crafting with grandma - Homemade Maracas!

Today I want to share with you a craft I made with my grandsons when they were younger - maracas! It is so easy, and especially this time of the year, a fun craft to make. All you need are plastic eggs, unpopped popcorn, plastic spoons, and colored duct tape.

"No Cookie-Cutter Children's Ministries" - Get Your Copy On Sale for Just $4.92!

Please share this with the Children's Ministry leaders in your church -

In a day where the church is losing the next generation at double the rate of any previous generation, we must take a clear look at what we are doing, why we are doing it, and how we are able to make necessary changes to ensure our church's Children's Ministries are as effective as possible. In "No Cookie-Cutter Children's Ministries" Lynda Freeman, who has fifty years of experience in Children's Ministry, shares how while one Children's Ministry is not able to be exactly like another, we are all able to be sure we have the right "ingredients" so our own, unique Children's Ministry knows its purpose and vision, is a safe place for children, is able to find volunteers and train them, "teach the whys", as well as how to team up with the parents and grandparents.

the little answer book - Will Help You Be Prepared

 

I am not a theologian, a scientist, a philosopher, or an apologist. I am a mom. I am a grandma.

I am also a friend, and as a friend I have listened as moms and grandmas shared with me their heartbreak when their loved child, grown child, and/or grandchild made the choice to walk away from their faith. These friends shared how they did what they knew to do as the ones they loved grew up – they prayed with them, taught them about God, Jesus, and the Bible, took them to church, encouraged them to be involved in their youth group, and tried to model what it meant to love, know, and walk with God. They never thought the one they loved would turn away from their faith, but disappointment in people, hurt, and/or difficult times came along and the unthinkable happened.

Hugs are Good for You!

Hugs are good for our grandchildren and for us, so if you live near your grandchildren, make time to visit and hand out some of those good-for-you hugs!

The Art of Parenting - Nurturing Happy, Confident, & Resilient Children - Releases Tomorrow - April 3, 2023

I was recently invited to review a new book "by" Michael Chanley - today I am happy to let you know about, The Art of Parenting - Nurturing Happy, Confident, & Resilient Children. In this book Michael and "Dr. Parentaeu" "collaborate" to put out a resource which will equip parents (and grandparents) with the information - and therefore the tools - they need to raise children who are happy, confident, and resilient.

How does Using Deeper In for Children Make a Difference?

I would sincerely appreciate your help in getting the word out about my new curriculum - Deeper In for Children. Please share this post with the children's leaders in your church - Thank you!

How will using Deeper In for Children  curriculum help the children in your ministry learn, remember, understand, and live God's Word? It does this in four specific ways . . . 

Graysen Foxx and the Treasure of Principal Redbeard

I was recently invited to review the new book, Graysen Foxx and the Treasure of Principal Redbeard, and was sent a copy for this purpose. Today I am happy to let you know about this fun story the young readers in your life are sure to enjoy!

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies Are Blooming Exhibit

If you live in, or near, Grand Rapids, MI, you are most certainly familiar with Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. My husband and I have a membership and have been visiting on Tuesdays, so today I’m very happy to once again be writing about Meijer Gardens (as those of us who live in this area fondly call them) and their amazing Butterflies are Blooming Exhibit!

Don't Worry; It is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren

Today I'm very happy to let you know about another fun book for grandparents - parents, and soon-to-be grandparents, too!  Don't Worry; It is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren is written by me, Lynda Freeman.

If you have been reading this blog for very long, you know I LOVE being a grandma and I find great delight and joy in spending time with my three grandsons. In Don't Worry; It is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren, I write about not being afraid to love our grandchildren with our all - we will NOT spoil them if we do.

The DNA of Grandparents & Parents Who Hand Down Confident Faith - the Perfect Mother's Day Gift for the Moms on Your List

Mother's Day is just two months away and if you want to give the moms in your life a gift which lasts and makes a difference for generations, get them the book - "The DNA of Grandparents & Parents Who Hand Down Confident Faith"! It has a new cover, updated content, AND is available at a new price - save $2 per book! Look what Tim Kimmel (Family Matters) and Dr. Scott Turansky (National Center for Biblical Parenting) have to say about it -

New Sample Lessons for Deeper In for Children!

Please share the following post with the Children's Ministry leaders in your church - Thank you so much for helping me spread the word about Deeper In for Children!

I have been working on getting Deeper In for Children ready for you to use in your church - just some tweaking and finishing to go! So today I am very happy to share with you a new sample lesson for both Elementary and Preschool children! Both age levels engage and involve children actively in each Bible event so the children will remember what they did, and what it all means as there is a strong focus on helping children understand what difference it makes in their lives for them to know the Bible events. You will find the sample Elementary lesson at this link and the Preschool sample lesson at this link.

Learn, Be Prepared, Hand Down Confident Faith with the little answer book

 

There are people I know and love who have turned from the faith they once had, so I researched to find answers to the question - why should I believe? I discovered there are solid answers and compiled them into a simple book - the little answer book.

Why might you want this book? consider the following . . . 

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

Eleven 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 three, 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! 

Why Another Curriculum? Why Deeper In for Children?

 I have been working on a new curriculum - please share this with the people in your church.

Yes, I agree there are a number of excellent curriculum resources currently available for churches to use in their Children's Ministries, so why am I releasing  Deeper In for Children? There are several reasons, but the biggest one is because Deeper In for Children does several unique things -