It is Free Comic Book Day on Amazon!

While May 7th was actually Free Comic Book Day, when I checked my email this morning I discovered Amazon is having a Digital Free Comic Book Day today! I ordered a couple - Archies and Looney Tunes for my grandsons to enjoy! Oldies, but definitely "goodies"! There are many different comic books available for free and many for just 99 cents to a dollar or two.

So, if you are a fan of comic books . . . or know a child who is, check it out!

Enjoy!

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway Tomorrow!

I'm happy to say Kristin McClain is the winner of one American Girl Doll, Girl of the Year 2016 - Lea, Doll & Book! (You'll find my review at this link.) Thank you Kristin for reading grandma's cookie jar - please email me at lyndagcj@gmail.com by June 7th, so I can send it to you - and thank you American Girl Dolls for sending one for me to review give away!

Tomorrow - May 31, 2016 I'm Giving Away One American Girl Doll Girl of the Year!

Yes, I moved the giveaway to tomorrow - somehow I missed May 30th was today and I really wanted to give everyone one last chance to get in on this giveaway. So, tomorrow, May 31, 2016 I'm giving away one American Girl Doll, Girl of the Year 2016 - Lea, Doll & Book! If you live in the USA are over the age of 18 and would like to be in this giveaway, you will receive one entry if you tell me who you will give the doll to if you win.

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway Tomorrow!

I'm happy to say Carol McDonald is the winner of Mr. Particular: The World’s Choosiest Champion! (You'll find my review at this link.) Thank you Carol for reading grandma's cookie jar - please email me at lyndagcj@gmail.com by June 7th, so I can have it sent to you - and thank you Sterling Children's Books for sending one for me to review and making another available for me to give away!

Do Not Be Afraid!

What are you afraid of? Well, if you are like me the first thing you think of is spiders! I do not like those hideous creatures at all! In fact, I firmly believe the only good spider is a completely dead spider; so one of my rules when my children were growing up was, "Kill all spiders until they are dead and then kill them again!" And just so you know, there is no such thing as a "small" spider! 

Well, beyond the obvious things, like spiders, what are you afraid of? More specifically, what are you afraid of when it comes to your family? Are you afraid of the "what ifs"? What if they get sick? What if they get in an accident? What if the things in this world entice my grandchildren and they do not walk with God? What if . . . ? You may say you aren't "afraid" of these things, but how much time to you spend thinking - or even worrying - about them? These are all legitimate things to be concerned about, but we do not have to be afraid.

Look at Joshua 1:1-9 and you will see God's Promise, Instruction, Strategy and the promise of His Presence to help us (all from a sermon Pastor Tom Olsson at my church shared last year) - Joshua 1:5-9, "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

You aren't trying to take possession of the land of Israel, but God has called us to pass on a heritage of faith to our children and grandchildren. There are times when this call can feel overwhelming, but in those times - and at all times - remember, God has promised to be with us and to NEVER leave us!!! We can be strong and courageous by choosing to obey God and to immerse ourselves in His Word! This is what Pastor Tom shared with us. It is so true! I've found when I've felt overwhelmed by the things in my life and even by the "what ifs", it is probably because I haven't been spending as much time in God's Word as I need to. When I'm immersed in God's Word, I do not tend to feel overwhelmed or afraid.

So, as you share Jesus with your children and grandchildren, dont' be afraid! Don't be discouraged! Instead, take courage! You can be strong and very courageous, because God is with you and He will NOT let go of you! Spend some time reading Joshua 1 today and make this your prayer . . . 

Dear God, on this day I ask for Your help in being strong and very courageous; I want to be strong and very courageous, but sometimes it is so difficult. Please strengthen and embolden me! I choose to be careful to obey all Your Word and not turn from it to the right or the left, so I may experience Your blessing wherever I go. I commit to keep Your Word always on my lips; to think on it day and night so I will be careful and alert and able to do everything written in Your Word. I choose to be strong! I choose to be courageous! I choose to not be afraid! I choose to not be discouraged, because I know You, the LORD my God is with me wherever I go! Thank You! Amen!

I Have A Winner & Another Giveaway Tomorrow!

I'm happy to say Debbie Ketcham is the winner of one 15oz Ceramic Photo Mug from Shutterfly! (You'll find my review at this link.) Thank you Debbie for reading grandma's cookie jar - please email me at lyndagcj@gmail.com by June 6, 2016 so I can have it sent to you - and thank you Shutterfly for making one available for me to review and another for me to give away!

#MyFavePix - Record Your Special Times with FavePix!

A few weeks ago I shared with you about a new app from Shutterfly which let you turn your favorite Instagram photos into photo books, today I'm very happy to share with you about my experience making a FavePix photo book!

First of all I have to say, Shutterfly invited me to review their new FavePix app and book and gave me a free book to do so. They also made another available for me to giveaway (we already held this giveaway). 

Having said this, I also need to say I do not have an iphone and the app - at this point - is just for iphones; but my husband has one, so we used his phone to download the app. We also have not taken many photos which we uploaded to Instagram, so we had to start doing it to make our book. Once we had photos in Instagram, it was very easy to make our FavePix book!

I Have A Winner & Another Giveaway Tomorrow!

I'm happy to say Jan Harpe is the winner of one Illustrate My Own Unknown Bible Hero - Jehoshaphat! (You'll find my review at this link.) Thank you Jan for reading grandma's cookie jar - I'll bring it with me Sunday!

Pass On Your Faith & Illustrate a Book Together!

Passing faith to our grandchildren/children is the most important thing we can do - will anything else we do matter if the children we love grow up and forget God? 

There are many ways we can do this; when it comes to passing faith to my grandsons I tend to write resources I can use with them. One such resource I've written is a series of books about unknown Bible heroes which they can illustrate. I am in the process of publishing several of these, but the first one which is ready to go is about Jehoshaphat. Who was Jehoshaphat, you ask? He was the great, great, great grandson of King David - and since most people have not heard about him, he definitely qualifies as an "unknown Bible hero"!

I Have A Winner & Another Giveaway Tomorrow!

I'm happy to say Amy C is the winner of one Cross Botanica Purple Orchid Selectip Rolling Ball Pen! (You'll find my review at this link.) Thank you Amy for reading grandma's cookie jar - please email me at lyndagcj@gmail.com by June 2, 2016 so I can send it to you - and thank you Cross for sending one for me to review and to give away!

grandma's cookbook - No-Bake Cookies

Did you know 86% of grandmas bake cookies? Are you part of the 86%? If so, what are your grandchildren's favorite cookie?

My grandsons love a simple butter-sugar cookie . . . and I typically make them each weekend when the boys are here . . . they also love sampling the cookie dough!

But, with summer and warmer weather arriving, my cookie baking tends to, "take a break". So, I'm very interested in discovering no-bake cookie recipes. I do have one no-bake recipe . . . which I'm sharing with you today . . . 

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway in Two Days!

I'm happy to say Terri C is the winner of one LeapBand from LeapFrog! (You'll find my review at this link.) Thank you Terri for reading grandma's cookie jar - please email me at lyndagcj@gmail.com by May 31, 2016 so I can send it to you - and thank you LeapFrog for sending one for me to review and for making another available for me to give away!

crafting with grandma - Blowing Kisses Photos!

I am a very blessed grandma in how I live close to my grandsons and see them at least a couple times a week. However; not all grandparents are so blessed. This morning when I browsed Pinterest I saw a craft idea which would make a wonderful gift for grandparents/parents . . . especially in instances where the grandparent lives far enough away where they do not see their grandchildren often. What is this craft, you ask? A Blowing Kisses Photo!

Reading + Imagination = Writing!

My grandsons love books. They love a good story. They love making up their own stories because they each have quite the imagination. Over the years we have read many books. Over the years we have made up our own stories. Now Josiah (seven years old) is writing and illustrating his own comic books!

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway in Two Days!

I'm happy to say Leela is the winner of the book, Can You Canoe? And Other Adventure Songs! (You'll find my review at this link.) Thank you Leela for reading grandma's cookie jar - please email me at lyndagcj@gmail.com by May 29, 2016 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!

Prayer and Passing on Faith

It doesn't take reading very many of my posts here on grandma's cookie jar to know I am focused and intentional about passing on a heritage of faith to my grandchildren. This truly matters. I make time and take time to talk with my grandsons about how much God loves them, how He knew what He was doing when He created them to be boys, and how they can know and love Him back.

One thing I do with my grandsons is help them learn to pray the Psalms back to God. We use my book - Deeper in - and I have them draw or write prayer requests for me to pray about for them. I wrote about this yesterday on the Legacy Coalition facebook page - you'll find the full post at this link.

What do you do to pass faith to your grandchildren?

Seeing the Blessings and Being Thankful

As my day began this morning, I was thinking about blessings . . . big and small, and I most certainly have many! I have an amazing husband (we met on a volcano!!!), two grown children I love and am proud of and a lovely daughter-in-law. Three sweet, rascal grandsons who fill my heart with joy! Yes, my blessings are many and I am ever so thankful!

I have also been blessed to have wonderful parents, to have been able to grow up knowing and spending time with my grandparents and to have an incredible sister and three brothers - and memories which come with two older sisters tormenting their three younger brothers!

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway in Two Days!

I'm happy to say Fiddlin' Dandi is the winner of Wonky: The Crazy Cubes Card Game! (You'll find my review at this link.) Thank you Dandi for reading grandma's cookie jar - please email me at lyndagcj@gmail.com by May 27, 2016 so I can have this game sent to you - and thank you USAopoly for sending one for me to review and for making another available for me to give away!

The News Today and the Truth of God's Word

Each morning as I listen to the news I am reminded of 2 Timothy 3 where it says in the last days people will love only themselves and money. They will be proud, stuck-up, rude, and disobedient to their parents. They will also be ungrateful and hateful. Their words will be cruel, and they will have no self-control or pity. They will hate everything which is good and will be puffed up with pride. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure - they are evil people who pretend to be what they are not and will become worse than ever, as they fool others and are fooled themselves. (CEV)

Does this not describe the world in which we - and our grandchildren live? We could easily become discouraged, and even afraid, but then Paul goes on to tell Timothy some important things we need to keep in mind . . . and teach our grandchildren.

Check this link for the full post . . . I wrote about this a couple days ago for the Legacy Coalition.

Resource for You & a Fun Giveaway - Science the Bible & Fun!

In this day and age it is especially important for grandparents (and parents) to be focused upon passing their faith to the children they love, but it can be a challenge to find resources to help us do this. Science the Bible & Fun! was written for this reason and provides 52 weeks of lessons grandparents/parents will be able to use to engage our grandchildren/children in learning how to love, know and walk with God!

Each week there is a science activity which will engage children and connect them to the point of the Bible event. They will learn about Bible people and how to pray the Psalms back to God along with fun activities which are just for fun!

Resource for You & a Fun Giveaway - Science the Bible & Fun!

In this day and age it is especially important for grandparents (and parents) to be focused upon passing their faith to the children they love, but it can be a challenge to find resources to help us do this. Science the Bible & Fun! was written for this reason and provides 52 weeks of lessons grandparents/parents will be able to use to engage our grandchildren/children in learning how to love, know and walk with God!

Each week there is a science activity which will engage children and connect them to the point of the Bible event. They will learn about Bible people and how to pray the Psalms back to God along with fun activities which are just for fun!

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway In Two Days!

I'm happy to say Jennifer Marie is the winner of LeapFrog Disney The Little Mermaid Learning Game! (You'll find my review at this link.) Thank you Jennifer for reading grandma's cookie jar - please email me at lyndagcj@gmail.com by May 25, 2016 to arrange to get this game cartridge to you - and thank you LeapFrog for sending one for me to give away!

Make A Real Difference - Pray Scripture!

I write grandma's cookie jar for two reasons . . . one is just for the "fun" of it . . . after all, being a grandma is great fun and there are lots of "fun" things to write about! But I also write it because I most sincerely believe when grandparents are focused upon passing their faith to their children's children, this benefits children and families for generations. It matters when grandparents (and parents, too) are focused upon growing in their own walk with God and upon passing on a heritage of faith to the children they love.  

Today I'm very happy to recommend to you a resource which will help you do this . . . Deeper In 4 Grandparents & Parent's, Too! Praying the Scriptures for the Children You Love - Psalms Edition. This book provides grandparents - and parents - with 52 weeks of prayers from Psalms which they will be able to pray for themselves and for the children they love. Each week provides a Scripture passage from the Book of Psalms, questions to help us think through what this passage is saying and then a personalized prayer for us to pray for our own walk with God and another to pray for our grandchildren. Then, the prayers are broken into seven portions - one for each day of the week. This helps us pray focused on smaller portions so we are able to be very specific in our prayers throughout the week.

I'm putting a sample prayer here for you to see . . . and try. 

For All The Questions You Have About Grandparenting . . . Check Out The Legacy Grandparenting Summit!

Do you wonder if there are any examples of grandparents in the Bible who could help you better understand how to be an intentional grandparent who focuses upon passing on a heritage of faith? Do you wonder what it looks like to follow Jesus in the "second half" of your life or how to connect with your grandchildren in a digital age?

Does your heart ache to know how to pray effectively for your grandchildren? Do you wonder how to connect with your grandchildren when they become teens? Do you want to know how to build and capture memories with your grandchildren throughout their lives? 

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway in Two Days!

I'm happy to say Jan Harpe is the winner of Cottonmouth and the End! (You'll find my review at this link.) Thank you Jan for reading grandma's cookie jar - please email me at lyndagcj@gmail.com by May 23, 2016 to arrange to get this book to you - and thank you David C Cook for sending one for me to review and an additional copy for me to give away!

Helping My Grandsons Build a Firm Foundation!

When we look at the world around us, do you feel confidence, or fear? There are no shortage of frightening things happening - or at least things which cause us concern. But, God is in control. He does know what is happening and He does have a plan for our good! 

So, as I look at the world around me, I don't feel afraid. But, I do want to equip my grandsons so as they grow up in a world which is increasingly anti-God, they will know how to hold on to the truth. One way we are doing this is by working through my Illustrate My Own Unknown Bible Hero - Jehoshaphat. We are starting this today. I have one copy which we will work through and illustrate together - and talk about as we do.

I want them to see and firmly believe how God was faithful yesterday, rejoice in how He is faithful today and find strength in trusting God will be faithful tomorrow!

What are you doing to help your grandchildren know and believe this?

Blue Eggs & Legs & A Focus Upon Being Thankful!

This past week my husband and I traveled to the Minneapolis, MN area for the first-ever Grandparenting Conference. (It went very well! If you were not able to make it, please plan to join us for our first-ever national summit in November at Chuck Swindoll's church in Texas - see all the details at this link.) 

At any rate, on the way home we stopped in Northern Wisconsin to visit my sister and her family. She has a number of chickens, so when we left, she gave me some blue eggs from her Araucanas chickens (they lay blue eggs and have blue legs!!!). We had the eggs for breakfast this morning - the boys were quite delighted to see the blue eggs and the pictures of the chickens with the blue legs! (The eggs are a lovely light blue - they look more white in the photos.)

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway in Two Days!

I'm happy to say Tracy Taylor is the winner of When Calls The Heart: Heart And Home and When Calls The Heart: Trials Of The Heart DVDs! (You'll find my review at this link.) Thank you Tracy for reading grandma's cookie jar - please email me at lyndagcj@gmail.com by May 21, 2016 so I can send them to you!

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway Tomorrow!

I'm happy to say Heather W is the winner of The League and the Lantern! (You'll find my review at this link.) Thank you Heather for reading grandma's cookie jar - please email me at lyndagcj@gmail.com by May 20, 2016 so I can have it sent to you and thank you Propeller Consulting LLC for making one available for me to review and another available for me to give away!

Special Birthday Month Giveaway on May 28, 2016 - Illustrate My Own Unknown Bible Hero Jehoshaphat!

I LOVE books for children! I really LOVE Bible adventure books which introduce children to people from the Bible; when those people are some of the "unknown" heroes . . . well, I especially LOVE those books! 

So, a few years ago I sat down and wrote several Unknown Bible Hero books, but since I'm not really an illustrator, I thought it would be fun to write the books so children could be their own illustrator and illustrate their own book!

Illustrate My Own books - is a new line of Bible adventure books for children and families to learn from while they create their own illustrations! As families work through each book they will be able to think about, remember and understand how God worked in the lives of real people and better understand how God wants to work in their own real lives, too!

I have twelve titles available in the Illustrate My Own - Unknown Bible Hero series and twelve titles available in the Illustrate My Own - Known Bible Hero series - watch over the coming weeks and months as new titles become available, but today I'm very happy to announce the release of Illustrate My Own Unknown Bible Hero - Jehoshaphat! 

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway Tomorrow!

I'm happy to say Betsy Smith is the winner of one free FavePix book! (You'll find my review at this link.) Thank you Heather for reading grandma's cookie jar - please email me at lyndagcj@gmail.com by May 13, 2016 so I can have it sent to you and thank you Shutterfly for making one available for me to review and another for me to give away!

grandma's chuckles - "Sisters Would Probably Be More Annoying!"

The other day at my house my grandsons and I were talking about how God knew what He was doing when He created them to be boys. I told them I was so glad God made them to be boys (if they were girls, I would have said I was so glad God created them to be girls!) and then I told them God knew they needed brothers to be the best and have the most joy they could have!

Josiah (seven years old) looked thoughtful and then he said; "I guess God knew sisters would probably be more annoying than brothers." To which Caleb (four years old) said; "Sisters would definitely be way more annoying than I would ever be!!!" Josiah looked a bit skeptical - could sisters really be more annoying than his four year old brother???

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway in Two Days!

I'm happy to say Mary Beth is the winner of one Little One, God Made You Special! (You'll find my review at this link.) Thank you Mary Beth for reading grandma's cookie jar - please email me at lyndagcj@gmail.com by May 17, 2016 so I can have it sent to you and thank you Zonderkidz for sending one for me to review and for making another available for me to give away!

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway Tomorrow!

I'm happy to say Leela is the winner of one Wonders of Creation: Illustrations to Color and Inspire! (Thank you Leela for reading grandma's cookie jar - please email me at lyndagcj@gmail.com by May 15, 2016 so I can have it sent to you - please email me your address) and thank you Zonderkidz for sending one for me to review and for making another available for me to give away!

Special Birthday Month Giveaway - Folkmanis Pelican Puppet!

Over the years I've had a wonderful opportunity to share with you some of the great puppets from Folkmanis Puppets . . . and I'm so happy to say they have sent me another box of puppets to review. One of them is part of my Special Birthday Month of Giveaways - the other three will be donated to Caleb's kindergarten classroom in the Fall. So, today I'm very happy to let you know about some new puppets from Folkmanis!

Special Birthday Giveaway on May 29, 2016 - Mr Particular

I was recently invited to review a new book from Sterling Children's Books - and since it was about a "Super Hero" and my grandsons do enjoy being "Super", I was happy to say, "yes" to the review! Plus, Sterling is making another available for me to give away!

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway in Two Days!

I'm happy to say Jennifer Marie is the winner of one LeapTV Frozen game cartridge! (Thank you Jennifer Marie for reading grandma's cookie jar - please email me at lyndagcj@gmail.com by May 13, 2016 so I can send it to you - please email me your address) and thank you LeapFrog for sending it for me to give away!

Lesson Learned!

I am a truly blessed grandma . . . I see this daily in so many ways, but one big way is in how I am able to see and spend time with my grandsons pretty much every week . . . and typically more than once a week! On the average week I see my youngest grandson Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and then either Wednesday or Thursday (I babysit for him on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays) and my other two grandsons either Wednesday or Thursday and then Friday and Saturday . . . we just hang out Wednesdays or Thursdays after school and then take them to our Church's mid-week (if on a Wednesday) or spend time doing Science, the Bible & Fun together and then Fridays the boys have a sleep-over and of course are here for at least part of the day on Saturday.

This is a typical week for me - and like I said, I am most certainly blessed!

The boys were at my house yesterday afternoon and early evening and I learned something important . . . or at least was reminded of something I was too distracted to think about. Caleb (four years old) wanted to do some work to earn money for something he wanted to buy, so I gave him some jobs to do. First of all, I have to say I'm so impressed with how hard he worked, what a great job he did following instructions and with how he stuck with it until he completed the work he was given to do!

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway Tomorrow!

I'm happy to say Mary Beth Dawson is the winner of one Orkin Summer Scientist Bug Catching Kit! (Thank you Mary Beth for reading grandma's cookie jar - please email me at lyndagcj@gmail.com by May 12, 2016 so I can turn your info in to get your prize sent to you - please email me your address) and thank you Orkin and PartnersHub for sending a kit for me and for making another available for me to give away!

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway Tomorrow!

I'm happy to say Sarah Yurga is the winner of  one plush Leopard Shark puppet from Folkmanis.! (Thank you Sarah for reading grandma's cookie jar - please email me your address at lyndagcj@gmail.com by May 11, 2016 so I can send it to you) and thank you Folkmanis for sending it for me to give away!

Special Birthday Month Giveaway on May 13, 2016 - The League and the Lantern

My grandson Josiah is seven years old and he loves to read. He reads several grades ahead . . . I know this because when I give him a chapter book, he reads it in about a week - or less! Even when the book is written for children ten, eleven and twelve years old.

So, when I was recently invited to read and review a new book for children in this age group, even though I am really busy and did not really have time to read a chapter book, I checked it out. The book is, The League and the Lantern and it is described as; "An adventure series children will want to read!" As I looked the information over, I decided it sounded like a book Josiah would love to read, so I agreed to participate in the review.

Don't Miss What Matters Most

It is very easy with the hustle-bustle of our lives for us to become so caught up in all the things we are doing we end up losing sight of those things which matter the most. While many of the things we do each day are fine things for us to do - even important things which do matter, we need to be focused upon those things which are most important. 

So, what is most important? Well, if we have grandchildren, then clearly we can know for sure God wants us to pass on our faith to them. This is important. Truly important. Most important. While we have other things in our lives which are important, if our grandchildren grow up to not love, follow and walk with God, nothing else we do will matter. Passing on our faith is what matters.

So, we want to be sure our grandchildren understand how God offers them life through Jesus' death and resurrection. No longer do they have to live trying to pay for their sins by keeping a list of rules none of us can keep. No longer do they have to try to find ways to earn their salvation. God offers it as a gift! His grace changes everything!

This is the essence of the message we as grandparents want to pass on to our grandchildren. If we accomplish much in our lives, but do not let them know about God's grace which is available, because of Jesus' death and resurrection, we will have missed the most important thing of all.

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway in Two Days!

Today is the second giveaway in my annual Birthday Month Giveaways, and I'm happy to say Karen is the winner of Deeper In 4 Grandparents & Parents, Too! Praying the Scriptures for the Children You Love - Psalms Edition! (Thank you Karen for reading grandma's cookie jar - please email me your address at lyndagcj@gmail.com by May 9, 2016 so I can send it to you!)

Just for Fun . . . Silly Laws - Enjoy!

Yesterday when my grandsons were at my house we got to talking about "silly" laws - he thought it was really funny any state had a law saying it was illegeal to tie an alligator to a fire hydrant!

So, today, to put a smile on my grandsons' faces . . . and your faces, too, I thought it would be fun to share a few silly laws with you! Did you know . . . 

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway Tomorrow!

It is May 1st and the start of my annual Birthday Month of Giveaways! Today I'm happy to say Karen Klepsteen is the winner of The Aetherlight: Chronicles of the Resistance! (Thank you Karen for reading grandma's cookie jar - please email me at lyndagcj@gmail.com by May 8, 2016 and I'll email you a special code so you will be able to receive this game!) and thank you Scarlet City Studios for making this game available for me (and my grandson) to review and an additional code for me to give away!