crafting with grandma - One-Eyed Monster Slippers!

Today I'm remembering when my grands were little - from time to time we had "monsters" which "invaded" my home - of course I'm NOT talking about my sweet grands, but "monsters"! I remember one day twelve years ago when I was fixing lunch in the kitchen and my grand ran into the kitchen and told me there were "monsters in the hall!" I asked if they were teeny, tiny or ginormous, humongous! He said they were the "most ginormous, humongous, EVER!" I asked if they were nice or cranky. He said they were "the most cranky monsters, EVER!!!" He said they were going to eat me - I asked whatever should I do and he said he would protect me! This is one grandma who is so thankful I have such a brave grandsn at my house when the most ginormous, humongous, and cranky monsters EVER invade my home!

Give the Gift of a Membership to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

For nearly the past week I wrote about ENLIGHTEN at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and how tickets to go experience it is a fantastic experiential Christmas gift you could give the ones you love. Today I want to write about how giving a membership to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is the most wonderful gift you could give yourself and the ones you love for Christmas.

Lost: One Camel . . .

Years ago I found a crochet pattern for a nativity set. This pattern used regular yarn and was designed to have most of the pieces fit over soda bottles . . . so, the finished set would be fairly large. 

When I looked at it, I thought maybe I could use very small hooks (9mm or 10mm) and crochet thread to make a small set which would fit nestled among the branches of my tree each year. Since I like to keep the focus of Christmas on Jesus . . . it is, after all, His birthday . . . I liked the idea of nestling a Nativity set among the branches, so it was the focus of my tree.

Give the Gift of ENLIGTEN - for Many Wonderful Reasons . . .

For the past few days I've been writing about ENLIGHTEN, the outdoor light, color, music, and art extravaganza from Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park and how it makes a fantastic gift to give the ones you love. Today I want to share just a bit more from my visit to ENLIGHTEN with my family and how you are able to experience this with the ones you love.

crafting with grandma - Nativity Ornament

It is so easy for children to focus on the "getting" part of Christmas . . . what gifts will they "get"? What activities will they "get" to do? How many parties will they "get" to go to? The list goes on. But, Christmas is really about giving, God gave His Son to us! Well . . . I guess it is also about "getting" as we are the ones who "get" to receive the gift of Grace and forgiveness from God!

At any rate, Christmas is a wonderful time of year to help our grandchildren focus on "giving" and one way we can help them to do this is by helping them make ornaments which they can then give to their neighbors, friends, teachers, shut-ins, coaches, pastors . . . you help them decide who to give them to!

ENLIGHTEN - a "Mesmerizing" Experience & Great Gift to Give!

Last night my husband, grown kids, and grandkids went with me to ENLIGHTEN at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park - and as my 16 year old grand said, "It was mesmerizing!"

We were greeted at the entrance with color, light, and music which followed us throughout the mile-long ENLIGHTEN experience. I was expecting color, light, and music, but actually experiencing it was more than I imagined it to be!

Today is National Brownie Day!

If ever there was a treat worth celebrating, brownies would certainly be the one to celebrate! My family enjoys brownies, so I'm fixing some for them to eat today - I'll share my favorite recipe with you, but first, some fun brownie facts - did you know . . .

THE Gift to Give to the Ones You Love this Christmas - ENLIGHTEN!

For the past two days I've been writing about Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park's new opportunity for families to make incredible memories as they experience ENLIGHTEN. Today I will share with you how they describe the rest of the "journey" . . .

crafting with grandma - snowman clothespin ornaments

If you are looking for a fun idea to do with your grandchildren before or even after Christmas which even your youngest grandchildren will be able to do, check out this fun clothespin snowman.

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