Today is American Chess Day!

 

Today is American Chess Day! My grands all play Chess, and when my middle grand was 13 years old, they came in second in a Chess Tournament! (The cat in the photo is my grands' cat.) Chess is a great game for all ages to play, just look at this fact . . . "A Venezuelan study found an increase in IQ scores of its participants after four months of learning and playing chess. Another study found games which require participants to use their brains, especially players older in age, help those participants to be less likely to develop dementia. It also enhances problem-solving skills, as players have to maneuver and manage the game and their opponent." I found this quote on the NationalToday site - you will find out more about Chess at this link.

Did you know . . .

crafting with grandma - Platypus in a Fedora Hat!

Ten years ago my grands were huge fans of a certain  turquoise blue platypus in a brown fedora! Did I say, "huge"? I should have said, "HUGE!!!" :-) So, as I thought about the hats I wanted to make for them for Christmas, it was pretty obvious I needed to make them platypus in a fedora hats. I found a pattern on line which got me started, then "tweaked" it a bit, added a "bill" and changed the eyes from being angry - almost scary - to having a "classic" "Perry" look!

It is National Suicide Prevention Month

 

Most of my "today is" or "this month is" posts are written with the goal of encouraging you to celebrate with the ones you love. Celebrating together is a fantastic way to build a strong relationship - and this truly matters when it comes to the ones we love. Too often, especially as we get older, we think it is the responsibility of our children/ grandchildren to reach out to us, but NO! As grandmas (grandpas/parents) we are able to be the one who reaches out. It matters for us to do this. Grandparents, remember how busy you were when you were younger? Be the one who reaches out, and celebrate with the ones you love!

crafting with grandma - Make Some Minions!

I made Minion hats and Crazy Minion stuffed toys for my grands when they were younger. They were soooo cute in their hats. All of the  Despicable Me  movies are favorites around here, for good reason, as they are funny!

So, today I'm sharing a link for a pattern for making Minions, I thought it would be fun to share it with you!

Today is National Toasted Marshmallow Day!

 

Today is National Toasted Marshmallow Day! Clearly roasting a marshmallow over an open flame, getting it the perfect toasted brown color, putting it on a piece of chocolate between two graham crackers is the typical way we picture enjoying toasted marshmallows - and it is absolutely a wonderful way to do so, but before you gather your supplies for making smores, take a look at these fun marshmallow facts - did you know . . .

A Cool, Must-Do Science Project Your Grandchildren Will Love!

When my grands were younger we often worked on science projects - even when they were as young as four years old they found them them interesting and fun! Today I am happy to share with you one of our favorites . . . all you need is peroxide, dish soap, and yeast . . . the result is sure to get a wonderful response from the children you love.

Tomorrow is International Whale Shark Day

If any fish deserves a day for the entire world to celebrate it, then most certainly the Whale Shark does as it is the largest shark in the ocean! This is enough of a reason to celebrate this amazing fish, but since it is now also on the endangered species list due to over fishing of these amazing creatures, it is important for us to stop and think about them and what we are able to do to help preserve the incredible whale shark. Please share the following fun facts with the children you love, and then consider helping whale sharks - did you know . . .

The "Receiver" of "Treasure"!

I have been the "receiver" of great "treasures"! When my grands were little, they often brought me these "treasures" - flowers (or, since they often were dandelions, as they are more often classified, weeds!), enormous, dry, dead, brown Sycamore tree leaves ("Grandma, these leaves are dead, but they are SO cool!!!") and little green leaves ("These are leaves, grandma!!!"). I also received the "treasure" of hearing jokes, riddles, and stories (all told with a big smile and a twinkle in the eyes!!!). And, of course, hugs, kisses, raspberries, and snuggles!

grandma's cookbook - Popcorn! Popcorn! Popcorn!

My grands spend almost every Saturday night at my house for a sleepover and after supper my oldest grand (almost 17) nearly always asks if I would mind fixing popcorn . . . which of course, the answer always is, I am very happy to do so! My two other grands and their poppa join in on the wanting popcorn, so it is popcorn for everyone. I usually make kettle corn for my youngest grandson, butter popcorn for my middle grand, and then my oldest grand and husband have my popped in olive oil and sprinkled with Himalayan pink salt popcorn. 

Connect the Generations & God's Word - No Matter The Ages and Distance!

We will not hide them from their descendants;  we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds  of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. He commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds, but would keep his commands. Psalm 78:4, 6, 7

Today is Just Because Day! 27th

You may be wondering, "So, what is 'Just Because Day'?" National Today dot com says, "On August 27, you won’t need a reason to celebrate. All you need is National Just Because Day. Why? Well, just because. If you want to make spaghetti for breakfast wearing last year’s Halloween costume, more power to you. If you want to climb a tree as an adult, take the risk. It’s a day to stop worrying about the whys." Sounds fantastic to me - not the spaghetti for breakfast or climbing a tree, but I am thinking of things I might do - just because!

On Just Because Day, feel free to do something without any rhyme or reason - such as . . .

A Fun Resource for the Ones You Love

In this day and age it is especially important for grandparents (and parents) to be focused upon passing confident faith to the children they love, but it can be a challenge to find resources to help us do this. Generations Quest ~ Cultivate the Faith was written for this reason and provides 52 weeks of lessons grandparents/ parents will be able to use to engage our grandchildren/children in learning how to love, know, and walk with God!

Each week there is a science activity which will engage children and connect them to the point of the Bible event. They will learn about Bible people and how to pray the Psalms back to God along with fun activities which are just for fun!

Today, August 26th is National Dog Day!

Today is National Dog Day, most of my married life we had dogs - mostly basset hounds, which are SUCH a wonderful breed of dog! My grands have two dogs, and until last year my daughter had a sweet basset as well, so in this family, every day is "Dog Day"! But since today is a special day to celebrate, let's look at some fun dog facts - did you know . . .

Summer Reading - For You - the little answer book: for life's most important questions

  

Do you have someone in your family who once walked with God, but do not do so now? 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?