Cacao, Peanut Butter, & Chocolate Chip Brownies - Enjoy!

My family enjoys brownies - I make them once in awhile, but thought I might make them this year for nibbling on while we put our Christmas Tree up after Thanksgiving dinner, so I thought I'd share a tasty recipe with you - 

Christmas Book Review - illustrate my own Unknown Bible Hero books - No "Ordinary" Bible Person Storybook & Great Christmas Gifts!

 

If you are not an artist, or artistic person, when you see a book which you need to provide the illustrations for, you may think it is not the book for you. But, in this case with the  illustrate my own Known Bible Hero and 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, as since you and/or they will be providing the illustrations, 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 and they make fantastic Christmas gifts!

Today is International Cake Day - Coffee, Chocolate & Cream Layered Delight!

Okay, just the name of this recipe is enough to get nearly everyone hungry for dessert! This simple recipe is completely enjoyable . . . and is one with which you are sure to be greeted by happy faces whenever you make it - what could be a better way to celebrate International Cake Day! Yes, today is International Cake Day and actually is National Cake Day, too, so before I get to the recipe, how about some fun cake facts - did you know . . .

Be Thankful - Beware of the Thankfulness Thieves

Yes, I know Thanksgiving is just a few days away and so of course we tend to think  about being thankful this time of year, but being thankful is more than just something we think about in November; it should characterize our lives every day! In I Thessalonians 5 we read:

"16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

These verses are talking about a heart attitude; not just a focus for November each year. So, what are those attitudes which damage or diminish this heart attitude in us; and in our grandchildren? Consider the following . . . 

Christmas Book Review - Give the Gift of Understanding & Creativity 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!

crafting with grandma - Crocheted Raggedy Ann & Andy Dolls!

I have always been a "fan" of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls! In fact, the first doll I bought my daughter was a Raggedy Ann doll! After all what isn't there to love about these sweet dolls which have been loved "friends" of children for decades??!!! Sweet, huggable and oh, so  lovable, Raggedy Ann dolls are classics for a reason!

Tuesday is International Cake Day - Let's Make Lemon Cake!

Tuesday is International Cake Day, so today seems like a great day to share my lemon cake recipe with you. Okay . . . the truth is I really do not need a reason to have cake because I do truly love cake . . . but even though I rarely eat cake, you might enjoy some, so what could be better than to share with you a  recipe for a lemon cake? I love lemon cake! It is moist, slightly tart and just flat yummie . . . 

Christmas Book Review - This Christmas Give Books Which Make a Difference

  

Yesterday I wrote about the book - Praying Deeper Through the Psalms for Children! It makes a fantastic Christmas gift for the children you love ages four through fourteen. Today I wanted to share with you about three books in the "Praying Deeper" series of books which will help parents and grandparents pray Scripture for their own walk with God and for the children they love as well - young, grown, and grandchildren!

Fluffy Cinnamon Biscuits!

Okay, I admit it, I have always struggled to make a perfect, fluffy biscuit. My biscuits typically turned out resembling a rock more than anything you actually wanted to eat. But, I found a recipe one day and discovered, not only was it easy and quick, but the biscuits turned out fluffy and wonderful! Plus, when you add cinnamon and make a little icing on the side for the children you love to top their biscuits with as they like, it makes a fantastic breakfast biscuit! So, of course I have to share this recipe with you.

Best-Ever Chocolate Cake for International Cake Day

Tuesday (November 26th) is International Cake Day, so in honor of this most important day and to help you prepare for it, I'm re-running my recipe for the best-ever Chocolate cake! Don't you just love chocolate cake?!!! Aren't there days when chocolate cake is the best thing you could possibly eat? Well, I do love chocolate cake and there are days when chocolate cake most certainly does put a smile on my face - although since I've been working the past four years to lose weight (and have lost 100lbs), I rarely eat it, but I do fix it for others.

So, when I found the recipe I'm sharing with you today and tried it . . . well, I knew I had to share it with you because it is the best chocolate cake I've ever had! (I found the recipe in my Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book) What could be a better way to celebrate International Cake Day, than with the Best-Ever Chocolate Cake???!!! :-) Or, if you have a special event coming up where a chocolate cake would be the perfect addition . . . or, if you would just like to brighten your family's - and your own - day, bake up this best-ever chocolate cake! But first, some chocolate fun facts . . . did you know -

Christmas Book Review - This Christmas Give the Gift of Prayer with Praying Deeper Through the Psalms for Children

 

One of the most powerful things we are able to do for the children we love is for us to pray for them. One even more powerful thing we are able to do for them is to help them learn to be people who pray. This Christmas give a gift which will help you do exactly this - give the children you love ages four through fourteen the book - Praying Deeper Through the Psalms for Children!

The initial idea I (Lynda Freeman) had for this book was to write a resource to help my grands learn to be people who talked with God; so I took the reading schedule from my book; Praying Deeper Through the Psalms for Grandparents & Parents, Too! and used it to form the basis for the book for children. I also had my grands help write the prayers and draw most of the images in this book. 

grandma's cookbook - Potato, Squash, Oat Bread

I live in the house my grandparents built - my dad was born in this house and when I was a child, I often was able to have a sleepover at my grandparent's and always loved when my grandma baked bread - when it came out of the oven I always got a fresh-from-the-oven slice of bread to enjoy! What could be better! Now I'm the grandma in this house and when my grands come over this weekend, I'm making homemade potato, squash, oat bread - it will be wonderful for sure!

If you would like to try this recipe with the people you love, this is it . . . 

Christmas Book Review - The DNA of Grandparents & Parents Who Hand Down Confident Faith - a Christmas Gift which Makes a Difference

"The DNA of Grandparents & Parents Who Hand Down Confident Faith" is a book for the parents-to-be, parents, grandparents -to-be, and grandparents in your life. Look what Tim Kimmel (Family Matters) and Dr. Scott Turansky (National Center for Biblical Parenting) have to say about it -

crafting with grandma - Fun, Excellent & Inexpensive Gifts - Frosted Mason Jar Candles!

Christmas is often a time where we give gifts to people we love - and sometimes we make some of these gifts, so today I want to share an idea for a gift you could make and give . . . a gift your family and friends will love to receive!