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Normally, when we’re with the grandkids, I lock the screens away, but I’m not opposed to a movie night or afternoon matinee. If we’ve played hard that day, and usually, we have, rest prevents meltdowns. A movie allows everyone to pause and to breathe.  Children’s literature, even the film version, has the potential to build character…

I love to hike and I love hiking with the grandkids. Though our hikes are short and sweet now, I look forward to greater challenges as they grow. Trail walking means trail talking. Let’s look at a few ways to bring Jesus into the conversation.  1. Hiking with a Map and Compass Whenever I hike,…

 I love stargazing, especially with the grandkids. Psalm 19 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God.”  What an understatement! Last October, my husband and I attended a grandparenting retreat at Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs. Now, Glen Eyrie is one of my favorite places, partially because it backs up to the Garden of the Gods where I…

Exodus 20:12 says, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving to you.” We are commanded in Scripture to honor parents but what if the parents are our own children? Does the honor verse still apply? Yes. But how do we show honor,…

In the movie Secondhand Lions, Uncle Hub, Uncle Garth, and Walter plant a garden. Peas, beans, squash, tomatoes.  At least, that’s what they thought they were planting.  Reality reared its ugly head weeks later when they discovered everything was corn. All summer, nothing but corn. One golden cob after another.  The principles of sowing and reaping flow…

Spring. Everywhere we look, we see renewal. Life from death. The new yellow green leaves of spring. White blossoms on the Bradford pears. And, yes, the pollen. Though Easter has passed, the resurrection song continues its melody as the life cycle begins anew.  I love to garden. When we lived in Arizona, I had a…

Kids love pizza, and I do too. The perfect chewy/crunchy crust. Pizza sauce, everything from marinara to Alfredo works for me, with a swirl of pesto. Don’t get me started on toppings. And yes, pineapple qualifies.  But how do you bring Jesus into pizza night? It’s not as hard as you think. Pizza and Smashed…

Ah, camping! I love the outdoors and when our older boys were small, we camped. A lot. We lived in Arizona at the time and could escape the valley’s 120-degree heat for the mountains and temps in the 70s. Bugs are scarce in Arizona which was a plus coming from Texas where the mosquitos can pick…

While I’ll never turn down chocolate, there’s so much more to Easter than candy and stuffed rabbits. Here are some suggestions for a better Easter basket for your grandchild: 1. Resurrection eggs: Direct focus away from the bunny and toward Jesus. There are multiple versions of resurrection eggs, but all tell the story of Easter. Plus, kids have the…