Grandma's Cinnamon Vanilla Maple Sugar Sprinkles

When my children were young, they loved when I fixed toast with cinnamon sprinkles - sometimes the simple things in life are some of the most enjoyable. My grandsons enjoy this as well.

Summer Fun and Learning for Families

Will you have grandchildren spending time with you this Summer? Or, are you a mom who is looking at Summer vacation nearly here and wondering what you might do with the children you love? Well, wonder no more! In just four days my book, Science the Bible and Fun will be available for you to download for free on Kindle - yes, for free!

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway in Eleven Days

I'm happy to say, Mami2jcn is the winner in the giveaway for the NIV, Bible for Teen Guys. You will find my review - at this link. Thank you Mami2jcn for reading grandma's cookie jar (please email me - lyndagcj@gmail.com by June 6, 2019, so I am able to arrange to have it sent to you) and thank you Zondervan for sending one for me to review and for making another available for me to give away!

Pinky Got Out! & a Giveaway

I was recently invited to review a new story book for children and today I'm very happy to do so. (My grandson LOVES this book!)

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway in Three Days

I'm happy to say, Tina Hendrickson is the winner in the giveaway for The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. You will find my review - at this link. Thank you Tina for reading grandma's cookie jar (please email me - lyndagcj@gmail.com by June 3, 2019, so I am able to arrange to get it to you) and thank you IVP for sending one for me to review and give away!

UNO Dare & Leave Them Laughing

Recently my husband, myself and our grandsons were introduced to a "new" game; UNO Dare. The "Uno" part of it was not new, but the "Dare" part was . . . and is absolutely a lot of fun!

You play the game the same way as Uno, except when you are given a "draw" card, you are able to choose to instead do a, "dare". These dares are so much fun . . . do the chicken dance, talk like a pirate, walk like a robot, hold absolutely still until your next turn, say "hip-pity hop" at the end of every sentence until your next turn, etc. The dares leave you - and everyone with whom you are playing - laughing, a lot and puts so much additional fun into the game of Uno.

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway in Three Days

I'm happy to say, Jenmalonee is the winner in the giveaway for one yarn package. You will find my review - at this link. Thank you Jenmalonee for reading grandma's cookie jar (please email me - lyndagcj@gmail.com by June 1, 2019, so I am able to send it to you) and thank you Red Heart for sending some for me to review and give away!

Be Steadfast About Handing Down Your Faith

Psalm 103:17 tells us; “But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children.“

This is the message we in the church want to make known… God’s love is steadfast from everlasting to everlasting for those who turn to and fear Him. It is also a message which encourages grandparents. God’s righteousness is for our children’s children.

Hand Down the Faith with Mystery Bags - God Made You Unique & Oh, So Valuable

The month of May is National Mental Health Month, so I want to write today about something very, very important. Suicide. I was shocked to learn suicide is the second leading cause of death in the United States for children, youth and young adults ages ten - 34. Yes, this statistic included children as young as ten. I have a grandson who is ten.

This got my attention; and I assume it has your attention as well.

DIY Toys for Summer Fun & Children's Day

Summer is almost here with warm days and lots of fun in and around water. So I thought I'd share with you some DIY toy ideas for sponge balls and light sabers I found on Pinterest which you could either make with your grandchildren or for them for children's day! 

Build Strong Bonds

Yesterday I was able to take my grandsons to church with me. I was sitting in the area where the children are checked in to the Children's Ministry at my church and had the opportunity to notice several grandmas with their grandchildren. It was abundantly clear the grandmas love their grandchildren and I was so happy to see the love mirrored back to their grandmas in the eyes of the grandchildren.

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway in Five Days

I'm happy to say, Heather is the winner in the giveaway for one From Me to You (Daughter): A Conversation Journal for You and Your Daughter or From Me to You (Son): A Conversation Journal for You and Your Son. You will find my review - at this link. Thank you Heather for reading grandma's cookie jar (please email me - lyndagcj@gmail.com by May 27, 2019, so I am able to have it sent to you) and thank you Harvest House for sending one for me to review and a second copy for me to give away!

May is Burger Month

May is Hamburger Month - as if we need a month to celebrate what is one of our favorite foods! With Memorial Day a week away, I thought it would be fun to share a link to a site with information on the history of how we ended up with burgers - you will find it at this link - and one of the ways I like to fix special burgers.

These Memories are a Treasure

There are many things people in the world consider to be "treasure" . . . gold, money, jewels, etc. But for me, I treasure people and memories. I consider the people in my life to be gifts from the hand of God . . . especially my family. My grandsons often spend the night at my home and a few years ago, when they were at my house, we had a conversation about how they are treasure to me; gifts from the hand of God. They have heard this at least a time or two :^) so on this occasion, my oldest grandson said, "I know! I'm your treasure!" I want my grandsons to grow up knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt their grandma treasures them!

Hand Down the Faith with Mystery Bags - God Has So Graciously Forgiven Us

The world in which we live is not always quick to show and offer forgiveness. People seem to want to see others, "get what is coming to them". But, God has so graciously forgiven us, so we have the wonderful opportunity to help our grandchildren understand what forgiveness is all about. As we model forgiveness to them, we will find we have the perfect opportunity to talk with them about how God forgives them and how they are able to forgive others as well. Consider this Mystery Bag Project to help your grandchildren learn about forgiveness.

You will need . . .

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway in Five Days

I'm happy to say, Leela is the winner in the giveaway for one NIV Personal Size Reference Bible. You will find my review - at this link. Thank you Leela for reading grandma's cookie jar (please email me - lyndagcj@gmail.com by May 22, 2019, so I am able to connect you with them) and thank you Zondervan for sending one for me to review and a second copy for me to give away!

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway in Two Days

I'm happy to say,  Nicki Joseph is the winner in the giveaway for two passes to Grand Rapids TreeRunner Adventure Park. You will find my review - at this link. Thank you Nicki for reading grandma's cookie jar (please email me - lyndagcj@gmail.com by May 18, 2019, so I am able to connect you with them) and thank you TreeRunner Adventure Park for making these passes available for me to give away!

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day from Grandmas with Heart! 

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway in Two Days

I'm happy to say, Michelle Catallo is the winner in the giveaway of, Peppercorns Royale Four Pepper Blend from The Spice House! Thank you Michelle for reading grandma's cookie jar (please email your address to me - lyndagcj@gmail.com by May 18, 2019, so I am able to send it to you) and thank you Spice House for sending one for me to review and a second copy for me to give away!

Just for Fun - Mother's Day Trivia

Mother's Day is tomorrow, so I thought it would be fun to look at some Mother's Day trivia I found on-line. Did you know . . . 

• In Britain, during the Middle Ages, it was customary for the wealthy to give servants the day off on Mothering Sunday (the fourth Sunday of Lent), so they would be able to visit their mothers, who often lived far away.
• In Serbia, Mother’s Day is called Materice and is celebrated on the second Sunday before Christmas. Children sneak into their mother’s bedroom and gently tie her feet with ribbon or string. To negotiate her release, the mother gives her children small gifts. (Not much in it for Mom, but she does get to lie down for a bit.)

I also found the following Mother's Day trivia . . . 

A Giveaway Tomorrow

Don't forget - tomorrow we have a special giveaway . . . for the most amazing  Peppercorns Royale Four Pepper Blend from the Spice House - you will find the info at this link. 

You still have time to enter - someone will win, could be you!

God's Fingerprints are on His Most Amazing Creations

This is a Carrier Crab (look under the Fire Urchin in the photo below) - it lives in the Pacific Ocean. Apparently it is considered HIGHLY tasty to pretty much all its neighbors. So, to survive it uses its back legs to hold the Fire Urchin (by the way, did I mention the Fire Urchin is named "Fire Urchin" for an excellent reason . . . it is poisonous to all those hungry neighbors?) and carries it around wherever it goes. When the Carrier Crab's hungry neighbors see the tasty crab, AND the poisonous Fire Urchin, they decide they are not as hungry as they thought they were - they leave the crab alone.

TreeRunner Adventure Park - a Special Offer for Mother's Day & a Giveaway on May 13, 2019

Last Summer I was given the opportunity to review and write about a local Aerial Adventure Park - TreeRunner Adventure Park here in Grand Rapids, MI. I said; "if you are wondering if these parks are a safe option for the children you love, today I'm happy to let you know about this unique and fun place where you are able to spend time and build amazing memories with the children you love."


In a few weeks I will be sharing another review as my son and his family will be visiting it again. I'm looking forward to writing while TreeRunner is fun the first time you visit, the fun continues to grow each time you return.

But today I want to let you know about a special opportunity for Moms and announce a fun giveaway for two passes to the Grand Rapids TreeRunner Adventure Park.

I Have a Winner & Another Giveaway in Four Days

I'm happy to say, Terri C is the winner in the giveaway of, Sam Wu Is Not Afraid of Sharks!! Thank you Terri for reading grandma's cookie jar (please email your address to me - lyndagcj@gmail.com by May 13, 2019, so I am able to send it to you) and thank you Sterling Children's Books for sending one for me to review and a second copy for me to give away!

Grand Parenting DVD Resource Giveaway is Tomorrow - May 7, 2019

A couple weeks ago I reviewed a DVD resource from the Legacy Coalition on which four of our Grandmas with Heart (who were there from the start of the Legacy Coalition and are part of its founding team) are the session speakers (Linda Ranson Jacobs, Sherry Schumann, Cathy Jacobs and Lynda Freeman). This resource, Grandparenting DVD: Strengthening Your Family and Passing on Your Faith, is an excellent resource to watch and learn from on your own, or in a small group or class with friends and/or other grandparents in your church.

Legacy Coalition sent me an extra DVD set for me to giveaway - I was going to hold the drawing yesterday, but it was a busier day than I anticipated, so I'm holding the drawing tomorrow - May, 7, 2019 - which means you still have time to enter! You will find all the details, along with my full review, at this link.

Giveaway Tomorrow - May 5, 2019 for Sam Wu Is Not Afraid of Sharks!

Just a reminder, tomorrow, May 5, 2019 is the giveaway for Sam Wu Is Not Afraid of Sharks! This is a fun story, even my grandson who said he would NEVER read unless he had to has read at least three times already! He also even quotes from this book!

So, if you have a grandchild/child who loves to read or one who does not, this is a great book to add to your library or give to them as a gift.

You will find all the info on how to enter the drawing for Sam Wu Is Not Afraid of Sharks! at this link.

Cinco De Mayo Craft - Mini Pepper Pinata

If you enjoy celebrating Cinco De Mayo with your grandchildren and are looking for some fun, inexpensive crafts, check this one out which I found on Pinterest - of course! I love how this little, mini, pepper pinata is made from a TP roll and tissue paper - and of course whatever "goodies" you choose to tuck inside! Simple, fun and inexpensive! IF you follow the link you'll find complete directions and some additional fun Cinco De Mayo ideas!

May Photo Challenge

Today I posted to my own facebook page the following -  

Throughout the month of May I plan to share a photos from day to day of someone for whom I'm ever so thankful. Someone who fills my heart with joy! Someone whose presence in my life reminds me of God's great love for me.

grandma's cookbook - Pinata Cookies

Cinco de Mayo is just four days away . . . so if you are looking for a very fun recipe which you may use to delight your grandchildren, check out this recipe I found on Pinterest for 
Pinata Cookies! These colorful sugar cookies have an unexpected surprise inside which will totally delight your grandchildren - and any adults who receive one, too! I think the assembly of these pinata cookies will take a bit of work to perfect, but if you are able to make them, they will not be forgotten!