Beyond Van Gogh - A "Really Cool Sensory Experience for the Whole Family"

Beyond Van Gogh came to my town and I was given two tickets to be able to share a review with you - today I am very happy to do so. If you are not yet familiar with "Beyond Van Gogh", please allow me to let you know what it is all about. They describe it as - "Beyond Van Gogh is a new truly immersive experience. While other shows use virtual reality or still images, our show breaks barriers by incorporating both still and moving art. Masterpieces, now freed from frames, come alive, appear, and disappear, flow across multi-surfaces, the minutia of details titillating our heightened senses. The show is projected on every surface around you, this makes you feel as though you have stepped directly into a Van Gogh painting. We accompany the show with a beautiful score and include many other surprises! Through the use of cutting-edge projection technology and an original score, Beyond Van Gogh breathes new life into over 300 of Van Gogh’s artworks. Occupying over 30,000 square feet, Beyond Van Gogh is the largest immersive experience in the country, offering guests ample room to safely enjoy the exhibit. Comprised of over four trillion content pixels, this high-resolution portrayal of Van Gogh’s work gives guests the opportunity to become one with his paintings." 

grandma's new bug spray!

A few years ago I learned about essential oils and discovered the following recipe I'm going to share with you today for bug spray . . . summer is not far away after all! It does seem to help - but not for keeping away ticks.

Focused & Intentional Grandparenting with Generations Quest - Cultivate the Faith!

What kind of grandparent are you? Do you enjoy being a grandparent and are happy to be past the child-rearing stage? Do you enjoy spending time with your grandchildren and make time to do things with them? Are you focused and active in passing on a heritage of confident faith to your grandchildren? What kind of grandparent are you?

Delicious Family Favorites - modern homestyle cooking

My grandmas and mom absolutely knew how to cook. They were always able to make fantastic meals - whether just for a few or the entire family . . . and happily taught my sister and I to do the same! Today I am very happy to share with you the news of the release of my sister's new cookbook - Delicious Family Favorites - modern homestyle cooking! If you, or someone you know, enjoys cooking . . . this book is for you! Or, if you have a daughter or granddaughter who is learning to cook . . . this book is for them! Check it out . . . 

Granny Square Purse for Grandma!!!

I had some granny squares on hand, I thought I'd take them and make a new purse . . .  and I'm really happy with the finished purse . . . it has enough room for my things and it has enough color to brighten a day here in Michigan! It is a really easy purse to make . . . just make some granny squares with leftover yarn - I used six granny squares for this purse - then crochet a liner. I attached the liner to the top of the granny squares and then crocheted some additional rows to make the top part of the purse, added a handle and voila! The purse was finished!

Hand Down the Faith with a Mystery Bag Project - God Knows What the Future Holds

We, and the children we love, are living in what is most certainly able to be considered an uncertain time. But, while we do not know what all to expect from day to day, we do know God has good things in store for us and we are able to pray the ones we love will be able to see those, "good things". 

Praying Deeper Through the Psalms for Children

Today I'm writing about a book written by my grandsons and I - it is more than just a book; it is a tool to help your grandchildren ages four through 14 learn to know and talk with God for themselves. Praying Deeper Through the Psalms for Children is unique in two ways; first, it is specifically written and developed for children ages four through 14 to help them learn to pray by praying the Psalms back to God and secondly, my grandsons collaborated with me on developing, writing this book, and by providing most of the illustrations!

This Children's Day go to TreeRunner Adventure Park

This Sunday, June 9th, is Children's Day. It is a day to celebrate the  children in your family. It is a day to set apart and let them know how thankful you are they are part of your family. It is a day to have fun!

So, if you are looking for an idea of something special you could do with the children you love to celebrate them, show how thankful you are they are part of your family and to have fun, consider visiting TreeRunner Adventure Park.

My local TreeRunner Adventure Park in Grand Rapids, MI allowed my son, daughter-in-law and three grandsons to visit their park, so I would be able to share their experience with you.

Tomorrow, April 11th is Pet Day

I just realized April 11th, was Pet Day! I can't believe I missed writing about it, but if you have a pet, you know every day is "Pet Day", so I'm writing about it today. Most of us have, or have had, a pet and consider them to be part of our family. When my husband Dave and I were first married, we had a Basset Hound; we named her Mindy. When we had children, Mindy was a "mother hen" to them! She was definitely a part of our family for a long time!

Children's Day - Yes, It Is Real!

In three Sunday's - on June 9th - it is Children's Day! Yes, it is a real holiday . . . (If you look it up on Google, it says the USA celebrates Children's Day on the second Sunday in June - this has been the official date since the 1800's - I really did not make this holiday up!!!) :-) 

My Christmas Carol for Today - Christmas this Year!

I thought I'd share a Christmas Carol with you today - it is sure to get your toes tapping . . . enjoy this Toby Mac song, Christmas This Year! Join in and, "For Christmas this year/  Gonna make a sound gonna make it loud/  We're gonna make some noise let the world rejoice/ for ChristMas this year", because, "God is coming near/  unto us a savior's born/  on a midnight clear!" Look at the lyrics - (and the video you will find at this link - I used with because it is so fun - just like this song! Enjoy!!)

Today's Christmas Carol - Mary Did You Know?

My Christmas Carol for you today is a song by Mark Lowry - Mary Did You Know? This song has become a favorite of many as it has some of the most powerful lyrics of any song. Quite a few singers have recorded it, but my favorite is Pentatonix - you will find it at this link. Look at the lyrics:

Cyber Monday and Boca Java!

Today is Cyber Monday and many, many people will be placing orders on-line for Christmas gifts and to just take advantage of the opportunity to save. Boca Java sent me some of their coffee to review and they told me they have a wonderful Cyber Monday sale I'm happy to let you know about. 

grandma's Christmas give-away - Boca Java Coffee!

As I write this post I'm enjoying an incredibly delicious cup of Boca Java's Pacamara Direct Trade Coffee  . . . it smells and tastes incredible! Boca Java coffee is roasted when the order is placed . . . this means you no longer have to settle for "stale" coffee! Coffee which is fresh roasted far surpasses regular coffee you buy in the store - who knows how long it has been since that coffee was roasted! With Boca Java you know your coffee is roasted and shipped to you so you have it within days of when it was roasted. This makes all the world of difference in how aromatic and tasty your coffee will be!