Camp Grandma Ideas and Tips

Ready for a new download of Camp Grandma ideas and tips? Good, because we just finished our 2017 camp, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

Your Camp Grandma, Cousins’ Camp, Grandma Camp (or whatever you call your special few days with your grandkids) can be in your own home, apartment, at a campground, or on a trip.

Use the following ideas, tips, and resources to ignite your planning.

Quick tips:

Use your older grandkids as camp counselors.

It’s great bonding time and saves you prep time and energy.

I added granddaughter #3 to our camp counselor group this summer.… Read the rest

Father’s Day. Do those words put joy to your heart and a spring in your step? If not, it may be because:

You didn’t have a good relationship with your dad.
Your heart hurts for your kids who didn’t have healthy dad experiences.
Your grandchildren are growing up without a dad to look up to.
You miss your dad who has passed away.

I’m asking because I counsel so many people who struggle with father issues.

Even those who had a great dad often find it difficult to relate to God as Father.

They can’t feel His hugs or hear Him whisper words of affirmation in their souls.… Read the rest

When I was an awkward, chubby little girl, I loved to sneak away and play with my cousins in Grandma’s huge, old barn near our house.

We weren’t supposed to play in there, but with all the hay bales, ropes hanging from the rafters, and chickens with eggs just waiting to be used as weapons, how could we resist?

I distinctly remember my Aunt Nancy barging into our game of chicken war one Saturday afternoon.

She was super mad at her girls.

They were all dressed up for a wedding that now they were going to miss. I guess the eggs and hay all over their fancy clothes was a problem.… Read the rest

Just thinking about you and wanted to encourage you that it’s OK to have a pity party sometimes.

It’s normal. You’re human. And you probably need to blow off steam.

It could be you’ve got a bad cold, a sink full of dirty dishes, and three piles of laundry sitting on your couch. And Legos all over the floor. (Legos + feet … not a good combination.)

Or maybe your husband didn’t like the amazing meal you cooked for him.

Or maybe your son or daughter forgot to call on Mother’s Day.

Whatever the reason, go ahead and celebrate your gloom with a pity party.… Read the rest

Finding Significant Purpose as a Grandmother

It’s always a pleasure to share these pages with amazing women. Lillian Penner is the author of Grandparenting with a Purpose: Effective Ways to Pray for Your Grandchildren and Co-Prayer Director for Christian Grandparenting Network. When she accepted my invitation to share her wisdom with my readers, I was thrilled. I know you will be too.

Some years ago I found a letter in my family archives, written by my great-grandfather in Poland, addressed to my grandfather who had immigrated to America.

In the letter, he wrote that he was praying for my grandfather, his children, and his future generations.… Read the rest

How to Quickly Create a Family History Book

I treasure the warm feel of a small child’s head snuggled under my chin after he climbs onto my lap, hands me a book, and says, “Read this to me, Grandma.”

Guess what book my 4-year old grandson, Kaius, grabs for Grandma to read to him every time he spends the night?

It’s my copy of the latest Camp Grandma book. This is the photo/journal book I create after each year’s camp and give a copy of to each grandchild for Christmas.

In the midst of gathering ideas for this summer’s camp, I had a flash of inspiration for a family history book.… Read the rest

How to Get Rid of Shame for Good

Did you ever notice how shame feels like being stripped totally naked and paraded in front of all the people you highly regard OR it feels like a nasty, bug infested, wet, wool blanket draped over you from head to toe?

Either way, shame is one of the worst emotional experiences ever.

It doesn’t matter what sin, mistake, or misunderstanding caused the shame; the result is the same. You want to crawl into a hole, curl up into a ball, and die quickly.

For those who’ve suffered sexual or verbal abuse, the naked feeling can last a lifetime.

Scripture tells us that Jesus took our shame to the cross.… Read the rest

You know that really wild idea I had? Well…

Ya know how sometimes you get a really wild idea, and you want to share it with someone?

Not me, I usually do FAR more than share. I draaaag as many people as I can along with me on whatever my latest adventure is going to be.

I figure if I’m going to do something daring and outside of my comfort zone, why not have friends there to enjoy the fun with me!

Here’s how that looked last year … and how you can come along this time:

Last fall I had the pleasure of spending time with ten amazing women as we each created a book of our personal God stories.… Read the rest

What little boys can teach us about our faith story

We had just sat down to dinner when my 4-year-old grandson, Kai, proclaimed, “I pray now. I love Grandma. I love Grandpa. Am! (Translation: “Amen!”)

Best grace prayer EVER!

Kai was acting out a story that had been lived out before him all of his life. Now he wanted to try his hand at it.

Did he have a doctrinal understanding of a grace prayer?

Nope.

Did we care if he didn’t? Nope.

Have you ever known a spiritual truth to be understood before it was lived?

Of course not! Faith always precedes understanding.

Prayer can’t just be explained. It must be lived before it becomes ingrained in our faith DNA.

… Read the rest

5 Surprising Benefits of Creating a Blessing

Wouldn’t you like to change the negative atmosphere that surrounds us these days? Or lift the heart of one who feels like the scum of the earth? Or see destiny rest upon the life of someone you love? And, hey, what about knowing that your kids and grandkids are safely covered in God’s protection?

Yep, I’m talking about the incredible power of a blessing.

Creating a blessing isn’t hard, but it will require your heart, a little reflection, and an understanding of how God’s power works through a blessing.

A blessing is a piece of God’s heart given to another, but first, it has to pass through your heart.… Read the rest

Sometimes nobody knows you but Jesus

You’ve gotten up at five in the morning most of your life to work at a less than perfect job. Because it helped pay for the cost of little league, piano lessons, and college tuition for your kids.

You’ve handled rejection, loss, health issues, loneliness, disappointment, and you’ve survived. Because, through it all, you knew Jesus was right beside you on the journey.

You’ve washed a mountain range of dirty dishes, mopped the equivalent of 900 football stadiums, AND cooked enough food to feed Napoleon’s army. Because somebody had to.

You’re a prayer warrior, crying secret tears and praying prayers only God has heard.… Read the rest