Gifts of Joy

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

In honor of my late father, I recently sponsored a poetry contest. Entries were to include a reference to a grandparent or grandchild.

Rita Goodgame's poem below won first place. Enjoy!

GIFTS OF JOY
by Rita Goodgame

 Our Amy who is six years young
has joined a softball team.
We saw her hit her first home run
and watched her bright eyes gleam.

 Here are some cookies Granny made
to share with rookie friends
and while the game has been delayed
we’re rooting for some wins.

 God bless these gifts of special joy
that make old hearts feel young,
next week our grandson soccer boy
will share his day of fun.

 And so dear friends we hope that you
enjoy each blessed day
your grandchild learns from you, to do
fine chores .... sweet prayers ....hard play.

Have a great week,

Mary

Mary May Larmoyeux

co-author of The Grand Connection: 365 Ways to Connect with Your Grandchild's Heart

Gifts of Joy © 2011 by Rita Goodgame. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Photo © by Designpicsub / Dreamstime.com

© 2011 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

My best birthday present

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

I just celebrated a birthday.  A "big" birthday.  As a card from a friend said, it's one of those birthdays with the zeros.

But lately, instead of thinking of all of the things that I want to do in my lifetime, I'm beginning to ask myself, "What does God want me to do in the years that I have left? What family stories do I need to write down ... so the grandchildren will know their heritage? And ... will I ever sort through all of those seemingly millions of family picture that are packed away in cardboard boxes?"

Can you identify?

But when my mom called this year, a brand new question came to my mind. "How many years will we have Mom?" I was aware that Mom's call was perhaps my best gift. To think, at my ripe old age, I can still hear my mother's voice. I am truly blessed!

How do you choose God's best for your life?  What helps you truly cherish older relatives and friends and express your love to them?

Have a great week,

Mary

Mary May Larmoyeux

co-author of The Grand Connection: 365 Ways to Connect with Your Grandchild's Heart

© 2011 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo © Jim Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

What Makes a Good Mother-in-Law

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux
                                                                                                                             

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family."
                                —Anthony Brandt

Recently, I was talking with a young man who has been married about a year, and he said that his wife was having mother-in-law problems.  Of course, that means the problems were with his mother, the future grandmother of his children. Not a good way to start off any marriage.

How would you describe a good mother-in-law?  And what suggestions do you have for a mother-in-law about connecting with a son- or daughter-in-law in an especially meaningful way?

A friend told me about her family's annual girls' getaway—for Mom, her daughters, daughter-in-laws, and teenage granddaughters. Sounds like fun! Have you ever done this?

A family filled with love is such a blessing to grandchildren. May the words of 1 Corinthians 13:13 be true for your family and mine:  "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Have a great week,

Mary

Mary May Larmoyeux

co-author of The Grand Connection: 365 Ways to Connect with Your Grandchild's Heart

© 2011 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved                                      

Photo © Danielle Phaneuf | Dreamstime.com

Let's Have a Scavenger Hunt

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

I love looking at the magazine Family Fun! Grandparents Patrica and Paul Slaga of North Carolina shared a great idea in the August 2009 issue. They have "Tricky Treasure Hunts" with their grands.

In either their house or yard, the Slagas hide several wrapped "inexpensive treasures" such as small toys, art supplies, gummy bears, stickers, etc. Their grandkids work together to solve brainteasers to locate each prize (the prizes could also be together at the end of several clues).

The Slagas give creative clues such as verses with missing rhymes, symbols or pictures taking the place of words, or numeric codes. Here are some examples of possible creative clues:

Verse: "Jack and Jill went up the _________." Answer: hill. So the next clue or prize will be on whatever your grandchild will know is the "hill."

Picture: Have a picture of a refrigerator and either tape the next clue to your refrigerator door or put a small prize inside your refrigerator.

Numeric code clue: Assign each letter of the alphabet a number such as a = 1; b = 2; c = 3 ... z = 26. If your first clue is: The next clue will be by the 2 12 21 5 chair. Answer: blue. Then, the next clue will be by the blue chair.

Another idea is to send a grandchild on a magazine or newspaper scavenger hunt. Jot down some age-appropriate questions about various articles, words in headlines, photos, etc., and give them to the grands. After they find the answers to the questions, reward them with some type of wrapped prize or treat.

It would be pretty easy for us to prepare these types of scavenger hunts for out-of-town grands. We could send the clues to them in the mail with small wrapped prizes or extra money for an ice cream cone, etc.

Do you have any scavenger hunt ideas ... or special memories of scavenger hunts? Please share them as a comment. Also, if you have a scavenger hunt with the grands, I'd love to hear what happens.

Have a great weekend,
Mary
www.marymaywrites.com
co-author of The Grand Connection: 365 Ways to Connect with Your Grandchild's Heart

© 2009 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo © Ioana Grecu | Dreamstime.com

The Storms of Life

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

Recently there have been devastating tornadoes around the U.S.—especially in the South where Pops and I live. We have seen firsthand the power of the wind. Some friends have even lost their homes.

And how have many of the storm victims reacted?

Journalists John Christofferson and Christopher Hawley wrote in their May 1 Associated Press article:

So on the first Sunday after the disaster, believers streamed into houses of worship to give thanks for being spared, to mourn the dead and to ponder impossible questions. Why did some survive without any explanation? Why did others die for no apparent reason?

Many people in this highly religious region saw God at work, even amid the devastation.

"God just put his big old arms around us," said Peggy Blevins, 59, of Rainsville, Ala. "I don't understand why he takes some people and leaves others. But I thank him just the same for protecting us."

This Thursday, May 5, is the National Day of Prayer. Pops and I plan to attend a local prayer gathering on that day. You can visit www.NationalDayofPrayer.org to find an event in your area, or to learn more about National Day of Prayer.

When I look at the world today, I realize how important it is to regularly pray for our grandchildren. Only God knows the storms they will face in their lives.

But no matter how things appear, God is in control. Luke 8:24-25 tells us of a time when the disciples feared they would drown because they were caught in a violent storm at sea. They woke Jesus saying, "Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

He is able,

Mary

Mary May Larmoyeux

co-author of The Grand Connection: 365 Ways to Connect with Your Grandchild's Heart

© 2011 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Photo ©  Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.