just as grandma's cookie jar should always be full of good things, this blog will be full of good ideas, information, activities and reviews of things to help grandma . . . and grandpa, mom and dad too . . . pass on a heritage of faith to the children in their lives!
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For the past few days I've been writing about Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and ENLIGHTEN, the outdoor light, color, music, and art extravaganza. I've been writing about how it makes a fantastic gift to give the ones you love. Today I want to share just a bit from my visit to ENLIGHTEN with my family and how you are able to experience this with the ones you love.
Years ago I found a crochet pattern for a nativity set. This pattern used regular yarn and was designed to have most of the pieces fit over soda bottles . . . so, the finished set would be fairly large.
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"?
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I have been writing about ENLIGHTEN at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and how tickets to go experience it are a fantastic experiential Christmas gift you could give the ones you love. Today I want to write about how giving a membership to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is the most wonderful gift you could give yourself and the ones you love for Christmas.
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If ever there was a treat worth celebrating, brownies would certainly be on the list of tasty treats to celebrate! My family enjoys brownies, so yesterday I made some for them - I'll share my favorite recipe with you and my new coffee brownie recipe which I made yesterday, but first, some fun brownie facts - did you know . . .
Yesterday I wrote about the book - Praying Deeper Through the Psalms for Children! It makes a fantastic Christmas gift for the children you love ages four through fourteen. Today I wanted to share with you about three books in the "Praying Deeper" series of books which will help parents and grandparents pray Scripture for their own walk with God and for the children they love as well - young, grown, and grandchildren!
For the past several days I've been writing about Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park's opportunity for families to make incredible memories as they experience ENLIGHTEN. Today I will share with you how they describe the rest of the "journey" . . .
Today I'm remembering when my grands were little - from time to time we had "monsters" which "invaded" my home - of course I'm NOT talking about my sweet grands, but "monsters"! I remember one day twelve years ago when I was fixing lunch in the kitchen and my grand ran into the kitchen and told me there were "monsters in the hall!" I asked if they were teeny, tiny or ginormous, humongous! He said they were the "most ginormous, humongous, EVER!" I asked if they were nice or cranky. He said they were "the most cranky monsters, EVER!!!" He said they were going to eat me - I asked whatever should I do and he said he would protect me! This is one grandma who is so thankful I have such a brave grand at my house when the most ginormous, humongous, and cranky monsters EVER invade my home!
One of the most powerful things we are able to do for the children we love is for us to pray for them. One even more powerful thing we are able to do for them is to help them learn to be people who pray. This Christmas give a gift which will help you do exactly this - give the children you love ages four through fourteen the book - Praying Deeper Through the Psalms for Children!
The initial idea I (Lynda Freeman) had for this book was to write a resource to help my grands learn to be people who talked with God; so I took the reading schedule from my book; Praying Deeper Through the Psalms for Grandparents & Parents, Too! and used it to form the basis for the book for children. I also had my grands help write the prayers and draw most of the images in this book.
Christmas tends to be a time of joy with family and friends, but for some of us, Christmas is a sad time, difficult time, challenging time - if you struggle and if Christmas is different for you this year, this song is for you. You will find TobyMac's and Tasha Layton's song, Christmas Hits Different at this link. If your Christmas is "hitting" "different" this year, please consider this song a big hug.
Years ago I made a crocheted nativity set from a pattern I bought from Annie's Attic. I looked on Pinterest and found one which is similar so if you would like to make your own set, you could try this one. The pattern from Annie's Attic made large figures, but I used small hooks and crochet cotton for small figures which I put in my tree each year. I like being able to keep the focus of my tree on the Reason for the Season!
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
I have been writing about ENLIGHTEN, and today I want to continue our journey through the experiences of light, sculpture, surprises, music, fun, unexpected discoveries, and the creation of memories all of which make up ENLIGHTEN. As I said the other day, if you are looking for a gift to give the ones you love which is more than the typical sweater or toy (not that there's anything wrong with sweaters and toys - I love sweaters and my grands enjoyed receiving toys when they were younger) or if you want an extra special gift for the ones you love, you will find giving the gift of the Experience of ENLIGHTEN is absolutely the gift you want to give. Please allow me to share with you more of what this experience will entail . . .
Since yesterday was National Homemade Cookie Day, I thought I'd share another cookie recipe with you today. I saw this recipe on Pinterest so today is a the day to share it with you! I love how this is a fairly simple recipe and it is one the children you love will have fun helping you make - I'm sure they will love putting the peanut-butter cups in the cookies! (Of course, they are very likely to sample a few peanut-butter cups as well!)
