It is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren - Kindle Copy Available for Free

I am very happy to say,  It is Impossible to Spoil Grandchildren   is available on Kindle for you to get your own copy for until July 11, 2019! If you are a grandparent, parent, aunt, uncle or someone who works with children, this book is for you.

For years I have written Sunday school curriculum, children's storybooks and Bible Adventures. Curriculum; these types of books come easy to me and I have had the privilege to write for publishers and magazines (curriculum for VeggieTales, SuperBook, Calvary Church Grand Rapids, Deeper in 4 Children and the Manner's Mentor as well as articles for Children's Ministry Magazine, Christianity Today's Your Church Magazine and Legacy Coalition).

the single parent: confident and successful - We Are Giving One Away

Last week I had the privilege of reading and reviewing Linda Ranson Jacob's new book, the single parent: confident and successful (you will find my full review at this link). In my review I said; "If you, or your grown child, is a single parent, then clearly Linda's book, the single parent: confident and successful, is an obvious "fit". But, if like me, you are not a single parent and neither are your grown children, do not think this book is not for you - or for them. It absolutely is. As I read this book I learned much about how I will be better able to confidently and successfully hand faith to my grandchildren - and grown children as well. I am very happy to recommend, the single parent: confident and successful, to all parents and grandparents."

Today I am thrilled to let you know, Linda's publisher, BethanyHouse, is making an additional copy of the single parent: confident and successful available for us to give away on Grandmas with Heart! 

the single parent: confident and successful

Linda Ranson Jacobs has just a new book published by Bethany House. Now, you likely know Linda is the creator of DC4K - some of you may have this wonderful ministry in your church to serve the children in your community who are touched by the divorce of their parents. Some of you may have been blessed to be able to hear Linda speak at a Children's Ministry Conference. When you hear Linda's name and the news of her book, you may rightly think this is a book you will absolutely want to read and be sure to keep a stack on hand to give to families in your church who experience divorce.

But, please, please, while this book is absolutely one for you to keep on hand for the parents/grandparents in your ministry who experience divorce, do not limit yourself to this view of the single parent: confident and successful. This is a book you will absolutely want to make available to every parent and grandparent in your ministry as it is filled with wisdom, truth from Scripture and practical how-to of raising confident and successful children in confident and successful families and this is something we want for all families in our ministries.

It is my delight today to let you know about this wonderful resource and source of encouragement. I do have to say, have tissues handy - and encourage the people you give it to to do so as well - as this book is going to touch your hearts in deep and powerful ways. As I read this book I learned much about how I will be better able to confidently and successfully hand faith to my grandchildren - and grown children as well - even though I and they are not single grandparents/parents. I am very happy to recommend, the single parent: confident and successful, to all parents and grandparents.

Some Things to Think - and Most Importantly Pray About for Sure

Over the years I have been writing this blog - and the website before it - I have had much to say about the things we could and should do when it comes to Children's Ministry. Today I want to write about somethings we need to be careful we do Not do.

In the Gospels it is easy to see how children wanted to be around Jesus  -  and He wanted them to be around Him. We know children do not tend to want to be around people who are boring, so while there are no Bible verses which say; "And Jesus was not boring.", it is safe for us to believe He was not boring.

Tomorrow is Children's Day - Celebrate!

Tomorrow, Sunday, June 9, 2019, is Children's Day. Before I share a few ideas for celebrating, let's look at a bit of history on Children's Day. Children's Day began in the church and we in the church need to take it back as a time to encourage parents and grandparents to hand down the faith and to communicate to children how very much God loves them.

"Children’s Day  observations in the United States predate both Mother’s and Father’s Day. The day to celebrate children dates from the 1860s and earlier. The Methodist Episcopal Church at the Methodist Conference of 1868 recommended the second Sunday in June be observed annually as Children’s Day. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 1883 designated the 'the second Sabbath in June as Children’s Day'

Chase’s Calendar of Events cites Children’s Sunday and notes The Commonwealth of Massachusetts issues an annual proclamation for the second Sunday in June.

    Numerous churches and denominations currently observe the second Sunday in June including the African Methodist Episcopal Church, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Church of the Nazarene."

The website - nationalchildrensday.us says; "American families and the entire country need this day to love, evaluate, and commit to the betterment of our children." If you are already planning to enjoy the day celebrating the children you love - go for it! If you have not planned to do anything to celebrate Children's Day, consider the following ideas . . . 

Get Your Own Free Kindle Copy of Science, the Bible & Fun!

My grandsons are enjoying the start of their Summer Vacation - I have three happy boys who will be at my house tomorrow. Throughout the Summer, my grandsons will be at my house for at least two days during the week while their parents are at work - and for either their Friday or Saturday night sleepover as well. I am a very blessed grandma.

While I want their Summer break to be a time where they are able to relax, play outside (I live in the country and my house is on a acre, so I have lots of room for them to run and play), there are days when it rains (I live in Michigan and it can be rainy here) and times when they may need help thinking of something to do with their time. It is in times such as these when my book, Science, the Bible & Fun, comes in handy.

Summer Fun & Learning

Do you have families with grandchildren spending time with them this Summer? Or, moms looking at Summer vacation nearly here and wondering what they might do with the children you love? Well, wonder no more! In just four days my book, Science the Bible and Fun will be available for them to download for free on Kindle - yes, for free!

What Would the "Perfect" Children's Ministry Look Like?

If you were able to create the "perfect" Children's Ministry, what would it look like? If I were to do this, it would have and do the following things . . . 

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day from Grandmas with Heart! 

How are You Helping Grandparents Who Bring Grandchildren to Church?

Typically when you think about the adults who bring children to your church, you think of and picture the parents. And, for most of the children it is the parents who bring them to church. But not all. In most churches 10% to 25% of the people bringing the children to church are the grandparents. 

It is not the same for grandparents who bring their grandchildren to church as it is for parents - parents are able to tell their children they are going to church as a family; grandparents are not able to make their grandchildren go to church, because typically if the parents are allowing the grandparents to bring the children to church it is only IF the children want to go. Parents often have friends at church who are also parents with children the same ages. This means when parents bring the children to church, the children often already are friends with other children in their class; not necessarily the case when grandparents bring the children to church. This may leave the grandchildren feeling lonely and like they do not belong. Parents attend parenting classes at church; most churches do not offer any classes for grandparents on what it looks like to hand down the faith.