National Pancake Day - Get Ready to Celebrate!

Today is National Pancake Day - who doesn't love pancakes, so a special day to celebrate and enjoy them, totally makes sense! I have a tasty Apple Pie Pancake recipe to share with you, but first, some fun pancake info - did you know . . .

Today is International Stand Up to Bullying Day

I'm sure we all agree we do not want the children we love to be bullies or to bully others, so a day focused on stopping bullying is a positive thing. Bullying is a nationally-recognized issue, and there are many resources for parents, teachers, victims of bullying, and bystanders to help stomp out the problem - even though it is now harder to do since our president is a bully. But there are still things we can do to help the children you love know the following ways to stop bullying . . .

The Great American Pie Month - Coconut Cream Pie

I enjoy coconut cream pie, but very rarely make it, so I thought since it is the Great American Pie Month, I'd share a tasty recipe for Coconut Cream Pie with you in case you might like to make one - possibly with the children you love!

Look Up Tonight & Tomorrow!

Get ready to see something amazing tomorrow night! On  February 28: six planets will align in the evening sky!

Get ready and look to the West and South just after sunset - during twilight. You may see planets - Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and in some places even Uranus (with binoculars) as they appear grouped closely along one common area in the sky - they'll look like a “planet parade” across the horizon.

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! 

Peanut-Butter & Banana Bread!

Yes, this recipe is for not just banana bread - which of course is very tasty, but for peanut-butter and banana bread! While this past Monday was National Banana Bread Day, certainly any day can be a day to enjoy banana bread - especially if it also has peanut-butter in it!

I found the recipe at this link (the photo is from their site) and since I have quite a few bananas which need me to bake something with them, I will be baking peanut-butter and banana bread for sure! I will be reducing the brown sugar to just 1/2 cup since the bananas are ripe and will be sweet on their own.

Today is International Tongue Twister Contest Day

 

One day thirteen years ago when my grands were at my house, my then four-year old grand sat down and read several books . . . as you might imagine, there is no shortage of books at this grandma's house for them to read! It made my heart happy to see them choose to take some time to just enjoy reading books!

After a bit, this wonderful grandchild found me in the kitchen working on fixing lunch and said; "Grandma! I just read, Fox in Socks and my tongue is NOT numb!!!" If you have not read this classic book lately, on the back cover it asks, "Is Your Tongue Numb?" My sweet grand was pretty happy all those tongue twisters had been able to be read out loud and did not end up with them having a numb tongue! It made this grandma happy, too, and remembering this today it makes me happy again - because of the wonderful memory and because today is International Tongue Twister Contest Day!

Make the Most of Being a Grandparent - Don't Worry; It is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren

 

I've been writing for several years about how important it is for us, as grandparents to hand down a heritage of confident faith. One way I do this is to let you know about resources to help you as you do this. In Don't Worry; It is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren, along with sharing some of my "cute-grands stories", I talk about important things for grandparents to think about and keep in mind as they focus on handing down a heritage of confident faith to their grandchildren.  Today I thought I'd share another "look" at the book with a short excerpt from my book . . . 

Things I Love About the 4N1 - a Unique Mobility Rollator/Chair

    

Miracle Mobility sent me their unique and award-winning 4N1 to review so I am able to try it out in a variety of settings and let you know all about it. If you or someone you love is experiencing mobility challenges, the 4N1 may be the perfect resource for you as it combines a rollator, electric wheelchair, a wheelchair others are able to push someone in, and a power assist chair into one amazing item! Today I will share a few of my observations about it so you are able to consider it for yourself or someone you love - it would make a fantastic gift for sure as it is actually the gift of mobility!

Today is National Chocolate Covered Nut Day 25

 

I personally LOVE dark chocolate covered almonds! I eat a few each day because they are good for me, and because I LOVE them! So, when I saw today is National Chocolate Covered Nut Day, I thought I'd share this tasty day with you! Did you know . . .

The DNA of Grandparents & Parents Who Hand Down Confident Faith

 

If you are looking for a new book to read this Spring or a gift to give to a parent or grandparent you love, consider this book - The DNA of Grandparents & Parents Who Hand Down Confident Faith.

It is Time for the Butterflies!

Do you, or someone you love, have a love for butterflies? Do you find them interesting, beautiful, and so much fun to observe? If so, then Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is the place for you at some point during the months of March and April for their yearly Butterfly Extravaganza - Butterflies are Blooming! My family looks forward to this each Spring - I am hoping to find the Costa Rica Glass-wing Butterflies this year!

Meijer Garden has this to say about this wonderful time of year . . . 

The Great American Pie Month - Chocolate Chess Pie!

I have never had or made a chocolate chess pie, but after finding this recipe, I'm thinking it may be on my list for a special treat to fix for my family! What is chocolate chess pie, you ask? Well, Taste of Home says, "Although originally from England, chess pie is considered a southern classic in the United States. Think of the pie filling as that of pecan pie, only without the pecans! And since chocolate makes everything better, it will be hard to resist this chocolaty twist." Since chocolate does make everything better,  here is the recipe so you can try it this weekend with the people you love! And, thanks to Taste of Home for the photo!

Yes! illustrate my own Books ARE for You & the Children You Love

     

Spring Break will be upon us soon, 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!