Rufus Returns . . . And I'm Giving Another Rufus Book Away!

Yes, I'm very happy to say Rufus Leroy Williams III has returned with another fun, silly adventure which will absolutely capture the attention of the children you love! Sterling Children's Books sent me one copy to review - and are making another available for me to give away, so today I'm very happy to let you know about the latest fun with Rufus in Rufus Blasts Off!

Amazing Animal Friendships: Odd Couples in Nature - I'm Giving One Away!

I was recently invite to review - and give away - an interesting book about animals. Since my grandsons find animals and science interesting, I thought it sounded like a good book for them. Today I'm happy to let you know about Amazing Animal Friendships: Odd Couples in Nature.

I Have a Winner!

I'm very happy to say MichelleCat is the winner of Ally-saurus & the Very Bossy Monster (You'll find my review at this link). Thank you MichelleCat for reading grandma's cookie jar (please email me your address at lyndagcj@gmail.com by September 5, 2017, 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!

Faux Tie Dye T-Shirts!

Two of my three grandsons participated in the Mud Run this past Saturday - my third grandson is two years too young to run through the mud with his brothers. As you might imagine, he was quite sad about not being able to get in the mud with his dad and brothers. So, we told him he had a very, very important job to do at the Mud Run - the job of "Look Out"!

He spent time on his poppa's shoulders and other time with me watching for his dad and brothers, so we would be able to get lots of photos of them. While he would have preferred - much preferred to run through the mud, he took on the job of "Look Out/Spotter" and helped us keep an eye out for his dad and brothers. 

Stuck in the Mud & Correct Science

Friday morning my grandsons and I were talking about how

they were going to be participating in the Mud Run the next day. My six-year old grandson asked me if he might get stuck in the mud. I laughed and told him I was sure he would not get stuck - just muddy and wet!

Then we talked about a time when I was a little younger than he was and got stuck in the mud. I was sure I would be stuck forever and I was certain I would sink all the way to China.

The Mud Run 2017

Just got home from watching two of my grandsons run the 1.5 miles of the Mud Run! What could be a better idea than a race which lets - no, encourages children to get muddy!

My six year old grandson thought it was wonderful! He enjoyed being muddy and wasn't bothered about the course being 1.5 miles (which initially sounded a bit long to him). And yes, he and my almost nine year old grandson and my son all got really muddy!

On This Day

On Facebook there is a "tab" which is titled, "On This Day". I love this tab as each day it takes me back a year, two or more years to things I posted on this day. I get to see photos from the past, read things I wrote about which happened in the past and enjoy the memories!

Today's post made me laugh - all over again as I clearly laughed last year when it happened. So, today I thought I'd share with you what happened, "On This Day" at this grandma's house.

A Summer Filled with Wonderful Memories!

School starts next week for my grandsons, but we are going out with a "bang" this week! They came over yesterday for a sleepover - my oldest grandson went to see the West Michigan Whitecaps while my two younger grandsons and I stayed home and made homemade mini pizzas. My six year old grandson took one bite of his pizza and said; "This is really good pizza! I'm a good pizza maker!" He looked at me and said; "You make good pizza, too, grandma, but I make really good pizza!"

The Top Three Things I Want My Grandsons to Believe

There is no shortage of people in this world who over the years will want my grandsons to believe what they say - teachers, media, elected officials, friends, are just some of these people. And, while there are certainly times what any of these people have to say are things which they will be able to believe, I know they are not always able to be believed all the time; because Satan often uses others to convince us of his lies.

I do know God's Word is the best "antidote" for Satan's lies as we are absolutely able to believe it all of the time, so I want my grandsons to grow up knowing this and believing it as well! There are certainly many things in God's Word which I want my grandsons to believe, but there are three which if they fully believe, they will believe the others as well; these three are . . . 

Be Intentional - It Matters!

Proverbs 3:1 is a wonderful verse and something we want our grandchildren to take to heart, but while they need to remember God's teaching and take it to heart, we also need to be intentional when it comes to helping them learn what God's Word says, modeling what it looks like to keep God's commands in our heart and in praying for them to love and follow God.

Grandparents are in a very special time of their lives - the time when they are grandparents! This is not the time to retire, put our feet up and just do things we want to do. No! This is the time to do what really matters  -  for us to be intentional about passing on our faith to our grandchildren.

So, take time today to pray for your grandchildren to be people who remember God's teaching and take it to heart. Then, think about what you might do this week to be intentional about passing on your faith! It matters!

grandma's bookshelf - Gamer Squad - I'm Giving Two Away!

I am often given the opportunity to review - and give away - picture books, but once in a while I'm invited to review a chapter book. Since my oldest grandson loves chapter books I was very happy to say yes when Sterling Children's Books invited me to review two books in their new Gamer Squad series - and share them with you today!

My Declaration - Because Intentional Christian Grandparenting Matters!

Last year at the first-ever Legacy Grandparenting Summit, Larry Fowler (founder of the Legacy Coalition) shared with us the Intentional Christian Grandparenting Declaration. Today I want to share the video of when Larry first shared this with us, the written text of the video and declaration and great news about how Timothy Botts, the amazing calligrapher, designed a beautiful art print of the declaration which you are now able to get for your home, office or to give as a gift to a grandparent you know. First of all, watch this video . . . 

Be Intentional . . . Pray & Go to the Summit in 2017!

Today I am very happy to share with you two ways for you to make a significant difference in the lives of the children you love - no matter where you live.

First of all, you are able to pray. When we make the choice to be intentional Christian grandparents who pass on the faith, praying is an essential part of this choice. And, God has promised to hear, listen to and answer our prayers! Look at Jeremiah 29:11-14a . . . 

The Top Five Things I Want My Grandsons to Learn!

Life truly is a journey; one upon which we are constantly learning, but when it comes to my grandsons, while I certainly want them to learn to read and love learning in general, there are some things which are at the top of my list of things I want them to learn.

The Top Five Things I Want to See in My Grandsons' Lives

As grandparents we all have things we hope and pray for in regards to our grandchildren, but if I were to think about the top five things I want to see in my grandsons' lives I'd have to say they are for them to . . . 

The People I Want My Grandsons to Be

I want my grandsons to be people who show love, mercy and hospitality to those who come into their lives. I want them to have tender hearts, so they are quick to stand up for and help those in need. I want them to be people who love others in word and deed. I want them to know and live Romans 12:9-21 as it is absolutely true and the answer to the evil, sadness and pain in this world –

Ally-saurus & the Very Bossy Monster - I'm Giving One Away!

I was recently invited to review a new book about a little girl who likes to pretend she is a dinosaur and her friends with equally wonderful imaginations. Since my grandsons have creative imaginations as well, I was very happy to say I'd participate in the review of Ally-saurus & the Very Bossy Monster.

I Have a Winner!

I'm happy to say Tina is the winner of Don't Go to School! - you will find my review at this link. Thank you Tina for reading grandma's cookie jar - please email your address to lyndagcj@gmail.com by August 21, 2017, so I am able to have the book sent to you. Thank you Sterling Children's Books for sending one copy for me to review and for making another available for me to give away.

Let's Choose to Stop the Anger & Hate

I make it my policy to avoid politics on this blog - I have people from all parties who read grandma's cookie jar - all are welcome to do so.

But, the violence in Charlottesville breaks my heart. I would like to call upon you to take the stand to see others, not by some political party, but as people. Family, friends, people you know, people who are family and friends of others.

Two Giveaways - and You Have Time to Enter Them Both!

In just thee days - on August 14, 2017, I'm giving away one Don't Go to School! - you'll find my full review and all the details for entering the drawing at this link.

And in nine days, on August 20, 2017, my grandson is giving away one - Coding for Parents - you'll find the info for entering this drawing at the following link.

These are both fun books and the great news is you have time to enter both drawings! Someone will win these books . . . who knows??? Maybe you will win one of them!

Tomorrow - August 11, 2017 - is Son & Daughter Day

I do not need a special day to be thankful for and to remember the joy my daughter, son, daughter-in-law and grandsons bring to my life, but tomorrow is Son & Daughter Day . . . the day to celebrate our sons and daughters! 


It also happens to be a great evening to watch the Perseid meteor shower and my son and his family are planning to camp in my yard to watch the meteors . . . so, celebrating my family will be easy to do! And, since today is 'Smores Day, one way we will celebrate tomorrow is by making 'smores - it won't matter for it to be one day after 'Smores Day.

What will you do to celebrate Son & Daughter Day?

Be Quick to Give Grace

This reminds me of an old hymn we sang in church when I was a child -

Yes, It Is As Plain As The Nose On Your Face

 I heard something the other day which is absolutely true - unless I look in a mirror, or cross-eyed, I can not see my own nose. This does not mean my nose is no longer on my face - just I can not see it. Others are able to see my nose - it is actually one of the first things we see when we look at people.

Do What Matters

I saw this on the Christian Grandparenting Network's site the other day and knew I wanted to share it with you. It is a great question, but has a very easy answer. 

Clearly one answer matters and one does not.

Coding for Parents - We Are Giving One Away!

My oldest grandson loves to code! He knows how to make blogs, web pages, he knows how to make his own logos . . . which he does for his blogs and webpages - and he loves to code games. When I was sent books to help children learn to code this past Spring, he was one happy boy and read them right away!

Recently Sterling Children's Books (the publisher who sent me the other books on coding for children) invited me to review their new book - Coding for Parents: Everything You Need to Know to Confidently Help with Homework. I am happy to let you know about this book today - and an opportunity for you to win one as Sterling is making one available for me to give away!

grandma's bookshelf - Don't Go to School! - I'm Giving One Away!

My grandsons head back to school in just a few weeks . . . it is difficult to believe Summer vacation is almost over for 2017. While I do not have any grandchildren heading off to Kindergarten, when I was invited to review a new book about going to school for the first time, I thought it sounded like a fun idea and said; "Yes!"

Be Your Grandchildren's "Direction Sign" - The Legacy Grandparenting Summit Will Help!

Oh yes! Most definitely, yes! As grandparents - in my case as a grandma, there is a definite purpose, reason, need for me and for my intentional attention to being a "direction sign" by passing on a heritage of faith, to my grandsons. It matters what I do. It is important.

Nichole Nordeman's new CD - Every Mile Mattered - I'm Giving One Away!

I was recently invited to review (and give away another) Nichole Nordeman's new CD - Every Mile Mattered. I said, "Yes" and today I'm very happy to share it with you.

I Have a Winner!

I'm happy to say Virginia is the winner of, Almost Everybody Farts! (You'll find my review at this link.) Thank you Virginia for reading grandma's cookie jar (please email me your mailing address by August 8, 2017, 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.