Maryellen, the American Girl Beforever Doll : Follow Your Heart
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Thank you, American Girl, for being a part of our Giving Christmas Away Event Gift Guide and for making dolls that inspire and encourage our girls to be themselves.
All opinions shared in this feature are my own.
My oldest daughter turns 10 early next year and while I know this is cause for so much celebration, a part of me feels sad.
My baby is growing up.
While I would love to bubblewrap her and keep her close to me, I know this is selfish on my part. As a Mom, it’s my God given role to lovingly guide her to make the right decisions in life and pray for her to blossom into the beautiful woman God wants her to be.
The world is filled with so many influences. It’s important for me to remind her to stay true to what she knows is right, follow her heart and remember that she’s uniquely created by a loving God who never makes mistakes.
Maryellen, the American Girl Beforever Doll : Follow Your Heart
When I think about all I pray for her to become, I recognize the importance of encouraging her to meet, learn, read and interact with people and stories that will pour wealth into her life journey.
Inspirational stories like that of Maryellen Larkin, the Beforever girl introduced into the American Girl doll family earlier on in August this year.
Maryellen Larkin grew up in the 1950s in a family with 5 siblings. The need to stick out to be recognized is great and she goes that extra mile to make sure she stands out from the crowd, yet makes sure she doesn’t resort to being a crowd pleaser.
This does not always mean the attention is positive but Maryellen stays true to the person she is, follows her heart and makes a difference in the lives of the people she comes across.
Tweens (and teens) can find such a great role model in Maryellen and she honestly would make such a wonderful gift this Christmas.
The Maryellen Doll and Book set is a 2015 National Parenting Publications (NAPPA) silver award recipient and remains consistent with the quality found in the American Girl brand.
The doll is 18″ in length, has a huggable cloth body and is dressed in an adorable ’50s get up, with a monogrammed lacy knit shrug and all!
She comes along with The One and Only: A Maryellen Classic 1 book.
Maryellen Larkin is nine years old and longs to stand out—but in a family with five brothers and sisters, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle! A painting mishap gains her some attention, but not the kind she’s been longing for. And being invited to stay in at recess and practice her handwriting earns Maryellen a new friend, but what does that mean for her old friendships? Then, Maryellen is wishing for a white Christmas like the ones in the movies—not very likely in Florida! Will she find a way to make her dream come true? Author: Valerie Tripp. 224 pages.
Do you know a young girl who would love to find Maryellen under her tree, this Christmas?
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