It is National Homemade Soup Day

Last month was National Soup Month, but today - February 4, 2024, is National Homemade Soup Day, so I thought I'd share a recipe for a creamy potato soup which will put a smile on the face of any who eat it! So, gather the ingredients (you probably have them already), invite some family and/or friends, and get your soup going . . . it will be a tasty meal for sure!

Make Anytime Funtime with The Little Ginormous, Humongous, Hairy, One-Eyed Monster Boy's Adventures!

  

If you have young children in your life, then you know how important it is to read books to them - it sets them up for a lifetime of learning - and it is just fantastic to snuggle together and read a book together at bedtime - or anytime! I read many books to my children and most recently to my grandsons when they were little, and we enjoyed making up our own stories, too!

Read Aloud to a Child Day AND Take a Child to a Library Day!

Today is a day to celebrate not just one special thing, but two . . . it is Read Aloud to a Child Day AND Take a Child to a Library Day! We all know statistics show children are not progressing when it comes to reading. We also all know when we read to a child from their earliest days and when we take them to libraries, we are showing them the value of reading and children who are read to and who visit libraries do better when it comes to reading. They become people who read! "World Read Aloud Day is heavily supported by LitWorld, an organization dedicated to bringing literacy to the world at large." 

My Top Seven Reasons for Enjoying the Butterflies are Blooming at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

If you live in, or near, Grand Rapids, MI, you are most certainly familiar with Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park - their amazing Butterflies are Blooming Exhibit begins in less than a month, so today I wanted to write about this highlight of the year! I want to share with you a few reasons why this is a not-to-miss experience for you and the children you love!

just for fun - February is the Great American Pie Month!

It is February and February is the Great American Pie Month!  Talk about a tasty month!  Whether you’re in the mood for a fruit pie with a flaky, golden crust or a sweet crème pie with a crunchy cookie crust, this is a month you will enjoy for sure!

So . . . what pie might you make in February? A favorite around here has been Peanut Butter Pie, but you can not go wrong with apple . . . or cherry . . . or blueberry . . . or ???

Today I am happy to share with you a recipe for pie "goodness" - a recipe your grandchildren are able to make - peanut butter, ice cream pie! This is such a tasty and simple pie, and it is the Great American Pie Month so, what could possibly be better?

I Have a Winner!

I am happy to say Tina is the winner in my Trio game giveaway! Thank you Happy Camper for making a game available for me to give away - Tina please email me your mailing address so I can have it sent to you.  (lyndagcj@gmail.com) 

A "Real" Red Elephant, God's Faithful Love & Trust!

Today I want to share something with you once again, which I originally wrote eight years ago . . .

“My three grandsons are young; seven, four and two years old. I love these ages, because they are just the right size for time in grandma’s lap – which of course, just fills my heart with joy! I know when my own children were young, they were the same way, but as they grew up, “lap time” came to an end. So, I treasure these few years when my grandsons are young. I enjoy the things they say and do which make me laugh and I love opportunities to snuggle them in my lap. 

Today is National Dark Chocolate Day

Today is absolutely a day I will celebrate - National Dark Chocolate Day! I LOVE dark chocolate - I love how it is not too sweet, but mostly I love how it is such a healthy treat! Yes, dark chocolate is actually good for you - look what I learned on nationaltoday (dot) com . . . 

Mark Your Calendar for February 15th!

This year February 15th is a Thursday - two weeks from today. You may be asking why should you mark your calendar for this day? Because it is the day after Valentine's Day. Of course you realize this - it is obvious, so why does this matter? Because . . . it is the day all the heart-shaped candies go on clearance!!!! If you haven't already, make plans to head for your local store first thing and pick up some of these wonderful treats to have on hand for special surprises from grandma! Just think of all the things you could do with heart-shaped candies . . . if you have them . . .

Today - February 1st - is National Texas Day

Today is National Texas Day - when you look at the history of this State you learn "their history goes far back to the Native American settlers who were likely on this land for thousands of years prior to the arrival of European settlers. In the history of Texas, there have been six different entities that have ruled over the land, including France, Spain, Mexico, Republic of Texas, the Confederacy and the United States. This is sometimes referred to as the 'Six Flags of Texas'."

All very interesting, but there are also some very strange laws in Texas which are actually still "on the books", did you know . . . 

just for fun . . . !yaD sdrawkcaB si tI (It is Backwards Day!)

Yes, today is truly, "just for fun" because it is Backwards Day!  "Backward Day is a day to do everything backwards. Use your imagination, and Backward Day can be lots of fun. It's especially popular with school aged kids. Try writing backwards or reading backwards. Wear your shirt with the back in the front. Eat your meal, starting with dessert. Now this is what I call fun! Walk backwards, or talk backwards. Play a board game backwards, from the finish line to the start. Are you starting to get the picture!? This day is limited only by your imagination."   

Just for Fun!!! Did You Know . . .

I love learning about interesting animal facts. There are so many amazing animals in our world and they tend to have surprising, interesting, and sometimes completely unexpected facts which go with them. For example, did you know . . .

The Drawing for Trio is Just Two Days Away - On February 2, 2024

For nearly a week I've been posting about a new game - Trio - you will find my main post at this link. Trio is a game your whole family will love playing and you are able to be in a drawing to win one Trio game!

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. 

Today I'm letting you know about a book I wrote . . . Don't Worry: It Is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren In this book, along with sharing some of my "cute-grandson 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. I talk about -