It Happened in Kroger

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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

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

 

© 2010 by Mary May Larmoyeux.
Photo © Jborzicchi / Dreamstime.com

Thanksgiving ideas

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun

by Mary May Larmoyeux

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

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

http://www.marymaywrites.com/

©  2010 Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo © 2009 Mary Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Ideas ... and news

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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.

Check out those socks

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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.