Remember; They Are Watching!

I've been blessed to enjoy a busy and wonderful summer with sweet, rascal boys . . . they have spent most Tuesday nights and Friday nights this summer at our house on sleepover! We have had so much fun!

Mixed in with all this fun, I've noticed something which has reminded me of something important. First, what I have noticed . . . 

More "buzz" about Deeper In 4 Grandparents & Parents, Too!

Yesterday I shared with you some of the fun things people - who just happened to be three readers of grandma's cookie jar! - are saying about my new book. So, today I thought it would be fun to share a few more comments from people who read grandma's cookie jar; including some of my family, too!

The "Buzz" About Deeper In 4 Grandparents & Parents, Too!

Over the years, from time-to-time, I've shared Scripture prayers with you which you can pray for yourself and for your grandchildren. I'm about finished on a book which provides a year of Scripture prayers for you to do this with - Deeper In 4 Grandparents & Parents, Too! Praying the Scriptures for the Children You Love - Old Testament Edition.

It will be available in about a week, but I thought today I'd share with you some of the fun things people are saying about this book . . . 

I Know What Is Really Important

My sweet rascal boys are at my house today and since it looks like the day - or a good portion of it - will be rainy, we are going to paint flower pots, plant seeds (for a project I'm reviewing and will share with you next week), bake cookies and just enjoy spending time together!

We are also going to read more of, I Can Learn the Bible: The Joshua Code for Kids: 52 Devotions and Scriptures for Kids; this book is a great tool to help grandparents (and parents) pass on a heritage of faith, but helping the children they love better understand the Bible and what it means.

LeapTV - Blaze and the Monster Machines Game

Recently LeapFrog sent me a box of items for my grandsons to try and for me to review - I've already posted several reviews and today I'm going to share another with you . . . this time for the new LeapTV game, Blaze and the Monster Machines.

crafting with grandma - Crocheted Upside-Down Doll!

When I was a child, my family often vacationed in the Smokey Mountains. One year on our trip, I was browsing in a "souvenir" store with my mom and saw an Upside-Down doll. It was something I had not seen before and my mom said I could have one. The doll became one of my favorites; what's not to love about two dolls in one???!!!

When my daughter was little, I made an upside-down bunny doll for her . . . one side was the awake doll and the other was the sleeping doll. I was pretty happy with how it turned out and Tiffany liked it, too!

So, the other day I was browsing on Pinterest and saw a link for a free crochet pattern for an upside-down Cinderella doll! one side she is dressed to work and the other side she is dressed to dance at the ball! If I had granddaughters, I'd definitely be making them for Christmas!

crafting with grandma - Kindness Stones

I was browsing on Pinterest today and found a great, simple and fun idea for encouraging our grandchildren to think about being kind to others and have a very doable activity which gives them an opportunity to do so! And, you only need a few simple supplies!

Help Needed!

I recently wrote a book about passing on a heritage of faith to our grandchildren/children - It Is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren; and Other Important Facts for Grandparents and Parents, Too! and I'm about to release my second book;  Deeper in 4 Grandparents & Parents, Too! Praying the Scriptures for the Children You Love - Old Testament Edition.

I am looking for parents and grandparents who would be willing to take a look at the book and write a brief endorsement for me to include in the book. The thing is, I have to have your endorsement back to me by Saturday afternoon - the 29th. Yes, in just two days.

Tomorrow is Thoughtful Day - Let's Be Thoughtful!

Yes, tomorrow, Thursday, is Thoughtful Day! A day to be focused on being thoughtful to those around you. Of course, every day should be, Thoughtful Day, but since there is a special day to focus on being thoughtful, I thought it would be fun today to think about ways you can engage your grandchildren in being thoughtful on purpose!

It's In the Simple Every-Day Questions . . .

Yesterday I needed to talk with my daughter-in-law on the phone for a minute and then, of course, talked with my grandsons, too. Josiah had been looking at some VBS stickers I had given him - I review most VBS resources each year and some of the VBS items end up going to my grandsons. He asked me what it meant when one of them said; "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

I told him the "fear" it is talking about is not "fear", like when you are afraid, but instead it is talking more about "respect". When we respect God, it is the first step to being wise. He said this made more sense and went on telling me about some of the other stickers.

grandma's bookshelf - Sloth Slept On - I'm Giving One Away!

I love having picture story books for my grandsons to enjoy; and so far, each of them have enjoyed the books. Now sweet little Shane is at the age (2) where he wants to snuggle in my or Poppa's lap and have us read storybooks to him. Especially at bedtime. He will point to the books and say, "Storyboook!" I think he is partly motivated by postponing bedtime as long as possible, but he does love to have us read to him! 

Caleb is at the age (4) where he is starting to "read" by retelling the story or making up the story to match with the illustrations. He watches his big brother Josiah (7) who loves to read - I mean, who LOVES to read, so he wants to do what Josiah does!

All of this makes me really happy, so when Sterling Publishing asked if I would be interested in taking a look at a new picture book, Sloth Slept On, I thought it sounded like a book my grandsons would enjoy and happily said, "Yes!" In exchange for my review, Sterling Publishing not only sent me the book, but they are making another available for me to give away, but more on this later. First, my review . . . 

Let's Grandparent on Purpose!

I had a conversation with a friend of mine at church yesterday who is also a grandma (she has 11 grandchildren!). We were talking about how important it is for grandparents to pass on a heritage of faith and she shared with me an old Arabic saying, which I'm delighted to share with you today! It goes like this . . . "If you do not have a grandparent in your home; buy one!"

LeapTV Mr. Pencil Presents Doodle Craft Game

Recently LeapFrog sent me a box of items for my grandsons to try and for me to review - I've already posted several reviews and today I'm going to share another with you . . . this time for the new LeapTV game, Mr. Pencil Presents Doodle Craft.

Grandma Job Descriptions . . .

As all you grandmas know, we have a job with some specific "job descriptions"; I thought it would be fun today to take a look at just a few of them . . . 

Local Author Event!

I heard a fun quote at the Legacy Coalition meeting I was at last week . . . Do you know what kind of book sells for the most at a garage sale? The answer is an autographed book!

With this in mind, if you live in the West Michigan area, I'm very happy to invite you to a Local Author Book Signing event with seven or eight authors; I am one who has been invited to participate! Mark your calendars for Thursday, September 24, 2015 from 7pm to 9pm and join me at the Kregel Bookstore in Grandville, MI. 

grandma's chuckles - Hugs - They are Good for You!

My grandsons are at my house - they spent the night last night. As we were getting ready for bed, I hugged Shane, hugged Caleb and asked Josiah if he wanted a hug, too. Josiah wanted a hug, so of course, I happily hugged him. 

Poppa said hugs are good for us and this surprised Josiah. They then talked about how studies show people who hug and receive hugs are healthier and live longer. To which Josiah said; "Then Caleb, Shane and I will be very healthy and live a very long time, because we get LOTS of hugs; especially at your house!" Then he looked at me and said; "And apparently you are going to be very healthy and live a very long time, too, grandma, because you give a LOT of hugs!" Caleb added; "And, you get a lot of hugs, too!" To which we all hugged again!

LeapTV: Disney Princess: Cinderella and Rapunzel Game - I'm Giving One Away!

As I wrote about in the past few days, I recently received a box of "goodies" from LeapFrog for me to check out with my grandsons, and in exchange I'm writing my reviews of these items. Some of the items in the box were new games for the LeapTV. 

I'm going to share with you the new LeapTV: Disney Princess: Cinderella and Rapunzel Game today - and announce another giveaway for my 2015 Christmas Gift Review! Yes, Christmas is four months away and this is a bit early to start announcing my giveaways for this year, but I thought it would be fun to get a head start and what better giveaway than another LeapTV game!

God's Word, a Thunderstorm & Thanking Him!

Wednesday night when my grandsons were at my house and we were getting ready for bedtime, Josiah, Caleb, Poppa and I talked about what it means when the Bible says, "Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Last week when the boys were here, we had a big thunder storm pass through and our power went out. Since it was bedtime, this meant it was quite dark here in the house without any power. We used a flashlight to see where we were going.

Grandparent on Purpose - 4 Roles of a Grandparent!

Yesterday I shared some things about grandparenting on purpose which Tim Kimmel said during the Legacy Coalition meeting I was at the other day. I said I'd share a few more of the things he said with you tomorrow . . . which is today!

Tim said grandparents need to employ a "gracious grandparenting" plan . . . which basically means we treat our grandchildren with the same grace God lavishes upon us! When we mess up, God gives us His grace and forgives us - He does not hold it over our heads nor brow-beat us. God gives us grace and grandparents need to do the same!

He said there are four roles of a grandparent . . . 

Let's Grandparent on Purpose!

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm part of a group who will be working with churches to help them engage, equip and encourage grandparents to pass on a heritage of faith to their grandchildren. If you have been reading grandma's cookie jar, you know this is something I care very much about.

Yesterday, as we met, Dr. Tim Kimmel spoke to us about a vision for grandparenting ministry. One thing he said really stood out to me; he said, "We can not afford to grandparent by accident." He is correct.

While I write about a lot of the "fun" which comes with being grandma, I believe as grandmas, we can not afford to grandparent by accident. We have to be focused. We have to be intentional. We have to be people who pray and pray throughout each day for our grandchildren. The price is too high if we do not pass on a heritage of faith to our grandchildren; it is a price I'm not willing to pay in regards to my grandsons.

grandma's bookshelf - Goodnight Songs - A Celebration of the Seasons - I'm Giving One Away!

I was recently invited by Sterling Children's Books to take a look at a new book by Margaret Wise Brown. It sounded interesting, so they sent it to me in exchange for my review - and they are making another available for me to give away!

You may recognize Margaret Wise Brown as the author of the loved book; Goodnight Moon. Along with a love for children's books, she had a love for children's music, so when twelve of her poems were found at her sister's house, they were set to music and made into this lovely book of bed-time songs!

A Birthday & a Toad!

The other day we celebrated my sweet grandson Shane's second birthday! He loved the presents . . . did I say, "loved"??? A more accurate description would be "LOVED!!!!!" And what self-respecting two-year-old wouldn't?

At any rate, after supper and after opening and playing with his gifts, the boys went outside to, of course, play with squirt guns! And, of course, once again grandma had a huge "target" on her as all three of my sweet rascals saw fit to get me with their squirt guns! The have such huge smiles when they do this!!!

I was walking in our drive way when I noticed a small toad - about the size of a quarter - jumping around. I pointed it out to Josiah and Caleb. Caleb said, "I'm going to catch it!" and he did . . . which surprised me as to how quickly he was able to do so!