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by Mary May Larmoyeux

“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 approaches, I’m once again reminded that we are just passing through this life. I hope that you will be with family and friends on Easter and that you’ll enjoy some family traditions.

Perhaps you’ll have an egg hunt for the kids or savor a holiday feast with loved ones.

A dear friend, Rita Goodgame, has made Easter Bunny Cakes ... read more.

A Christmas Poem

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by Rita Goodgame

There
behind
St. Peter’s Abbey
rests a small cemetery
where families gather in
flickered darkness and stand

... read more.

Connecting with long-distance grandkids

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

Some of our grandkids are getting ready to move out of state. Of course, we will miss them greatly!

Yes, long-distance grandparenting is easier in today's electronic world, but it's still hard when our legacy lives hundreds or thousands of miles away. There's just nothing like regular one-on-one visiting with those we love, is there?

Several years ago, a dear friend Rita shared some ways that she has enriched those so important out-of-town relationship with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She said:  "With seventeen grandchildren, we were busy all year remembering birthdays and holidays. Often, we’d send photos of them taken on our last visit or a drawing with a made up story."

I think Rita's idea is great! When she first shared that idea with me, I had just spent some time visiting some of our out-of-town grandkids. Because of Rita's idea, I mailed them a letter with some pictures of our time together and a note reminiscing my visit with them.

Here's another idea:  We could include a magnetic frame for the refrigerator when we mail the grands pictures of our last visit together. Or, we could draw a picture of something we did with our grandchildren when we visited. For the artistically challenged, like me, we could have fun with the drawing by asking our grandkids (over the phone) to answer questions about it until he/she correctly guesses what the picture represents.

What are some things that you do to help your out-of-town grandkids remember your special visits together? And if you have out-of-state grandkids, what are one or two ways that you connect with them?

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


Photo and article © 2010, 2014 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Special Children ... Angels in Disguise

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

Have you ever heard special children described as angels in disguise? Deborah, the mother of a son with Down Syndrome, says that she is blessed to be his mother. I think she's right.

And Rita describes her special child in her poem Beyond, "Jacob 's understanding is deeper than mine when he shares a tangent of his world."

I'll never forget the day when I went grocery shopping with a bad attitude and met someone with deep understanding. A young man sacked my groceries who had some obvious developmental delays. As he neatly packed cans, sacks of flour and sugar, and packages of meat into brown paper bags, he had a smile on his face. And then he joyfully pushed my loaded cart to my car.

After he had put the groceries into the trunk, I handed him a dollar bill. I will never forget what he did next. He stood like a toy soldier, saluted me and said, "Here to serve."

Well ... I didn't just go grocery shopping that day ... I also had an attitude adjustment. I can't tell you how many times I've thought about that young man and the lesson that he taught me.

A few years ago I had the privilege of helping Robert Ward write an article "Running from How God Made Me." I also learned much from his words ... and from his heart. Here is Robert's version of Psalm 139:

                                       Our Heavenly Father's Heart
                               to Those Who Are Made Imperfect 
                                                       by Robert Ward

O Lord thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou know my down sitting and my uprising, Thou understands my thoughts afar off.

Father God sees how each child of His is made either imperfect or perfect and the days that each one will live here on earth are in His book of remembrance.

From birth to death, He writes down each struggle and challenge in his or her life.

The struggles of one with a speech impairment … when others have a hard time grasping his words … to someone who is blind and struggles with getting a seeing eye dog or a cane … to whatever the
disabilities are—nothing escapes His notice.

When others take for granted what they have, and don't recognize those who are not as they are, Our Heavenly Father sees. Yes, He sees what man doesn't see—which are the days that are fashioned for the each person. The days that are fashioned for me to live.


Do you have a special grandchild, an angel in disguise? What has he/she taught you?

He is able,
Mary
www.marymaywrites.com

Article © 2011 Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Photo © Erengoksel / Dreamstime.com

A birthday surprise

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

Heart-to-heart celebrations and making memories go hand in hand. I was reminded of this after I posted last Friday's Grand Connection, "A teaparty keepsake."

After reading it, my dear friend Rita sent me an e-mail that I just have to share with you. "On my 80th birthday," she began, my four daughters decided to come for a birthday surprise." Rita's husband told her to wear something nice, but she had no idea what her daughters were cooking up for mom.

After driving to several places in Rita's hometown, the "girls" took her to a local hotel known for its high teas. "When we entered," she said, "I saw four young ladies seated at the tea table. I began to recognize faces beneath their lovely hats. They even had a hat for me."

Rita said that it was a wonderful birthday gift, one that reminded her of her mother's afternoon teas many years ago. "Each day, upon our return home from school around four o'clock in the afternoon, my mother carried a hot pastry from the oven and served her six children and a few cousins hot tea with dessert."

She said that her mother was following the example of her own mother and grandmother, a tradition that she had repeated with her own children.

On Rita's special birthday her daughters recalled those long-ago afternoon teas with their mom, and they gave her a wonderful memory. One Rita says she will never forget. One that her daughters and granddaughters will always remember.

    "Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past."
                                                           (Deuteronomy 32:7)


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

© 2012 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo © Liz Van Steenburgh / Dreamstime.com

Poet Grandma

Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

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Last Tuesday I went down memory lane and recalled some of the handpicked wildflower bouquets that I've received over the years. Could there be a more meaningful gift than fresh flowers picked with love by little hands?

If you've read the e-zine Encouraging Women with Hearts for Their Homes, the name Rita Goodgame probably sounds familiar. She's not only a wonderful poet, but also a very dear friend. Over the years, she's received many bouquets from her children and grandchildren, but perhaps none as rare as the one she wrote about in her beautiful poem below. Enjoy!

Fleeting Moment
by Rita Goodgame

In a garden by the porch a

friend sips afternoon

tea with me.

We hear sounds of child play and

watch my two young daughters

flaunt bouquets of wild flowers.

Spring perfume mingles with earth-laden roots

that dangle below the girls' knees.

The dirt tangles do not hamper

their rhythm

of

high-held-bouquet-chase. We

muse...a new game?

In silence, they approach ...

hands behind backs. Small

fingers merge two

bouquets into one.

For a brief moment of stasis,

in awesome majesty,

Spring's first butterfly

crowns my prize of golden splendor.

My friend speaks.

"Queens have not received a gift so rare."

The vision of my children presenting

wild flowers

topped with a butterfly

is etched

forever in my heart.

Have a great week!
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
co-author of The Grand Connection: 365 Ways to Connect With Your Grandchild's Heart

Article  and photo ©  2012 Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Precious Moments

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

Rita Goodgame shared a wonderful poem, Ready for Framing, in the new issue of Encouraging Women with Hearts for Their Homes. In it she ponders the special moments that grandparents share with their grandchildren. "The old and young," Rita says. "Another precious moment clipped together ready for framing."

Rita's words captured how I felt a couple of weeks ago when two of Pops' and my grandchildren enjoyed God's creation together in their backyard: Cicada shells, tomatoes in the garden, butterflies, birds, and even baby lizards—the first I had ever seen.

Special moments don't come with price tags. Instead, they come with heartstrings, and my grandkids definitely have their hearts strung to mine.

What special moments have you enjoyed with your grandchildren? How do you "clip them" for framing?

Have a great week,
Mary
co-author of The Grand Connection: 365 Ways to  Connect With Your Grandchild's Heart
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com/


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

Gifts of Joy

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

In honor of my late father, I recently sponsored a poetry contest. Entries were to include a reference to a grandparent or grandchild.

Rita Goodgame's poem below won first place. Enjoy!

GIFTS OF JOY
by Rita Goodgame

 Our Amy who is six years young
has joined a softball team.
We saw her hit her first home run
and watched her bright eyes gleam.

 Here are some cookies Granny made
to share with rookie friends
and while the game has been delayed
we’re rooting for some wins.

 God bless these gifts of special joy
that make old hearts feel young,
next week our grandson soccer boy
will share his day of fun.

 And so dear friends we hope that you
enjoy each blessed day
your grandchild learns from you, to do
fine chores .... sweet prayers ....hard play.

Have a great week,

Mary

Mary May Larmoyeux

co-author of The Grand Connection: 365 Ways to Connect with Your Grandchild's Heart

Gifts of Joy © 2011 by Rita Goodgame. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Photo © by Designpicsub / Dreamstime.com

© 2011 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

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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