As Sandwich Generation senior home care givers and "granny nannies," we get to see "old age" on a regular basis, up close and personal. Because of that, I have set goals for myself as I age (hopefully without too much kicking and screaming ), to stay close to Jesus Christ and His encouraging Scripture, to set a positive example for my grandkids as I move through my Baby Boomer years from mid-life to elderly, and, as Paul said in Acts 20, "to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."

These encouraging Bible verses from Psalm 92:12-15 seemed to work well with those goals, especially for a St Patricks Day Word-Filled Wednesday:

The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the LORD, They will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green, To declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. Psalm 92:12-15

Isn't it encouraging to know we can yield the fruit of the Spirit whatever our age! These words truly are gifts for the elderly, as well as for the Sandwich Generation! For more inspirational Bible verses and photos, be sure to visit Christy at CrittyJoy.

Happy St Patricks Day to y'all

Any Sandwich Generation sports fans out there? I have to confess, I'm really not. Unless one of my grandkids is playing. Then I'm very definitely a mega fan! Right now some of my grandkids are participating in the Upward Basketball and Upward Soccer programs through the church. They love playing and are learning a lot, as well as having a great time. And I am enjoying getting to help them with their games and practices occasionally.

As a Sandwich Generation grandma, I am also learning a lot in this area. Just this week:

1. I learned that when you are the one taking them to their Upward basketball game and get handed the uniforms, IMMEDIATELY put them in the car. Otherwise they may get left home accidentally and that is NOT a great thing.
2. I learned that if you have two or more kids on two or more teams, they'll probably be scheduled at different times. That means you are there twice as long and you might be wise to bring a couple of workbooks and pencils to keep the waiting grandkids busy. An iPhone with lots of kid game apps works well, too, as do DS'and Leapsters.
3. I learned to get there early if you hope to get a seat on the stands. I also learned it can actually be better to sit on the floor if our Sandwich Generation bodies can handle that. (Being a member of the Baby Boomer generation, I can't always, but this time I did pretty well.) On the floor, you have a bit more room to spread out which is nice. It's also easier for the grandkids who might be drawing in an activity book.
4. I learned there are a variety of options available through the Upward program – Upward Soccer, basketball, flag football, softball and cheerleading.
5. I learned that my grandkids are supposed to memorize a Bible verse each week. AND that if you misplaced the list when granny nanny-sitting, you can search a bit onliine, and might find the season's list posted. That's a big help to all of us Sandwich Generation grandparents!
6. I learned it is NOT Upwards Soccer, Basketball, etc. (I kept wanting to add that S, and apparently, I'm not the only one. I must say, though, it's always nice to know you have company.   )
7. I learned they don't keep score, at least not with the younger kids. They focus on rules, techniques, learning, and good sportsmanship. Terrific!
8. I learned it is a great option for all kids. This is especially true for those with special needs or those who, like me, are the last ones chosen because the desire outweighs in and all skills.
9. I learned I get just as invested with a 6 year old grandkid playing Upward basketball and soccer as I used to with the 14 year old cheerleader, the 15 year old volleyball player, and the 16 year old team statistician. (Granted, that was not a big surprise, but a pleasant one nonetheless. )
10. Most important, I learned the Upward program is a terrific way for our grandkids to have fun playing sports, practice good sportsmanship, and discover that the Bible applies to all ares of their lives, including sports. Awesome!
    

Oh, and in case you are also interested in Upward sports for your grandkids, I learned that you can find the location of an Upward Sports League such as basketball or soccer online.

How about you and your grandkids? Any fellow Upwards-ites – basketball, soccer, or ? Do you get to attend any of their sports games? Do you consider that one of the fringe benefits of the Sandwich Generation? Inquiring minds love to know.

My grandkids and I have finally started doing our Resurrection Easter Eggs together. I was quite pleased that they are still enjoying both the fun of hunting for them, as well as helping me tell what Easter means – Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection. I was also happy that they have remembered so much from last year, while glad we have started early to help them relearn the parts they forgot.

Each time I work through the Resurrection Easter Eggs with them, I try to really focus on one or two different aspects of the Easter story. Today we talked about how sad it was that one of Jesus' closest friends, Judas, betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver. We also talked about how much pain Jesus endured – from the horrible beating of the whip, to the crown of long thorns being jammed into his head, to the crucifixion itself, complete with nails going through his hands and feet. Even at 6 and 7, they seem to understand, to some extent, how much that must have hurt. And then I remind them that Jesus is GOD. If He had wanted to, He could have snapped His fingers, been back in heaven in a heartbeat, and been through with all that pain and suffering.

I looked at them and asked, "if He had done that, what would have happened to us? Where would we go?"

"To hell!" they cried out together.

"That's right," I replied. Wasn't it wonderful that Jesus was willing to suffer and die for us, so that we could receive Him into our hearts and be saved!"

With huge smiles on their faces, they agreed. And now I'm wearing a huge smile on my heart as well.

One of the most important parts of our job as grandparents is to join with our families to pray for, share with, and encourage our grandkids to follow Paul's wonderful directions in Romans 10:9-10:

If you confess with your mouth, Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

Another important part, once they have been saved, is to continue to pray for, share with and encourage our grandkids to walk with our precious Lord. As Paul said, in Colossians 2:

My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge…just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Isn't that also a wonderful purpose for Sandwich Generation grandparents! It's on my heart to do this with both my long distance and my close up grandkids, and I love the way fun tools, like the Resurrection Easter Eggs, help me.

What are some of the ways you encourage your grandkids to know more about Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection during this Lent and Easter season?  We are always looking for more ideas and tips.  

Old-time TV. My senior parents grew up on it and my mom continues to enjoy the programs from back in the 40s and 50s. I still have fond memories of Our Miss Brooks and Father Knows Best. What I just learned was that apparently they. along with many other programs, started out on the the radio before eventually landing on TV where I discovered them. Even more interesting is that iTunes has a wide variety of these shows available for free! Perfect for a Sandwich Generation senior home care giver and grandparent.

While doing some research, I discovered Old Time Radio. Just go to iTunes, iTunes store, and in the top right search box, type in Old Time Radio. You should see a handful of the podcasts they offer along with the words "See All." Click "see all" and you will be delighted to see:

• Old Time Radio Nostalgia
• Old Time Radio Comedy
• Old Time Radio Drama
• Old Time Radio Mysteries
• Old Time Radio Scifi
• Old Time Radio Shows
• Old Time Radio Thrillers
• Old Time Dragnet
• The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd
• Boxcars711 Old Time Radio Pod
• My senior dad's favorite genre – Westerns!
• And so many others

Most are listed as Kids & Family, so I would assume they would, indeed, be fine for every age, but, of course, it's always wise to check them before letting the grandkids listen. All of the above have that listing except Dragnet, which is under Arts. There are several other options that are actually being developed as a current project, which may have more language and other issues than the "Old Time" shows, so we're sticking with the oldies.  

Just to give you a tiny flavor of what you will find:

• Jack Benny
• The Shadow
• Superman
• The Life of Riley
• A Date with Judy
• Maxwell House Coffee Time
• Blondie
• The Bob Hope Show
• Fibber McGee and Molly
• Family Theater
• CBS Radio Mystery Theater
• Dr. Kildare
• Mister I.A. Moto
• The Fat Man
• The Falcon
• Mystery Playhouse
• Gangbusters
• Inner Sanctum Mysteries
• Hallmark Playhouse
• And many, many more.

For a Sandwich Generation senior home care giver and grandmother, who is also a full-fledged member of the Baby Boomer Generation, these Old Time Radio Shows brought back so many fond memories, including times spent with my dad and mom when I was very young, laughing our heads off over Eve Arden and her co-stars in Our Miss Brooks. 

Best of all, they are all FREE (always one of my favorite ways to save money), and I've subscribed to most of them. Once a week, I go through and pick a few from each of the categories and copy them (burn them) to CDs for my senior mom to enjoy on her beloved CD player. She has throughly enjoyed them. They are bringing back terrific memories, giving her a nice alternative to TV re-re-reruns, and "exercising her brain" – always a good thing.

They are also handy for those times when I'm going to be away for longer periods. Making up several of these CDs gives my senior mom a special treat and the cost is low since a 50-pack of CDs runs me about $15, or less if I find them on sale. That's only about 30 cents per CD. iTunes is such a wonderful resource for all of us in the Sandwich Generation, from our oldest senior parents to our youngest little grandkids! I love that you can Download thousands of popular radio programs on iTunes. Not to mention great music, sermons, business podcasts, and so much more!  How about you? Have you found any other interesting  old-time radio or TV shows online? We'd love to hear about them.

For many of us Sandwich Generation senior home care givers and grandparents, our schedules are not our own. We make plans, someone gets sick, there go the plans! In reality, though, they should never be our own. As a few wise pastors have taught me down through the years, my goal each day is to surrender myself, my life, AND my schedule to God. I've been doing that for years and never regretted it.

As David reminds us in Psalm 31:14-15b, "I trust in You, O Lord; I say, "You are my God." My times are in Your hands!" (NIV) 

Those words have been a rock for me in many traumatic storms throughout my life, including as a Sandwich Generation senior home care giver and grandma. I have been blessed to have them memorized for those moments when I so desperately needed them!

For more wise words of encouragement  for the Sandwich Generation, along with interesting and intriguing pictures, please visit Penny Raine where you will find plenty of wonderful inspirational Bible verses to encourage and inspire you on this Word-Filled Wednesday.  :)

My senior mom and I had a delightful Saturday afternoon at Michael's this past week. After writing about Easter, Easter crafts, and Resurrection Easter Eggs, I was really "In the Mood!" (Boy, first a Gershwin tune, now it's Glen Miller on my brain. You can tell I still love the songs I used to enjoy with my grandparents AND my senior parents. ) I found several fun projects for my grandkids and myself to have fun with, particularly during this season of Lent and Easter.

I started remembering how much we enjoyed doing weekly projects that led to my weekly Advent posts last December, as part of Troc, Broc, and Recup's "A Pause In Advent." "Wouldn't it be nice to do something similar for Lent," thought I.  That led to me popping over to visit Floss and see what she was up to. There I discovered she'd already thought of this idea and started it last week! How grand! Naturally, I signed right up.

Each Monday between now and Easter, I'll be posting about ways my grandkids and I will be preparing for Easter. As with Advent, my focus will be on Easter arts and crafts with my grandkids, with music and conversation about Easter woven through our time together. You'll also find a link to Floss', Troc, Broc, and Recup, where you will then find links to several other bloggers who are also talking about Lent – from a traditional and somber focus of Lent to my more relaxed, grandkid focus, and plenty more ideas in between. I'm looking forward to reading what others are doing and thinking, all around the world, during this special time.

It will be a wonderful way to keep our eyes, and our grandkids' eyes, fixed on Jesus and on the cross during this Lenten season, and help to teach them more about what Easter means. It's so important for them to know the importance of Jesus Christ and His resurrection and this is a great way to supplement all that they get at home and church.

While at Michaels, my senior mom and I found some cute little wooden cross magnets in different shapes. They were only $1 for a package of three so I bought several of them. I'll be mailing some off to my sweet long distance grandkids and taking the rest over to my local grandkids. Instead of the enclosed markers, they'll have fun coloring them with the Crayola washable markers I am never without! (By the way, you can ) The older grandkids might enjoy these wooden cross magnets on their school lockers and the younger ones will love to see them adorning their refrigerator. Working on them will be a perfect time for my Lent and Easter playlist, so I have to be sure I get that done this week!

What about you and your grandkids? Do you have any fun Easter month traditions together? We'd love to hear about them. And don't forget to sign up for the FREE SandwichINK email for more fun holiday resources and ideas for Sandwich Generation senior home care givers and grandparents.

I was watching the NCIS TV show this week and chuckled when Ziva used the line, "You say potatos and I say po tahhh toes" (or something like that ), referring back to the Gershwin, "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off" lyrics.  I thought of that line today when I was doing some research on one of my favorite "weapons" against cold weather – Cuddl Duds. Or, as many people write it, Cuddle Duds. Or then again, CuddlDuds or even CuddleDuds. With the E or without it, I love them! They are perfect for a busy Sandwich Generation senior home care giver and grandmother who is bopping in and out of the car, in and out of the grandkids' house, in and out of the doctors' offices, in and out of the store….

Cuddle Duds are wonderfully lightweight, yet warm, long underwear, including long pants and long-sleeved shirts, among other items. They come in ultra-thin and regular weights. They seem to be the perfect blend of whatever is needed to keep us warm outside without roasting too much when you are inside. I just use the long pants for winter warmth. Since my body temp is fairly warm these days, I wait until the temps are going to be down in the 30s or less. Then, if I know I'll be in and out during the day I pop them on under my jeans and I'm comfortable all day long.

My senior mom has reached that season of life where she gets cold much easier, so she will often wear the pants even when the temps are in the 50s. Both of us prefer the thinner active wear style Cuddle Duds pants compared to the cuddl johns which are thicker. I do have those, as well, but usually have to wear pants a size larger than normal to be comfortable in them. They are a bit warmer, so I save them for days when I know I have to be outside all the time. I rarely have those anymore, since my days as field trip coordinator and driver to such fun activities as a school ski day are long gone with the graduation of my youngest years ago.

They are also very useful for aging parents even if they are staying at home all day. My senior mom is great at layering, but my grandfather hated doing that. He could have worn these cuddle duds (yes, they have them for men, too), under his regular clothes, and then wouldn't have needed to keep his heater at 80! (I kid you not!!!) 

I love that Cuddle Duds are one of the few items of clothing my whole family loves – from the youngest adult to the eldest. When there's a sale on Cuddle Duds, we all try to let each other know, though if I do need more and my schedule won't allow me to get to the store, I appreciate that I can easily order them at Amazon complete with home delivery! Now that's especially nice for a senior home care giver and grandmother who is constantly juggling different needs!

How about you? Have you tried Cuddle Duds? Do you love them as much as we do? If not, what do you use to keep warm outside and not too hot inside as you are out and about on those busy Sandwich Generation days?  :)  :) 

Our weather is easing up a bit this week, but we have certainly had more than the norm of snow this year. As you know, this is my first real experience with serious snow – the kind that requires snow shovels, snow boots for women, men and kids, rock salt and careful walking.  Because of that, I was quite interested when Lauren Wattie from Jordan David, "the largest and oldest manufacturer of All-Traction™ Footwear," asked if they could send me some of their Spare Spikes ice cleats for shoes to "test drive them" so to speak. As a Sandwich Generation senior home care giver and grandmother, I am always on the look out for resources that can help my family, as well as all of you. I told them I'd love to check them out and share my honest opinion with each of you. In the mail arrived three pairs and here's the scoop.

First of all, you are probably wondering, as I was, what exactly are Spare Spikes? As Lauren put it, they are "ice safety footwear that can best be described as winter walking “ice slippers” that are light-weight, compact, and fit easily and conveniently over all types of shoes and boots." 

I also discovered, partly from their website and partly from my senior mom's and my experiences:

• Basically, they are a flexible rubber sleeve with spikes/cleats in the bottom that increase traction and can reduce slips and falls in slippery, outdoor winter conditions.
• There are eight small cleats and even an extra cleat in case one falls off. That's how they got the name Spare Spikes.

• For myself, they were, indeed, really easy to get on and off. My senior mom, however, was unable to do them by herself. She just doesn't have the range of motion needed to put them on alone. It's fine for her because she lives with me and I can help her. Another dear senior of mine who lives alone wouldn't be able to use these at all as he would not be able to get them on without help, due to his health issues and limited range of motion. 
• They are definitely nice and light weight – less than four ounces per foot. For those struggling with things like arthritis foot pain, that is wonderful!
  
• They are barely noticeable when on your feet and they can be easily folded in half and even carried in a pocket or purse – although I'd make sure I had a couple of large plastic bags to pop them into as they do get wet after walking in the snow. 

• Ours ran a bit small. My senior mom wears 8.5 and I wear 8.5-9. According to the chart, she would wear a small and I would wear a medium. When we tried them on, the small was too small for her tennis shoes. The medium fit both of us quite nicely. HOWEVER, I noticed another reviewer whose husband – a younger runner – needs them to fit extra tight for running and he thought they ran a bit big. So if you are a marathon runner, keep that in mind.

I tried them out on thick snow, thin crunchy snow, and an icy walkway.  In the past, wearing only my tennis shoes, I've only occasionally noticed some slippage issues as I walk in the snow and ice. Wearing these definitely provided a bit more traction, though. I especially noticed this with the thinner, slipperier areas. It doesn't mean I didn't slip or slide but when I did feel a little slippage, I also noticed they kind of grabbed to give more stability as I walked. 

I am blessed with an excellent sense of balance. I think it comes from spending every summer climbing all over rock piers as my dad fished and my mom relaxed on the beach. As a result, walking in the snow rarely bothers me, other than the occasional piece of ice I miss spotting.  My senior mom, on the other hand, has reached a point where she is not comfortable walking in snow or ice at all without my arm to help her. It's just too slippery for her. Even with the snow spikes on, neither of us felt comfortable letting her "test drive" them in the snow itself.

They do seem to be quite handy. If you have to go out in the snow on a regular basis, perhaps to walk a dog or on your way to work in dressier shoes, I think they would be a big help. I live in my tennis shoes and Keens, so I get excellent traction from both them. Therefore,  I don't need to wear Spare Spikes on a regular basis. Especially since I go in and out of the house too often, and they can be hard on floors and carpets. I'd have to take them off and put them on several times a day. However, I do intend to put them in the car as part of my winter weather emergency kit. Very useful for emergencies for both my senior mom and myself! And in a situation like that, she would definitely appreciate having them!

Jordan and David's website was quite interesting, including a history of ice cleats in general. I would have enjoyed reading this to my senior dad to see if he remembered any of the original types that existed. You can find ordering information at their Spare Spike site, Winter Walking, where I was pleased to note you have a 30 days money back guarantee to try any of their products. They do have to be returned in an unused and salable condition, the same as most shoe stores require. It would give you a chance to make sure the Snow Spikes fit, that you or your senior parent can, indeed, easily get them on, and that they will work well for you. 

Overall, I think these are an excellent option for the Baby Boomer Generation. They make a nice alternative to living in snow boots for women and men. They are particularly useful for those who have to go out in the snow with shoes that offer little or no traction. They would also be very useful for seniors who can put them on themselves or have someone who can help put them on and who already go out in the snow now, giving them an extra measure of safety. And as I said before, they will definitely be added to my Sandwich Generation senior home care giver "tool kit" for emergencies for both my senior mom and myself. 

Would you or a special senior in your family like to give them a try? I have one pair, size small, which should fit women's shoes 7-8 or men's shoes 5-6 1/2. Leave a comment below to be entered in a drawing for these Spare Spikes. Be sure to add your name and your email address. For extra entries for this drawing, you can:

• Sign up for the FREE SandwichINK email which will not only get you an extra entry for the Spare Spikes but it will also keep you up to date on all kinds of Sandwich Generation resources and info to help and encourage those caring for the elderly relatives in their family along with their grandchildren. Make sure you then come back and leave a separate comment that you signed up.
• Tweet this, then come back and leave a comment that you did.
• Write about this at Facebook, come on back and leave yet another comment. 
• And, finally, blog about this, and, of course, one final comment. 

Each comment/action counts for one entry. The contest ends on March 14, 2010 at midnight. After that, one name will be randomly picked from all the entrants' comments and posted here, along with sending the winner an email. That person will then have one week to contact me with their mailing adress, otherwise another winner will be randomly picked.  

All right, all of you Sandwich Generation senior home care givers and grandparents. This is a fun contest just for you! Enjoy!

UPDATE 3/24/10 CONGRATULATIONS TO MARY FROM ELDERCAREABC WHO WON THE SPARE SPIKES!!!

Here in Kentucky it's in between snow storms. I decided I wanted a picture to make us think of spring and I found that in this photo. More than that, I saw this flamingo, standing firm in spite of a very gooey situation, reminding me, no matter what gooey Sandwich Generation situation I find myself in, I have to rely on God to enable me to STAND FIRM IN THE LORD!

…Now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 3:8

…Stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. Philippians 4:1

…Stand firm in the faith… 1 Corinthians 16:13

…Stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught. 2 Thessalonians 2:15

More than one pastor has pointed out that if God repeats Himself in the Bible, there's a VERY good reason for that.  As a Sandwich Generation grandmother, one of my biggest desires has always been for my kids and grandkids to know and love God with all their hearts, souls, strengths, and minds. Next, once they have done that, I desire for each of us to STAND FIRM IN THE LORD! These are all some of my primary prayers every day! And I am blessed because I know that these are God's desires for us as well, which means I am praying according to His will in all of this. Very encouraging!

What are some of your favorite verses to pray for your children, grandchildren and yourself? 

For more inspirational Bible verses coupled with intriguing pictures, sure to encourage all of us in the Sandwich Generation, be sure to visit Forever His. And don't forget to sign up for the FREE SandwichINK email and get words of encouragement for Sandwich Generation senior home care givers and grandparents delivered to your inbox regularly.  

Looking for some interesting Christian fiction to read while waiting at the doctor's office with your elderly parent? How about some historical or contemporary romance novels for those times you are sitting in the car pool pick up line waiting for a grandkid? Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group has several new novels for us to enjoy and you can find out about two of them right here at SandwichINK as we join them for a Value Fiction Blog Tour! What's that, you might ask? It's where several blogs join together to write about new books that might be of interest to their readers. In my case, I'll be reviewing books that might appeal to the Sandwich Generation, as well as the Baby Boomer Generation, their senior parents, and maybe even some kid books for our grandkids.

BENEATH A SOUTHERN SKY by Deborah Raney is an intriguing contemporary novel that will remind many of us in the Baby Boomer Generation of the Doris Day movie, Move Over, Darling. Daria Camfield is a Christian missionary working with her husband, Nate, in South America. She is grief stricken when she is informed of the death of Nate. He had left her behind to provide medical help to people in a native village further away from their mission home base. Once she heard the news, she decided to go back to the states in order to have help from her family with the baby she was expecting. As in Doris Day's movie, time passed, she met another Christian man of high integrity who grew to love her and her daughter, and they were married. 

Three years after her husband's death she and her family are shocked and devastated to learn he had not died after all. Unlike Move Over Darling, this book is not a comedy. Instead it's an interesting Christian novel with substance that realistically portrays mission life along with all the ramifications of this particularly difficult situation. I really enjoyed reading it, especially since it had a solid ending that was very satisfying.

YESTERDAY'S PROMISE, by Linda Lee Chaikin, is a novel similar to the Regency Romances my cousin and I enjoyed when we were young adults, only with more depth. Combining a dashing aristocrat, a sweet and lovely young woman of mystery, and a death that may not have been of natural causes, this has all the ingredients for an enjoyable read, coupled with well-researched historical information for both England and South Africa in the 1800s. It also includes a missionary theme interwoven with the fascinating mystery and, of course, a sweet romance. It's part two of a three part trilogy but it was fine that I hadn't read part one. One caveat to this book if you loan it to an elderly parent. It moves back and forth in time to heighten the suspense. It's a common tactic in many of today's TV shows, but that can make it hard for an aging parent to follow it. I'll be passing it on to my senior mom, but I'll warn her about that so she'll know what to expect. They do a great job of helping you keep track by putting the dates in the top, which I very much appreciated.

Both books combine interesting stories with faith-based plots to make our waiting periods a lot more interesting. I'm recommending them to you and plan to send some as gifts to a couple of my senior adult bookworms. They'll make a great Random Act of Kindness.  For that matter, I bet my sweet cousin will enjoy them along with a couple of my daughters. Definitely good books for all of my Sandwich Generation friends and family.  If you'd like to pick some up as well, you can find them at Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group, who provided these books for this review.  A hearty thank you to them for the blog tour and for providing all of us in the Sandwich Generation with some great reading options.