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 29, 2014

The Storms of Life


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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

Note: This past weekend devastating tornadoes ripped through Arkansas. Some friends lost their homes. One lost his life. Please remember the storm victims in your prayers.

A few years ago I wrote a post about another tornado that hit Arkansas. Its words still ring true today.


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. 

And how have many of the storm victims reacted?

Journalists John Christofferson and Christopher Hawley wrote in an 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."

Only God knows the storms that our grandchildren will face in their lives. Today, may we model a life of faith for them, even in times that we don't understand.

Proverbs 3:5 (The Message) reminds of that faith is not understanding. Instead it is trusting in an all-knowing, all-powerful God:  "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own."

Today, I'm trusting God. He will work all for His good purposes!  No matter how things appear, God is in control (Luke 8:24-25).

He is able,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux


© 2011, 2014 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo ©  Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Celebrate Spring


 
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Friday's Fun



by Mary May Larmoyeux

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

Spring is a great time to go on a nature walk with our grandkids. Have you ever done that? If so, did you look for any particular things or jot down sounds that you heard or colors that you saw?

If you have grandkids who live nearby, you might want to celebrate spring by going on a nature walk with them around the neighborhood or in a park. You and your grandchild could write a list of what you both see that's "new"—buds on trees, baby birds, spring flowers ...

Also, you may want to print off some spring coloring pages and give them to your grand such as "Color the Critters" from the National Audubon Society. 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

Have a great weekend celebrating spring!

He is able,
Mary
www.grandconnection.blogspot.com

 
Photo and post  © 2009, 2014 Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

A Living Example


It's so great to get to know others through The Grand Connection! A friend of mine, Sharon Ball, is such an encouragement to me! You've probably read some of her comments.

After Sharon lost her grandmother, she wrote a beautiful post in her own blog, "A Break from the Norm." She graciously gave me permission to share it with you:

This has been a difficult week for my family as we have said goodbye to my grandmother who we all will miss. The homegoing celebration was yesterday, July 14, 2010, and my grandmother was 83 years old. During the memorial service, as friends and family talked about how she touched their lives, I was amazed at all of the new things I learned about her. For example, I never knew until yesterday that my grandmother graduated from Florida A&M University with a degree in Home Economics in 1951. I had always known that she was very active in her church and community, but I didn’t know the extent of her far-reaching involvement until yesterday.

As a powerful woman of God, my grandmother lived her life in a way that truly reflected God’s love and provided a living example of how to be in the world, but not of the world. She was the kind of person who never, and I mean never, gossiped about other folks in any way, shape, or form, and she was not a hypocrite. She had faith, but she also had works that went along with her faith, and she helped all of God’s children to the best of her ability. She was an amazing mother and grandmother, full of wisdom, guidance, love and patience that touched and changed lives. I know she is with Jesus, and I can’t wait to see her again when our Lord returns.

I’ll leave you with these few words…love your family and show your love while there is still life left in your body. No day is promised, so love fully, completely, and with reckless abandon, for in doing this we please our Heavenly Father.  
                                                                            — Sharon

Sharon, thanks for reminding us to love our families while we can. You are so right about no one being promised tomorrow. I look forward to meeting your wonderful grandmother one day in Heaven!


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

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

Friday, April 18, 2014

Easter place cards, coloring pages, and trivia



Friday's Grand Connection Fun 


For the past couple of years, our grandchildren have had a lot of fun making place cards for holiday family meals. This year I'm going to ask our young grandchildren to write the names of each guest on plastic eggs, and then decorate them with stickers and washable markers.

Of course, older grandchilden might want to actually dye eggs and paint names and designs on them.

Do you or your grandchildren make Easter place holders/cards? Do you have any tips for us?

I searched for Easter ideas on the Internet and found an abundance of tips. Hope that you find one that you can use:

Edible Nest Place Card Holders

Easter Place Cards

Peeps “Easter Place Card”

Easter Bunny Place Card Holder

Easter Basket Design Place Card

Cross coloring page

Three Easter Eggs Coloring Page

Easter Bunny Coloring Page and Connect the Dots


Have a wonderful Easter!

He is risen,
Mary

©  2012, 2014 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo ©  Andres Rodriguez / Dreamstime.com

Friday, April 11, 2014

Recipe for Resurrection Rolls


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Friday's  Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

A few days ago two of my grandkids and I baked some Resurrection Rolls. They could not be easier to make and they were delicious!

As the kids made the rolls we were able to talk about what the Resurrection of Jesus Christ means and why the tomb was empty. He has risen! 

Resurrection Rolls

(The baked rolls will be hollow, to represent Jesus' empty tomb.)

1 can refrigerated crescent dinner rolls (8 rolls)  
8 large marshmallows
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons white sugar
1/4 cup melted butter 
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Lightly grease a baking sheet. 
  • Mix cinnamon and sugar together.
  • Separate crescent rolls into individual triangles. 
  • Insert a fork into a marshmallow and dip the marshmallow into melted butter; then roll in sugar mixture.
  • Place one coated marshmallow into the center of a dough triangle. Carefully wrap the dough around the marshmallow. Be sure and pinch the seams together to seal in marshmallow as it melts. (A few of the seams of my grandkids' rolls were not pinched tightly and the marshmallow melted onto the cookie sheet instead of being absorbed into the roll. So ... as one who knows ... double-check that the seams are pinched tightly.)
  • Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes. 


Happy Easter!
Mary

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

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Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Rocking Chair Memories



Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

Do you have a favorite rocking chair? I do. It's the one that I rocked our children in, and then the grandchildren. It's made of heavy wood, I think oak, and I actually paid one dollar for it more than thirty years ago at an auction. It was probably the best buy I ever made!

Sandra Marshall, wrote about her rocking chair, and I thought you'd enjoy what she said:

I'm moving to my new smaller home today. Some of this stuff just has to be left behind because it won't fit. I'll take this rocking chair though. It has scars on the back from the kitten's claws and teeth marks on the arm from my grandson. I need it.

The rocking chair has given me a place to rest so many times—early morning devotions, late night teething sessions, Sunday afternoon visits with my grandmother, and watching sunsets all alone after my husband died.

Over and over again, God has wrapped His arms around me and rocked me gently to a realization that wherever I am in the world, He is with me and He is enough.


I really like what she wrote! I had never thought about God wrapping His arms around me and rocking  me in the trials of life.

What about you? Do you have a special rocking chair?

Have a great week,
Mary
www.marymaywrites.com


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

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Simple Things in Life



Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

Not too long ago Pops and I went to an antique car show and it was a lot of fun. There were games for the kids like "throw a fan belt," "roll a tire," etc.

Surprisingly, my favorite thing wasn't the beautiful street rods. It was seeing two of our grandkids run up to Pops and me with outstretched arms, calling our names.

Although the chili dog with onions was mighty good, it wasn't as satisfying as standing back and watching a toddler attempt to roll a very small tire as his big sis tossed fan belts like they were Frisbees.

It really doesn't take much to make a kid happy, does it?

My childhood memories included climbing a "slippery" tree, holding squirming puppies, and lying in the warm grass while imagining shapes of animals in the clouds above. And it seems like yesterday when Pops and my children were having obstacle races in the back yard and building make-believe forts out of sheets and blankets.

Do you ever feel like life today is far too complicated? Maybe it's time to go back and savor our real treasures−God, family ... and simple things.

What were some of the simple things that you enjoyed as a child. What about your kids and grandkids?

He is able,

He is able,
Mary
Article and picture © by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Picture © by Jim Larmoyeux.All rights reserved.