crafting with grandma - Handprint Flowers & Handprint Easter Lily Brooches!

Resurrection Sunday is just over a week away, so if you are looking for a special craft you could help your grandchildren make as an Easter gift for their mother . . . make handprint flowers or take a good look at this craft I found on  Pinterest! I love how the flowers and the "lily" are made from the handprints of children! If you have two grandchildren, you could make it using one handprint from each of them! If you have more than two grandchildren, you could make more than one lily - but however you do it, and whichever you choose these are sure to be crafts a mother will cherish . . . you could make an additional one for yourself as grandmothers will cherish it, too! 

Why Should I Invest in Generations Quest for My Family? Answer #1

Today I want to share with you about investing in Generations Quest for your family . . . today I'm sharing with you my #1 reason for doing so . . . because it will allow your family to all be on the same page, reading the same Bible verses, the same day no matter the age or location of your family members!

Think about it . . . 

The Dr. Seuss Quote For Today - Today I Shall Behave . . .

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today is, "Today I shall behave, as if this is the day I will be remembered!" I really like this one! It is a challenge to all of us. So, how do we do this? Consider Matthew 7:12,  "Therefore, you should  treat people in the same way that you want people to treat you" 

Today is International Goof Off Day!

Today is International Goof Off Day! You may be wondering why we would want to celebrate goofing off, well, according to nationaltoday (dot) com, they say, "The Goof Off Day is the ideal opportunity for everyone to unwind, enjoy themselves, and have a good time. The day invites us to be a little foolish, relax, and do pointless things on this particular day. On this day, you’re encouraged to do something unproductive for enjoyment until the next day to take a break from your daily duties."

We are likely to all agree our world holds lots of stress for us, so a day to unwind, relax, and enjoy taking a break is not a bad idea. Surprisingly, there are even some health benefits for "goofing off". Did you know . . . 

A Fun Resource for the Ones You Love

In this day and age it is especially important for grandparents (and parents) to be focused upon passing confident faith to the children they love, but it can be a challenge to find resources to help us do this. Generations Quest ~ Cultivate the Faith was written for this reason and provides 52 weeks of lessons grandparents/ parents will be able to use to engage our grandchildren/children in learning how to love, know, and walk with God!

Each week there is a science activity which will engage children and connect them to the point of the Bible event. They will learn about Bible people and how to pray the Psalms back to God along with fun activities which are just for fun!

Today is National French Bread Day

Today is National French Bread Day, so I thought I'd share a favorite recipe for baguettes! I received baguette pans one year for Christmas, so I found a recipe on-line which I use, but I do not steam the bread - I like a soft crust, not crunchy. I know, not a "true" baguette, but it is tasty for sure! You will find the recipe at this link.

Let's look at some fun bread facts, did you know . . . 

The Dr. Seuss Quote for Today - Oh the Things You Can Find . . .

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today is, "Oh the things you can find if you don't stay behind!"

 While there could be things you will find if you don't stay behind, I think there are far more amazing things you will find if you follow Jesus! John 8:12 tells us, "Jesus spoke to the people again, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me won’t walk in darkness but will have the light of life.'” And look at John 8:31, 32; "Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teaching. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” When we follow Jesus we won't walk in darkness and we will be free because we know the truth! What could be better than this?!!

The Dr. Seuss Quote for Today - Be Who You Are and Say What You Feel . . .

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today is, "Be who you are and say what you feel. Because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind!" There are things which are true about this saying, but there are also things which are not true. First the things which are true . . . if someone really loves you, they will love you no matter what you say because of who you are . . . a person who they love! Now for the things which are not true . . . you might,on  occasion, say things which people who matter to you get upset about. This can be a painful thing to have happen, but it can, and does happen from time to time.

Today is the International Day of Happiness!

Nationaltoday (dot) com says, "A holiday called International Day of Happiness may sound a bit infantile to the uninitiated. Perhaps you’re imagining children singing ‘If you’re happy and you know it…’ or people gleefully dancing under a smiling sun and rainbows. While you’re not entirely wrong — who doesn’t like a good sing-song session — the truth is there’s much more to this delightful day than just smiles and good vibes."

The Dr. Seuss Quote for Today - Be Awesome . . .

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today is, "Be awesome! Be a book nut!" I'm all for reading so I like this quote! Begin reading to your grandchildren when they are young and continue to read to them, and encourage them to read, as they get older. Find books which introduce your grandchildren to something new and which connect with interests they already have. For example, Josiah loves cars, tools and building, so any books I can find which connect with these things are books which he is sure to enjoy! As he grows older I will continue to look for books which capture his attention because I want him to be a person who wants to read - I want him to be a "book nut"! If you find your grandchildren struggle with reading, finding books which tie in with an interest they have is a good way to get them interested in reading. Thankfully these days there are many resources available for us to utilize to help our grandchildren learn, from books and computer programs to tutoring services, such as StudyPoint. Discover what your grandchildren's interests are and then find books which encourage them to become a "book nut"!

Make 2024 the Year Where You Pray Deeper!

Praying for our grandchildren (and children) is something we all know we need to do, but it is also something many of us struggle with. We may feel like our prayers do not even make it through the ceiling above us and do not know what to say or how to pray. Our lives are busy, so finding the time to pray can be a challenge which we may not overcome and then days go by without us spending time in prayer.

The Dr. Seuss Quote for Today - "Only You Can Control Your Future!"

The Dr. Seuss Quote for today is, "Only you can control your future!" Well . . . we do have some "say" over our future, as we can decide if we are going to move forward on something or not, but we do not have "control" over our futures. There is very little in life which we can actually "control", but the good news is God has a plan for our future! This is incredibly good news . . . look at Jeremiah 29:11, "I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the LORD; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope." We can not "control" today or tomorrow, but this does not need to cause us to be afraid or to worry, because God has a plan for our future! I'd rather know God has a plan for my future - one which fills it with hope - than to try and "control" even a moment of my future! My "job" is to discover God's plan and then choose to follow it!

A Tasty "Sloppy Joe" Recipe to Enjoy on National Sloppy Joe Day!

Today is National Sloppy Joe Day, so I'm sharing with you my favorite recipe for tasty sloppy Joes, or barbeques, or whatever you want to call them. I grew up enjoying barbeques made with ground beef, and while many are made this way, I use pork loin which I cook in my instant pot - the barbeques made this way are fantastic!

Make the Most of Being a Grandparent with The DNA of Grandparents & Parents Who Hand Down Confident Faith

  

If you are looking for a book to help a parent or grandparent you love make the most of handing down confident faith, consider this book - The DNA of Grandparents & Parents Who Hand Down Confident Faith.

In this book I look at how our physical DNA is a truly amazing and essential part of who we are, as it holds the "code" or instructions for the things which make us unique as well as for the things we share. It connects us with the generations who came before us; as well as with those who come behind. It is the core of who we are physically.