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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When my oldest grand was five years old they were quite the reader! Sounding out words was easy for them and they found great joy at being able to sit down with a book and read what all those words have to say!
This of course, made me a happy grandma as I want my grands to love reading! It also gave me some unexpected opportunities to see how they thought . . . and a few good laughs as well!
Today is National Candy Cane Day - according to Daysoftheyear dot com, "According to German folklore, the first candy canes were made in the 17th century when a choirmaster in Cologne, Germany, needed to find a way to keep the children quiet during the exceptionally long Christmas Eve Mass.
Today I'm remembering almost eleven years ago when my grands were at my house and the youngest who was 18 months, was frustrated about something and said; "Gimli!! Gimli!!! Gimli!!!!" I found this to be very funny because Gimli is the name of my grandson's dog and Gimli is an aggressive chewer. There has been a number of times when my son and daughter-in-law have walked into a room and found things all chewed up all over their floor. I suspect it is at times such as these my sweet grand heard his parents say; "Gimli!! Gimli!!! Gimil!!!!" Apparently, when you are frustrated you say; "Gimli!! Gimli!!! Gimil!!!!" See why I thought it was so funny for him to say this?!!
I first heard this song a number of years ago - Mark Lawry wrote and sang it. I love - Mary Did You Know - and I LOVE how Pentatonix sings it - enjoy at this link. It seems like a wonderful song to include today in my Christmas Carols - enjoy and Merry Christmas!
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Merry Christmas! I celebrated last night with my family, so whether you did the same or are celebrating today, I want to say - Merry Christmas!
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On grandma's cookie jar you are able to find ideas for Christmas: including crafts, recipes, gifts, and reviews. It doesn't take more than a quick look at grandma's cookie jar to know I LOVE Christmas and look forward all year to celebrating it with my family! But, along with the "fun" of Christmas; crafts, cooking, celebrating - I also want to take a moment to point to the, "reason for the season" . . . Jesus.
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Today is Christmas Eve, so for my Christmas Carol for today I had to choose Silent Night. Today I'm sharing Acappella's presentation of this classic AND a link for this song in sign language. In High School I had a deaf friend, so I learned some sign language - it is such a beautiful way to "sing" and Silent Night is one of the most beautiful songs to sing with sign language.
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"?
Yes, I agree a "Christmas Carol" should have people singing, but I truly love and absolutely enjoyed the Piano Guys presentation of "Let it Snow/Winter Wonderland" and had to share it with you! Not only will you be able to listen to their beautiful rendition of these songs, but you will also be able to watch a fun light show as well! Check it out at this link!
“Christmas time is here. Happiness and cheer.
Fun for all that children call their favorite time of the year!”
Ah, yes… Christmas time is here - and we are only two days away from Christmas. While our grandchildren are likely to be focused on the gifts they hope to receive (for many children it is their favorite time of year), I believe it is the ideal time to redirect their focus to giving to others! So, here are my Top Five Reasons for Focusing My Grandchildren on Giving at Christmas . . .
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The New Year is just around the corner, so if you are looking for something fun you could give the children you love as a gift, consider getting some of the books from the illustrate my own series along with crayons, markers, and/or colored pencils. All of them are fun books which will uniquely engage the children you love in ways they have never engaged before with the accounts of Bible heroes. As they (and you) illustrate their books, they will think about what is happening, the things the Bible people said and did, and how God showed His love and grace to the Bible people . . . which will help the children you love better understand how God shows His love and grace to them as well!
My family enjoys brownies - I make them once in awhile, so in case you might like to make them for the people you love, I thought I'd share a tasty recipe with you -
