grandma's cookbook - Broiled, Herbed Chicken Breasts & Tater-Tot Casserole

With it looking like Spring is arriving here in Michigan, I have been in the mood for meals which are light, tasty and quick! So, I have been working on preparing meals which are healthy and home-made; not from a box or can and using fresh ingredients. I found a recipe for broiled chicken breasts - if you would like to try it it is really easy . . . place them on the broiler pan, add garlic, pink Himalayan salt, pepper, thyme, marjoram and rosemary, then broil them. The end result will be a moist, tasty, flavorful chicken which you might served in pretzel buns or just on their own with a spring greens salad! Tasty and simple!

Spring Gift Review & Giveaway on May 5, 2019 - Sam Wu Is Not Afraid of Sharks!

I am happy to share with you my opinion of two books from Sterling Children's Books - and announce a giveaway for one of them. First, a really fun picture book . . .

Hand Down the Faith with Mystery Bags - "Sticky" Balloons - Stick to God

When it comes to being intentional about handing down faith to our grandchildren, we may feel intimidated. It is, after all, the most important thing we will ever do. But, while it is essential, it is not difficult; and most certainly something we should not fear. It may actually be rather simple.

Take for example, something I did with my grandsons, which is today's Mystery Bag project. My grandsons are young – ten, seven and five but this particular activity is one most any age of grandchild could do, understand and, most importantly, remember.  For this project you will need . . . 

Just for Fun - Marshmallow Shooters

If you are looking for something fun which you could do with your grandchildren on a nice Spring day when they are at your home, check this idea which I found on Pinterest for Marshmallow Shooters!!!

Follow this link and you'll find a supply list, complete instructions and a photo tutorial for making your own Marshmallow Shooters . . . be sure to have a camera handy as you are likely to get some great photos as your grandchildren make and play with their Shooters!

Be a "Difference-Maker"

Today is a gift from God to you. As I've said before, it is likely there are fewer days before us than there are behind us, so we need to be focused and purposeful about making the most of the days which God gifts to us.

Use these days to make a difference; and to make a difference as a grandparent. Grandparents are the second most influential people in the lives of their grandchildren, so yes, absolutely, you ARE able to make a huge difference as you hand down the faith.

grandma's chuckles - So Easy to Operate

When my oldest grandson was five years old he was quite the reader. He was really quite effective at sounding out words and enjoyed being able to sit down with a book and read what all those words hade to say! 

This of course, made me a happy grandma as I want my grandsons to love reading! It also gave me some unexpected opportunities to see how my grandson thought . . . and a few good laughs as well!

One day we were at the store with him and saw a plaque with an "interesting" saying on it. I held it up for him to read . . . which he did. The plaque said, "Grandparents; so easy to operate even a child can do it!" My grandson read it and then said, "This is true! At least for grandma, that is! All I have to do to get what I want from you is to look cute and be polite!"

The Ten Commands From God's Own Hands

I'm so glad the internet makes it possible for us to add books to our bookshelf or give as gifts which are no longer available in books stores! A book I absolutely love is The Ten Commands From God's Own Hands by Phil A. Smouse! This book takes the Ten Commandments, matches each commandment with a Bible adventure to illustrate a specific command and teach it's meaning, so kids will remember and learn! The "sub-title" is, "Ten wiggly, giggly Bible stories that teach God's Ten Commandments" - these ten accounts are -

Apollo 11 - Playing Now in a Theater Near You

If you, and/or anyone in your family (such as my husband, son and grandsons) identifies as a, "space geek", then this movie, Apollo 11 is for you! I was just invited to share the news about the movie and to let you know it is, "playing now in a theater near you"!

Check your local theater to find where is showing and when, and plan to check it out. The footage is never-before-seen and is certain to be both educational and entertaining as it is filled with amazing images you will not forget. There is a wonderful clip of the film at this link - you will be able to see the attention to detail and the quality of the film from this clip.

grandma's cookbook - Coffee, Chocolate & Cream Cake Delight

Okay, just the name of this recipe is enough to get nearly everyone hungry for dessert! This simple recipe is completely enjoyable . . . and is one with which you are sure to be greeted with happy faces whenever you make it!

cooking with grandma - Toffee Butter Cookies

Get ready to start gathering ingredients and bake totally delicious cookies . . . this morning I was browsing on Pinterest and found a link to a recipe for Toffee Butter Cookies! Now, my husband - and grandchildren - enjoy toffee and Josiah is particularly a fan of butter cookies . . . after all, what isn't there to LOVE about butter cookies???!!!

Yelling at Children (and Huskies) Carries With it a Very High Cost

My grandsons love dogs; Huskies in particular. They are looking forward to the day when they will be able to have a Husky of their own. Yesterday when my son came to pick up my grandsons from their sleepover, he shared how Nicolas Petit was leading in this year's Iditarod; and was expected to win. But then something unexpected happened. One of his dogs jumped onto a younger dog and Nicolas yelled at the older dog. All of the dogs in his team heard him yelling; something which he said just does not happen with him and his dogs. When he started yelling, all of the dogs refused to go a step farther in the race. Nicolas said the dogs refused to move anywhere, so they ended up having to call in snowmobiles to get them off the ice on the coast of the Bering Sea and he had to withdraw from the race. Yelling at his dogs cost him the race.

I found this so interesting, because just as yelling at the dogs caused Nicolas' dogs to "shut down" and caused him to pay a high price, yelling at our grandchildren/children also brings with it a high price. There has been significant amounts of research about how yelling impacts children and overwhelmingly the evidence shows if we yell at children we are physically and emotionally harming them - and this actual damage is able to last throughout their lives. If you would like to read some of the research about how yelling damages and harms children check this link and this link.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Make today a day of prayer!

#grandmas #handingdownthefaith #itmatterswhatwedo #grandparentingonpurpose

Encourage Your Grandchildren With - God Knew What He Was Doing When He Created Them

A number of years ago, Zondervan Published their, NIV Mom's Devotional Bible. One of the resources in this Bible is the, "101 Ways to Praise a Child". Since the world around our grandchildren is very apt to leave them questioning their value and we know God values them tremendously, I thought it might be nice to share some of my favorites from this list over the coming days and months. So, from time-to-time, I will share one of my favorite "Ways to Praise a Child" along with some ideas of ways to reinforce to your grandchildren how dearly you love them.

I love this, "way to praise a child" . . . God knew what He was doing when He created you! Consider sharing this truth with them in the following ways . . .

I Have a Winner

I am happy to say Jennifer McLeod is the winner of Operation Frog Effect - you will find the review at this link. Thank you Jennifer for reading grandma's cookie jar; please email me your address (lyndagcj@gmail.com) by March 24, 2019, so I am able to have the book sent to you.

grandma's chuckles . . . Poppa is Great, but the Pilot is Necessary!

Seven years ago a couple from my church hosted an event for our Sunday school class which included airplane rides. I ended up staying home with our younger grandson - we forgot to get his car seat, but my husband was able to go for awhile with our older grandson. Being 3, he wanted his poppa to go up in the airplane with him. While the pilot was getting ready to start the plane he was joking around by saying he wasn't a pilot, but he was sure he could figure out how to fly the plane. My grandson gave this some thought then said, "Poppa, maybe it would be a good idea if you get out of the plane, so the pilot can get in your spot!" (He didn't ask to get out himself - just thought a pilot would be a good idea). Of course his poppa told him our friend was really a pilot and was just joking around, so then our grandson was ready to fly! 

Mack Brock - Covered & a Free Single Offer

I was recently invited to help spread the news about a soon-to-be-released CD from Mack Brock and how you are able to receive a free single; "I Am Loved", so today I am happy to do both.

cooking with grandma - Lemon Butter Cookies

My grandson Josiah has really taken a liking to butter cookies, so yesterday when he was at my house, we made Lemon Butter Cookies . . . and they are definitely cookies to like!

crafting with grandma - Origami

My grandsons have discovered the joy of folding paper and making something out of it! So, I looked on Pinterest and found a link for ten simple origami projects - I think there are a couple which they will enjoy trying.

Book Review - Rescuing the Gospel From the Cowboys

I was recently given the opportunity by InterVarsity Press to review a book they sent to me for review which I am only able to describe as, "eye-opening"; Rescuing the Gospel from the Cowboys: A Native American Expression of the Jesus Way. Today I am honored to share it with you and recommend it as well.

Remember & Share

One of the wonderful things about grandchildren is they tend to remind us of things which are extremely important; things which we need to remember and hold on to as grandmas - and grandpas, moms and dads - and things which we need to help our grandchildren also remember and hold on to as they grow up. One of these extremely important "somethings" is the truth we are loved and have value just the way we are!

Once when my grandsons were younger, they were at my house for a sleepover and we were talking about the color of my hair. One grandson said my hair was brown and white and I told him he was right. I said if I ever dyed my hair, I'd dye it red, to which he said, "NO! Do not dye it red! You should dye it white so it is all white!" Apparently he was quite happy with a grandma who has white hair - or even mostly white hair!

Set Your Clocks Ahead and Hand Down the Faith

Just a reminder . . . this Sunday, March 10, 2019, at 2am (or if you are like us, before we go to bed on Saturday night) we get to set our clocks forward one hour. While we "lose" an hour of sleep, we gain more daylight time. Consider some of the following ways we might use this additional daylight time to hand down the faith . . .

We All Have Blessings and Challenges

A couple days ago, I talked about the many blessings God has lavished on me; today, I want to take a moment to talk about challenges which have also been part of my life. Just as we all have blessings - big and small - in our lives, we also have challenges.

In the Grandmother's Bible, one of the devotions is about "Strength in Adversity". Rebecca Manley Pippert said, "The measure of a person is seen in his or her response to adversity.  David's life reminds us that being a believer, or even a future king, does not protect us from the ambiguities of life. God 'sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous' (Matthew 5:45). Our relationship with God does not protect us from the storm, but through knowing Him, we are protected from the storm's power to destroy us. We need to be realistic about the fact life is difficult. Instead of blaming God for our trials, we must turn to Him, for He alone can give us the resources we need to overcome them."

crafting with grandma - DIY Chairs

I was browsing on Pinterest the other day and found a pattern for an absolutely adorable toddler chair which you could make for the sweet little ones in your life . . . of course I had to share it with you!  I think it would be great fun to make these chairs with my grandsons - certainly they would enjoy picking out the paint and fabric for their chairs, the assembling of the chairs and of course, the painting of the chairs!!!

Blessings

I've been thinking a lot lately about the many blessings which God has lavished upon me . . . of course, the first is His love, grace and forgiveness! He has also blessed me with an amazing husband - we met on a volcano and have been married for 38 years this year! We have two grown children and one daughter-in-law - all blessings from the hand of God! I have three wonderful grandsons . . . most certainly blessings from God!

Hand Down the Faith with Mystery Bags - the Unpoppable Balloon - Trust God Always

This past Wednesday I shared a really fun Mystery Bag project on my other blog - Grandmas with Heart - which is sure to amaze your grandchildren, of any age; and give you a wonderful opportunity to talk with them about trusting God even when their circumstances seem impossible. So, today I'm happy to share it with you.