I Have a Winner!

I'm happy to say Judy S is the winner in my Drawing Animals Shape by Shape: Create Cartoon Animals with Circles, Squares, Rectangles & Triangles book giveaway! (You'll find the review at this link.) Thank you Judy for reading grandma's cookie jar (please email me your address at lyndagcj@gmail.com by October 6, 2015, so I can have it sent to you) and thank you Sterling Children's Books for sending one for me to review and for making another available for me to give away!

Day Three of the Adventure Bible Quest Game!

We are about half-way through the Adventure Bible Quest Game where you could win a great prize package of Adventure Bibles to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Adventure Bible. Today I'm happy to share with you the clue and verse for Day Three of the quest . . . 

Free Gift from Shutterfly!

This morning when I opened my email, I had one from Shutterfly with an offer I wanted to share with you today! If you follow this link, you'll be able to choose one item to receive for free (you'll have to pay shipping)! There are four to choose from . . . a placemat, deck of cards, reusable shopping bag or a 5x7 notepad . . . and you can personalize your choice with photos!

I chose a placemat because I have placemats for Josiah and Caleb with their faces on them, and now I'll have one for Shane! What might you choose? Be sure to use the code - ONEFREEBIE - at checkout and enjoy!

Day Two of the Adventure Bible Quest Game!

Yesterday I announced the Adventure Bible Quest Game where you could win a great prize package of Adventure Bibles to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Adventure Bible. Today I'm happy to share with you the clue and verse for Day Two of the quest . . . 

Giveaway in Just Two Days - and The 2015 Christmas Giveaway Announcements Begin in Three Days!

In just two days, on September 30, 2015, I'm giving away a really fun book . . . Drawing Animals Shape by Shape: Create Cartoon Animals with Circles, Squares, Rectangles & Triangles! And, you have time to enter this giveaway! You'll find all the details at this link . . . go ahead and enter! Who knows??? Maybe you will win!

The Adventure Bible is 25 Years Old! Play the Adventure Bible Quest Game and Win a Prize Pack!

When I opened my email this morning I found an invitation to celebrate the 25th anniversary/birthday of the Adventure Bible . . . and host a fun contest where one of you will be able to win a prize package which includes one of each of the Adventure Bible resources! Sounds like fun, so I'm posting it on both of my blogs - with one winner - here goes . . . 

grandma's cookbook - Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies

If you are looking for a recipe you could make with your grandchildren to celebrate the crisp, days of Fall and brighten the day of others, consider this recipe I found on Pinterest for Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies!

This is a recipe your grandchildren could enjoy making with you . . . and will certainly enjoy eating! You'll find the recipe and all you need to know at this link. Have fun making the pies and then take some to elderly neighbors, shut-ins, your local police/fire departments or package up to send to school with your grandchildren for their teachers.

grandma's chuckles - "You're My Grandma!" & Blessings

I typically call my grandsons, my sweet boys. Well, more than typically! I actually say this a number of times, every time I see them. This is said with much love and enthusiasm . . . and of course, hugs and kisses!

So, lately Caleb has been calling me, "My grandma!!!" He says this with much love and enthusiasm . . . and of course, hugs and kisses! It makes my heart happy to hear the love, delight and "ownership" which is expressed and reflected back with those two words!

Make the Most of Being a Grandparent - Deeper In 4 Grandparents & Parents, Too!

As we continue to look at resources which are available for grandparents to use to help them pass on a heritage of faith to their grandchildren, I am delighted to share with you a book which will guide grandparents - and parents, too - in praying every day for the children they love! In the interests of transparency, I wrote this book.

grandma's cookbook -Cinnamon Sugar, Soft, Pumpkin Pretzels

The leaves on my trees are beginning to turn the most beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow! Fall is definitely on it's way!

So, I thought today would be a great day to share a favorite recipe from Pinterest - Cinnamon-Sugar Soft Pumpkin Pretzels. Please let me say here, when I first saw the recipe, the thought of making soft pretzels was at least somewhat intimidating. But, the author of this recipe said this was really simple and only took 30 minutes! Thirty minutes!!!! I tried it and found it was simple! The biggest bonus is my family loved the finished pretzels - and the boys had such fun making them!

crafting with grandma - Handprint/Fingerprint All Seasons Tree

While we are just beginning to enjoy Fall as the trees are starting to change color here in West Michigan, Christmas is really just around the corner . . . three months and a day! As I browsed Pinterest this morning I found an idea for a gift you could help your grandchildren make for their parents . . . a gift they will have fun making and their parents will love receiving!

Shark Hat!

Each year I crochet hats for my grandsons; after all, I do live in West Michigan and it gets cold here in the winter. Warm hats help their little heads stay warm, so if I can crochet fun, warm hats, I'm happy to do so!

I'm currently working on alien hats for them - the hats have three antennas with eye balls on them and lots of spots! When I finish them, I'll post a photo.

When I complete the alien hats, I'm going to crochet shark hats for them, so I thought I'd share a link today with you in case you want to make shark hats for the children you love. You have time to finish them before Christmas!

You'll find the patterns at this link - enjoy!

Make the Most of Being a Grandparent - Extreme Grandparenting

Yesterday I talked about a book you could read to help you with passing on a heritage of faith to your grandchildren. Today I'm very happy to share with you another book . . . Extreme Grandparenting by Dr. Tim & Darcy Kimmel.

Make the Most of Being a Grandparent - It Is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren

I've been writing for several years about how important it is for us, as grandparents to pass on a heritage of faith. As you read and think about this, you wonder if there are resources to help you know about how to do this. I'm happy to say, "yes!", there are! This week I'll be sharing resources with you which you could read and use to pass on your faith to your grandchildren!

The first resource I'm sharing with you is one I wrote . . . a book; It Is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren; and Other Important Facts for Grandparents and Parents, Too! In this book along with sharing some of my "cute-grandson stories", I talk about important things for grandparents to think about and keep in mind as they focus on passing on a heritage of faith to their grandchildren. I talk about -

The LeapFrog epic . . . Definitely Epic!

I was recently invited by LeapFrog to participate in the roll-out of their new learning tablet for children; the LeapFrog epic. They sent me one to try out with my grandsons in exchange for my review - knowing my grandsons would be happy to try it out, I agreed. Today I'm delighted to share with you my opinion - and my grandson's as well - about the LeapFrog epic Tablet!

grandma's movie review - Letter Factory The Great Shape Mystery

I'm very excited to share with you tomorrow, my review of the new LeapFrog learning tablet for children . . . the EPIC . . . and yes, it is quite epic!!!

But, today I'm happy to let you know about a DVD for children which LeapFrog sent me in exchange for my review . . . Letter Factory Adventures - The Great Shape Mystery!

A Free Gift From Shutterfly

As I write this post, I'm enjoying a cup of coffee in my favorite mug . . . a photo mug from Shutterfly, which I received last Christmas! It has photos of my three, sweet rascals, and my family; so when I drink coffee from it, while I enjoy the photos, I'm reminded to pray for my family. I love this mug because it is covered with photos of people I love!

When I walk into my kitchen, it is impossible to not notice my refrigerator . . . it is covered in artwork from my three, sweet rascals - this artwork is held to the refrigerator with photo magnets. My refrigerator makes me smile, because I get to see pictures my grandsons have drawn and their cute, sweet faces as well!

How Can I Help YOU?

I write often about passing on a heritage of faith to our grandchildren, because this is really important to me. I want my grandsons to know, love and walk with God themselves . . . so they will grow to be men who know, love and walk with God. This matters so much to me.

I try to be intentional with my grandsons and talk with them, engage them in activities and encourage them to know, love and walk with God. It isn't enough for me to do these things, they have to choose to do them themselves.

So, when it comes to passing on a heritage of faith to your grandchildren, what are your biggest concerns? What could I do to help you? Please comment below because I'd be delighted and honored to help you in this most important thing you could ever do!

My Response to God's Gifts

Seven years ago tomorrow God blessed our family with one of His most amazing gifts . . . the arrival of my first grandchild; and nothing has been the same since then! This sweet boy has brought so much joy to my heart!

Two more sweet boys have followed . . . I am most blessed indeed! Three sweet rascal grandsons . . . I am so thankful for each of them.

Now, while I want them to remember me as their grandma who loved them all of the time, I want them to also remember me as someone who passed on a heritage of faith to them. Someone who pointed them to Jesus! Someone who showed the joy of the Lord in my day-in-day-out life.

Saturday is Talk Like a Pirate Day!

In two days on September 19th it is, Talk Like a Pirate Day! If you stop by your local Krispy Kreme store and talk like a pirate, you'll receive a free donut! If you dress like a pirate you'll receive a free box of a dozen tasty donuts!!! You'll find all the important piraty details at this link.

grandma's cookbook - Pumpkin, Cinnamon Muffins

As I said yesterday, Fall colors are just around the corner and it won't be long until the area of Michigan where I live is awash in color! I believe Dr. Seuss must have wrote many of his books in the Spring or Fall when trees really are red, yellow, orange (or even pink in the Spring)!

At any rate, Fall is the perfect time to make pumpkin muffins, so today I'm very happy to share with you a recipe I found on Pinterest for cinnamon, pumpkin muffins! These muffins would be a wonderful treat to make and surprise your grandchildren, or have them help you make them and then go with you  to take them to shut-ins, deliver to your local fire/police station or package to give to their teachers at church and/or school.

crafting with grandma - Easy 10-Minute Homemade Pumpkin Soap

I believe one of the important things we need to teach our grandchildren is to be people who are tender-hearted, kind and who are quick to encourage others. We do this by modeling what it means to be gracious people who watch for opportunities to lift the spirits of those we come in contact with. As they see us do this, they will better understand how they can be people who brighten the day of those around them.

One way we can do this, is to involve our grandchildren in making small items which they can learn to have on hand so when they are invited to a friend's house for dinner, they know to take a small gift to their friend's mother as a way to say, "thank-you" for the invite. Or, when they see their teacher at school has had a difficult day, they know to write a note saying what they appreciate and then possibly leave it with a small item they made. Or, when they visit an elderly neighbor, they know to bring a small item to just brighten their neighbor's day; something which will remind them they are not forgotten.

crafting with grandma - Painted Yard Sticks

As I look out my window the leaves on the trees are still green, but I know it won't be long and they will be bright yellow, deep red and flaming orange as Fall arrives in all its colorful glory! We have a lot of trees in our yard . . . a LOT and these are trees with leaves which will change color . . . then drop. If I only received a penny for every ten leaves, I'd still be a very wealthy person!!!

At any rate, leaves aside, this is the perfect time of year to go for a walk with the grandchildren to enjoy the beautiful world God created! Of course, since I have so many trees in my yard, we would not have to walk far to find the supplies for the craft I found on Pinterest this morning . . . the main supply is sticks . . . and I have no shortage of them!

The Most Powerful Thing We Can Do!

Of course as grandmas - or grandpas, moms or dads - we love our grandchildren/children and would do anything we can to protect them. There are, however; times when there is nothing we can physically do. This does not mean we can do nothing. We can pray. 

While we might thing praying is not really "doing" anything, it is actually the most powerful thing we can do, because when we can not do anything "physically" for those we love, God can . . . and will! He promises to not just hear our prayers, but to listen to them! And He promises to not just listen, but to answer!

Take some time today to read Jeremiah 29:10-14a and pray it for the children you love. It is one of the passages in my book; Deeper In 4 Grandparents & Parents, Too! Praying the Scriptures for the Children You Love - Old Testament Edition. To help you pray this passage for your grandchildren, I'm posting this prayer for you today!

crafting with grandma - Crochet a Nativity Set!

In just a little over three months it will be Christmas! It will be here before we know it, so if you are looking for a project you could work on with your grandchildren, consider this pattern I found on Pinterest for a crocheted Nativity Set. If you have older grandchildren who know how to crochet, or would like to learn to crochet, consider having them help you make this set to give to their parents, their other grandparents, shut-ins, elderly neighbors, their teachers, pastor, the church secretary . . . the list goes on!

Happy Grandparent's Day - Truths About Grandparents

Happy Grandparents Day! On this day I thought it would be fun to share some fun quotes about grandmas/grandparents . . . enjoy!

Grandparent's Day - Let's Focus on What Matters the Most!

Tomorrow - Sunday, September 13, 2015, is Grandparent's Day. Those of us who are grandparents can use this day to renew our commitment to pass on a heritage of faith to our grandchildren. Is there anything more important we could spend our time doing? 

So, as we look at the remainder of 2015 and at 2016, lets focus on passing our faith to the children we love. There are many ways we can do this; consider the following . . .