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 30, 2013

Homemade tamale recipe wanted


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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux


Not too long ago a friend posted this message:  "Wanted Good Beef Homemade Hot Tamale Recipe.    Wish I had gotten my uncle's recipe before he died.  It was a family tradition."

Her plea reminds me of how fast the years fly by ... of the need to somehow carve out time to write those family stories, memories, and recipes. One of my favorite recipes is for sugar cookies. It was my grandmother's recipe, then my mom's, and now mine. The cookies taste great ... and bring back such wonderful memories!

When I was a freshman in college, Mom would send me those wonderful sugar cookies. I always felt like she packed them in love. Then, when our oldest son was born two months early, guess what Mom brought for Dad's and her first visit? Yes, the family sugar cookies.  (Read "Making Sugar Cookies")

Do you have a favorite family recipe that you want to pass on to the next generation? 

Do you have a favorite family recipe that you need to write down today ... before it it forgotten?  I do.

Do you have a good beef homemade hot tamale recipe? I'd love to share it with my friend!

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



© 2013 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Photo © Sarahgen/Dreamstime.com






Friday, April 26, 2013

Let's have an indoor picnic


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Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

When the grands come over for the weekend, Pops and I look very forward to spending time with them! But sometimes there's a problem: rain allllllll weekend.

On a rainy weekend when we had planned to have an outdoor picnic, I googled "indoor picnic" to see if there were any ideas out there that could give a little life to a blanket on the floor, a picnic basket and paper plates. Well, 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)

Indoor picnics can be a lot of fun!

Do you have any picnic tips?

Have a great weekend,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
  
© by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

The loss of a family pet


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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux


Our old Basset Hound died a couple of days ago and we are really going to miss her! She's been a faithful friend to everyone in the family. Shortly after Sammie died, a daughter-in-law texted me that the grandkids were sobbing after she told them the sad news.

Today, I want to thank God for giving us Sammie for so many years!  In honor of her, here are some memorable quotes about what many call man's best friend:

  • “Happiness is a warm puppy.”  (Charles M. Schulz)
  • “A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” (Josh Billings)
  • “A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours. Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things-a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty.”  (John Grogan, Marley and Me)
How can Pops and I help our grandkids in the loss of our loyal family pet?

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


Article and Picture © 2013 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

God is in control


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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

When I heard the news about the Boston Marathon attack, I had to remind myself that God is in control. He is totally aware of the evil in our world today.

Pops' and my former pastor said that God does not cause evil ... that the Lord is so much bigger than it ... and 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. That is, 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
www.marymaywrites.com
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com


Article 2013 © Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Article and Picture © 2013 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Friday, April 5, 2013

How to express love through a bear


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Friday's Grand Connection Fun  

 by Mary May Larmoyeux

A few years ago a dear friend named Suzanne shared a fun idea with me. It has to do with a bear. A very small bear that's about three inches tall.

To my friend's family, a similar little bear represented their love for one another. They would take turns hiding the bear and when a family member found it, they would be reminded that they were loved.


We are now doing this in our home and the grandkids love it! Recently when I was cleaning the house, I had a surprise when I found the little guy tucked behind a pillow on our couch. It had been a particularly hard day when I found Hugs, and I couldn't help but smile.

What did I do? Packed him up and put him in the mail to some out-of-town grandchildren. I hope they will smile, too, when they rediscover our favorite bear.

Do you have a special way to remind your grandchildren of your love for them?

Have a great weekend,
He is able,
Mary
www.marymaywrites.com


Post and picture © 2012 Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Thumbs-up or Thumbs-down


Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

On Sunday night Pops and I watched the conclusion to the Bible miniseries that was aired on the History Channel. It was wonderful! As it ended, I had a sense of wanting my life to really count ... to be totally open to Jesus Christ drawing people to Himself and using me, regardless of the cost.

As mothers and grandmothers, there is no better place to model the love of Christ and impact future generations than in our homes. Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges, and Tricia Goyer know that. I'm reading a wonderful book that they wrote called Lead Your Family Like Jesus. Of course, my days of parenting children are over, but my years of grandparenting have hopefully just begun.

In the book, Tricia shared a fun activity that she and her husband use to help their children understand the difference between behaviors that do and don't reflect their family's values and priorities. It's called the Thumbs-Up/Thumbs-Down Game and done around the dinner table. Tricia says that the game is simple, and I sure agree.

Here's how it works:  Each person gets a turn to name a behavior and everyone else gives a thumbs-up (approval) or thumbs-down (disapproval). For example:

  • Taking things without asking
  • Listening to and obeying your parents the first time
  • Offering to help without asking
  • Whining
  • Pushing your brother
.... you get the idea.

I want to do this game with our grandkids when they come visit. And I also think that it would be great to get in the habit of giving the grandkids periodic thumbs-up or thumbs-down as they play with one another or do chores around Pops' and my house.

What are you doing to help your grandkids understand the values and priorities in your home?

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

© 2013 Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.


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