Grand Connection

The price of freedom

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

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I hope that you and your grandchildren will have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

I remember a speaker at a Memorial Day program commenting that it's good to pull away from the hectic pace of life and ponder the sacrifice that so many have made so that we can live in freedom today. Too often I take the cost of freedom for granted.

"In the swift rush of great events," said Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953 at his first inaugural address, "we find ourselves groping to know the full sense and meaning of these times in which we live. In our quest of understanding, we beseech God's guidance.

"... Americans, indeed all free men, remember that in the final choice a soldier's pack is not so heavy a burden as a prisoner's chains."

Those were powerful words in 1953, and they are still powerful words today.

I think that it would be good for us to talk with our grandchildren about the true cost of freedom. Many brave men and women gave their lives for the liberties that we enjoy today; they gave the ultimate price.

God bless America.

Have a great week,
Mary

A time for weeping

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

Today a nation mourns for those who have lost loved ones in the Oklahoma tornadoes.

May we remember that no one understands deep sorrow more than Jesus Christ. John 11:35 says, "Jesus wept."

Death entered the world because of sin, and one day there will be no more death:

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

He is able,
Mary
www.marymaywrites.com

The Grand Connection

Memorial Day games, activities, and more

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

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Friday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

Our nation will soon celebrate Memorial Day. This U.S. Federal holiday falls on the last Monday of May. This year, on May 28, we'll remember the brave men and women who gave their very lives for our freedom.

How much do our grandkids really know about Memorial Day? Have any of your relatives or friends died while defending our country? Does your grandchild know about these people?

There are lots of Memorial Day activities that we can do with our grandchildren. We may want to go to the library or surf the Internet with a grand ... and discover the history of this national holiday. We could also e-mail a grandchild links to some of the Memorial Day videos, websites, and activities (see below). We might even want to call a long distance grandchild and watch the Internet video about Memorial Day at the same time.

History of Memorial Day (video)

Memorial Day Photo Gallery

U.S. Memorial Day (website)

Memorial Day Kids Crossword Puzzle

Memorial Day Games (for the entire family)

Memorial Day Deluxe Word Search

Memorial Day Coloring Pages

Have a great weekend!

He is able,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com

© 2011 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo © Mariusz Jurgielewicz/ Dreamstime.com.

A tea party keepsake

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Tue, 14 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

There is something special about little girls and tea parties. Our granddaughters love them! I've had some informal tea parties with the girls, but never a really planned-out event.

Family Fun magazine had a wonderful article once called "Our Grandmothers' Tea." The author, Shannon Mills, tells about hosting an annual tea party for her children's grandmothers. She said that she surprised her daughters with a keepsake album about the women in their family.

She asked each grandmother to write a short profile about herself, her mother, and her own grandmothers. Shannon said that the keepsake albums were the highlight of the tea party.

Writing short personal profiles is such an easy idea. And it's one that doesn't have to wait for a tea party (although that would be a fun time to present it). We could write a profile about ourselves, our moms and grandmothers right now, and send it to the grandchildren with pictures. And we could ask Granddad to do the same for the men in the family.

I would love to read a few paragraphs about my great-grandmothers! I've seen their pictures but don't really "know their hearts."

Hope you have a wonderful weekend,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux

The Grand Connection

Mary's Examiner.com column

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

Mother's Day Thoughs

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Sat, 11 May 2013 00:35:00 +0000

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

Hope that you have a special Mother's Day. The older I get the more I realize that when it comes to being remembered on Mother's Day, it really is the thought that counts. My dear mother always told me that and now I understand. A phone call ... handwritten note ... or homegrown bouquet from a child or grandchild mean so much.

Looking back on all of my Mother's Days, I can't remember a favorite gift from my kids or grandkids. But I do remember generations of loved ones being together. The sights of aging hands grasping the soft hands of infants are especially precious.

Will you be with several generations on Mother's Day? If so, you may want to take a picture of all of the moms' hands together. Someone once said, "Grandmas hold our tiny hands for just a little while, but our hearts forever." What a wonderful thing to remember on Mother's Day ... or any day.

Children’s children are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children. (Proverbs 7:6)

Have a great weekend,

Mary

www.marymaywrites.com
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com

Happy Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Tue, 07 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

"As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you." (Isaiah 66:14)

As Mother's Day approaches, I am reminded of the importance of a mom. She teaches the next generation about faith, and values, and love. No job could be more important.

You may want to ask you grandchildren to draw a picture of what mom and home mean to them. It might be fun for you to help them frame the picture, for a special gift to their mom on Mother's Day.

And perhaps you'd like to share the words below with a mom you love. They were written by Mary Williams about her home, and were published in a 1983 edition of Rural Arkansas magazine:

"It has sheltered life. It has seen the joy and laughter of children and the quickness of their running feet. It has seen the tears of those who are no longer young and heard their slowing footsteps. It sighs and sometimes groans with its memories and its years. But it puts its arms around those who come within its walls and comforts them and laughs with them ... It is a reflection of a small bit of heaven. It is home!"

A home like this surely is made with the hands of a mom ... hands that pour out God's love!

Happy Mothers' Day!
Mary
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com

© 2013 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

How to Make a Newspaper Hat

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Fri, 03 May 2013 11:00:00 +0000

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Friday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

Not too long ago I read a book to one of our grandkids about the monkey Curious George. George's antics made me think of the newspaper hats we made as children. Did you make them, too?

Not recalling exactly how to make these hats, I went to the Internet. E-How.com has some simple instructions that I've reworded below.

1) Take a large sheet of newspaper (two pages on each side, such as the front and back page of a Sunday paper).

2) Fold the newspaper on the current fold (as it comes from the newspaper).

3) Fold it in half again, this time horizontally, and bring the top of the paper to the bottom.

4) Now, fold the corners (on the folded side) until they meet in the middle. This will make a point.

5) Fold one piece of the bottom of the paper (towards the point).

6) Again, fold the bottom—until it overlaps a little of the point.

7) Flip the hat over.

8) Fold the sides in 1 1/2 - 2 inches ... it should look like a house. (Vary according to the size needed. Fold in only an inch or so for an adult head.)

9) Fold the bottom up twice.

10) Pull opening apart to make the hat shape.

You may want to check out How to Make a Newspaper Hat or How to Make a Pirate Hat. These instructions have pictures with them.

Making newspaper hats could be a fun activity to do with the grands on any day. It could also be a great activity for a family birthday party. Decorating the hats with stickers, markers, etc., will allow everyone to create unique hats ... and make special memories.

For long-distance grands: We could make the hats and mail them with some stickers, markers, etc. for decorations. Or, we could e-mail (or mail) the grandkids the directions and they can make the hats in their homes.

Have a great weekend!

He is able,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
http://www.marymaywrites.com/
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com

© 2009 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.
Photo © Stanko Mravljak | Dreamstime.com.

Homemade tamale recipe wanted

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

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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

Let's have an indoor picnic

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

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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

The loss of a family pet

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

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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

Homemade stencils from cardboard

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Friday's Grand Connection Fun

by Mary May Larmoyeux

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A couple of the grandkids weren't feeling too well last week when I was grand sitting for them. Needing something quiet that would occupy them, I thought that they could make some dinosaur pictures. Since I can't even draw a good stick figure, I asked Pops if he'd make some dinosaurs out of cardboard so the kids could use them as patterns. They were a big hit!

The kids traced the dinosaurs onto large pieces of construction paper. Then they drew trees and pasted cut out leaves on them. They were proud of their pictures, and I was too.

I'm reminded of how easy it can be to entertain the grands. Making cardboard cutouts that they can trace is easy to do. Now, grandparents like me might want to make simple cutouts of hearts and trees, others (like Pops) could make more complicated figures like dinosaurs.

Have you ever made cutouts for your grandkids or kids that they used as stencils. What tips do you have for us?

Have a great weekend,
Mary May Larmoyeux

Article and Photo © 2011 by Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

God is in control

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

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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.

Let's Make Homemade Play Dough

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun
by Mary May Larmoyeux

One of the things our grandkids love to do is make homemade play dough. (Okay, I confess, I love playing with it, too.)

It's really easy to make! Here’s the recipe that we use:

1 cup flour
½ cup salt
1 cup water
1 tablespoon cooking oil
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
Food coloring

Mix all dry ingredients. Add oil, water, and food coloring. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly. Cook until dough becomes one large ball. Empty onto waxed paper. Knead (press with your hands, in a rolling motion) until smooth and cool. Immediately store in an airtight container.

Clear plastic jars make perfect homemade play dough containers. The dough stays soft and pliable in them, and you can tell the color at a quick glance.

Hope that you and your grandkids have many fun hours playing with this stuff! If they live out-of-town, you might want to send them the recipe (or send their moms the recipe) and ask for a picture of them having “homemade play dough” fun.

He is able,
Mary
www.marymaywrites.com
http://grandconnection.blogspot.com

Rocking Chair Memories

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

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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!

A new friend, 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

Mary May Larmoyeux

The Grand Connection

How to express love through a bear

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:25:00 +0000

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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.

Thumbs-up or Thumbs-down

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:00:00 +0000

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.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Recipe for Resurrection Rolls

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:44:00 +0000

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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

The Grand Connection

www.marymaywrites.com

Read more:

Easter Bunny Cake

Why Does the Resurrection Matter

Easter Ideas for Children of All Ages

The Egg

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

I hope that you and your family will have a wonderful Easter. The joy and love of Easter can continue in our lives, day in and day out.

I was reminded of this fact when I read a true story written by my friend Helen Austin. You may want to share it with older grandchildren, asking your legacy what they think the moral of the story is, and how they could apply it to their lives.

It begins:

Once there was woman who went with her husband to live in a developing country. The husband worked for an oil company looking for untapped oil fields in a desert area near a large coastal city. After some discussion, the couple decided to put their two young children in boarding school for a year so she could go with him. It sounded like an adventure.

They had been moderately well off in their country. But in this exotic location, they soon learned, they were much more than that. They lived in a walled, guarded enclave, in a house which could have accommodated a family much larger than theirs. This enclave was populated by their compatriots, many of them associated with the oil company.

One of the first things the newcomers were told was to ignore the beggars .. read more.

He has risen,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux

www.marymaywrites.com

Why does the Resurrection matter?

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

Soon we will celebrate Easter and remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ more than 2000 years ago.

"I was unable to explain away the fact that the Resurrection was a real event in history," says author Josh McDowell (www.josh.org) in his book More Than a Carpenter. As a young man, McDowell believed that Christianity was worthless. He spent more than seven hundred hours investigating the claims of Jesus and found overwhelming evidence for the Resurrection of Christ.

Like McDowell, writer Dave Boehi found himself wondering in college whether Jesus was the Son of God. He wrote about this in his article My Cure for Easter Apathy. "I heard a speaker named Josh McDowell present a message on campus about evidence for the truth of the Scriptures," Boehi says. "That sparked some reading of my own, and I acknowledged that the Bible was not only a trustworthy historical document but also the revealed Word of God."

We know the difference that Christ has made in Josh McDowell's and Dave Boehi's lives because they wrote about it. But do our grandkids know why Jesus Christ matters to us?

This Easter is a great time to share our faith journey with our grandchildren—why we are followers of Jesus Christ and what difference does faith makes in our lives? We could tell our story as we join with loved ones over the Easter meal, or we could write it down and insert it in a special Easter card.

Some of our grandkids will spend next weekend with Pops and me, and I want to spend some time with them talking about the real meaning of Easter.

What ideas do you have for us grandparents about sharing our faith with our legacy?

He has risen,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux

www.marymaywrites.com

Easter Bunny Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun
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. What joy there is in celebrating the risen Christ and to have a personal relationship with Him.

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 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:

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!

Happy Easter,
Mary

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

What is a home?

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought
by Mary May Larmoyeux

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Pops and I went to see my mother last weekend. It is always such a joy to see her! When I was growing up, Mom transformed our frame house into a home filled with much love.

Jim and I often drive past the old homeplace when we visit Mom. I so identify with Mary Williams' description of her aging home (originally published in the 1983 edition of Rural Arkansas magazine):

"It has sheltered life. It has seen the joy and laughter of children and the quickness of their running feet. It has seen the tears of those who are no longer young and heard their slowing footsteps. It sighs and sometimes groans with its memories and its years. But it puts its arms around those who come within its walls and comforts them and laughs with them ... It is a reflection of a small bit of heaven. It is home!"

Remembering so they will never forget

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 12:00:00 +0000

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Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

A couple of years ago Pops and I had the privilege of hearing Holocaust survivor Agi Geva (see photo) speak about her experiences in the concentration camps. It was amazing to hear her tell how she and her sister managed to stay with their mother throughout the whole ordeal.

I will never forget seeing Agi roll up her sleeve to display a stamped number on her arm. Her message to the audience: "Never forget."(If you live in Central Arkansas, Henry Greenbaum, a Holocaust survivor will be speaking in Morrilton and in Conway on March 11 and 13.)

Like Agi, you and I have experienced events in life that our children and grandchildren will only read about. For me, Vietnam, 9/11, and Hurricane Katrina are not just words in a book. Nor are the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile.

As a teenager, I visited a friend whose brother was killed in Vietnam. Years later I watched on TV when the twin towers fell and even interviewed one of the survivors, Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell. And in September 2005 I went to Louisiana as a volunteer with my church to help feed the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Until I heard Agi speak, I never really thought much about the history that I've experienced. To me, it's so ... "usual." But after I heard her speak, I was reminded of the responsibility and privilege of sharing my walk through life with my legacy. And I was challenged to write to my grands about it.

I'm trying to write down some thoughts about about historical events that have happened in my lifetime, and saving a few headlines of newspapers ... all for the grandkids. And although I've asked my mom a lot about our family history, I am reminded that I need to ask her more about her experiences in the Depression and World War II.

"History never looks like history," John W. Gardner said, "when you are living through it."

If you live in Central Arkansas, you may want to go with an older grandchild to hear Henry Greenbaum speak. If you cannot do this, you might want to do some research about the Holocaust with your grandchild at the library or online and perhaps interview a World War II veteran, if you happen to know one.

How are you capturing the stories about historical events you've lived through? May we remember, so future generations will never forget.

He is able,
Mary

Mary May Larmoyeux

The Grand Connection

Simple Things in Life

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 12:00:00 +0000

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 streetrods. 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

Mary May Larmoyeux

www.marymaywrites.com

Daffodil Crafts

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 12:00:00 +0000

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Friday's Grand Connection Fun

by Mary May Larmoyeux

Have you ever been to a daffodil festival?

The daffodils will soon be blooming and the annual Daffodil Festival on Wye Mountain (near Little Rock, Arkansas). If you live close enough to drive there, it's a great opportunity to not only pick some beautiful flowers, but also to take some wonderful pictures of the grandchildren in a golden field of daffodils.

Speaking of golden fields, you may want to make a daffodil craft or two with your grands. You could purchase an inexpensive sun visor (at the dollar store) and some artificial daffodils. Just clip the daffodil blooms off of the stem and hot glue them to the visor. You might want mail some decorated sun visors to out-of-town grandkids.

Here are some other fun daffodil crafts (if you know of any, please share in the comment section):

Paper-Daffodil Napkin Ring

Potted Daffodil Picture

Daffodil Crown

Daffodil Pinwheel Windmill

A one-minute You-Tube demonstration on how to make a paper Daffodil

Happy Spring,
Mary
Mary May Larmoyeux
www.marymaywrites.com

© Mary May Larmoyeux. All rights reserved.

Photo © Andrey Tarantin / Dreamstime.com
Field of Yellow Daffodils, Pacific Northwest, USA

Funny Things

noreply@blogger.com (Mary May Larmoyeux) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Tuesday's Grand Connection Thought

by Mary May Larmoyeux

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When I was grandsitting recently, it became obvious that one of my grandsons just did not want to take a nap. After the three-year-old had been in his bed for about two minutes, he came out of his room and announced that he had finished his nap.

"You have to sleep," I told him. "Your body will tell you when it's time to get up."

You can probably guess what he said next, "My body says it's time."

With a smile, I sent him back to his room. Two hours later he woke up.

Kids can say some of the funniest things.

A friend recently sent me an e-mail with amusing things grandkids have said. Here are a couple of my favorites:

A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like: "We used to skate outside on a pond. I had a swing made from a tire that hung from a tree in our front yard.

We rod our pony. We picked wild raspberries in the woods." The little girl was wide-eyed, taking it all in.

At last she said, "I sure wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!"

********

I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was. She would tell me and was always correct. It was fun for me, so I continued. At last she headed for the door saying, "Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these yourself!"

What are some funny things that your grandchild said?

He is able,

Grand Connection

The price of freedom

A time for weeping

Memorial Day games, activities, and more

A tea party keepsake

Mother's Day Thoughs

Happy Mother's Day

How to Make a Newspaper Hat

Homemade tamale recipe wanted

Let's have an indoor picnic

The loss of a family pet

Homemade stencils from cardboard

God is in control

Let's Make Homemade Play Dough

Rocking Chair Memories

How to express love through a bear

Thumbs-up or Thumbs-down

Recipe for Resurrection Rolls

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

The Egg

Why does the Resurrection matter?

Easter Bunny Cake

What is a home?

Remembering so they will never forget

Simple Things in Life

Daffodil Crafts

Funny Things

Resurrection Rolls

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