GRANDparent Connection

My friend Karen Jordan shared some of her family's wonderful Christmas traditions in her blog BLESSED. She asked, "When your children ask you, 'What does (Christmas) mean to you?’' What do you tell them? Or rather, how do you 'show' them?"

On Christmas Day, Pops and I are reminded of how Almighty God showed His incomprehensible love. He sent His Son to meet our greatest need.

"If our greatest need had been information," Max Lucado says, "God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior."

As we give gifts to loved ones this Christmas, may we remember the greatest Gift of all!

You may want to watch the video below with your grandchildren and talk about what it would be like if Jesus were born in today's age. (I think that you'll enjoy it too!)

Merry Christmas,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
The Grand Connection: 365 Ways to Connect with Your Grandchild's Heart

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

When will Christmas be over?

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

Last week I found myself thinking, When will Christmas be over? As soon as those words danced through my mind I was sorry for them.

What is Christmas any way? It's not presents, and Santa's, and rushing through the mall. It's a baby ... the God-man ... Jesus Christ who came to rescue us from our sin.

More than 2000 years ago Jesus offered a hurting world eternal hope. His offer is still valid today.

Christmas is a great time for us, as grandparents, to talk with our grandchildren about Jesus Christ. He was no ordinary baby. Isaiah 9:6 calls him "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

How could anyone ever want Christmas to be over?

Merry Christmas

Mary

The Grand Connection: 365 Ways to Connect with Your Grandchild's Heart

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

It Happened in Kroger

The Grand Connection: 365 Ways to Connect With Your Grandchild's Heart

Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

—Ephesians 1:15-16

Did you have some memorable Thanksgiving moments? I had many, but want to tell you about something that happened in an unlikely place—the checkout line at Kroger.

The day before Thanksgiving, I was in line at Kroger—right behind an elderly woman. As the woman began to write a check for her groceries, a middle-aged lady in the next aisle got the clerk's attention: "Can I pay for her [older woman] groceries with my debit card?"

The clerk nodded.

As quick as Clark Kent becomes superman, the middle-aged woman ran her debit card though the scanner. Realizing what had happened, the elderly lady pressed her head against her benefactor's chest and wept.

As I brushed the tears from my eyes, I wondered Who are these women? Are they mother and daughter? Do they go to the same church? Or did a kind lady decide to bless a stranger in an unexpected way?

I had seen love in action.

The next time that I take one of our grandkids into the grocery store with me, I think I'll tell them about the two women in Kroger. I wonder how we could show love for others? Maybe we could purchase a plant and give it to the clerk who checks us out, or perhaps we could give the person who carries our groceries to the car an extra big tip, or maybe we could remember them in our prayers at the end of our shopping day.

How have you seen love in action?

Have a great week,

Mary

Friday, November 19, 2010

Thanksgiving ideas

Friday's Grand Connection Fun

The Grand Connection: 365 Ways to Connect With Your Grandchild's Heart

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is next week! Will you be with your grandkids?

For the past couple of years Pops' and my grandkids have made placemats and name cards for our Thanksgiving table. It's been fun to see their artwork, and quite frankly, it gave them a project to do while I worked in the kitchen. But this year we are doing something a little different— going to a restaurant.

It just dawned on me that the kids can make name cards ahead of time and bring them to the restaurant. But ... they can color the placemats while we are at the restaurant.FamilyFun has the cutest placemats on its website: Thanksgiving Placemat Checklist and Activity Placemat

If you are not able to be with your grandkids during the Thanksgiving holidays, you could always mail/e-mail them patterns for holiday placemats and name cards for their family table. Or, you could ask them to make some for your own table.

Do you have other ideas for making Thanksgiving festive at a restaurant or in a home? I'd love to hear them!

Wherever we are for Thanksgiving, our family goes around the table and thanks God for His blessings during the past year. It is always amazing how He has answered our prayers ... in His time and in His way. As Psalm 119:90 reminds us, God's "faithfulness continues through all generations."

Happy Thanksgiving,

Mary

http://www.marymaywrites.com/

Friday, November 12, 2010

Ideas ... and news

Friday’s Grand Connection Fun

by Mary May Larmoyeux

It's no secret that grandparents sometimes have a hard time really connecting with out-of-town grandchildren.

A friend sent me an e-mail recently, asking for some tips about writing her long-distance granddaughter. She wanted to begin some dialogue with the young girl and planned to keep a journal of their correspondence. She asked if I could suggest any questions that they could ask one another.

I sent her some ideas for questions and also gave her the links to three Grand Connection posts: Three Words , Capturing Our Stories, and More Long-Distance Grandparenting Ideas .

I saw my friend recently and she said that the journal has been great for communication!

You may want to begin a journal with your legacy ... this could be done with grandchildren who live next door or out of town. (You would send your grandchild a question in a journal. He/she would answer it, and back the journal goes.) My friend was so excited about her journal that I think I'm going to start one with Pops' and my oldest granddaughter!

Now for some news ... Nancy Downing and I have just published a handy little paperback book (95 pages, price: $8) called The Grand Connection: 365 Ways to Connect with Your Grandchild's Heart. It's filled with hundreds of ideas for grandparents and organized by month. I'm excited about using this book myself. At the beginning of each month I'll read the connecting ideas and will choose just one or two to do with my grandkids.

Nancy and I hope our new book will help lots of grandparents make lasting memories and build strong relationships with their grandchildren. We're also excited because it can help grandparents pass down their spiritual legacy to future generations.

It was fun writing The Grand Connection with Nancy. She's been named a USA Today Teacher of the Year and is the former Center Director of Learning Rx in Little Rock, Ark.

Enjoy the weekend,

Mary
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com/

Article © Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Check out those socks

Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

October 31 has come and gone. I've heard about Fall Festivals, "Trunk or Treats" (trunks of cars filled with candy for the kids), and Pumpkin Patches.

Sharon captured a wonderful memory with her precious granddaughter at her church's Fall Festival. Did you notice the words on her sweatshirt: Official Halloween Costume. And what about those socks?

Now, don't you know that Sharon is one fun grandma!

Have a great week,

Mary
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com/

© 2010 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo Used with Permission. All rights reserved.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Pumpkin recipes to make with the grandkids

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun

Fall is finally here and that makes me think of pumpkins!

Do you have a favorite recipe that uses pumpkin? One of our family's favorites is for pumpkin pie cake (see below). You and your grandchildren might enjoy making one together this weekend!

Pumpkin Pie Cake

4 eggs slightly beaten
1 sixteen-ounce can pumpkin
1 ½ cup sugar
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. salt
1 13 oz. can evaporated milk
1 box yellow cake mix
1 cup chopped nuts
2 sticks baking margarine

Mix the first six ingredients and then pour into ungreased 9 x 13 pan. Sprinkle with cake mix. Melt margarine and pour on top. Add nuts. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 ½ hours. Delicious!!!!!!

Here are some other pumpkin recipes that you might want to try making with the grandkids:

Pumpkin Cheesecake (Southern Living)

Harvest Pumpkin Bread (Southern Living)

Pumpkin Fudge (My Recipes)

Pumpkin Scones (Cook Eat Share)

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies with Chocolate Drizzle (Cook Eat Share)

Have a great weekend,
Mary

http://www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com/.

© 2010 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Little Grandmama

Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

Jay Grelen, who writes the Sweet Tea column for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, once told his readers about Little Grandmama. He had found her Bible and it had only one line of handwriting: Tribulation worketh patience. Romans 5:3.

Jay said he wondered what Little Grandmama was thinking as she penned those words. "Her inscription is a word from beyond," he said, "a pebble she dropped exactly at the spot on my trail where I needed guidance."

As grandparents, doesn't that just give you chills wondering if perhaps something we write to our grandchildren today will be used by God tomorrow at just the right moment. Perhaps in generations to come, a great-great grandchild's finger will trace over our words in a worn Bible or yellowed letter. Perhaps our legacy will silently thank us for giving them hope ... for reminding them that God has a plan ... that things do work out.

"Little Grandmama knew," Jay said. "And one day she took pen in gentle hand and put it to paper, knowing that up the trail aways, we, too, would need to know."

He is able,
Mary
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com/

© 2009 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo © Betty McPherson (photo is Betty's grandmother)

Friday, September 24, 2010

Puzzles Anyone?

Friday's Grand Connection Fun

Do you work puzzles with your grandkids?

When two of the grands were at our house not too long ago, they had a great time putting a package of School Zone puzzle cards together to make three-letter words. For example: the entire picture of a dog was on three 4x6 cards (the ears and head were on one card: D; his stomach on another: O; and the third card had his tail: G).

From a stack of cards, the kids had to find the three cards that formed the picture of the dog and put them together. Then the older grandchild spelled the word by looking at the letters.

It would be so easy to make our own sets of puzzle cards. We could do this by printing pictures on cardstock and cutting each picture into pieces. If we wanted to make easy three-word puzzles for the young crowd, we could print a picture (example, family dog) on cardstock, cut it in thirds, and put the individual letters of a word on the separate pieces.

We could also make larger printed pictures (on cardstock) for the older crowd, and cut them into many pieces.

Here are some more puzzle ideas. The website Discovery Education has a neat puzzle-making program! In a few minutes we can make a maze, word search, hidden message puzzle, and more. Wouldn't it be great to mail special, custom-designed puzzles to the long-distance grandkids!

Of course, puzzles can be great to work as a family. Do you have special childhood memories of putting puzzles together?

Have a great weekend,
Mary
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com/.

© 2009 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo Credit: © Anatoly Tiplyashin / Dreamstime.com

Friday, September 10, 2010

Grandparent's Day

Friday's Grand Connection Fun

Grandparent's Day is this Sunday (September 12, 2010). I hope that it is celebrated where you live and that you'll be able to spend some special time with your grandchildren!

This weekend may be a perfect opportunity for us to go through the old scrapbooks, looking for pictures of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers. We might want to scan the pictures and make a "grandmother collage" that we could give to our grandchildren. And if grandchildren live nearby, it would be such fun to do this together!

Now is also a good time for us to thank God for the gift of grandchildren. The older I get the more I appreciate the meaning of Proverbs 17:6: "Children's children are a crown to the aged" and understand why poet Nora Hetrick says that grandparents "sprinkle stardust."

Now, if you don't mind a tear coming to your eye, click on this video from grandparents.com. I just watched it and it is wonderful: http://www.grandparents.com/gpday2009/index.html

Happy Grandparents Day,
Mary
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com/

© 2010 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo © by Designpicsub / Dreamstime.com

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Where's my picture?

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

A few weeks ago I wrote about having an indoor picnic with the grandkids. It was just too hot for an outdoor picnic! So, we spread a plastic tablecloth on the floor and had a picnic in the den.

I asked the grandkids to draw pictures of the sky, sun, flowers, etc., and we taped them around the room to give us an outdoor feel. They had fun and it was a really easy way to entertain them.

Well, this weekend the grands came over. When our three-year-old grandson walked into the den he looked around the room and said, "Where are the pictures?" I didn't know what he meant at first and then he added, "from our picnic."

Well ... those particular pictures went into File 13. I just said, "Why don't you draw some new pictures," and he and his sister did.

After our grands left I decided to get a three-ring notebook and put their artwork in it. Next time when our three-year-old grand asks about his pictures, I'll have them.

How do you save your grandkids' artwork? Any tips for us?

Have a great week,
Mary

http://www.marymaywrites.com/
https://grandconnection.blogspot.com/

Friday, August 27, 2010

Cousin Connection

Friday's Grand Connection Fun

One of the things that I love about writing The Grand Connection is that it makes me look for new, creative ways to connect with my own grandkids!

I was just reading the "Cousin Fun" page in the new issue of FamilyFun magazine. One of the ideas was to make a deck of cousin-themed old maid cards. The woman who submitted this idea said that she used a card template and typed in fun names for the cousins. I thought that was a great idea.

After searching the Internet for card templates that I could order, I decided to make my own. Using the computer, I just made a text box, inserted a photo, and typed a fun Word Art name for the child pictured. I wasn't able to paste a sample card in this post, but there's a similar one on my homepage .

My plan is to make sets set of "Cousin Cards," print them in color on card stock, and have them laminated at a local teacher supply store. The cousins will get a set and so will Pops and I.

Here's a tip for those who do not know how to make text boxes on the computer or how to use Word Art: Print pictures of the "cousins" on card stock, write a fun description on the back, and have the cards laminated.

What ideas do you have for helping the cousins stay in touch?

Have a great weekend,
Mary
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com/

© 2010 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo © Dawnbal1 / Dreamstime.com

Friday, August 13, 2010

Is it time for an indoor picnic?

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

The grands are coming over on Saturday and it's too hot to go outside. Way too hot! We've been having temperatures where Pops and I live in the 100s!

Well, I think it's time to take out the old plastic tablecloth and have an indoor picnic. I'll fill a picnic basket with the kids' dinner, and Pops and I can help them pretend that they are sitting at a picnic table in the great outdoors.

And it might be fun to have the kids cut some picnic "landscape" out of construction paper: the sun, some clouds, flowers, etc. (Doing that should occupy them for a while.)

Here are some more ideas about indoor picnics:

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)

Indoor picnics can be a lot of fun!

Do you have any picnic tips?

Have a great weekend,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux

Friday, July 2, 2010

Paper Dolls and More

Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

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Nor too long ago, while Pops and I babysat for some of our grandchildren, a granddaughter sang an original, one-of-a-kind song to her special baby doll. We both had to force ourselves not to laugh as her tune changed from a lullaby into "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer."

I’m so grateful for all of our grands. Their individual personalities and creativity continue to amaze me. Our youngest grandson is now “coming of age,” and we are getting a peek into the neat little guy that he is.

Psalm 139 tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. As a reminder of this, today we're going to see how to "create" wonderfully made giant paper dolls or paper twins.

When our family went on a weekend getaway together last year, a daughter-in-love asked the children to lie down on large sheets of white paper. She traced each child's body and then cut out the shapes. The kids had a great time coloring their paper twins. (We used a roll of white paper, but you could use bulletin board paper from a teacher supply store, brown shipping paper, or even newspaper.)

A similar idea is making giant paper dolls . If you want to get really creative, you could detach the paper arms and legs and reattach with brads. You could also use strands of yarn for hair.

In the February 2009 issue of the magazine Family Fun, Stephanie Pham shared how she traced her child’s body on a large piece of cardboard to make a life-size paper doll. Then she helped her daughter make life-size paper doll clothes. Sounds like fun to me! (For a really special touch, clothes could also be cut out of cloth and attached with Velcro.)

Have you made cut-out shapes or giant paper dolls with your children or grandchildren? Whether we make a life-size paper doll or a paper twin with a grandchild, the resulting creation is sure to be one of a kind—just like our legacy.

Have a great weekend!
Mary
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
Grand Connection blog

Photo and article © 2010 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo © Mary May Larmoyeux.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Tell Our Stories

Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

As a friend and I recently ate lunch together, we talked about passing down family stories. She referred to a passage in Psalms 78 that tells about the importance of sharing spiritual stories.

Psalm 78:4 (NIV) says: “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.”

The Bible paraphrase The Message says it this way (verses 1-4): “ … I'll let you in on the sweet old truths, stories we heard from our fathers, counsel we learned at our mother's knee. We're not keeping this to ourselves, we're passing it along to the next generation—God's fame and fortune, the marvelous things he has done.”

It is up to us to pass on family stories—especially ones about God intervening in our lives and homes. We can share these stories with the grands while washing dishes together, taking a relaxing walk, or going on a drive. We can record our stories and burn them on CDs, or write them down in notebooks. … We can even do something really simple—jot them down in our Bibles.

For years I've jotted down things I want to remember in my Bible—births, weddings, deaths. Memories such as,“God protected my child from a terrible wreck when he did a 360 degree turn on a wet freeway and ended up in a ditch,” “God protected my husband when a car burst into flames 3-4 feet from a propane tank by his office,” “God protected our son and his wife when they had a gas leak in their house,” and on, and on, and on.

As I’ve once again read the countless ways God has protected and led our family, I’m reminded that He can be trusted for the future.

I have to agree with the Psalmist, “He has done marvelous things!” Things that I want to remember. Things I want my grandchildren to remember.

He is able,
Mary
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com/

Article and Photo © Mary Mary Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Outdoor summer fun

Friday's Grand Connection Fun

by Mary May Larmoyeux

Looking for some fun things to do with the grandkids this summer? The National Wildlife Federation's website says that today's kids spend more than seven hours a day in front of electronic media, and only four to seven minutes a day outside.That's why it's asking parents and grandparents to join their Be Out There™ movement.

If you sign the Be Out There pledge, you'll receive an email with a link to download a Summer Survival Guide. It's filled with games, ideas for outdoor activities, and more.

And, while we're "out there" with the grandkids, we may want to have an outdoor scavenger hunt. The National Wildlife Federation gives an example of one on its website. They suggest that the kids collect items such as "a blade of grass longer than your finger, an acorn cap, a leaf on the ground, a pine cone, etc." Of course, you and I could design a scavenger hunt based on what's available in our unique backyards and neighborhoods.

We could also ask the older grandkids to plan an outdoor scavenger hunt for their younger brothers and sisters. And we could help our grandkids design one for their long-distance cousins—mailing clues and scavenger hunt objects to them.

What fun things have you done with your grands outside?

Have a great weekend,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com/

© 2010 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Photo Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

The Disappearance of the Marie

Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

Sammy Tippit says in his wonderful book Praying for Your Family: "Each of us has a history —a story that joins the providence of God with the personal decisions we make daily. The history creates a personal legacy to be left with our children and grandchildren. The heritage of our families becomes the history of our nation."

The older I get the more I realize that life truly is short. I want to document our family's history for our grands and tell them about their heritage.

A friend of mine, Teresa Newton-Terres, never knew her father. He disappeared at sea when she was a very young child. Yet, she has been on a life-long quest to capture his story. She recently produced a short video documentary about the 1960 disappearance of the vessel Marie and its seven crewmen. One of them was Teresa's father.

I enjoyed watching Teresa's documentary and learned a lot about not only her father, but also the Cold War. Here's the link to it: Marie Remembered.

"We begin to forge the future," Tippit says, "by learning from the past.

He is able,
Mary
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com/

Article and Photo © Mary Mary Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Kitchen Memories with the Grands

Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

What do you remember about your grandmother? The touch of her hand, the sound of her voice ... the smell of homemade cookies?

I remember how my Nana made miniature cakes for the grandkids when she made regular cakes. My brother, sisters, and I felt so special!

You know, it’s easy to help a child feel special.

Last weekend, two of Jim and my grands spent the weekend. The oldest asked for pancakes for breakfast … and not just any pancakes. She wanted heart-shaped pancakes.

Ummmm …. I thought. How can we do that? I don’t have a heart-shaped pancake mold. And then it came to me. Just cook the pancakes and then cut them out with heart-shaped cookie cutters. Easy! Worked great and she felt special! We also made star-shaped pancakes and served the pancakes on the pink plate, our "special plate."

By the way, our 3-year-old granddaughter and I made two batches of the Oatmeal Trail Mix (with and without nuts). They were so good! Here's the recipe from the National Wildlife Federation: It's a keeper!

Oatmeal Trail Mix
from http://www.nwf.org/

Ingredients:

1-1/4 cups of Oats (or combination of Oats, Bran, and Wheat Germ)
3/4 cup of powdered milk
1 T plain gelatin
1 cup of dates, apricots, or other dried fruit, chopped
1/2 cup of raisins
3/4 cup of chopped nuts and sunflower seeds
6 T honey
1/4 tsp. grated orange or lemon peel
4 T water

Preparation: Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. In a separate bowl mix honey, water and citrus peel. Combine second mixture with the first. Knead with hands until thoroughly mixed. Press into a baking pan to a thickness of 1/2 inch. Bake at 150 degrees for about 6 hours. Don't let it brown! It burns easily. Cut into bars 1" x 2" or larger, wrap in wax paper. Store in a cool place until needed. May be eaten in bar form or crumbled in water or milk as a breakfast cereal.

What special ways have you made memories in the kitchen with your grandkids?

Have a great weekend,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com/

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

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Grandmothers remember

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

You may recall a recent Grand Connection blog called "If You Could Go Back in Time ... What Would You Do Differently?" I think the memories in Pops' and my home are what prompted me to write it. You see, we are moving.

We've lived in this house for 28 years.

Many thanks for the comments that many of you wrote about turning back the hands of time—to once again be a young mother. Karen, you are so right about resting in the presence of God in all stages of life. And Rita, that was a great tip about putting the chore list for the kids on the refrigerator, instead of constant reminders. (That's a good tip for grandkids, too.)

I think that you would enjoy an article that is in FamilyLife's current webzine. It's called:

If I Could Be a Young Mom Again
Grandmothers share what they would do differently as young moms.

Have a great week,
Mary
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com/

© Mary Mary Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo © Krasphoto / Dreamstime.com.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Blessings

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

Some of our grandkids presented me with a precious certificate on Mother's Day. One of our granddaughters said that I had helped her count her blessings. Actually, I had to think about that for a minute. When did I do that?

Then I remembered some times when our grandkids haven't been able to sleep at night. We'd count blessings until they drifted into slumberland. I guess that was etched on their hearts more than I realized.

Once I made Pops a "blessing book," with pictures and notes about why I am blessed to have him for my hubby. (Thanks, Suzanne, for this idea!) We could make a "blessing book" for our grandkids. It could be a special gift on a 13th or 18th birthday.

I want to be more proactive in thanking God for the blessings that He showers on our family. Psalm 51:12 says, "For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield."

How have you helped your grandchildren count their blessings? Do you have any suggestions about how our lives could be marked with grateful hearts?

Have a great weekend,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com/

© Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

A Queen for Four Days

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

Sunday evening I got home from taking care of three of our out-of-town grandkids while their parents went on a little getaway. It was a busy four days that began with a funeral for a pet crab (the three year old announced that the crab wasn't moving shortly after I arrived) and ended with the dog jumping into the van on Sunday morning when everyone was going to church.

It was great fun to watch a granddaughter make a soccer goal. And it was also fun to be at the elementary school's field day. Our oldest grand and her brother gave their all as they played tug of war, rolled tires, and tossed balls into hula hoops.

As pictures were snapped of the kids with their friends, coaches, teachers, and me, I remembered my parents traveling to Arkansas for our sons' Grandparents' Day. Where does the time go?

I also loved hearing my three-year-old granddaughter pretend to take the family dog to the dentist. "Darling, it's going to be okay," she said. And I couldn't help but smile when she told the dog to "Look me in the eyes." She even suggested that the dog "calm himself," one time. Wonder where she has heard those things?

Proverbs 17:6 says that "Children's children are a crown to the aged." Well, I feel like I was Queen for four days.

But I confess, now that I'm back home, I'm really tired 'ole Nana.

What are some of your favorite memories while watching your grands?

Have a great week,
Mary
www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com/

Article and Photo © by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Wonderful Family Traditions

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

“Recipes, collections, activities—almost anything can become family tradition,” say the Littauers in their book Making the Blue Plate Special. "Start with something that appeals to the majority, they say. "Maybe that’s sharing cinnamon rolls together (homemade or store bought, it doesn’t matter) the first Saturday morning of every month.”

I remember several traditions from my childhood. My grandparents would take my family to lunch on Sundays, after church. We ate in a cafeteria and played a little game called “who can eat for the least amount of money.” (Of course, now I understand that "game.")

And my mother had a recipe for Sugar Cookies that she often made as a special treat when we were having what she used to call "dumpy days." Her mother had given the recipe to her. And, yes, I've passed it down to our children.

When Pops' and my children were growing up, we would regularly mark their heights on a door; we’re continuing this tradition with the grands. They love to see how much they’ve grown! We draw a line for their height, include a date and first name, and sometimes even take pictures when we measure their height. When our out-of-town grands visit, one of the first requests is, "Measure us. See how tall we are."

What traditions do you have with your grandkids ... or what was a tradition that your parents or grandparents had with you?

Have a great week,
Mary
www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com/

© by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo © Ragne Kabanova / Dreamstime.com

Friday, May 7, 2010

Everyday Moments

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

One of my favorite books is Let’s Make a Memory by Gloria Gaither and Shirley Dobson. "Special moments don’t just happen," Gloria says, "they have to be planned on purpose!"

"In this hectic world when the pace at which we all live is so frantic, we as families must make a covenant with each other to make time for simple things. … We have no guarantees of tomorrows, but we do have this moment."

I really like that!

Elaine told me about writing a prayer for each grandchild and sending the prayers to the adult children to pray for each particular child. She also said that on one of her granddaughter’s birthdays, she and husband made a list of "10 Reasons we appreciate Kelli." Elaine added, "She was thrilled. We put it on poster board and then laminated it."

What a great, and simple, ideas!

As a grandmother, I’m so aware that there are no guarantees of tomorrow, and I know how quickly the grands will grow up. I hope that you and I will both take time for the simple things with our grands—walking in the rain, writing a prayer, picking flowers, looking into the clouds together—marveling at the great God who created everything.

How do you make the most of everyday moments with your grandchildren?

Have a wonderful weekend,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

"God must have been sleeping"

Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

Not too long ago, one of our grands was unsuccessfully trying to stop sucking her thumb. “Did you ask God to help you?” I said.

“Yes,” she replied, “But He must have been sleeping.”

A smile crept from my lips. "Let's see what God says about sleeping," I said and looked up "sleep" in the index of my Bible. I turned to Psalm 121:3 and read out loud: “He who watches over you will not slumber [sleep].”

“Honey, does God sleep?” I asked.

“No,” she said and paused for about a half of a second. “I guess I wasn’t listening.”

I wasn’t listening. Somehow her words struck me as quite profound. I wondered about the times when I thought God wasn't speaking to me.

Psalm 81:13a (NIV) says, “If my people would but listen to me." The Message, a Bible paraphrase, words this same verse a little differently: "Oh, dear people, will you listen to me now?"

Today, I'm gong to make an effort to be still ... and listen ... and hear what God has to say.

Have a great week,
Mary
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com/

© 2008 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo © Denys Dolnikov | Dreamstime.com

Friday, April 16, 2010

Bowling Fun

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

Not too long ago, I bought a small plastic bowling set at Wal-Mart for just $5. It's perfect for kids five and under.

Our almost two-year-old grandson loves the bowling set. Now when he comes to see Nana and Pops, he walks up to me with outstretched arms, looks up with his big blue eyes, and pleads, "Bowl?"

It's easy to say "yes," because all I have to do is put up a baby gate to keep the ball in a narrow hallway turned bowling alley. Someone taught our little grandson to sit down when he bowls, and that makes it even better. He and I line up the pins and he sits down and rolls the ball. When they fall down he is overjoyed.

Years ago, Pops and I didn't have a plastic bowling set, and the kids used plastic bottles and a plastic ball for a homemade version. It worked great!

If you have older grands, you may want to take them to an actual bowling alley and enjoy a game or two with them. What about our long-distance grands? We could mail them some money for some special time "in the alley." We might even want to go bowling in our hometown at the same time that they'll do this where they live. Wouldn't it would be fun to call one another by cell phone when we are actually bowling!

Do you have any special memories about bowling? Any bowling tips?

Hope to see you "in the alley!"

Have a great weekend,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

If you could go back in time ... what would you do differently?

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

Hope that you had a wonderful Easter!

As Pops and I enjoyed watching two of our grandkids go on an Easter egg hunt, I was once again reminded of how quickly time goes by. You and I have said this many times on The Grand Connection, but it truly does seem like yesterday when we were the ones with little children.

Sometimes I wonder what I would do differently if I could somehow turn back the hands of time and be a young mother again ... knowing what has taken me decades to learn. What would I do differently?

I think I would slow down the pace of life and not be so involved in outside activities. I'd have more family nights where we just hung out together without any agenda. Maybe played a few more games or sat more on the deck as a family, watching shooting stars or fireflies light the night sky. And I'd ask more questions because I'd realize that sin is the natural bent for a child until he/she knows Jesus personally.

What about you? What would you do differently as a young mom ... knowing what you now know?

Have a great week,
Mary

Friday, March 26, 2010

Walking in the rain

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

April is just around the corner, and as the saying goes, "April showers bring May flowers."

A fun thing that we could do with our grands—regardless of their ages—is to buy each of them a new spring umbrella.

For a grandchild who lives nearby, we may even want to have a special outing that not only includes shopping, but also lunch or a visit to a local park. We might even decide to buy matching umbrellas!

Of course, we could mail a long-distance grand a new umbrella with a special note. If we do this, we could ask our grandchildren to e-mail/mail us a picture when they actually are "walking in the rain" (of course, when there's no lightning).

Here’s a cute song that young children will enjoy that I found on the Internet:

April Showers Song

(to the tune of "I'm a Little Teapot")

Pitter patter rain drops (wiggle fingers to imitate rain)
Falling from the sky (wiggle fingers downward)
Here's my umbrella (action of opening an umbrella)
Hold it high! (hands over head)
When the rain is over (bring hands down slowly)
and the sun begins to glow (make sun with arms)
Little flowers start to bud (Kneel down)
then grow, grow, grow!!! (slowly stand up)

Have a great weekend,
Mary

Friday, March 19, 2010

Celebrating Spring with the Grandkids

Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

On the side of our house, what recently appeared to be lifeless bushes are now covered with young leaves and the promise of gorgeous roses. God truly gives us a wonderful gift in the seasons, and spring is here!

For those of us who have grandkids who live nearby, this would be a great weekend to celebrate spring by going on a nature walk together around the neighborhood or in a park. Our grandkids could join us in writing (or drawing, for those too young to write) what we see that's "new"—buds on trees, baby birds, spring flowers ...

You may want to print off some spring coloring pages and give them to your grand after the walk. I think that the Early Bird Gets the Worm coloring page is really cute for a young child. Spring coloring pages would be great to send to long-distance grands. And we can always follow that with a phone call or e-mail.

You may want to ask an older grandchild what is being made new in his/her life ... and share something that's being made new in your life (this can be done in person or by phone/e-mail). For example, if you are experiencing the pinch of tough financial times, you could share how you now have new opportunities to put your trust in God.

What ideas do you have for celebrating spring with the grandkids?

Have a great weekend,
Mary

Friday, March 12, 2010

Homemade bubbles

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

Our little grands just love bubbles, do yours? Or did your grands enjoy playing with them when they were small?

When I found two plastic bottles of bubbles on sale for a dollar, I thought What a deal! That is … until I surfed the Internet and discovered countless recipes for bubbles.

Did you know that bubbles can be made with everyday dishwashing soap, water and either glycerin or Karo syrup? (Yep, Karo syrup.)

Some of the Internet recipes call for liquid Joy, others say Dawn is the best to use, and a few suggest baby shampoo. I mixed and matched some ingredients, and this is the mixture one of our grands and I used:

1/3 cup Ultra Concentrated Liquid Joy
1 tablespoon Karo syrup (I used dark Karo syrup and it worked just fine.)
Water (I put it into an empty 18 oz. jar.)

I read that combining the ingredients the evening before makes bigger bubbles, so I did that it. I also put the lid on the jar filled with the bubble mixture—didn’t want the concoction to attract any thirsty ants.

For bubble wands, I cut two straws in half and taped the halves together, side-by-side. Then my grand and I went outside where she dipped her wand into the homemade bubble mixture and watched her creations float into the sky.

As they drifted towards the clouds, we talked about how God made everything (Acts 17:24)—the clouds, birds, sun … and, yes, bubbles.

If you have older grands with younger siblings, "big brother or sister" could make the bubbles for their younger siblings. Of course, depending on their ages, they may need a little help from you.

Here's some more information about making homemade bubbles: Homemade Bubble Recipes

And "Living the Better Life" has some great ideas for homemade wands, such as using:

Pipe cleaners shaped into circles or other shapes
A wire coat hanger, cut and/or shaped into circles or other shapes
Plastic or wooden hoops used for cross-stitch, quilting or embroidery
Summer berry baskets

Do you have any hints about making homemade bubbles or bubble wands?

Have a great weekend,
Mary