It is National Smile Week!

It is National Smile Week! Smiling is important for many reasons, look at some of the benefits from smiling  -

reduces your blood pressure 

increases your endurance 

reduces pain 

reduces stress 

strengthens your immune system 

makes others smile as well!

The Little, Ginormous, Humongous, Hairy, One-Eyed Monster Boys Adventures

What could be a better way to spend time with your young grandchildren/children than with books! So, today I am very happy to let you know about a special book . . . The Little, Ginormous, Humongous, Hairy, One-Eyed Monster Boys Adventures - and this book has two stories in it, so you get two books in one!

illustrate my own Books ARE for You!

If you are not an artist, or artistic person, when you see a book which you need to provide the illustrations for, you may think it is not the book for you. But, in this case with the illustrate my own Known Bible Hero, illustrate my own Unknown Bible Hero, and the new illustrate my own Important Things Jesus Wants Me to Know books, nothing could be farther from the truth!

Today is World Elephant Day!

Today is a special day, it is World Elephant Day! I personally love elephants - especially Pygmy Elephants (which, yes, are a real thing), so a day to focus on and celebrate these amazing animals is certainly a day worth celebrating! Let's start with some fun elephant facts, did you know . . .

A Family of Her Own for Candy - Great Story to Encourage Reading in the Summer!

Last summer my husband, grandsons, and I went to the Humane Society to get a kitten. I wanted my grandsons to go with us because, first of all, they love all animals, secondly I wanted to be sure whatever cat we got was one which was able to be around my grandsons without being aggressive. We spent some time at the Humane Society and finally settled on a very sweet calico - which we named Candy, because she is sweet (and my middle grandson said she reminded him of candy corn.) 

illustrate my own - Known Bible Heroes - Joshua, Caleb, & Hadassah

For the week or so I have been letting you know about my illustrate my own Bible Hero books - today I am happy to let you know about the last three Known Bible Hero books - Joshua, Caleb, and Hadassah (you know her as Esther.)

Today is National Daughters & Sons Day!

Today is a fantastic day to value, speak, and show this value for some of the most important people in your life - your daughters and sons. This of course also includes step daughters/sons, in-law daughters/sons, and of course granddaughters & grandsons. I am most blessed to have a daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and three grandsons and I am most thankful for all of them!

So, how might you show you value these amazing people in your life on this day? Well, the two most important things for you to do are  . . .

illustrate my own - Known Bible Heroes - Noah, Hananiah, Mishael & Azariah, and Ruth

 

You are likely familiar with the three Bible people I am highlighting today from my illustrate my own - Known Bible Hero book series - Noah, Hananiah, Mishael & Azariah (otherwise known as Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego), and Ruth, so just think how much fun it would be to illustrate these familiar accounts . . . whether you are an artist or draw your illustrations with stick people. As much fun as it would be for you to illustrate these Bible adventures for your grandchildren, think how much more fun it would be to illustrate them together . . . and most importantly, think about the fantastic conversations you would be able to have as you work together to illustrate your books!

grandma's chuckles - Stuck in the Mud!

One day several years ago when the boys were at my house we were enjoying a fun story . . . which went like this . . . 

It's National Treasure Your Dog Day!

Today is National Treasure Your Dog Day . . . well, technically it is National Spoil Your Dog Day, but we throw things away which are spoilt and we would never throw our dear canine family members away, so I prefer to call it, National Treasure Your Dog Day! The dogs in the photo are my "grand" dogs - Rosie the basset and Gimli and Roxi - all much loved for sure!

So, as we think about treasuring the canines in our family on this day, let's first look at some fun dog facts, did you know . . . 

illustrate my own - Known Bible Heroes - Jonah, Elijah, & Joseph

 

The Bible is filled with true accounts of real people - when we learn about them, and the things which happened to and with them, we are better able to see how God works in our lives - just as He worked in their lives. This is certainly true with Jonah, Elijah, and Joseph!

grandma's chuckles - Top Five Important Things . . .

One day, a number of years ago, when my grandsons were six and three I asked them what the most important things are for a grandma to do and thought I'd share their answers with you . . . 

August is Family Fun Month!

While I certainly think every month should be a month for fun with family, August is Family Fun Month, so let's celebrate! My grandsons, my husband, and I are celebrating our "Days of Fun" this week - we do this every year. This year we are going to the zoo, out for lunch, going to a trampoline park (watch for reviews on the zoo and trampoline park next week), making fudge, and also are go to a movie, and out for supper over Thursday and Friday. We will absolutely be having fun for sure!

Today is International Cat Day!

If you have a feline family member, then today is a day for you to celebrate as it is International Cat Day! Candy is the cat in the photo - she is our cat. Last August my grandsons went with their poppa and I to the Humane Society to get a cat - they chose her - or she chose us? Either way, she is the one who came home with us and we are very happy to have her as part of our family!