grandparenting Archives - By Quiet Waters

Jesus Calling The Story of Christmas, How Do You Say Goodnight

November 12, 2019 By Michelle

Jesus Calling The Story of Christmas

Jesus Calling, The Story of Christmas; Ten in the Bed; The Friend Ship

Books. Books. Books. This former home school mom, grandmother and “reader” loves books. In particular, I love children’s books. A few posts have already been written here on the blog about children’s books, and today I have a new one for you. New books often arrive in my mailbox, or or I find new gems at the bookstore. These favorites, old and new, find their way off the shelf and into the hands of a new generation, my grandkids. Read on to discover new books you will want to introduce to the children in your life!

Jesus Calling The Story of Christmas Sarah Young, the author of Jesus Calling, has written this book for children. The story of Christmas begins at creation. The author highlights that fact that Jesus has always been present, and God always had a plan for Christmas, which is Easter.

Bible verses and devotions are on every spread of this book. The illustrations are by Katya Longhi and are just beautiful.

“Jesus Calling: The Story of Christmas is a beautifully embellished jacketed hardcover with foil and glitter. Curl up the precious young ones in your life, and share with them Jesus Calling: The Story of Christmas.”

Ten In the Bed by Penny Dale

Ten in the Bed by Penny Dale

Ten in the Bed by Penny Dale is an old favorite. This book originally entered our home about 19 years ago, when I purchased it through Discovery Toys. It has been regularly pulled off the shelf since then. I find it absolutely delightful to read this charming book to my grandchildren!

The Friend Ship

The Friend Ship by Kat Yeh is a book I found while at Powell’s Books in Portland a couple of years ago. Side note, have you been to Powells? I can not wait to go back! Floors and floors of books… Back to “The Friend Ship” is a gentle reminder of the truth that sometimes what you’re searching for is right there in front of you. I just love seeing understanding grow in Miss Joyness eyes each time we read this book together.

Board books!

How do you Say Good Night? by Tommy Nelson and Catalina Echeverri

“Zoey the zebra needed to get ready for bed soon…

This sweet board book follows Zoey the zebra as she searches for the best way to say good night. What she finds is that different is good, and it’s okay if what is right for you isn’t necessarily right for me. I love the way this book introduces the concept of celebrating differences.

ABC’s of Physics by Chris Ferrie

Just for “purposeful” fun I picked up this book for my youngest grandson. Both of his parents are quite science minded, and in the healthcare field. I chuckled when I saw this book and decided to slip it into Lil Man’s gift bag. Some time back I studied the way we learn, and about the creating of mental pathways. I think this book will be a gentle beginning of one of those pathways.

There they are, 5 delightful children’s books that you may want to introduce to the children in your life!

Please tell me in the comments, have you added any of the Baby University books to your home library?

When I Pray for You, a new book by Matthew Paul Turner

February 4, 2019 By Michelle

Hello Friends and Readers. The blog has been very quiet for a time. There are seasons of quiet when there are no words, and it is necessary to be still. This has been one.

BUT

Sequin Sparkle and Change Bible

November 29, 2018 By Michelle

You may know that I really love the Word of God and enjoy receiving newly packaged Bibles to review here on the blog. Well this week I have not one, but two Bible’s to tell you about. Today, I have a new children’s Bible that I think will be a super delightful gift for one of my grand daughters. As a matter of fact, I am thinking about buying a couple more copies as I have several grand daughters!

Sequin Sparkle and Change Bible

The Sparkle and Change Bible is packaged in a teal blue or pink cover. The cover of the Bible has embossed detailing, and sequins that change color right before your eyes. I have caught my teens handling this book, and running their hands over the sequins. It is definitely eye catching and fun.

This Bible is set in ten-point type, with bold in-text subject titles. This will help kids find the passages they are looking for more easily. There are bold type words that correspond with the dictionary and the concordance. And as always, I appreciate the maps and timeline that are included.

There are pretty pages that include a presentation page, a place to record favorite verses and articles to increase a child’s understanding of Jesus’ love and purpose for her.

The translation of this Bible is the International Children’s Bible by Tommy Nelson. This translation was created for children, for readability and understanding. This is a good translation for children between about 6 and 10 to use in his/her own reading and following along in Sunday School and church.

One thing I’d recommend is that you don’t have your child memorize in this translation. Choose the translation that your family, or your church teaches from… and memorize from it. From experience I know the challenge of memorizing in one translation…and it not meshing with the memory work in the teen and early adult years.

My photos just don’t do this Bible cover justice. It is quite pretty and very sparkly. Thank you to Front Gate Media and Tommy Nelson for this free Bible in exchange for this post.

Tic Tac Toe Anyone? A Quilted Gift Idea

November 10, 2018 By Michelle

Some weeks ago I was in Joann Fabrics and passed by the display advertising upcoming classes. A cute quilted Tic Tac Toe board caught my eye, and as you can guess, I went home and created one!

This project was pretty simple, and inexpensive. I used fabric from my stash, using purple fabric designs and a cute black cat print as well. I cut the fabric into 5 inch blocks, using 2 coordinating prints for each board.

Then I pieced each board, row by row, and then stitched the rows together.

Then I laid the backing, right sides facing, on top of the pieced game board. I stitched all around, leaving about 3 inches open for turning. Once that was completed, I turned the game board right side out and pressed it all just right. Lastly, I top stitched along the rows and around the board, closing the opening.

For the X and O pieces I asked my 15 year old for help. She printed an X and an O template for me right out of Word. I then used the templates to cut out 5 X and 5 O pieces for each game board. I used stiff sparkly white felt squares for the X and O pieces, that I purchased from Joann Fabrics.

These game boards look so cute, and I hope that my grandkids and their parents have a little fun connecting over this tactile version of Tic Tac Toe! Here is the set that I have placed on a table in our living room. A little “invitation to play” as we relax after full and crazy days.

Using many different fabric combinations, you could make these as party favors, waiting room gifts, and of course little surprises in the mail for kids you love.

A cute quilted Tic Tac Toe board you can make in an afternoon. Make in any combination of colors, for an everyday or holiday addition to family fun. This idea was inspired by Joann Fabrics, but the details here are all my own. Enjoy!

Indescribable, 100 Devotions about God and Science

December 6, 2017 By Michelle

This new devotion book by Louie Giglio is so exciting. Last spring I was introduced to the ministry of Louie Giglio when I was assigned to watch a series of dvds during training for my work at a local ministry. How he connects Scripture and science is fascinating, and inspiring. This devotion is based on Louie Giglio’s messages “Indescribable” and “How Great is Our God.” He wants this book to help kids discover the incredible creation of our indescribable God.

Indescribable, 100 Devotions about God and Science is a fun and inviting new book for children. It’s going to one that I read with my grand children when they visit.

As the title states there are 100 devotions, each with Scripture, photographs and illustrations and amazing facts. One can read the devotions from start to finish, or by topic. On page 7 there are pages numbers for all the devotions on animals, space, Earth and people. That way you can dig into what interests the child. I definitely can hardly wait for a grand to visit and to invite her to look at this book with me!

Thank you to FrontGate Media for this complimentary copy of Indescribable by Louie Giglio, in exchange for this blog post.

“Frozen” Invitation to Play

November 29, 2017 By Michelle

Busy Bag Inspiration

I found some FUN Frozen inspired ideas for a toddler or preschool busy bag on the Disney Family website. My wheels are often turning for the different ways to keep little ones busy and this printable was a great find.

Quick and Easy

Using this Frozen printable, I created quick and easy invitation to play. After printing the template, I roughly cut each piece out, then laminated the set. (I use this Scotch laminator) Then, I cut out each of the pieces again.

Olaf in laminated pieces

Applying adhesive magnets to one set, I instantly had an activity for the refrigerator. I popped on the magnets and designed an invitation to play right there on the fridge. And that invitation might well extend to older members of the family. Seems “big” kids find magnetic characters too tempting to resist.