Welcome to a place where we can share ideas about grandparenting, especially ways to pass spiritual values and family stories to the next generation.

Mary is the co-author of The Grandparent Connection: 365 Ways to Connect With Your Grandchild's Heart.
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Co-author of The Grandparent Connection: 365 Ways to Connect With Your Grandchild's Heart

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Where's God in the Thunderstorms of Life?


Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

Sometimes I need to be reminded that God is in control. As I look at our world today, I need the reassurance that He is much bigger than evil and will work everything out for good, according to His purpose.

The sermon at church last Sunday was just that reminder. Our pastor said that God does not cause evil ... that He is so much bigger than any evil ... that He does work all things for good according to His purpose.

I think that we can get a peek into this when we look at grandchildren. A friend recently told me that her grandmother was such a comfort to her when she was a little girl. She remembers waking up in the dark at Grandma's house during a thunderstorm, shaking in fear ... until Grandma came.

I can imagine the older woman nestling the frightened child in her arms, kissing the top of her head, and then whispering that everything would be okay in the morning.

Like that grandmother, when fear begins to creep into our lives, God wants us to nestle up to Him and know that everything will be okay. "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love," Psalms 143:8 says, "for I have put my trust in you."

He is able
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
www.marymaywrites.com

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© Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo © Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Magnetic Scrapbooks Spell Trouble!

Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

The other day, I was showing one of our grandkids some scrapbooks that I made for her dad about 20 years ago. They were in some magnetic photo albums ... seemed great at the time. I was so very proud of those albums!

Well ... our little grand enjoyed seeing the old pictures, but I felt sick as I realized that the pictures, sweet notes, and awards are deteriorating. I have got to do something about this!

So ... the Friday Fun idea this week is to take a stroll down memory lane by looking at your old photo albums and scrapbooks. This would be fun to do with a grandchild or two.

If your grands are school-age, they could be a really big help if you need to put the pictures and memorabilia in photo-safe boxes or new scrapbooks. I can only imagine the rich conversations that grandparents and grandkids could have as they work together to save the family memories.

I did a Google search for "old scrapbooks" and found some really helpful info! I'm especially excited about the online video "Introduction to Fixing Old Scrapbooks" (see link below). When one of the ladies in the video held up her faded brown album pages I thought "There's hope for me."

Here's some info. that I found:

Why should you be concerned about the terms "acid free lignin free buffered?"

Introduction to fixing old scrapbooks


Removing Photos from Old Albums and Scrapbooks

For those smart ones out there who have safely preserved your pictures, do you have any words of wisdom that you would like to share? Maybe words to someone like me who feels like a doofus right now?

Have a great week,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
www.marymaywrites.com

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© Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Getting Grip on a Big Mess

Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
with Mary May Larmoyeux

Last weekend Pops and I babysat for two of our grands. Well ... our granddaughter decided to go through the toy cabinet and was really excited about all that she found there. But before I knew it, she had dumped out the puzzles—I think there were about 20.

What a mess! And there was no way that she could put all of the puzzles back together without some help.

After a prayer for patience and a reminder that God can work out everything for good, I assured her that I would help. My job was to put the correct pieces with the correct puzzle. Her job was to put each puzzle together. We made a good team and eventually everything was back together, and the toy chest was neater than it had been in a long, long time.

As my little granddaughter and I worked to clean up the big mess, I thought of how my life at times seems like the pile of mismatched puzzle pieces. Sometimes I just don't know where to turn and need someone to show me the way.

I hope that our grandchildren will turn to Pops and me as they get older and need a little advice or extra hand. What a privilege it will be to help them sort the pieces of life ... to point them to the One who knows the way and has all of the answers.

How do you help your grandchild with the messes of life?

Have a great week,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
www.marymaywrites.com

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© Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved
Photo Credit: © Anatoly Tiplyashin|Dreamstime.com

Friday, April 17, 2009

Indoor Picnics

Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

Well, two of the grands are coming over for the weekend, and Pops and I are really looking forward to spending time with them! But there's a problem: It's supposed to rain allllllll weekend.

So much for having an outdoor picnic ... looks like we'll be inside.

I googled "indoor picnic" to see if there are any ideas out there that could give a little life to a blanket on the floor, a picnic basket and paper plates. Well, once again, cyberspace didn't disappoint me:

Make a big sun out of yellow construction paper and hang it from the ceiling or on the wall. Hang a few white, puffy paper clouds from the ceiling, too. ... Cut some ants out of black construction paper and scatter them around the edges of the blanket. ... Lie on the blanket on your backs and watch your clouds and dream about real sunny days. (www.ehow.com)

To make the indoor picnic seem more authentic, put up a toy tent and let the children sit in there. If the weather is wet, get the children to wear their rubber boots. When the sun comes out, they can all go outside and splash in the puddles. (www. picnic-basket.com)

Start the fun by setting the scene. Will the setting be a picnic on the beach or a family picnic in the park? The choice is yours. ... At the beach you have sand and umbrellas and bathing suits. Since you are indoors, participants may want to opt for shorts instead of swimsuits, but you can still have the rest more or less. Spread plastic seashells, buckets, and shovels around the room. Attach big colorful sun pictures to the walls on a rainy day to liven up the picnic. (www.mommyland.com)

I think our indoor picnic could be a lot of fun! I'll share some pictures with you in a later post.

Do you have any indoor picnic tips?

Have a great weekend,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
www.marymaywrites.com
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com
author of Help for Busy Moms: Purposeful Living to Simplify Life

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Tuesday, April 14, 2009

What Does Grandparenting Mean?

Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
with Mary May Larmoyeux

I love what Jean May e-mailed me about being a grandmother! She said:

Grandparenting gives unending pleasure that would be impossible to cover in a few words. …

It means so much to hear that little or not so little voice on the phone calling to tell me of something special that happened at school that day or asking about something that happened in the "old days."

Grandparenting has taught me patience, understanding, and appreciation for my parents and grandparents. So much has become crystal clear to me now. I know my role in my grandchildren's lives is an important piece of their life's puzzle, and they're an important piece in mine.

Everyone has heard that "grandchildren are the reward for having children!" That doesn't quite say it for me. I think grandchildren are a taste of the unconditional love the Father has for us all.


This past Easter weekend, as Jim and I were surrounded by our grandchildren, we felt their unconditional love.

And last week one of our granddaughters called to let us know that she had quit sucking her thumb. It's been days since she shared her good news, but I still get a smile as I think of her sweet message.

What does grandparenting mean to you?

Have a great week!

He is able,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
www.marymaywrites.com
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com
author of Help for Busy Moms: Purposeful Living to Simplify Life

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Friday, April 10, 2009

Let's Make a Bunny Cake

by Mary May Larmoyeux
Friday's Grand Connection Fun

"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here..."
(Mark 16:6)

As Easter Sunday approaches, I'm once again reminded that we are just passing through this life. What joy there is in celebrating the risen Christ and knowing, that as believers, we will be with Him one day.

I hope that you will be with family and friends this Sunday and that you'll enjoy some Easter traditions. Perhaps you'll have an Easter egg hunt for the kids or savor a holiday feast with loved ones.

A dear friend, Rita Goodgame, has made Easter Bunny Cakes for her family for a half of a century! They are easy to make and oh, so cute! (Thanks so much for sharing, Rita!) Here's the recipe (see above picture):

Easter Bunny Cake
by Rita Goodgame

For over fifty years I have made Easter Bunny Cake for our children, grandchildren, and friends. I now use a yellow cake mix and ready-made icing. Children do not always like coconut. So, instead of coating the bunny with coconut, I often color the coconut with green food coloring and use it for the grass.

Here's how I make the cake:

1. Bake one layer of cake, using an eight- or nine-inch cake pan.
2. Cook; cut cooled cake in half.
3. Place some icing in the middle of a plate where the cake will stand.
4. Ice flat sides of cake & stick the sides together. Stand on plate (tall side up).
5. Cut about 1-inch wedge out of one end of the cake (for the face).
6. Place this 1-inch wedge at other end of the cake (for the tail).
7. Ice the cake and form nose and face.
8. Place pink eyes, nose, & ears (made from construction paper) on cake.
9. Use remainder of icing to cover the wedge which is now a "bunny tail."

Enjoy!

If you have any recipes or ideas that you'd like me to share in a future "Friday's Fun" or "Tuesday's Thought," please e-mail me. Thanks!

Happy Easter,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
www.marymaywrites.com
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com
author of Help for Busy Moms: Purposeful Living to Simplify Life

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Tuesday, April 7, 2009

A Valuable Gift

by Mary May Larmoyeux
Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

I was looking out of a third-story office window this morning, noticing the budding trees below. They were various shades of green—light and dark, bright and subdued, emerald and mint.

Although I saw the trees when I drove into work, it took some height to get a panoramic view. Only then did I begin to grasp a smidgen of the creative genius of God as the strokes of His brush have once again transformed a barren winter landscape into a spring scene filled with new life.

Looking out of that window today reminded me of grandparenting. I can imagine you shaking your head thinking, "Mary, that's a stretch."

Well, maybe it won't seem like such a stretch when I explain why.

One of my mother's favorite sayings is "Things have a way of working out." It used to frustrate me when she'd say this, but over time I've learned that she's really right. Most things somehow do work out, despite the ups and downs of everyday living.

Mom was a grandmother when I first remember her reciting, "Things work out." And now, as a grandmother myself, I'm starting to not only repeat her favorite saying, but also to believe its message in my heart. Knowing that God is ultimately working all things for His good purposes frees me from being trapped by yesterday and gives me great hope for tomorrow.

Mom is the matriarch of our family. She represents values ... and faith ... and loved ones who pull together. As she has gotten older, it's as though she is looking at life from an "upper-story window."

Like Mom, we grandparents can offer our legacy a priceless gift that comes with age: perspective. And holding hands with perspective walks our life experiences with God.

Yes, things somehow do work out.

Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

—Isaiah 46:4

He is able,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
www.marymaywrites.com
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com
author of Help for Busy Moms: Purposeful Living to Simplify Life

© Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

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Friday, April 3, 2009

Time for an Adventure

by Mary May Larmoyeux
Friday's Fun


It's easy for us to take our grandkids on adventures with the help of www.JonathanPark.com. I had never heard of this website or its resources until a couple of days ago. A man in my Toastmasters Club gave a persuasive speech and he tried to convince us that we should order some of its creation resources. Well ... he made a believer of me!

I just went to the Jonathan Park website for the first time and printed off a short story and some fun games—Secret Code, Dinosaur Crossword, Digging for Fossils Word Search, etc. They'll be in the mail later today to Pops and my out-of-town grands. Also, I printed off a set of the activities and story to have at home so I can share them with the local grandkids when they come over in a few days.

I really like the "Creation in the News" link and if I follow-through with my good intentions, I plan to visit it often. And it was a lot of fun looking at the Jonathan Park online store. The book How to Build Treehouses, Huts, and Forts caught my eye, as well as a Forever Flashlight, Spy Pen, and World War II Canteen.

Of course, the greatest adventure that we can lead our legacy on is that of knowing Christ. If you are not familiar with FamilyLife's Resurrection Eggs®, it's an easy way to explain the true story of Easter to children and adults of any age. (I've used them many times myself.) Twelve colorful plastic eggs contain objects that tell the story of Jesus’ journey to the cross and Resurrection. You can order these eggs from FamilyLife or from your local bookstore. I've even seen them at Wal-Mart. FamilyLife's website has a page of testimonials that you might want to read.

Oh, I almost forgot. I just finished the next issue of the free e-zine Encouraging Women with Hearts for their Homes. (You can always find a link to the most recent issue of this e-zine on the homepage of my website.) It's got some encouraging articles, a recipe for Gumbo Zhebes, and one of the most touching poems I've ever read. Rita Goodgame's poem "Homecoming," brought me back to the front porch of my childhood home and wonderful memories of playing under the Magnolia trees—making "Magnolia Perfume."

Well ... I better go. I'll soon be on my way to the Post Office to drop a little "thinking-of-you" package in the mail to some very special kids.

Have a great weekend!

He is able,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
www.marymaywrites.com
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com
author of Help for Busy Moms: Purposeful Living to Simplify Life

Photograph © Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

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