Zephyr Hill

A Family Blog

20 Unique Gift Ideas for the Sacrament of Confirmation

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My son and daughter have studied diligently, chosen their Confirmation saints (Nicholas and Barbara, respectively), and will receive this most vital sacrament in May from the bishop himself. What a momentous day is coming!

The Catechism explains that by receiving Confirmation, a young Catholic is “more perfectly bound to the Church…enriched with a special strength of the Holy Ghost.” He becomes a “true witness of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.”

If you know someone who will be confirmed this spring and are looking for some new and different gifts, my post today is full of ideas.

1- Saint Specific Gifts

Find out who their chosen confirmation saint is and look for books, statues, medals, artwork or devotional items that honor the saint.

2- Holy Card Keeper

Confirmandi (those receiving the sacrament) will often receive holy cards from well-wishers and it’s nice to have a place to keep them protected. You can find little holy card albums at any Catholic gift store or online.

3- Memory Book

Speaking of saving things, there will be lots of mementos from this special day. Greeting cards, photos, stickers, programs of the church service, etc. Keep everything handy and beautifully presented in a nice memory book. My favorites are the standard 8.5  x11 Pioneer Albums with a window on the front that you can personalize with photography or artwork.

4- Keepsake Box

A beautiful box made of resin, wood or metal is a great place to keep mementos, especially if your child or teen is not the creative type and won’t spend time making a memory book. Each of my boys has a box like this and they put their “holy things” inside.

5- Inspiration for Christian Soldiers

The confirmandi are part of the Church Militant, defined as “The Church here on earth, still struggling with sin and temptation, and therefore engaged in warfare (Latin militia) with the world, the flesh, and the devil.”

You can inspire young soldiers for Christ with a statue, wall art, necklace or challenge coin to commemorate their Confirmation.

6 – Book of Psalms

The Church has given us many lovely prayers over the centuries, but in the Psalms it is God Himself teaching us to pray in words given to King David by the Holy Ghost. My Daily Psalm Book from TAN Books is a fitting gift for any confirmandi and features illustrations by Ariel Agemian. This compact edition fits nicely in your pocket or purse and was arranged by Father Joseph Frey.

7 – Gift Card to a Catholic Gift Shop

Choose a local or online Catholic retailer, and the receiver can choose whatever devotional gift he likes. You might also consider a Christian gift store like Mardel.  My favorite affordable online Catholic bookstore is TAN Books and you get a 15% discount if you use code ZH15.

8 – Framed Print or Icon

Let your imagination run free as you choose a beautiful piece of artwork. Christ, the Virgin Mary, the saints or even themes like Pentecost or The Blessed Trinity are all appropriate for Confirmation gift-giving.

As Saint John Damascene said “The beauty of the images moves me to contemplation, as a meadow delights the eyes and subtly infuses the soul with the glory of God.”

Below: framed prints from Nelson:

9 – Devotional Crucifix

You can choose one that hangs on the wall or stands upright.

10 – Spiritual Journal

Way back in my college days, I got into the habit of keeping a spiritual journal. I would write down Scripture verses, inspirational quotes and even notes from sermons that were especially helpful or life-changing. To this day, I still keep notes in it. I would suggest a durable leather-bound journal that will last for many years.

11 – Keepsake Pouch

A small bag or drawstring pouch adorned with an image of the Holy Ghost is an ideal place to keep medals, tokens, rosaries and chaplets.

12 – A Book About the Holy Ghost

Father Apostoli writes very clearly and engagingly about how we are to receive God’s generous gift of the Holy Ghost. This charming and sometimes humorous book is ideal for teenagers receiving Confirmation and helps them to fully appreciate what is being conferred, so they can take concrete action in their lives.

In his wonderful book, The Gift of God (purchase at TAN), Father writes “When someone offers another person a gift, the first thing the receiver should do is acknowledge the gift, then express gratitude for it, and finally, put it to good use!.”

13 – Confirmation Gift Bible

TAN’s Douay Rheims translation is a deluxe leatherette version that will become a treasured part of any young Catholic’s growing library. More than just a bible, this hardbound, gold-embossed edition features stories on the lives of young Saints, explanations of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and well-known prayers written in English and Latin. There are also answers to teens’ top questions about Catholic moral teaching.

14 – Rosary-Making Kit

Give a gift that will bring joy and bear fruit for years into the future. If you have a creative child who is eager to share the faith with the others, learning the skill of rosary-making is priceless. The Rosary Shop has many kit options including beginner, intermediate and customs.

15 – Religious Themed Mugs and Decor

I have a beautiful mug with Mary’s image and the Memorare prayer imprinted on it. What a great reminder each day as I have my coffee to start with prayer! There are thousands of options online, but I’d love for you to visit my friend’s shop, Little Agnes Designs, and see her mugs and other household items that feature original watercolor designs and beautiful curated graphics.

16 – Personalized Jewelry

You can order customized religiously jewelry through Etsy, including details like the confirmandi’s name, date of the sacrament or a simple message like “Come Holy Ghost.”

17 – Faith-Based Apparel

Teens love t-shirts and hoodies, and they can affirm their faith in God with clothes that feature bold messages like:

  • Verso L’Alto (To the Heights)
  • Viva Cristo Rey (Long Live Christ the King, the defiant cry of the Mexican Cristeros)
  • Deus Vult (God Wills It, chanted by the Crusaders).
  • Ave Maria
  • Ora et Labora (Pray and Work, associated with the Benedictine Rule)
  • Choose Life!
  • Deo Gratis (Thanks Be to God)

Try Cafepress or other custom apparel sites.

18 – Catholic Stationary and Stickers

Cards, notepaper and even religious address labels make great gifts, and can be put to use right away as your child writes thank-you notes. For my daughter, I ordered a set of address labels with a little image of the Holy Ghost.

19 – Subscriptions

The days of Zoobooks and Highlights are past and now it’s time for some meatier material!

Help Catholic teenagers grow in faith and knowledge with a subscription to an orthodox Catholic periodical. If he is a Latin Mass attendee, give the gift of a Benedictus subscription; every month he will receive a compact, paperback missal that corresponds to the current liturgical calendar. Magnificat is another little compact magazine full of daily devotions, prayers and beautiful artwork. Plastic or leather covers that fit them can also be purchased.

20 – Sacred Music

So many beautiful, uplifting options! There are audio CD’s of nuns singing, sacred choral music, Gregorian chant and organ music. It’s also great to have an audio CD of the rosary to use while your teen is driving.

Share your Confirmation gift ideas in the comments!

 

 

 

 

 

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5 Quick and Easy Ways to Trim Your Budget in 2023

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Are you finding that there’s very little month left at the end of every month?

Rising prices and inflation are really hitting Americans hard right now, and with no relief in sight, here are some ways you can relieve the financial pressure NOW. These are concrete ways to slash your expenses by hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Switch from whole to term life.

Having good life insurance is crucial, but did you know that some policies can cost you 15 times more than others?

I’m talking about whole life policies and why you should seriously consider cheap term life insurance instead.

The trap consumers fall into is thinking that their life insurance policies has to include a bunch of bells and whistles, when really you just need a solid product that provides a generous payout in the event of your death. That’s it. Salesmen will try to convince you that life insurance is a wealth-building proposition or an amazing investment opportunity, but that translates into high premiums.

Buy what you can afford and opt for cheap term life insurance instead. You’ll be fully covered, have peace of mind AND a much smaller monthly bill.

If you’re curious about just how much you could save on monthly premiums. try this term life calculator.

Get rid of budget busters.

Whether it’s a ridiculously high cable bill or too much eating out, take the ax to the most common expenses that sabotage a family’s budget. You’ll have more money at the end of the month to do worthwhile things with, like paying down debt or saving for upcoming expenses.

It just takes a quick meeting of 15-20 minutes with your spouse to go over your monthly expenditures and find out what’s killing you financially.

Change your vacation plans.

The further you go, the more you’ll spend on fuel or flights. Try a something more local, like unexplored areas of your own home state. Visit friends or family members that can offer you a free place to stay.

Last year, we took all 10 children on a 1-day jaunt to Kansas City. It’s only an hour and fifteen minutes from home. They are still talking about it and are begging to go back. What did we do that was so amazingly fun? Shopped at a huge Chinese grocery store, rode the KC Streetcare (100% free) all over the city, met Spiderman in The Link and visited lots of beautiful fountains.

Another favorite cheap vacation spot is to stay in a cabin at a state park. Nightly rates are from $60 to $100 and include everything the park has to offer – trails, fishing, swimming, etc.

Turns out, it doesn’t take much money to make children happy and vacations memorable.

Slash your subscriptions.

Surely I’m not the only American that has a bunch of magazines and newspapers lying around that don’t always get read. The fact is, many of us don’t really get our money’s worth when it comes to subscriptions.

Pare down to just one or two favorites, or cancel all of them, at least until money isn’t so tight anymore. The local library is full of free periodicals for you to enjoy.

Take a second look at your mortgage.

For most of us, house payments are the biggest expenditure on the books. But there are different ways that you can potentially lower your monthly mortgage payment.

  • Check to see if you’re unnecessarily paying PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance). If so, request that it be dropped from your monthly bill.
  • Check your residential property tax valuation for this year. If you feel it was inaccurate, or artificially inflated, you can appeal.
  • Are you a good candidate for a refinance?
  • Shop homeowners insurance policy rates and see if you can get yours lowered.

Share the ways that you’ve saved significant amounts of money in the comments below!

 

 

 

 

 

This post is made possible by a partnership with Responsival

Here’s Some Beautiful Spring Poetry to Inspire You!

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March has come in like a lion!

The arrival of spring after winter’s hardness and biting cold seems truly magical. Everything in nature is waking up around us, and something seems to wake up inside of the human heart and soul, too. The coming of Easter happens at this time, melding perfectly with the annual theme of renewal.

Over the centuries, many gift poets have captured that invigorating feeling that spring brings each year. Here are some of my favorites for you to enjoy and share.

Heading Outdoors Again

I love Robert Frost’s friendly tone in this poem (“To The Thawing Wind”), as he coaxes the warm breezes to come and melt winter away.

Come with rain, O loud Southwester!
Bring the singer, bring the nester;
Give the buried flower a dream;
Make the settled snowbank steam;
Find the brown beneath the white;
But whate’er you do tonight,
Bathe my window, make it flow,
Melt it as the ice will go;
Melt the glass and leave the sticks
Like a hermit’s crucifix;
Burst into my narrow stall;
Swing the picture on the wall;
Run the rattling pages o’er;
Scatter poems on the floor;
Turn the poet out of door. 

As I watch my children head outdoors to ride and play in the sunshine, these lines from Ellen Field’s ode to the month of April (“A Child of Spring”) come to mind:

I know a little maiden,
She is very fair and sweet,
As she trips among the grasses
That kiss her dainty feet;
Her arms are full of flowers,
The snow-drops, pure and white,
Timid blue-eyed violets,
And daffodillies bright.

Camille is enjoying the retro-inspired Step2 Ride-a-Long Scooter

We were sent a review copy of this beautiful new book from TAN, Poems Every Child Should Know. It’s a definitive introduction to the marvelous world of poetry and prose, compiled by author and literature scholar, Joseph Pearce. I love that he includes “things to think about,” which will guide children to look deeply into each poem, bringing out its depth and beauty. The typeface is clear and easy to read, and the deluxe leatherette binding makes it an ideal gift for this spring.

These gems of the English language are part of our shared inheritance and will enrich the life of any child, opening his eyes to Truth, Beauty and Goodness.

Nature comes alive

Nearly everyone gets the itch to be a gardener when spring rolls around, even if that means just a few pretty flowers in a front porch planter.

Marjorie Pickthall penned these delightful lines about her favorite flower, the humble daisy:

See, the grass is full of stars,
Fallen in their brightness;
Hearts they have of shining gold,
Rays of shining whiteness.
Buttercups have honeyed hearts,
Bees they love the clover,
But I love the daisies’ dance
All the meadow over.

William Wordsworth (“Lines Written in Early Spring”) was able to make flowers seem almost human-like:

Through primrose tufts, in that green bower,
The periwinkle trailed its wreaths;
And ’tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes.

Poet and Jesuit priest Gerard Manley Hopkins used exquisite, exuberant language in his poem “Spring) to describe the antics of the animals:

Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrush
Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring
The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;
The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush
The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush
With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling…

Louis Untermeyer compares the eruption of growth to gold and fire (“Feuerzauber”):

I never knew the earth had so much gold—
The fields run over with it, and this hill
Hoary and old,
Is young with buoyant blooms that flame and thrill.
Such golden fires, such yellow—lo, how good
This spendthrift world, and what a lavish God!
This fringe of wood,
Blazing with buttercup and goldenrod.

And how can you head out with your spade and seed packets without recalling these words from what is probably the most famous British poem about gardening? From Tennyson:

Come into the garden, Maud
For the black bat – night – has flown,
Come into the garden Maud,
I am here at the gate along;
And the woodbine spices are wafted abroad,
And the must of the rose is blown.

While gardening is certainly rewarding and therapeutic, it can bring its fair share of aches and pains. Sometimes I’ll completely lose track of time while digging and planting, only to stand up and realize that my back is complaining quite loudly! A natural pain relief cream is always my first choice. A good pain relief cream can help not just with inflammation but also any scrapes or bruises you sustain while working outdoors.

While she was alive, did you know that Emily Dickinson was known more for her gardening than her poetry? This is from “New Feet Within my Garden Go.”

New feet within my garden go –
New fingers stir the sod –
A Troubadour upon the Elm
Betrays the solitude.

Not into full-time gardening? No problem! Just set up a pretty porch planter like this.

The fickle spring weather

“March comes in a like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” We know of the truth of this old adage, living in Tornado Alley and witnessing the dramatic storms that roll in at spring time.

Bliss Carmen (“Summer Storm”) uses military language to present the coming of a strong thunderstorm:

The hilltop trees are bowing
Under the coming of storm.
The low, gray clouds are trailing
Like squadrons that sweep and form,
With their ammunition of rain.

Then the trumpeter wind gives signal
To unlimber the viewless guns;
The cattle huddle together;
Indoors the farmer runs;
And the first shot lashes the pane.

From the Harlem Renaissance comes this vibrant description by Jean Toomer (“Storm Ending”):

Thunder blossoms gorgeously above our heads,
Great, hollow, bell-like flowers,
Rumbling in the wind,
Stretching clappers to strike our ears . . .
Full-lipped flowers
Bitten by the sun
Bleeding rain
Dripping rain like golden honey—
And the sweet earth flying from the thunder.

Poet William Carlos Williams describes the relentless flow of April showers in “Spring Storm.”

Water, water, from a thousand runnels!
It collects swiftly, dappled with black
Cuts a way for itself
Through green ice in the gutters

Activities for a rainy day…

And if you’re stuck inside on one of these rainy spring days, combat stress and boredom with some relaxing and interactive online games. They range from educational math games to perplexing puzzles, at all levels for everyone in the family to enjoy.

I use Birdline Math to reinforce addition concepts with my younger children. Fill the nest with the right numbers to reach your goal:

If you like logic and puzzles, try Robot Builder, where you make a path for your bot to escape through. You can also browse my site for activities and coloring pages.

And here’s another inspiration for spring: baking with Wilton! They are all about making memories in the kitchen, and their new spring baking kits are just the ticket. Featuring soft pastels and Easter-themed elements, making beautiful baked goods with your family will be both tasty and enjoyable. Their seasonal collection includes bakeware, tools and all the decorating supplies you’ll need. Use hashtag #WiltonCakes on social media for ideas and inspiration.

It’s Been Challenging But I’m So Glad We Chose a 15-Year Mortgage

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Should you get a 15-year or 30-year mortgage when buying a home? My husband and I chose the former and even though it’s been tough to make the payments sometimes, we’re happy and very confident about the decision.

Here’s why!

You’ll Save HUGE Amounts in Interest

I think this is the number one reason a 15-year mortgage is so great. You save thousands of dollars, and what’s not to like about that? Since you’re borrowing the money for half as long (15 years vs 30 years), the total interest paid will likely be half of what would have been spent.

An online mortgage calculator can show you the impact that different rate terms will have on your monthly payment, and interest paid out over the life of the loan.

Here’s a simple example to put this into focus:

Ask yourself: “Is a smaller monthly mortgage payment worth giving away $100,000 of your money to the bank?” Of course not!

You’ll Probably Get a Better Interest Rate

Fifteen years is a shorter term, making this type of loan cheaper and less risky for a bank to finance than something long-term. You might save as much as a whole point.

My husband and I locked in a great 3% fixed rate back in 2013 when we opted for our 15-year home loan.

You’ll Pay It Off Sooner

Your house will truly be yours 15 years sooner. What a great feeling! Who wants to be a slave to the bank for 30 long years? Wouldn’t it be nice to actually own your home while you’re still raising a family? Think of what you could do with that extra money that’s not going to mortgage payments anymore.

You’ll Be More Disciplined and Motivated

The adage “no pain no gain” really applies here. It can be tough sticking with those higher payments each month, but the hidden benefits is that you’ll have to become more disciplined with your finances AND you’ll likely be motivated to pay off your mortgage earlier. For example, when we got stimulus money from the feds a few years ago, my husband and I took some of that and applied it to our mortgage.

It’s pretty exciting to think that our youngest child is just 18 months old and yet we will have a PAID OFF MORTGAGE in just a few years.

Woo hoo!

Use this handy mortgage payoff tool so you can make a plan to pay off your home loan as quickly as possible.

And while you’re online checking rates and calculating payments, take a break every once in a while and play some educational money games for the whole family. Many of these fun games will reinforce the concepts they’re learning at school.

Our favorites are Treze Coins (which help teach children to count money and feed it into a gumball machine) and Grocery Cashier, which lets you scan, total and make change for items at the store. It was always my dream as a child to be a cashier and use the scanner!

If you’re more the adventurous type, try the LEGO City Build & Protect game. You can dig for LEGO minipieces of different colors to build up your town, collect taxes, beautify the city and even put out fires and stop crime!

Another favorite is Tower Boom, where you have to use carefully placed dynamite to take down a structure. It’s simple to learn but gets quite challenging as the levels progress.

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or suggestions when it comes to choosing a 15-year fixed mortgage. I wish you all the best with your next home purchase!

 

50+ Valentine-Themed Names for Your Pet

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Are you bringing home a new pet around Saint Valentine’s Day this year? Or maybe there’s a litter due this February and you’re looking for name inspiration. Here are some Valentine-inspired name ideas to get you started:

Sweet

Candy
Caramel
Cuddles
Dove
Godiva
Hershey
Honey
Kit Kat
Lovey
Sugar Baby
Sweetheart
Teddy
Toffee
Tootsie
Truffle

Colors

Cherry
Pinky
Redd
Ruby
Scarlet
Violet

Flowers

Carnation
Daisy
Iris
Ivy
Lily
Lotus
Marigold
Poppy
Rose
Zinnia

Romantic

Amor or Amora
Beau
Belle or Bella
Carnation
Casanova
Cherie
Cleopatra
Cupid
Darcy
Desiree
Don Juan
Elvis
Rose or Rosie
Lancelot
Lorenzo
Paris
Penelope
Rhett
Romeo
Tristan
Valentino
Venus

And here’s a fantastic Valentine gift idea for a pet lover in your life!

Have you ever thought about doing a custom pet portrait? It’s easy to do and creates a memorable piece of artwork to display in your home or office. The process is very simple. Just upload a good clear photo of the animal and then choose one of over 100 different canvases, ranging from Renaissance nobles to military generals. An artist will then work with your digital image, blending it into the canvas in a lifelike way and producing a custom pet portrait that’s completely unique.

Look at this custom pet portrait we did featuring our pug, Spartacus!

And if you love sending REAL Valentines, whether by mail or in person, Amazon has some fantastic vintage-inspired animal cards with clever little messages.

And if you still need name inspiration, I’m here to help! Check out my new naming service for 2023.

 

 

 

 

 

This post is a sponsored partnership with Responsival.