ENLIGHTEN - Don't Miss It!

If you live in or near Grand Rapids, Michigan, or will be visiting here before January 3rd, then have I got a fantastic Christmas gift idea for you to give to the ones you love - tickets to ENLIGHTEN! What is ENLIGHTEN, you ask? Well, it is an extravaganza of light, an opportunity for unexpected experiences, and a unique opportunity to build wonderful memories with the ones you love at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. I will be experiencing this for myself with my family on Saturday evening, so over the coming days I want to let you know about ENLIGHTEN and encourage you to give tickets to the ones you love for Christmas - ENLIGHTEN is the perfect experiential Christmas gift!

Books for Christmas - Life on the Amazing Goldilocks Planet

I'm very happy to share a new book with you which will make a difference in the lives of the children you love.  Are you one of the grandmas (or grandpas) who are so blessed to have grown children who love and walk with God, and who are committed to hand down confident faith with you to the children you all love? Do your grandchildren want to go to church, want to talk about their walk with God, and embrace a confident faith of their own? Or, do you have grown children who, like so many their age, are no longer involved in church, who do not embrace a confident faith of their own, and/or grandchildren who tell you they are, "not into that church thing any more"?

Christmas Gift Idea - The Pixar Parade Topper from Pair Eyewear

I have been sharing Christmas gift ideas with you from Pair Eyewear. As I've said, when I needed a new prescription for my glasses this past January, I switched to Pair Eyewear. I was very curious about their line of glasses because they had these "toppers" - magnetic "tops" which you could put on your glasses for an entirely new look. At only $30 or less per topper, it seemed to me to be a fantastic way to have more than one look for my glasses - at a fraction of what it would cost to buy extra new regular glasses. And yes, Pair Eyewear is fantastic - and brilliant!

crafting with grandma - Fun, Excellent & Inexpensive Gifts - Puzzle Snowmen!

Do you enjoy putting puzzles together? What do you do with a puzzle after you put it together? Do you save it and then put it together another time or does it get put in the closet never to see the light of day again? If you have a closet with puzzles in it and you are not sure what to do with them, consider turning them into great gifts for people on your gift list this year - and I'm not talking about just re-gifting them!

I was browsing on Pinterest and saw a photo of a snowman made from painted puzzle pieces! While it doesn't have directions, it looks like it would be  pretty simple project to make - just paint and then glue until you have the snowman look you want! Add some buttons for eyes and nose - I'd use some bake/clay to make a carrot nose instead of another button, make a scarf from some fleece or an old sweater/scarf and your snowman is finished! This would make such a cute gift and it would allow you to reuse a puzzle which is just sitting in your closet! (I think if you made small versions of this, they would make great ornaments as well!) A smaller one would make a fantastic ornament to gift to others as well!

Spread Hope

With all the challenges going on around us, it may be difficult to feel hopeful, but especially today on Thanksgiving it is a great time to stop and think about the reasons we do have to be thankful and hopeful. Since there are so many people in our families, neighborhoods, communities, and world who struggle to find hope, I wanted to write to remind us to do what we are able to do to  counteract the difficulties life brings by dedicating ourselves to spread hope around our neighborhoods, communities, and all around the world today and every day.

Consider the following ways to spread hope . . . 

Four Steps to Making Great Memories with Grandchildren!

 

Since today is Thanksgiving - a day when we make memories with the ones we love, I thought I'd share one of my favorite devotions from the Grandmother's Bible which was written by Bobbie Wolgemuth and is entitled, "I Will . .  I Will . . ."  She says, "Psalm 9 contains a great 'I Will' activity list to remember when you spend time with your grandchild. First, start with an attitude of praise. Tell the Lord what you are thankful for. Count your blessings, name them. It will be easy to have a heart full of thankfulness after you've named even a few. Your heart will be full and running over with the kind of attitude which pleases God and spills over on the young ones with the love of the Savior. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Happy Thanksgiving! Today my daughter, son, daughter-in-law, and grands are coming to our house for Thanksgiving dinner with my husband and I! I am preparing turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, veggies, mac & cheese, deviled eggs, and biscuits. My daughters are bringing the yams, green beans, cranberries, and dessert. We will have a tasty dinner together and much for which to be thankful for sure!

Christmas Book Review - Give the Gift of Understanding & Creativity with illustrate my own - Known Bible Hero book series

 

You are likely familiar with the Bible people from my illustrate my own - Known Bible Hero book series - Noah, Hananiah, Mishael & Azariah (otherwise known as Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego), Ruth, Joshua, Caleb, David, Elijah, Jonah, Daniel, Joseph, Hadassah (Esther), and Gideon 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 will be able to have as you work together to illustrate your books!

Christmas Gift Idea - Renoir Bouquet of Chrysanthemums from The Met & Pair Eyewear

I have been sharing Christmas gift ideas with you from Pair Eyewear. As I've said, when I needed a new prescription for my glasses this past January, I switched to Pair Eyewear. I was very curious about their line of glasses because they had these "toppers" - magnetic "tops" which you could put on your glasses for an entirely new look. At only $30 or less per topper, it seemed to me to be a fantastic way to have more than one look for my glasses - at a fraction of what it would cost to buy extra new regular glasses. And yes, Pair Eyewear is fantastic - and brilliant!

Today is International Cake Day - Coffee, Chocolate & Cream Layered Delight!

Okay, just the name of this recipe is enough to get nearly everyone hungry for dessert! This simple recipe is completely enjoyable . . . and is one with which you are sure to be greeted by happy faces whenever you make it - what could be a better way to celebrate International Cake Day! Yes, today is International Cake Day and actually is National Cake Day, too, so before I get to the recipe, how about some fun cake facts - did you know . . .

Christmas Book Review - illustrate my own Unknown Bible Hero books - No "Ordinary" Bible Person Storybook & Great Christmas Gifts!

  

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 and illustrate my own Unknown Bible Hero books, nothing could be farther from the truth! These books give you the unique opportunity to engage with the children you love in ways you never have when you read a book about a real Bible person, as since you and/or they will be providing the illustrations, you get to talk about what is happening, think through what the Bible person is saying, and basically really pay attention to the details so you are able to provide the illustrations! Just think about the fantastic conversations you will be able to have about the Bible people and how what they learned applies to you as well! These books are no ordinary Bible person storybook and they make fantastic Christmas gifts!

Christmas Gift Idea - Black Holographic Flakes - Available Again from Pair Eyewear!

A few months ago I wrote about one of my limited edition toppers for my Pair Eyewear glasses - the  Black Holographic Flakes! Pair Eyewear says, "This shiny black Top features iridescent flakes scattered throughout." and I say it is an absolutely beautiful topper! The black shimmers and the holographic flakes add pops of color with every move of your head - what isn't there to LOVE about this wonderful topper! I was SO happy to add it to my collection and am very happy to let you know it is once again available and would make a fantastic Christmas gift for someone you know and love.

Cacao, Peanut Butter, & Chocolate Chip Brownies - Enjoy!

 

My family enjoys brownies - I make them once in awhile, but thought I might make them this year for nibbling on while we put our Christmas Tree up after Thanksgiving dinner, so I thought I'd share a tasty recipe with you - 

Christmas Book Review - Give the Gift of Understanding & Creativity with illustrate my own - Important Things Jesus Wants Me to Know books

 

You are likely familiar with the Bible people from my illustrate my own - Important Things Jesus Wants me to Know book series - The Lost Lamb, The Woman at the Well, The Man with Leprosy, The Good Samaritan, The  Pharisee & the Tax Collector, The Two Builders, and Martha & Mary 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 will be able to have as you work together to illustrate your books!