Lenten Roses - a Rose which is Not a Rose

I live in Michigan where winters tend to be cold and snowy, so when flowers start to bloom in the Spring, it makes my heart SO happy! I thought it would be fun to write about some flowers and share interesting fun facts about them which you could share with the children you love. I do have to say, I have the, "black thumbs of death". I do not have "green thumbs". Plants I try to grow always die - even cacti. When my kids were teens they grounded me from ever having live plants again - they said I was, "cruel and unusual punishment - for the plants." My grands agree - I have been generationally grounded from plants.

April is National Month of Hope

 

April is National Month of Hope, so let's look at ways we are able to be people who live with hope and extend hope to others. Daysoftheyear (dot) com says, "The  National Month of Hope seeks to act as a reminder there can always be brighter days ahead!" 

More Dr. Seuss Quotes!

 

Most days through the month of March I shared a Dr. Seuss quote . . . he said some really excellent things; things worth thinking about for sure! Today I thought I'd simply share a few which stand out to me. So . . . my Dr. Seuss quotes for today are . . .

Today is Good Deeds Day!

April 6th is a busy day! While I think it would be an excellent "policy" to do good deeds every  day; today is, "Good Deeds Day"! Nationaltoday.com says, "This initiative seeks to promote people giving back to their community however they can. You can volunteer, donate to a charity, or help people in your area whichever way you see fit. The beauty of Good Deeds Day is there’s no set way to celebrate it. The goal is to help others and do good for your community, fostering a sense of kindness and compassion around us. Acts of charity are never forgotten by their recipients. Spread the love on this holiday." So, on this day to do good things, be sure to do good things for others - and yourself! What kind of good things, you ask? Well, just a few good things could include . . . 

Today is National Love Our Children Day

Today is National Love Our Children Day - Nationaltoday (dot) com says; "Children are precious gems who must be loved and cherished. National Love Our Children Day is a chance to celebrate the little people who make the world a brighter place, reminding us they deserve to be celebrated every day." The "point" of this day is of course to remind is to let the children we love know we love them, and to raise awareness of child abuse.

Today is Encourage a Young Writer Day!

I love writing! I also love working on writing projects with my grands, so a day which encourages children to write is a day I believe to be well worth celebrating! We all know how essential it is for the ones we love to become people who read. When my grands were young we spent many evenings reading books and also making up our own special stories, so one day when they were at my house for a sleep-over I had a special project in mind for them. Since my grands loved making up stories with me, from time to time they even turned one of their stories into a book for me; in fact, one of my favorite birthday presents ever was the book my oldest grand made me titled - Super Josiah Saves Grandma from all the Robot Spiders in History! This book is on my refrigerator and when I see it, it always makes me smile!

Please Stand Up & Speak Up

    

I have posted this a few times, but with all the things which are happening in our world, and especially since today is Resurrection Sunday, I'm sharing it again today. I write grandma's cookie jar to provide ideas for ways grandmas - and grandpas, moms, and dads might connect the children they love with God and build strong, loving relationships. I share recipes, book reviews, fun facts, and more - I typically stay away from politics. But not today. People I know and love live in fear. People I do not know live in fear - and some are dying at the hands of our government - in our country and now around the world. Our government is drowning in corruption and the trump-epstein files causes great concern. I can not stay silent. I do not believe Jesus would be silent, either. So, I am sharing images I found on instagram - they say what I am thinking.

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Today is National Self-Care Day

As moms and grandmas we often tend to spend our time caring for others, and while this is a wonderful thing, we also need to spend time caring for ourselves - and teach the ones we love to do the same. This is not being "selfish", self-care is essential for our own well-being as without it we are not able to do the things we do to care for others. Nationaltoday.com explains it in the following way, "Our minds and bodies require adequate rest and care for optimal health and well-being. This day emphasizes the importance of self-care as the basis for good health. It’s also a day when individuals are encouraged to prioritize self-care and make it a habit." Let's look at a few facts about caring for yourself and some ideas on how to do so - 

Sensory–Friendly Hours at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park for Free!

I love Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, MI. I love their amazing gardens and sculptures. I love their special events throughout the year. I love everything about them. I did not think it was possible for them to do anything which would make me love them more, but they have. In honor of Autism Awareness Day, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is celebrating inclusion and connection in nature. 🌼

Fun to Make Unique Craft/Gift

Do you like to make unique, special gifts for the people on your gift list? Do you enjoy helping your grandchildren learn to make unique special gifts for the people on their gift list? If you'd like a great idea for a truly unique gift, try this one! You could help your grandchildren make this gift for their parents!

April is National Soft Pretzel Month

 

Yes, April is National Soft Pretzel Month - so of course while you might celebrate by buying some soft pretzels, it would be so much more fun to gather the children you love and make your own tasty soft pretzels - don't worry - it is really pretty simple to do! I'll share a recipe shortly, but first, some info on National Soft Pretzel Month - did you know . . . 

Try Praying Deeper Through the Psalms for Children

When we trust God, we are steadfast and are able to experience His perfect peace. This is certainly what we want for the ones we love; at all times, but especially now with the ongoing wars in Iran, Lebanon, Ukraine, and Palestine, and the uncertainties of day-to-day life in 2026. Our grandchildren (and/or young children) may especially feel fear as they see and hear about the things going on in this world.

If ever there was a time to help them learn to be people who talk with God, this is it. So, to help you with this, I want you to know about my book, Praying Deeper Through the Psalms for Children. Look what people are saying about this book - 

Grandmas, Don't Forget to Show Love in the Little Ways

 

Yes, there are many things we do as grandparents to show love to our grandchildren - very often these are big things . . . but there are also little things we need to remember to do as well. We may think the little things do not really matter, but the thing about the little things is sometimes they are actually the "big" things. 

With this in mind, let's think about some of the "little/big things" . . .