crafting with grandma - Granny Square Cat

I was browsing on  Pinterest  this morning and saw a very cute pattern for a granny square cat! If I had a granddaughter, I'd make one for her . . . I might modify it and make a dog or monster for my grandsons . . . if I do, I'll post photos and the modified pattern for you! But for now, I'll share this pattern, so if you want to make one, you'll have the links! (If you follow the links you'll find a photo tutorial to help you make your own granny square cat!)

just for fun - February 16th is Do a Grouch a Favor Day!

Tomorrow is a special day - Do a Grouch a Favor Day. This is the day where . . . "if you know someone who is always grouchy, then this is the day to go out of your way to turn their frown upside down. Celebrate by trying to make all thos people with the 'I-just-sucked-a-lemon-face' or those people who are just mean all the time, happy by going out of your way to do something nice for them."

Tell Those You Love Like God Tells Us

Happy Valentine's Day! On this day when we tend to think about the ones we love, you may find it encouraging to know God thinks about His great love for you, a lot! We know this, because the word "love" appears 310 times in the King James Bible, 348 times in the New American Standard Bible, 551 times in the New International Version and 538 times in the New Revised Standard Version. Oh yes, God loves us and He is not shy about telling us of His great love for us!

God Brings Beauty From Our Storms

Last week we experienced a significant ice storm. While the trees were beautiful covered in ice, many branches came down leaving more than 200,000 people without power. 

However; along with losing power, the ice did something amazing. I live in apple country - there are many, many apple orchards throughout this area and not far from where I live. One local farmer, Andrew Sietsema discovered ice apples in his orchard.

crafting with grandma - Crocheted Purse

I enjoy crocheting. I like to take yarn and end up with something useful, pretty - and hopefully somewhat unique! So, the other day I was browsing on Pinterest and found some free patterns for crocheted squares and I thought, "What if I took those and made three different squares which I could use to make a purse?" So, I did!

Origami Box & Heart Service Project

My church has a large Special Needs Ministry and so, my grandsons are going to do a project this Wednesday evening to show love as people arrive for their Wednesday evening service. We have been making origami boxes and hearts - each box will have one heart in it and the boys will give one to each person as they arrive; along with a smile and the encouragement - "God loves you!"

Stumbles Do Not Stop God's Love

One of the primary focuses of our prayers for our children and grandchildren is for them to make the choice to believe in and follow Jesus. When they do, while the Bible says there is rejoicing among the angels in Heaven, I am convinced a grandma (and grandpa, too) certainly rejoices just as much, if not more than the angels!

We rejoice, greatly, but our prayers do not end. They just change in focus. The ones we love are going to face challenges and difficult times in their lives. They will need to make all kinds of choices - some, they will choose wisely, some they will not.

grandma's cookie jar - Orange Butter Cookies

When it comes to cookies my family tends to favor the "classics" . . . chocolate chip-peanut-butter-oatmeal, plain chocolate chip or plain peanut-butter cookies. But every once in a while I like to try something different and this recipe, which I found on Pinterest, is certainly one I'd like to try! After all, what could be more "yummie" sounding than orange butter cookies?!!!!

Mystery Bag & a Fun Valentine's Project

On my other blog, Grandmas with Heart, I posted another Mystery Bag Project and I think you would enjoy this one, so I'm sharing it with you as well.

Valentine's Day is next week, so I thought it would be fun to find some different ideas our grandchildren could try for unique, memorable Valentines and a fun Mystery Bag project as well. Of course this meant I started by browsing through Pinterest . . . where I came upon an idea which fit what I was looking for . . . interesting, unique and fun for the boys to make!

grandma's cookbook - Forbidden Oreo Pudding Cake

My grandsons enjoy cake; particularly chocolate cake. When I add pudding to the cake; well, there is ever so much more for them to enjoy. And, when Oreos are "thrown" into the "mix" . . . "enjoyment" is an absolute "given"! So, when I was browsing on Pinterest and saw a recipe for Forbidden Oreo Pudding Cake, I had to share it with you - and make plans to make one for my family to enjoy as well!

Trust God, Experience His Peace & Pass it On

I grew up in a time when each Sunday in church we sang the old hymns; It Is Well With My Soul, The Old Rugged Cross, Amazing Grace, Just As I Am – old songs where the lyrics were sound and they challenged and encouraged us in our walk with God. I loved these songs then – and still love them today.

I also love the newer praise songs, but today I want to share one of my favorite hymns with you, and some thoughts about how these lyrics encourage grandparents. Before I do, here’s some background on the lyricist – Frances Havergal.

crafting with grandma - Make a Fun Dragon

As you have probably noticed, I enjoy browsing from time to time on Pinterest! What a great site for ideas to inspire creativity! Well, this morning I saw a fun, simple idea for making a "Flying Dragon Puppet" and had to share it with all of you! All you do is buy some colorful cups, punch a hole in the bottom of each, string some yarn/cord - tie the knot in the last cup, leaving ends for the tongue, tape streamers and decorate a face. Add string to the first and seventh cup and fasten to a stick and you have a fun puppet!

Resources for You & Your Help Would Be Sincerely Appreciated

One of the things the grandmas who are part of my other blog, Grandmas with Heart, are committed to doing is to help provide resources which will encourage, equip and empower grandmas - and grandpas and parents, too - as they hand down the faith.  Several of us have books we have written, or are working on which do exactly this.

Hand Down the Faith with Mystery Bags - Make Bird Feeders & Talk About God's Great Love

Valentine's Day is just a couple weeks away, so if you are looking for a project which your grandchildren could do . . . and one which has a purpose, then look at this great idea I found on Pinterest for a Valentine's Day Bird Feeder!