Today is National Learn About Butterflies Day

 

Spring is nearly upon us - although a look out my window tells me it is here as I see flowers blooming, trees budding, grass greening, and birds all around - which since I live in Michigan, this is significant! One of the things which "signals" the arrival of Spring here in West Michigan, is the Butterflies are Blooming exhibit at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and runs March through April. Since today is National Learn About Butterflies Day, I thought it would be a wonderful time to once again encourage anyone who lives here or will be visiting during this time, to make time to visit as you will definitely be able to learn more about butterflies if you do! You will find information about Butterflies are Blooming at this link.

The Little Ginormous, Humongous, Hairy, One-Eyed Monster Boys Adventures!

     

When my grands were young and at my house for a sleepover, we typically made up stories at bedtime. They almost always had monsters or dinosaurs in them. One night when my oldest grand was six, my middle grand was three, and my youngest grand was one, we were getting them into bed when my oldest grand said there was a monster under my middle grand's bed! This was not what my middle grand wanted to hear, so I said there could not be any monsters under the bed because the monsters were at their poppa's and grandma's house getting ready for bed on their sleepover. My grands found this idea very interesting, so of course, our bedtime story for the night had to have little, ginormous, humongous, hairy, one-eyed monsters getting ready for bed and being scared because they thought they saw, teeny, tiny, itty, bitty, not-so-hairy, two-eyed people under their beds! 

crafting with grandma - Jesus Loves Me I Spy Bottles

 

Summer will be here before we know it, so if you are looking for a special craft idea you could use to involve your grandchildren in making when they are spending time at your house to celebrate how special and loved they are to you and to Jesus, consider making Jesus Loves Me I Spy Bottles! I found a link on Pinterest for making I Spy Bottles -

Dr. Seuss Quote for Today - "Sometimes the Questions are Complicated and the Answers are Simple!"

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today is -"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple!" In many aspects of life we do often "complicate" things when they could be significantly more simple, so I'd have to agree with this saying from Dr. Seuss! But, sometimes the answers are complicated, so it is important for us to know it is okay if we are not able to answer complicated questions simply. This is something we need to share with the children we love.

For example, the way they feel about their life, the things happening to them, and right now in our country, the question may be complicated and you and they may or may not have a simple answer. But, if you feel like your answers are not "simple", please keep these ideas in mind for how to answer complicated questions -

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today . . . "Today is your day!

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today . . . "Today is your day! Your mountain is  waiting. So . . . get on your way!" Did you know Dr. Seuss was turned down 27 times by publishers before his first book was published? He could have just stopped submitting manuscripts to publishers, but he didn't give up. The 28th time was when his book was accepted and now 86 Dr. Seuss books are out there for children to enjoy! I'm sure those 27 publishers who didn't publish his books wish they had said "yes"!

What are the "mountains" just waiting for you and the children you love to "climb"? What can you do to "get on your way" today and help the ones you love do the same? We all have challenges and goals and while we may sometimes feel overwhelmed by them, remember, the following truths, and share them with the ones you love -

crafting with grandma . . . Beaded Safety Pin Pins!

 

I love beaded safety pin pins . . . they are so fun to make and fun to wear! My daughter made several pins for me when she was younger . . . I still have and wear them! So, since March is Craft Month, I thought it would be fun to share a couple patterns with you to give you some ideas of something fun to do with the children you love! First though, the basics on making beaded safety pin pins . . . 

Today is National Popcorn Lovers Day!

Yes, today is National Popcorn Lovers Day - my family certainly has people who could be considered "popcorn lovers" as we do enjoy popcorn! I found the following ideas for ways to celebrate Popcorn Lovers Day on  Popcorn.com . . .

Spring Book Review - Life on the Amazing Goldilocks Planet

 

I'm very happy to share a 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"?

The Dr. Seuss Quote for Today is; You Are You . . .

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today is, "You are you. Now, isn't that pleasant?!" Yes, it is pleasant you are "you", and it is absolutely pleasant, more than pleasant, for you to be "you"! You are enough, just as you are. You are valuable, just as you are. You are loved, just as you are. You are worth so much, just as you are. You matter, just as you are. You are a very needed part of our world, your community, and your family just as you are. You are you! And just as these words are true for you, they are true for the ones you love as well.

crafting with grandma - Twig Crafts!

What do you get when you combine a yard with a fair amount of trees and Springtime? A yard with many branches and twigs all over it just waiting to be picked up! If this describes your yard, then pick up sticks and small branches and then use these sticks and twigs to make some fun things!

Fun Science Project

   

My grands love science projects . . . one reason I included science projects in my book for families - Generations Quest - Cultivate the Faith! They are such engaging, "hands-on" and memorable ways to help my grands learn important things. So, I am always on the watch for new projects which I can try with my grands. Make 2026 the year where you and the children you love grow closer as you discover the adventure of learning about God's Word and the world God created - you will find my book at this link.

crafting with grandma - Footprint Robins!

Okay, if you have been reading grandma's cookie jar for very long you know I love hand and foot print crafts for little ones! Not only are they fun and cute to make, but they give me a moment in time to save so I can remember a day when my sweet little ones were small! Well, the other day when I was browsing on  Pinterest I found a craft for making  footprint robins! Talk about adorable!!! And, since Spring has arrived, the robins have returned, and it is Craft Month, well, what could be better than making footprint robins!!!!

The Dr. Seuss Quote For Today - From There to Here . . .

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today is, "From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere!" This is mostly true! There are funny things most everywhere . . . some are easier to see than others, but there are funny things most everywhere! 

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Butterflies Are Blooming Exhibit

  

If you live in, or near, Grand Rapids, MI, you are most certainly familiar with Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. The past few months I wrote a few times about one of their special exhibits – their Holiday Exhibition - I especially loved all the poinsettias in their tropical conservatory and their Holiday train display.

Today I’m very happy to once again be writing about Meijer Gardens (as those of us who live in this area fondly call them) and their amazing Butterflies are Blooming Exhibit which you can enjoy through April 30th.