A grandmother's perspective on life

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

Have you ever wondered "What's going on with our world?"  I sure have. I'm going to date myself, but I remember a time when it wasn't polite to say "pregnant" in public. Now, that seems like centuries ago, doesn't it?

Has our world forgotten who made it? How many today really believe the words of Isaiah 40:28, "Do you not know?  Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth." 

A couple of Christmases ago, Pops and I bought a puzzle cube for our grandkids to play with. Looking at it today reminds me of what happens when we try to get around a designer's design. The cube had a Christmas picture of Charlie Brown and Snoopy.  When someone put the picture together, everything fit together nicely.

Well, one of our grandkids had a stroke of genius. She discovered that the pictures were not painted on the individual squares; they were made with stickers. One day when the picture was scrambled, she decided to pull off the stickers and form the correct picture herself—a much easier thing to do. And, I might add, when she finished the first time it looked just like the accurately completed puzzle.

But there was a problem. If the cube was turned, the picture was a mess. So when that happened, she and other grandkids tried to put it together again. Some of the kids put stickers on top of stickers. Quite frankly, now the Christmas photo cube is useless.

As a grandmother whose life is centered on Jesus Christ, I'm reminded of Who is holding this crazy world together, even now.  Colossians 1:16-18 says: " For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy."

When the older grandkids come over, I want to show them what once used to be a fun puzzle cube and compare it to the choices they will have in life. They can either follow the Designer's pattern, or choose some shortcuts that might have temporary satisfaction (with possible life-changing results).

The choice is theirs. Pops and I pray that they will choose wisely.

Have a great week,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux



Post and photo © 2013 Mary Mary Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Let's Have a Scavenger Hunt

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

I love looking at the magazine Family Fun! Grandparents Patrica and Paul Slaga of North Carolina shared a great idea in the August 2009 issue. They have "Tricky Treasure Hunts" with their grands.

In either their house or yard, the Slagas hide several wrapped "inexpensive treasures" such as small toys, art supplies, gummy bears, stickers, etc. Their grandkids work together to solve brainteasers to locate each prize (the prizes could also be together at the end of several clues).

The Slagas give creative clues such as verses with missing rhymes, symbols or pictures taking the place of words, or numeric codes. Here are some examples of possible creative clues:

Verse: "Jack and Jill went up the _________." Answer: hill. So the next clue or prize will be on whatever your grandchild will know is the "hill."

Picture: Have a picture of a refrigerator and either tape the next clue to your refrigerator door or put a small prize inside your refrigerator.

Numeric code clue: Assign each letter of the alphabet a number such as a = 1; b = 2; c = 3 ... z = 26. If your first clue is: The next clue will be by the 2 12 21 5 chair. Answer: blue. Then, the next clue will be by the blue chair.

Another idea is to send a grandchild on a magazine or newspaper scavenger hunt. Jot down some age-appropriate questions about various articles, words in headlines, photos, etc., and give them to the grands. After they find the answers to the questions, reward them with some type of wrapped prize or treat.

It would be pretty easy for us to prepare these types of scavenger hunts for out-of-town grands. We could send the clues to them in the mail with small wrapped prizes or extra money for an ice cream cone, etc.

Do you have any scavenger hunt ideas ... or special memories of scavenger hunts? Please share them as a comment. Also, if you have a scavenger hunt with the grands, I'd love to hear what happens.

Have a great weekend,
Mary
www.marymaywrites.com
co-author of The Grand Connection: 365 Ways to Connect with Your Grandchild's Heart

© 2009 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo © Ioana Grecu | Dreamstime.com