Pumpkin, Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread

Children are back to school, so it is Fall; today I'm very happy to share a recipe with you for  Pumpkin, Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread! Doesn't this sound like the perfect bread for a Fall breakfast, brunch or special dinner?!!!! I can't wait to try this with my family . . . not only will it taste delicious, but I know it will make my house smell like fall - all pumpkiny and wonderful!!!!

World Gratitude Day

Yesterday was a day for the world to pause and think about the many things for which we have to be thankful. But every day is a day for us to be thankful, so, since I missed it yesterday, today is also a good thing to stop and take account of the many blessings in our lives and to express our thanks to God and to others.

crafting with grandma - Painted Yard Sticks

As I look out my window the leaves on the trees are still green, but I know it won't be long and they will be bright yellow, deep red, and flaming orange as Fall arrives in all its colorful glory! We have a lot of trees in our yard . . . a LOT and these are trees with leaves which will change color . . . then drop. If I only received a penny for every ten leaves, I'd still be a very wealthy person!!!

Trust God to Draw the Ones We Love to Him

Fall is nearly upon us - at least the trees in my yard are starting to show their Fall colors. Fall is a time when we are able to see God's amazing creation in it's colorful glory . . . at least here where I live as the trees are ablaze with color! Isn't it comforting to know the God Who created everything loves our grandchildren (and adult children, too) - even more than do we, and He wants them to love Him even more than you and I want this for them? 

Get Your Free Kindle Copy of the little answer book for children

Apparently my link for downloading your free Kindle copy was not working for my book, the little answer book for children - so, I have fixed the link and starting tomorrow, September 21, 2021 and going through September 25, 2021 you will now be able to get your free Kindle copy.

Be Encouraged & Don't Give Up

Don't you just love it when your grandchildren try something new, stick with it, and are able to experience the joy which comes from doing this? 

My oldest grandson chose to learn the saxophone a few years ago. He caught on right away, is looking forward to being in the jazz band at school next year, and loves playing his saxophone. His band teacher even calls him, "Mr. Saxophone"! My middle grandson went on a bike ride/race with his dad this past weekend in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It was his first time to try something like this and he rode 20 miles, climbed more than 2000 feet, didn't quit (even though professional bikers say this is the most difficult course for a one-day race in the USA) and may even be the youngest rider who has ever completed the course! He was so happy when he reached my house and told me about the race! My youngest grandson completed the entire school year last year at home due to covid. This year he is back in class - he was concerned he wouldn't be able to do the things he needed to do at school, but he loves school! He is having a great time making friends, learning more math - his favorite class - and is at the top of his class in his testing. He is so happy to know he is able to do well at school!

I Have a Winner!

I'm happy to say, today we have a winner in the Clever Cub books giveaway - Leela! (Please email me your address -lyndagcj@gmail.com, so I am able to have them sent to you.)

Fun Facts about Grandparents & Why What They Do Matters!

Clearly, from the things I write about - especially in the past week or so - I sincerely believe grandparents need to focus on handing down confident faith to their grandchildren. There are reasons I believe this - some of them are . . . 

Tell the "Whys" - God Makes Sense

I love the Okapi - it is one of the most unique animals God created. It looks from the backside like a strange Zebra, but is actually more closely related to the Giraffe. It does have a longish neck and a prehensile tongue, like the Giraffe, but it is a totally unique creature all its own.

crafting with grandma - Easy 10-Minute Homemade Pumpkin Soap

I believe one of the important things we need to teach our grandchildren is to be people who are tender-hearted, kind, and who are quick to encourage others. We do this by modeling what it means to be gracious people who watch for opportunities to lift the spirits of those with whom we come in contact. As they see us do this, they will better understand how they are able to be people who brighten the day of those around them.

Get Your Free Kindle Copy of the little answer book for children

Today is the first day of the Child Discipleship Forum and as one of the Founding Partners, I made the kindle version of one of my books - the little answer book for children - available to download for free. It is free for you to download today through the 20th as well!

grandma's cookbook - Pumpkin, Cinnamon Muffins

Fall colors are just around the corner and it won't be long until the area of Michigan where I live is awash in color! I believe Dr. Seuss must have wrote many of his books in the Spring or Fall when trees really are red, yellow, orange (or even pink in the Spring)!

It is Not Too Late to Get Your Free Kindle Copy of Don't Worry: It is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren

If you have not yet downloaded your free Kindle copy of Don't Worry: It is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren, you still have today, September 15, 2021 and tomorrow, September 16, 2021 to do so. This book will help you put together the pieces for handing confident faith to the children you love. 

grandma's cookbook - Caramel Apple Toppings

If you are looking for a tasty, fresh and fun dessert to enjoy with your grandchildren - and entire family - this Fall, check this idea I found this morning on Pinterest for a Caramel Apple Bar! Yes, apples, caramel dip, and an entire selection of tasty items in which you may dip these slices! I know! Tasty and fun!

crafting with grandma - Clay Pot Snowman

Christmas is just three months and eleven days away . . . not very long actually. So, if you like to make gifts for people you love, and like to help your grandchildren do the same, check this idea for clay pot snowmen. It is a fun craft and one you could have your grandchildren make - or smaller ones to give their teachers.

grandma's cookbook - Make Apple Pie Bites!

Along with talking about important things like, passing on a heritage of confident faith to our grandchildren, I like to share fun recipes, crafts and info which is just "fun" on grandma's cookie jar. Today I'm very happy to share a tasty and easy recipe for making Apple Pie Bites which I found on Pinterest. 

FREE Kindle Book & It is Not Too Late to Be Part of the Child Discipleship Forum

 

Why are children leaving the church after high school? What if the strategy to change this started in Children’s Ministry? If you have been reading my blog for long, you know these are questions which greatly concern me and questions I have been addressing for some time.

Trail's End Links - Because I am a Grandma

This post today is because I am a grandma - a grandma with two grandsons who are Cub Scouts. My grandsons are selling delicious Trail's End Popcorn (and other tasty snacks), so, because I am their grandma, I am sharing the links with you. If you would like to buy some Trail's End treats from them, you will find them at the following links - Caleb's link, Shane's link. 

A Grandparents Day Gift for You

Happy Grandparents Day! To help you celebrate, today through this Thursday, September 16, 2021, you are able to download the kindle copy of Don't Worry: It is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren for FREE!

Happy Grandparents Day!

Today is Grandparents Day - it is an actual holiday which is celebrated each year on the second Sunday in September. It began when a 9-year-old boy, Russell Capper, sent a letter to President Richard Nixon in 1969 asking him to set aside a day to celebrate grandparents. In 1977, senators and congress passed a joint resolution for a National Grandparents' Day. Congress passed the resolution. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed the proclamation and the first National Grandparents' Day was celebrated on September 10, 1978.

Grandparent's Day - A Gift for You & Let's Focus on What Matters the Most!

This Sunday, September 12, 2021, is Grandparent's Day, so to celebrate we are giving you a gift - the kindle copy of my book - Don't Worry; It is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren - you will find it at this link - it is available to download for free September 12 - 14, 2021.) Those of us who are grandparents can use this day to renew our commitment to pass on a confident heritage of faith to our grandchildren. Is there anything more important we could spend our time doing? 

Using Bacon

Do you have things in your life which you think you will never use? Things you had to learn or do, mostly when you were younger? Well I do . . . or at least I did, until one morning a few years back.

grandma's cookbook - Six Minute Microwave Caramels!

As I browsed Pinterest this morning I found a fun and easy recipe for tasty caramels! You'll find the full recipe at this link - it is definitely a fun treat I'm going to try for my grandsons - since the recipe says it gets really hot, I'll make them and let my grandsons enjoy them!

Hand Down Your Faith & Connect with the Children You Love

If you have been reading grandma's cookie jar for very long, you know passing on a heritage of confident faith to my grandsons is something I care very, very much about. I want my grandsons to grow to be boys, then teens, and one day young men who love, know, and walk with God, faithfully, with all their heart.

"Grannie Ellies" Make a Difference . . . So Do People Grandparents!

A couple years ago I posted about an article which had been "floating around" the internet where it talked about elephant grandmas - today I want to share it with you again. Apparently research showed baby elephants are more likely to survive if there is a grandma elephant in their herd. Newsweek Tech and Science reported on this; they said - "Turns out grannies are very important to baby ellies. New research conducted over four decades in Kenya’s Amboseli National Park shows female elephants with a living mother have better chances at reproduction and give birth to babies more likely to survive." They studied 3,000 elephants in Southern Kenya for 42 years and discovered, “having an experienced mother, one who knows how to respond to their calf's demands and how to keep them close by, makes a huge difference in whether a baby elephant survives—having a grandma adds much needed extra help.”

crafting with grandma - Let's Make Apples

Fall is apple time . . . especially if you live in West Michigan as do I! But whether you live in an apple-growing area or not, these little apples are fun to make and are a fun decoration for any time of year!

crafting with grandma - Easy, Fun, Duck Tape Place Mats!

I'm always looking for crafts younger children are able to make . . . I am delighted to share with you a really simple and fun craft for a place mat using Duck Tape, plastic zippy bags and your own designs, photos or treasures!

Crochet a Cute Llama!

Today I thought it would be fun to share with you a new pattern for an adorable llama you could crochet with some soft Red Heart yarn!

grandma's cookbook - Lemon Bars

My family loves my lemon bars, so today I'm sharing with you a recipe for lemon bars - the butter cookie bottom and soft, tart lemon topping . . . a wonderful treat! My favorite recipe is straight from the Better Homes and Gardens cook book I received when I was first married - 40 years ago! Sometimes the older recipes are truly the best ones . . . so here it is, and enjoy!

Book Review & Giveaway - Clever Cub

A couple days ago I received a package in the mail with four new books from author Bob Hartman. So, today I am happy to let you know about them - and announce a giveaway as well!

crafting with grandma - Crocheted Raggedy Ann & Andy Dolls

I have always been a "fan" of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls! In fact, the first doll I bought my daughter was a Raggedy Ann doll! After all, what isn't there to love about these sweet dolls which have been loved "friends" of children for decades??!!! Sweet, huggable and oh, so lovable, Raggedy Ann dolls are classics for a reason!

Tomorrow is Cheese Pizza Day!

Oh yes, Cheese Pizza Day . . . certainly a day worth celebrating, so in honor of this tasty day, I'm re-posting a recipe I shared back when I began grandma's cookie jar for homemade, personal pizzas! 

Be Encouraged by the Truth & Use it to Encourage Others

I love this quote from Max Lucado - it is such a source of comfort and encouragement for all of us. 2021 has been an unexpected and difficult year for us all - but through it all, God has never left us alone - and He never will.

Two Days Left to Get Your Free Kindle Copy of Generations Quest - Cultivate the Faith!

Today, September 3, 2021 and tomorrow, September 4, 2021 are the last two days in my special giveaway for Grandparents Day . . . I'm giving away the Kindle version of my book - Generations Quest - Cultivate the Faith!

Make an Eternal Difference Now in the Lives of the Ones You Love

While we likely have more days behind us than we do before us, if we are still breathing and our heart is continuing to beat, we have at least today; we have now. It is up to us how we spend the hours in this day - the hours before us now. We are able to use them to make a difference in the lives of the ones we love -an eternal difference.

crafting with grandma - Crocheted Dolls!

I LOVE having three grandsons - they make my heart happy and I absolutely would not trade them for anything or anyone in the world! I love making up "boy" stories about monsters, aliens, and yes, even giant robot spiders! I know there will be no stories about flowers, butterflies and sweet, cute things . . . unless the monsters are stomp, stomp, stomping on them!  Grandsons are great fun and a true delight! 

grandma's cookbook -Cinnamon Sugar, Soft, Pumpkin Pretzels

It won't be long before the leaves on my trees are begin to turn the most beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow! Fall will shortly be on it's way!

So, I thought today would be a great day to share a favorite recipe from Pinterest - Cinnamon-Sugar Soft Pumpkin Pretzels. Please let me say here, when I first saw the recipe, the thought of making soft pretzels was at least somewhat intimidating. But, the author of this recipe said this was really simple and only took 30 minutes! Thirty minutes!!!! I tried it and found it was simple! The biggest bonus is my family loved the finished pretzels - and the boys had such fun making them!

Get Your Free Kindle Copy of Generations Quest - Cultivate the Faith!

Today, September 1, 2021, through Saturday, September 4, 2021, you are able to download the Kindle version of Generations Quest - Cultivate the Faith! . . . completely for free! It is our Grandparents Day gift to you - whether you are a grandparent or parent!

grandma's cookbook - Toffee Butter Cookies!

Get ready to start gathering ingredients and baking 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???!!!

Grandma "Ellies" Matter & So Do We

Over the past year my grandsons and I worked on a new book series for children and families to enjoy which will help them develop a confident faith as they learn about really interesting animals. (You will find the Life on the Goldilocks Planet series in the bookstore at this link.) In book two in my Life on the Goldilocks Planet series - this one is entitled, Eyelash Vipers, Pygmy Elephants, Pangolins & More! I wrote about Pygmy Elephants and yes, there are pygmy elephants in Asia and Africa!

grandma's cookbook - Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie

As I was browsing through Pinterest this morning I saw a recipe which looks interesting . . . fun to make . . . and which is likely to be very tasty! Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie!!!! Even the name sounds delicious!!!

Get Your Free Digital Copy of Generations Quest Cultivate the Faith

September 12th, is National Grandparents Day - and to celebrate I am making a book available for you to receive the Kindle copy for free. With our grandchildren heading back to school, they are likely to be busy and may not be spending as much time with us as they may have over the summer. So, the time we do spend with them needs to be especially purposeful. If you are looking for a resource to help you with this, take a look at Generations Quest - Cultivate the Faith! which you are able to get the kindle copy for free!

Love Your Baby's Baby - It Is Important

I love this quote from Debbie Guinn. We grandmas - and grandpas, too - have lived a few years and we have learned what is important in life; this helps us know how to love deeply. And, yes, one of the ways we show this deep love begins with loving our baby's baby. 

crafting with grandma - Special Family Scrabble Picture!

Do you like to make unique, special gifts for the people on your gift list? Do you enjoy helping your grandchildren learn to make unique special gifts for the people on their gift list? There are only four months until Christmas, so if you'd like a great idea for a truly unique gift, try this one! You could help your grandchildren make this gift for their parents!

Who Am I? I Am His!

 One of the most important things we can ever do as grandmas is to help our grandchildren know who they really are! This world sends so many conflicting - and flat out wrong - messages about who they are; we need to stand up and help our grandchildren know the truth of who they are . . . they are God's immensely loved, and forgiven, children! If we are going to be successful  at helping our grandchildren know this truth, we need to believe it about ourselves, first. Take a few minutes to enjoy this song from Casting Crowns - Who Am I - from their album, Casting Crowns and really pay attention to the lyrics. Make them your prayer. 

Seven Ideas for Showing Our Love

As grandmas, (and grandpas, too) we certainly want everything we do and say to cause our grandchildren to "feel" our love. But, how do we do this - especially when they may not live where we see them in person every day? Consider the following . . . 

grandma's bookshelf - Sidney and Norman - a tale of two pigs

Today I'm happy to let you know about a book I particularly enjoy. It is an older book, but definitely one worth getting if you do not already have it.

I love children's books because they typically tell a good story, with illustrations and a point . . . something to talk about with children. But I also love children's books because more often than not they have a point for adults, too! This book is most certainly one such book . . . while you may think it is a children's book . . . it is actually a book for adults!

Make Your Own Hobby Horse

If you are looking for a fun craft to make with the children you love, check out this quick, fun, hobby horse! You will find the directions at this link.