just for fun - Tomorrow - January 21st - is National Hugging Day!

Now this is a holiday for grandmas for sure! National Hugging Day!!! I LOVE this one! I looked on-line at punchbowl (dot) com and found the following information about National Hugging Day; "Today is National Hugging 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.

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

 

The New Year has begun, 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! 

just for fun . . . Today - January 19th - is Popcorn Day!

WooHoo!!! This is a day I am happy to celebrate for sure as I am a definite "fan" of popcorn! While there is debate and confusion as to who actually began this "holiday", I for one am one who is most willing to celebrate it!

I found the following ideas for ways to celebrate Popcorn Day on Popcorn.com . . .

Winter Fun - Amaze Your Grandchildren with Frozen Bubbles!

As I've mentioned a time or two, I live in Michigan - otherwise known as the "Frozen North"! I've never been a person who enjoyed the cold; being warm is so very much more pleasant! But, the other day when I was browsing on Pinterest I found an idea for something really cool which you could do with your grandchildren in the cold . . . make frozen bubbles!

Make a Difference with illustrate my own - Important Things Jesus Wants Me to Know books

You are likely familiar with the Bible people from my illustrate my own - Important Things Jesus Wants me to Know book series - The Lost Lamb, The Woman at the Well, The Man with Leprosy, The Good Samaritan, The Pharisee  & the Tax Collector, The Two Builders, and Martha & Mary 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!

Today January 18th, is National Michigan Day

Today is National Michigan Day and since I was born, raised, and live in Michigan, I thought it would be fun to learn about some silly laws in this State as well as some very interesting facts about Michigan as well. Let's start with the silly laws - did you know . . .

Heritage

When I was a child I looked forward to visiting my grandparents; and especially to sleep-overs! I have many wonderful memories of riding in my grandpa's car on the way to their house in the country for a sleep-over (they lived about six miles from my home in a small, "Norman Rockwell-town"). My grandpa always asked me to sing my Sunday school songs in the car on the way to his house . . . and I sang them at the top of my lungs! (It always embarrassed my older sister when I sang like this in Sunday school, but my grandpa loved to hear me sing - which amazed and delighted me!)

I remember the aroma of fresh-baked bread in my grandma's kitchen . . . and being given a fresh-from-the-oven slice of bread with Peter Pan Peanut butter on it . . . is there possibly a better, or tastier treat???!!!

Give the Gift of Understanding & Creativity 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!

Tomorrow, January 18th, is National Gourmet Coffee Day

In my family we have people who love coffee. Did I write, "love"? I should have put people who "LOVE" coffee! Yes, coffee is enjoyed in my family for sure so a day to celebrate gourmet coffee (the type we drink) seems like something we must celebrate - although every day is absolutely a day to celebrate gourmet coffee!

I thought it would be fun to look up some gourmet coffee fun facts - did you know . . . 

Homemade Bread for a Snowy, Cold Day

Where I live in Michigan the past week has been a snowy and cold one! While any time is a great time for Homemade Bread whenever it is cold and snowy outside it is absolutely a great time for homemade bread. 

I have fond memories of my grandma Bristol making and baking homemade bread . . . in the very house where I now live! I remember her giving me a fresh-from-the-oven slice of homemade bread with butter and Peter Pan Peanut Butter on it! "Yum" doesn't even come remotely close!

So, today I want to share with you a recipe which you can make for Butternut Squash Oat Bread! It is not only tasty with a beautiful, golden color, but it is also, healthy! 

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!

Winter Fun with a Waterballoon Igloo!

Yesterday I saw a post on facebook about a waterballoon igloo, so today I had to share this idea with you! You will find photos of it and information about it at this link, but I think it looks like you take your waterballoons, let them freeze, then layer them by putting snow around them as you build.

Today is National Appreciate a Dragon Day!

Now we all know while there are some actual dragons in our world, such as the Blue Dragons (Blue Glaucus - check my book Blue Dragons, Red Pandas, Hoopoes & More at this link to learn about these amazing and interesting real dragons!), and Bearded Dragons, there are not really giant reptiles which are able to fly and breathe fire. However, the idea of real dragons is interesting and can certainly add an element of fun to a story or movie - or an element of shock as well!

illustrate my own - Check Out this New Series

 

Quite a few years ago I wrote a series of books for children about Bible people. I was motivated to do so because when you see books about Bible people, they are usually about just a few Bible people and there are so many more people in the Bible with fantastic accounts of how they were able to know and walk with God. I enjoyed writing the Bible stories, but am not an artist, so I thought maybe it would be fun to write a series of books with an "illustrate my own" "twist" - so the children - and/or families - could illustrate their own books!