goodness we can pray and ask for prayers from others!

Saint Joseph, pray for us!
#Catholic #Catholicmom #mustardseedfaith #catholicteacher #CatholicChristian #CatholicSaint #CatholicSaints #catholicparenting #liturgicalliving
THANK YOU! Thank you! Thank you! If you have left THANK YOU! Thank you!
Thank you!

If you have left a review on Amazon for either of the Be Yourself Journals… thank you from the bottom of my heart!

When you leave a review on Amazon it makes me SO HAPPY… plus it sends a signal to Amazon to show more people these books!
I’d love for more girls to get this book in their Easter Basket this year!

I’m so grateful this book is being used and appreciated!

God is good!

If you like this book and haven’t left a review, please write one! It’s okay if you didn’t buy it from there!

Tag someone with a 10 or 11 year old girl!

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I can’t believe in the past week I’ve posted 4 I can’t believe in the past week I’ve posted 4 videos on YouTube!

And last week’s interview with Dr. Matthew Breuninger (@askacatholictherapist ) still has me thinking about the “psychology of prayer journaling “!

The last 4 videos posted consist of two new interviews (Jessica Castillo from @athrivingcatholic and Dr. John Spitzer @johnspitzermd ); 

a box opening of @pinksaltriot ‘s latest JOY BOX and finally 

a “how to” video that demonstrates how girls can design the back cover of Be Yourself: a Journal for Catholic Girls!
Whew!

Dr. John Spitzer shared parenting advice for moms and dads of tweens;

Jessica Castillo shared how our physical and spiritual health are connected;

The Joy Box had some fun surprises… one will be going in my daughter’s Easter Basket;
And my friend’s daughter was the perfect co-host in the “how to design “ video!

Tell me which topic interests you the most… maybe I’ll dedicate an Instagram post highlighting that content!

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FLASH SALE!!!! Boy’s journal sale ends MONDAY!!! FLASH SALE!!!!
Boy’s journal sale ends MONDAY!!!
Finish up Lent strong… and add this fun book to an Easter Basket!
Link in bio!
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I adore you Jesus, true God, and true man, pres I  adore you Jesus, 
true God, and true man, 
present in the Holy Eucharist, 
kneeling before you 
and united in spirit 
with all the faithful on earth 
and all the saints in heaven. 

In gratitude for so great a blessing, 
I love you with all my heart, 
for you are worthy of all praise 
and adoration. 

Lord Jesus Christ, may I never offend you with my lack of love. 

May your Eucharistic presence refresh me in body and soul. 

Mary, Mother of the Eucharistic Lord, pray for me 
and obtain for me a greater love for Jesus. Amen.

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Have you ever seen a statistic and thought… thes Have you ever seen a statistic and thought… these numbers are NOT in my favor?

Years ago, I was lonely, depressed and wondering if I would ever not be lonely and depressed.

I dreamed of falling in love and getting married.

But, I wanted to marry a faithful Catholic man… and I believe I saw that only 22% (?) of Americans were Catholic.

And then I thought…
Half of them aren’t men, a large percentage are not practicing and … also how many are BOOMERS?

Lucky for me, God math goes like this…
5 loaves 
2 fish
=
5,000 meals and leftovers 

This is my handsome husband and our awesome nephew with the Bishop that Confirmed him on Friday.
Matt was -and is- such a proud Sponsor and Uncle!
God bless Grayson Patrick FRANCIS!

Thank you God for all of your gifts!!!
“You pay God a compliment when you ask big things of Him.” ~ Saint Teresa of Avila

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Don’t you love when a plan comes together for a Don’t you love when a plan comes together for a retreat and you see joyful faces! 

Listen, this is the best retreat hack for Catholic girls!
****The Be Yourself Journal Scrapbooking activity.****

Give each girl a Be Yourself Journal.
Explain how, “We are all called to holiness but we take different paths.” ~ Saint Katharine Drexel.

Have each girl pick out a Holy card and two Catholic stickers.

Put scrapbooking paper and Catholic washi-tape (thank you @thestumpofjesse ) on the tables and get them started with decorating the back of their journals.

As they work add more stickers and quote cards to their table.

Point out that they were all given the same set of instructions… yet each cover design is unique.

The same is true for their calling!
God has a unique mission for each individual.

He calls us to follow the Commandments, embrace His Word and trust the teachings of the Church…
same set of basic instructions, different yet BEAUTIFUL results when followed!
“Be who God meant you to be and you’ll set the world on fire!” ~Saint Catherine of Siena
Huge thank you to the women who donated journals and holy cards!!!
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Not sure what to do with all those prayer cards? Not sure what to do with all those prayer cards? 

Holy cards can be a fantastic prayer journal prompt. 

Copy the prayer off the back and glue the card to the page ;next to, underneath or above where you wrote the prayer).

Follow me for more prayer journaling tips!
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Getting ready for a Confirmation Retreat this week Getting ready for a Confirmation Retreat this weekend!

So excited to help these young Catholics see that each is called to holiness… but each mission is unique and unrepeatable!

Huge thank you to the women who donated journals for the retreat (11 donated!!!) and the women from my Bible study group who donated Holy cards!

If you would like to donate a Journal for one of the girls attending the retreat this weekend… send me a private message and I’ll explain how!

Holy cards are GREAT prayer journal prompts!

Which Holy card would you put in your prayer journal?
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Keep at it!!! Don’t give up and Don’t give in! Keep at it!!! Don’t give up and Don’t give in!!! “The world offers you comfort… but you were not made for comfort, you were made for GREATNESS!”
Pope Benedict XVI
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New post up on the blog!! I found some awesome Hol New post up on the blog!!
I found some awesome Holy Spirit themed gift ideas!
Link in bio!
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Holy Spirit activate!!! New gift guide up!!! One m Holy Spirit activate!!!
New gift guide up!!!
One might say … these gifts are on FIRE!!!!
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