Give the Gift of Wonder & Memories with ENLIGHTEN

Tomorrow evening my family and I are going to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park to experience ENLIGHTEN and I will be so happy to share with you what we see and hear on Sunday and Monday, but today and tomorrow I want to continue our journey through the fourteen experiences of light, sculpture, surprises, music, fun, unexpected discoveries, and the creation of memories all of which make up ENLIGHTEN. As I said yesterday, if you are looking for a gift to give the ones you love which is more than the typical sweater or toy (not that there's anything wrong with sweaters and toys - I love sweaters and my grands enjoyed receiving toys when they were younger) or if you want an extra special gift for the ones you love, you will find giving the gift of the Experience of ENLIGHTEN is absolutely the gift you want to give. Please allow me to share with you more of what this experience will entail . . .

crafting with grandma - Christmas Heart Ornaments!

Christmas is just around the corner and I found an idea for a sweet smelling ornament which would make a fun project for you to make with your grandchildren! It just uses applesauce and cinnamon - the reason it is sweet smelling - and a little time to make dozens of heart ornaments! Just think of all the wonderful things you could do with these little hearts . . . 

Give the Experience of ENLIGHTEN this Christmas!

Yesterday I wrote about ENLIGHTEN at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and started telling you what ENLIGHTEN is all about. Today I want to start you on your journey through the fourteen experiences of light, sculpture, surprises, music, fun, unexpected discoveries, and the creation of memories all of which make up ENLIGHTEN. If you are looking for a gift to give the ones you love which is more than the typical sweater or toy (not that there's anything wrong with sweaters and toys - I love sweaters and my grands enjoyed receiving toys when they were younger) you will find giving the gift of the Experience of ENLIGHTEN is absolutely the gift you want to give. Please allow me to share with you what this experience will entail . . . 

crafting with grandma - Crocheted Nativity Set

Years ago I made a crocheted nativity set from a pattern I bought from Annie's Attic. I looked   on Pinterest and found one which is similar so if you would like to make your own set, you could try this one. The pattern from Annie's Attic made large figures, but I used small hooks and crochet cotton for small figures which I put in my tree each year. I like being able to keep the focus of my tree on the Reason for the Season!

This Christmas Engage & Equip the Ones You Love with God's Word

  

We will not hide them from their descendants;  we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. He commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds, but would keep his commands. Psalm 78:4, 6, 7

ENLIGHTEN - Don't Miss It!

If you live in or near Grand Rapids, Michigan, or will be visiting here before January 4th, then have I got a fantastic Christmas gift idea for you to give to the ones you love - tickets to ENLIGHTEN! What is ENLIGHTEN, you ask? Well, it is an extravaganza of light, an opportunity for unexpected experiences, and a unique opportunity to build wonderful memories with the ones you love at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. I will be experiencing this for myself with my family on Saturday evening, so over the coming days I want to let you know about ENLIGHTEN and encourage you to give tickets to the ones you love for Christmas - ENLIGHTEN is the perfect experiential Christmas gift!

Bake Some Tasty Donuts!

I recently learned about baked donuts - yes, I knew of them for a long time, but always thought they were just a donut-shaped muffin. However, this is not the case! Baked donuts are delicious - and can be a lot of fun to make with the children you love! My grands enjoy baking, so I bought a set of silicone donut baking "pans", kept one, and sent the other two home with my grands so they are able to make some at home. 

Christmas Book Review - Give the Gift of Confident Faith & Family Fun for Christmas with Generations Quest - Cultivate the Faith!

  

Are you looking for a Christmas gift which will create memories while you hand down confident faith? If so, then the book - Generations Quest - Cultivate the Faith! is for you! 

This resource will provide you with 52 weeks of Bible learning, science projects, crafts, cooking, and much more - all designed to make it easy for you to hand down confident faith while engaging the children you love in interesting, fun and active learning.

It is Time for a Candy Cane Hunt!

Yes, it is the time of year for a Candy Cane Hunt! What is a Candy Cane Hunt, you ask? Think Easter Egg Hunt, and substitute Candy Canes, grab your camera, and get ready for some photos, memories, and fun your grandchildren - or children - will never forget!

Today is Let's Hug Day!

While every day is a day to hug those you love, in my opinion, today is a day to especially focus on hugging others, "to encourage people to show affection to each other." Nationaltoday.com says, "Hugs are very versatile. Many of us hug when we wish to share our happiness with family and friends. At the same time, hugs are a staple when we are feeling low and need someone to just hold and console us. Hugs are also the perfect reconciliatory gesture when you want to make up with someone after a fight. Scientifically, hugs are known to release good hormones that can help lower your blood pressure and stress levels." Yes, hugs are beneficial, so let's learn a few more things about hugs - did you know . . .

Christmas Book Review - Christmas Gifts Which Make a Difference - the little answer book & the little answer book for children

  

If you are looking for Christmas gifts which make a difference, then today I am happy to let you know about two more books which you could add to your gift list for the adults and children you love - the little answer book and   the little answer book for children.

Today is National Build Joy Day!

So, what is "National Build Joy Day"? Well, according to nationaltoday dot com it is a day to, "give back to your community in whatever way possible and make someone’s day!" This is certainly something we all are able to celebrate and make a part of our every day lives by bringing joy to people’s lives with tiny acts of kindness. 

What might we do to celebrate National Build Joy Day - consider the following ideas from Nationaltoday - 

Celebrate Popcorn Day!

WooHoo!!! This is a day I am happy to celebrate for sure as I am a definite "fan" of popcorn as I am one who is most willing to celebrate it! My family enjoys popcorn as well and most weekends when the grands are here I end up fixing it for them.

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

Christmas Book Review - & the Perfect Book for National Cat Lovers' Month

I wrote about this book yesterday, but since December is National Cat Lovers' Month, I thought I'd share it again. The summer of 2022 my husband, grands, and I went to the Humane Society to get a kitten. I wanted my grands to go with us because, first of all, they love all animals, secondly I wanted to be sure whatever cat we got was one which was able to be around my grands without being aggressive. We spent some time at the Humane Society and finally settled on a very sweet calico - which we named Candy, because she is sweet.

Last year I decided to write a story about Candy - part of it I know is true and part of it I'm imagining what it may have been like before Candy became part of our family. A Family of Her Own for Candy is this story, and this storybook is available on Amazon (you will find it at this link.) If you know a child who loves kittens, and if you may have a four-legged family member who you may have found at your Humane Society, this is a story they are sure to love!

A Family of Her Own for Candy is a great book gift idea for a child you love. Please help me spread the word by sharing this post - thank you!