crafting with grandma - Valentines Day Salt-Dough Hand-Print Hearts!

If you have been reading grandma's cookie jar for long, you know I love crafts which involve  making hand and/or footprints of my grandsons . . . they grow up so very fast, so being able to save a "moment in time" when they are "little" (even when they assure me they are no longer "little", but are "big"!) is something I cherish!

So, when I was browsing on Pinterest and saw a salt-dough hand-print heart, I knew I had to do two things . . . make some with my sweet boys and share the recipe with you! 

Yelling at Children . . .

In the mornings I often watch the Today Show as I get around and start my day. Today I'm remembering a few years ago when they talked about an article from the Washington Post  about yelling at children; I found some very interesting information in this report and in the article, so I thought I'd share it with you.

First of all, yelling harms children. There is no debate about this; yelling harms children. The Washington Post said:

Praying Deeper Through the Psalms for Children - Download Four Weeks for Free

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 so much uncertainty in our world. 

Book Review - Chicken Little - The Real and Totally True Tale

In a box of books from Scholastic was a fun and quirky book - Chicken Little - The Real and Totally True Tale . . . a book sure to be a favorite!

Connect Your Family & God's Word with Generations Quest

We grandmas (grandpas/ parents) know God has clearly asked us to hand down confident faith. This is our God-given job and great joy. (See Psalm 78:4, 6, 7)

If we could receive anything as a gift this year, at the top of our list would absolutely be to have the ones we love make the choice to know, love, and walk with God. Well, we can not make the ones we love choose to do this, but we also do not have to leave it to chance for them to know, love, and walk with God. 

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies Are Blooming Exhibit & Giveaway!

If you live in, or near, Grand Rapids, MI, you are most certainly familiar with Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. The past few months I wrote a few times about one of their special exhibits – their Holiday Exhibition - I especially loved all the poinsettias in their tropical conservatory and their Holiday train display.

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 which will be starting in just a month and a half!

crafting with grandma - Paper, Stuffed Hearts!

I was browsing on Pinterest and found a great idea for making paper hearts . . . not the typical, one-dimensional paper hearts you might first think of, but big, puffy, beautiful stuffed hearts!

Follow this link and you'll find all the directions . . . this is a simple enough pattern you could have your grandchildren make them to give their parents or school teachers! I think it would be fun to make smaller hearts and then give them to the secretaries at school and church - and a smaller size would be nice for shut-in neighbors, too!

Make 2024 the Year Where You Pray Deeper!

Praying for our grandchildren (and children) is something we all know we need to do, but it is also something many of us struggle with. We may feel like our prayers do not even make it through the ceiling above us and do not know what to say or how to pray. Our lives are busy, so finding the time to pray can be a challenge which we may not overcome and then days go by without us spending time in prayer.

crafting with grandma - LOVE with Handprints!

When you have little ones at your home, chances are you will also have little handprints . . . on the windows, on the doors, on the furniture . . . in lots of places! Well, one day when I was browsing on Pinterest, I found the best idea ever for using those little hands . . . and feet, to make a gift which will be absolutely treasured by anyone who receives it!

All you need is paint, something to put the prints on; could be paper, canvas, wood, t-shirts, glass . . . whatever you choose and, of course, little hands and feet!

"This is All I Wanted to Say"

Today I'm remembering how six years ago on a Wednesday night - as on most Wednesday nights, my husband picked up our grandsons on his way home from work. As he was getting the boys into the car, he called to let me know they were about on their way.

Our then four-year-old grandson heard me on the phone and wanted to talk. He said; "I love you grandma! And, I like you, too! This is all I wanted to say."

crafting with grandma - I Love You in Sign Language!

Valentine's Day is just a month and a few days away, so if you are looking for some craft ideas which you could try with your grandchildren, look at this fun idea I found on Pinterest which works for any age of grandchild!

crafting with grandma - Crocheted Purse

I enjoy crocheting. I like to take yarn and end up with something useful, pretty - and hopefully somewhat unique! So, the other day I was browsing on Pinterest and found some free patterns for crocheted squares and I thought, "What if I took those and made three different squares which I could use to make a purse?" So, I did!

the little answer book Is For You

Do you have someone in your family who once walked with God, but no longer do? Someone who at one time went to and was active in their church, but today they say they are not even sure if God is real? Or, do you know someone for whom these things are true?

Today is National Missouri Day

Today is National Missouri Day, so along with celebrating the 24th State to join the Union, I thought it would be fun to look at some of their odd, silly, even funny laws. In Missouri it is illegal to . . .