A "Real" Red Elephant, God's Faithful Love & Trust!

Today I want to share something with you once again, which I originally wrote ten years ago . . .

“My three grands are young; seven, four, and two years old. I love these ages, because they are just the right size for time in grandma’s lap – which of course, just fills my heart with joy! I know when my own children were young, they were the same way, but as they grew up, “lap time” came to an end. So, I treasure these few years when my grands are young. I enjoy the things they say and do which make me laugh and I love opportunities to snuggle them in my lap. 

just for fun - Today Is National Peanut Butter Day!

 

I LOVE peanut butter! It is one of my favorite foods for sure! So, when I saw on daysoftheyear (dot) com, today is National Peanut Butter Day, well, I had to let you know so you can celebrate it as well! They said, "Who doesn’t love peanut butter? So let’s celebrate Peanut Butter Day. This auspicious occasion was created many years ago, to allow peanut butter lovers to celebrate the creation of this wonderful food. 

Make a Difference for Generations with Generations Quest Cultivate the Faith!

When we hand down the faith, we watch for those unplanned opportunities to connect life with God, His Word and how we are able to know and walk with Him. But, we also need to plan opportunities to do these things in a very intentional and purposeful way as well. Handing down the faith tends to be something which we look forward to doing and enjoy, or something which leaves us feeling confused and unable to do effectively. Well, no matter which of these describes you, I am very happy today to let you know about a resource which gives you 52 lessons, complete with science projects, crafts and cooking activities to engage the children you love while also helping them learn about real people from the Bible, how those Bible people chose to walk with God and how they are able to do the same. This resource is called Generations Quest Cultivate the Faith! 

Yesterday Was National Polka Dot Day!

Apparently I missed a "holiday" which I would have enjoyed celebrating . . . yesterday, January 22nd, was National Polka Dot Day! I enjoy wearing glasses with polka dots - they add such a fun touch to my glasses for sure! (I'm wearing my Pride Party Dots topper and Holiday Bauble with Foil Crystal topper both from Pride Eyewear.) 

I read about this "spotty" holiday and learned it is intended to celebrate Minnie Mouse - she does wear polka dots. But I think it is a day to enjoy these dots beyond the Mouse for sure! Here are a few ways to celebrate - even the day after the technical "holiday" -

just for fun - Today Is Pie Day!

 

Mmmmmm! Pie Day! I'm all for this day; after all, what isn't there to absolutely LOVE about pie??!!! Sweet pies or savory pot pies . . . in my opinion, it is difficult to go wrong with pie!!!

Just for fun, I thought I'd "search" the web to look for any Pie Day fun facts and found a few . . . 

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"?

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park - Best in the Country in 2023, 2024, & 2025 - So Let's Vote for it Again in 2026!

 

I am blessed to live in West Michigan - the home of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. From time to time I post about it here on grandma's cookie jar - for good reason . . . it is an amazing place! For the past three years my husband I and got a Grandparents & Guest Membership - we are able to go as often as we like, bring our grands, and a guest with us - which is something we have done a lot - nearly every week - over the past three years! It is almost time for us to renew our membership and we are absolutely doing so!

Saturday is - Belly Laugh Day

Today I am happy to share with you another fun silly holiday on Saturday - "Belly Laugh Day" which is a day to chuckle, laugh, and celebrate the good things in life. 

My grands - all three of them, fully understand what it means to have a good, belly laugh! This, "holiday" is described as:

Help the Children You Love Know God 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!

Saturday is Talk like a Grizzled Prospector Day

Yes, I know Saturday is a few days away, but I wanted to let you know about this fun day so you are able to plan to celebrate it with the children you love. "Talk like a Grizzled Prospector Day" is on Saturday and I did find a link online for how you can talk like a grizzled prospector! Here are a few prospector-type words and their definitions . . . and you'll find the complete list at this link. Prospector Talk for Beginners . . .

Today is National Hug Day!

With all the stress in our country (and world) on a daily basis, if ever we needed a day to hug, this is such a day for sure. Today is National Hug Day - now this is a holiday for grandmas for sure! I LOVE this one! I looked on-line at punchbowl (dot) com and found the following information about National Hug Day; "Today is National Hug Day! Whether you prefer Bear Hugs, Heart-to-Heart Hugs, Cheek Hugs, or Side Hugs, embrace your loved ones today to show your love and affection.

It is Soup Month, so Let's Make More Soup - Butternut Squash Soup!

I'm not a huge fan of squash - I like it in my bread or rolls, I like it in my stew, and I do like it as soup, so since it is Soup Month, I thought I'd share a recipe from delish for Butternut Squash Soup! You will find hints and info at this link - but here is the recipe -

Today is National Cheese Lovers Day, So - Hot & Cheesy . . . Mac & Cheese

Today is National Cheese Lovers Day, which of course, is a day to enjoy cheese! I have a tasty recipe to share - as cooking with cheese is a great way to celebrate this cheesy day - so the  cookbook - Hot and Cheesy, is a great place to find cheesy things to make and eat, since as the title indicates, it is filled with recipes using cheese! In fact the publisher says this is the "cookbook which will make cheese lovers melt!" What could be better for National Cheese Lovers Day? This book has more than 250 recipes for everything you can possibly think of to make with cheese with American and International recipes - as it says, "This cookbook covers everything from fritters, pastries, casseroles, pastas, sandwiches to pizzas and almost anything else you could top, stuff or sprinkle with cheese."

illustrate my own Unknown Bible Hero books - No "Ordinary" Bible Person Storybook

If you are not an artist, or artistic person, when you see a book   which you need to provide the illustrations, you may think it is not the book for you. But, in this case with the 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, since you and/or they will be providing the illustrations. This means 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!