just as grandma's cookie jar should always be full of good things, this blog will be full of good ideas, information, activities and reviews of things to help grandma . . . and grandpa, mom and dad too . . . pass on a heritage of faith to the children in their lives!
There are just two weeks until Resurrection Sunday and it is very likely most of us will still be staying home, away from others - which makes celebrating with family, friends and our church something very different this year. Last week a friend of mine, Joan Salsbury, shared a terrific link she found on a facebook page (Easter Egg Hunt 2020 with Social Distancing) for one of the most wonderful ideas I have ever seen to help our grandchildren celebrate Resurrection Sunday. Today I am very happy to share it with you, so you have time to gather the supplies and send them to your grandchildren. You will need . . .
Today I am happy to share this opportunity to watch the animated movie - Pilgrim's Progress with you along with ideas for ways you are able to use it to connect with family and friends - especially during this time when you may be staying away from them.
My family enjoys no-bake cookies - and I make them a couple times a week because the way I make them they are a healthy and tasty way to increase fiber, protein and flavonoids! Today I am very happy to share with you my recipe for no-bakes. You will need . . .
I was browsing on Pinterest and found a fun craft for you . . . one with which you will certainly be able to delight your grandchildren - especially during this social distancing time when they are home from school. This idea is for an Easter Count Down and just needs an egg carton, a dozen plastic eggs and some fun!
When we trust God, we are steadfast and are able to experience His perfect peace. This is certainly what we want for the children we love; at all times, but especially now with COVID-19. Children may especially feel fear as they are not in school, the adults in their lives may not be working and may be feeling stressed and life is very different.
With things as they are in our neighborhoods and in the world, some of the children, parents and grandparents in your ministry may feel afraid. But, while we do not know what will happen with COVID-19, we do know the things God has promised - and He always keeps His promises. For the coming days I will share some of these wonderful promises with you - please share them with the the people in your ministry. Today I'm starting with one of my favorite passages - Psalm 43:1-5 . . .
Can you believe April 1st is just a couple weeks away? If April Fool's Day has "snuck" up on you and you are looking for a couple harmless, but seriously funny pranks you can pull on your grandchildren/children, hubby or friends . . . check these great ideas I found on Pinterest! They make me laugh just to think about them! :-D
This week many of us as grandmas (grandpas/ parents, too) will find ourselves spending additional time with the children we love as so many schools are closed due to COVID-19, so I want to share some resources which you may find to be helpful. I also want to share a simple way we are able to impact our grandchildren and help them learn Who God Is and how they are able to know and follow Him. So what is this, "simple way"? Reading books. Yes, books! Books are wonderful tools to help our grandchildren learn Who God Is, whether the book is a Christian book for children and teens or not. First let's look at using books with young grandchildren - near and far, and then we will look at the same with older grandchildren/ teens - near and far along with a few book reviews and recommendations.
If you are looking for a special craft you could help your grandchildren make as an Easter gift for their mother . . . take a good look at this craft I found on Pinterest! I love how this "lily" is made from the handprints of children!
Okay, I admit it, I LOVE Reeses Peanut Butter Cups and when they are available as "eggs" for Easter . . . well, what isn't there to absolutely enjoy?!!! :^) So, when I found a recipe on Pinterest to make them myself, I had to share it with you!
The Dr. Seuss Quote for today . . . "Think and wonder, wonder and think!" There are so many things in life to think and wonder, wonder and think about, but I think one of the most wondrous things to think and wonder about is God's incredible love for us! It is a very familiar verse, but it says it all; John 3:16 says, "God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die!"Just think about this!!! God loved us so much! He didn't just love us a little; He loves us so much! And, not only does He love us so much, but He gave!!! His love wasn't just love in words only . . . He gave! And then to think about what He gave . . . His only Son!!! The wonder of it all! As if all this wasn't more than enough, He gave His only Son to die for us so we will have eternal life and never really die!!! Think about this! Wonder at the amazing love of God which gives!!!
What a fun and tasty day to celebrate!!! My grandson Caleb is absolutely a "fan" of Oreo cookies . . . after all, they are quite the tasty treat! Since today is National Oreo Cookie Day, I thought it would be fun to share a few, "Oreo facts" with you . . .
Several years ago I shared a Dr. Seuss Quote each day throughout the month of March - since Dr. Seuss' birthday is in March. He had some really excellent quotes for sure. This year, throughout the month, I will share just a few of my favorites - starting today with; "Today you are you that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you." Enjoy!
I want to take a moment today to let the people in Tennessee who lost family and friends in this horrible tornado know they are in my prayers. Please join me in holding them up in your prayers - for them to be drawn to God where they will find comfort and peace. With this in mind, please take a minute to let the people in your life know how much you love them. Life is short - and fragile. The Bible says it is here today and gone tomorrow. Make it a priority today to let the ones you love know how much you love them.
This blog - grandma's cookie jar - is a place where I am able to share a lot of ideas for fun ways to connect with our grandchildren/ children. Over the years I am happy to have been able to do so. But it is also a place where I am able to share ideas and resources to help us as grandmas (and grandpas/parents, too) hand down the faith. If we want the children we love to know, walk and talk with God, we have to be faithful to hand down the faith. I have shared with you all a few times about a new book I wrote with my grandsons which will help children ages four to fourteen learn to talk with God for themselves - Praying Deeper Through the Psalms for Children. This book will help children pray every day as each week for a year they have a new passage in Psalms which they are able to pray for a week. It will help children learn to talk with God for themselves.
When we had our children my husband and I named them Tiffany and David. It can be fun to think about the meaning behind the names we have or have given to our children and the names of our grandchildren as well. Especially on a day such as today . . . Fun About Names Day. I looked up some fun "names" facts on-line and am happy to share them with you today. Did you know . . .
Today is Dr. Seuss' birthday! I found a great "write up" about this day on-line, so I thought I'd share it with you . . . "Today is Dr. Seuss Day, a full twenty-four hours to make a mess with the Cat in the Hat, dance around with the Fox in Sox, hear a Who with Horton, count the red and blue fish, help the Grinch see the error of his ways, and listen to Sam I Am’s friend complain about his dish of green eggs and ham!