I've enjoyed focusing on WORDS the last couple of weeks including lots of fun with phonics and spelling as we have been playing the Words With Friends game apps as well as Hangman, I've also seen a focus on THE WORD here and in my grandsons' schoolwork, as they are memorizing the encouraging Bible verses from John 1. That's one of my favorite passages! I love the way it points up the importance of The Word and the fact that IN Jesus "all things came into being" AND the truth that Jesus, The Word, is God. What joy to join with Thomas and say, "My Lord and my God !" John 20:28. 

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. 9 There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.' " 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses ; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.  John 1:1-17

I've shared these very thoughts with my grandkids over the last couple of week, planting sweet seeds of the Word of God in their hearts and minds along with the prayer that God would multiply those seeds into a blessed harvest in the years and decades to come. Such a sweet joy for this Sandwich Generation granny nanny on this Word-Filled Wednesday! How about you and your grandkids? Been enjoying any particular Bible verses with them lately? We'd love to hear.

P.S. I've been having fun experimenting with different photo editors and apps and writing about them, primarily on Mondays, as I research replacement(s) for Picnik.com. So I came up with TWO different variations to share some of these vital truths from John 1. Ransom Letters is at the top, followed by WordFoto, which I wrote about on Monday in The Sandwich Generation Granny Nanny Loves Fun iPhone Apps That Make for Creative Activities for Grand kids and Grandparents – Like WordFoto. Seriously fun for me and, hopefully, serious fun for you. What do you think of them?

Kaye

Words With Friends Plus Encouraging Bible Verses Spell A Fun Way for The Sandwich Generation Grandparents and Grandkids!

Our Sandwich Generation family has some strong competitive genes, including my grandkids! They come by it honestly from both sides, so I can't complain. But I do work hard to couple that drive with practicing positive encouragement and good sportsmanship. We just started playing the enjoyable and addictive Words With Friends game apps and, in addition to the fun phonics and reading activities it provides, it's also been a great opportunity to work on winning AND losing gracefully.

Encourage one another and build up one another.  1 Thessalonians 5:11

I confess, we are definitely NOT perfect at it, but we're sure having fun practicing!  For more encouraging Bible verses for all of us in the Sandwich Generation, from senior parents to grandkids, check out Internet Cafe Devotions on this Word-Filled Wednesday. And…

Kaye

My grandson and I love to make homemade applesauce. Not only does he love to eat it, he enjoys helping me mash it through the cooking process, as well. I, on the other hand, really love the delightful fragrance that wafts throughout the home. As he and I were making some this morning, I reminded him of the encouraging Bible verses in 2 Corinthians 2, including…

Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14

I had him smell the delightful aroma and then pointed out that when we do kind things for others, through caregiving, obeying God, being honest, etc., that gives off a "spiritual fragrance" that can help point others to the Lord Jesus. I'm not quite sure he totally "got it" but I loved planting the seed in his heart, for the Lord to care for through the years. 

For more encouraging and comforting Bible verses for all of us – in AND out of the Sandwich Generation, you can visit Internet Cafe Devotions for a lovely Word-Filled Wednesday. And…

Kaye

I had been blessed by this encouraging Scripture from Isaiah in the morning, before I went out for a walk with my granddog and his mom. So when I spotted these adorable pink flowers right smack dab in WINTER, the inspirational words immediately came back to my mind. What a sweet treat to share with you on this last Word-Filled Wednesday in 2011. And what a joy to delight in one of the sweet promises of God in the Bible – as true now as it was then, and fully applicable to all of us, in AND out of the Sandwich Generation. 

Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth ; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

It's such a joy to end this year with encouraging Bible verses, isn't it? Definitely good news for all of us boomers and seniors! You can find more delightful inspiration for all of us in the Sandwich Generation at Internet Cafe Devotions. And have a blessed week as we say good-bye to 2011.

Kaye

My grandkids and I enjoyed some holiday one-on-one time over the last few weeks. One of the activities a grandchild helped me with was preparing this cute Christmas clipart to remind us of the wealth of gifts we have received on Christmas Day. It started with the baby – our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. It's also such a joy for this Sandwich Generation granny nanny to remember, and share with the grandkids – and with you – all the gifts we have IN Him…

 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly places IN Christ. Ephesians 1:3

WOW! Now that is definitely an awesome gift for Christmas, isn't it! EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly places! And if you go read all of Ephesians 1, you'll discover even more sweet treasures and gifts from our Heavenly Father, Who loves us so much. Talk about your encouraging Bible verses along with such wonderful Advent truths to share with our whole family during devotions and activities, from the kids and grand children on up to the sweet elderly parents we are caring for.  

And you'll find even more inspirational and uplifting Scriptures at Internet Cafe Devotions for this Word-Filled Wednesday. See you there!

Kaye

As a Sandwich Generation granny nanny, one of my greatest desires is to see all my beloveds walking with the Lord Jesus Christ. Leaving a sweet spiritual legacy is of vital importance to us all, isn't it? As I read the news headlines, it seems like things are getting darker and gloomier, and I'm not referring to the shortened days of winter! Perhaps that is why, as I visit various sites, I've noticed a "theme" that seems to be running through so many blog posts – one that I personally think is a sweet gift from God to all of us. 

LIGHT!

As I wrote two weeks ago, for the first of my Wednesday Advent devotionals, Jesus told us, HE is the light of this world. Not only that, as Amy reminds us, we are ALSO supposed to let our light shine out to this dark world, that others might see God in and through us. As Paul reminds us in the encouraging Bible verses from Ephesians 5, we are to:

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us…you are light IN the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth). Eph. 5:2,8b-9 (NIV)

What an inspirational Scripture to meditate on as we prepare our hearts during this Advent season. And what lovely and encouraging Bible verses to share with our grandkids as well. 

Have a blessed week, and enjoy more comforting and uplifting Bible verses and pictures at Internet Cafe Devotions for Word-Filled Wednesday. Also, Peggy at Amazing Grace has several links for lovely Christmas praise and worship music and hymn songs at her Christmas Carol blog hop. And…

Kaye

Things have been a bit crazy around my Sandwich Generation family, with one set of guests leaving, and another arriving. Caregiving duties centered around doctors and physical therapy are also keeping my senior mom and myself on the go more than normal. Thus time with grandkids has been busier than ever. So I'm really appreciating the Amanda Bennett Christmas eBook I downloaded and am using as my "roadmap" for this season of Advent and Christmas activities, devotions and ideas for kids and grand children, along with another favorite, The ADVENTure of Christmas by Lisa Whelchel. I ordered some of the books she recommended and three are on their way, with the fourth already here – I'll be writing about it (them?) on Friday. I must say, one of the things I'm especially enjoying about her eBook is its focus on how Jesus was the fulfillment of so many prophecies made hundreds of years before He was born. 

Here's some of the encouraging Bible verses from this week:

The angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying , Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for He shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.  Matthew 1:20-23

One of the things I often ask my grandkids is, "What is the BEST gift for Christmas." And they know me well enough to reply, loudly and with gusto, "JESUS!" And my next question is usually, "What is the BEST gift we can give GOD for Christmas," to which they replay, "ourselves!"  My prayer is that, as the years go by, these questions and answers will dig their way ever deeper into their hearts, my heart, and your heart, as we rejoice in the miracle of God's precious love for us! 

Have a blessed week of Advent and Christmas joy. For more encouraging and comforting Bible verses, be sure to visit Internet Cafe Devotions for Word-Filled Wednesday. And don't forget about our Caregiving.com Holiday Progressive Blog Party. Be sure to leave a comment below to join in the giveaway fun for all of us.

P.S. Another great book full of Christmas and Advent devotions and activities for our kids and grand children is the ADVENTure of Christmas by Lisa Whelchel. It's fun to read and fun to use. 

P.P.S. Point of Grace has a lovely praise and worship hymn song that goes so well with these encouraging Bible verses  - For Unto Us. Click here to enjoy one of my Smilebox eCards Creations with it. It's a sweet treat for your whole family – in AND out of the Sandwich Generation! 

Kaye

Merry Christmas and Advent Blessings to you all! Holiday blog party fun is in full swing this week! A special welcome to Denise Brown and Caregiving.Com with their lovely Holiday Progressive Blog Party that starts TODAY and goes on til December 10, as well as warm greetings to y'all visiting from Charlotte's Spiritual Sunday, Floss's A Pause in Advent, or one of the other great sites around blogland. It's such a blessing to so many of us in the Sandwich Generation to be able to enjoy all these delightful gatherings right from our own home, isn't it? 

So pull up a comfy chair, grab a lovely cup of tea, and enjoy some special Christmas and Advent praise and worship music, as we prepare our hearts for Christmas. Which tea cup am I using? Well, I have some delightful vintage ones from my grandparents as well as some special and newer ones I enjoyed selecting over the years – but currently, they're all in storage. I left them there in order to join forces with grandkids and senior mom due to various family health needs in both the senior and the junior generations. That's often one of the "joys" of the Sandwich Generation – having to put things away in storage to move due to caregiving needs. Or perhaps senior parents have moved in with you, which can also require weeding out and storing away special, but rarely used items. And that's OK! Because, for  me – and I know tis true for so many of you, those hugs and cuddles from the grandkids and the sweet smiles and thank yous from our senior parents or other beloved relatives make it all worthwhile.

Nowadays, I enjoy my tea and my cocoa in this adorable Snowman cup one sweet grandchild gave me last Christmas. So, here's a virtual "CLINK" from my cup to yours, and one of my Smilebox eCards Creations with a favorite Christmas song to touch our hearts and homes. Point of Grace has such lovely Christmas praise and worship hymn songs and fun music on their Winter Wonderland album and, to me, For Unto Us is a special treasure to enjoy and to share with your whole family – from young grandkids to elderly senior parents.

I do love this beautiful hymn song, based on Isaiah 9:6...

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

…both the music and the words! Don't you? I get wonderfully caught up in it and am reminded of Who is truly in control in this world full of struggles and difficulties. What a blessing! How about you? What's your favorite Christmas praise and worship music? 

Well, it's been a delightful visit for our Christmas Holiday Progressive Blog Party. Whether you came from Caregiving, A Pause in Advent, Spiritual Sunday, or beyond, I'd love for you to leave a comment. I will be giving away two Amazon $15 gift cards! One here at SandwichINK AND one at Caregiving.com.  These are great for a new caregiving book (did you know that The Complete Eldercare Planner by Joy Loverde is now available on the Kindle), encouraging and comforting Christmas praise and worship music, or maybe a fun new game to play with the grandkids. Just leave a comment anywhere and anytime this week (through 8 p.m. EST on December 10, 2011) at SandwichINK for my giveaway. Then check out Caregiving.com for their rules. And Merry Christmas to all – in AND out of the Sandwich Generation.

P.S. I'm also joining in with the Christmas tea at Rose Chintz Cottage – a sweet treat for all of us in the Sandwich Generation, full of lovely lights and colors, sweet memories and encouraging inspiration, and encouraging Bible verses to send us on our way, refreshed by such a lovely treat. Enjoy! 

Kaye

Merry Christmas Time! My grandkids and I are enjoying Advent devotions and activities for kids and grand children in the midst of fun and sometimes chaotic days. Along with an old favorite of mine, The ADVENTure of Christmas by Lisa Whelchel, I also found a great little Christmas ebook full of Advent activities, ideas, Bible verses, book ideas and more for children from Amanda Bennett, that is giving me a good "roadmap" to follow during this season.

It's actually geared for homeschooling, but works well for grandparents babysitting grandchildren as well, so there is plenty there for those who want to use it every day for the whole month. I'm just picking and choosing from it, though, during the moments I have. It's nice to have this roadmap though, as God brings to mind different things from it to share with a grandkid here or there periodically. This is one of the encouraging Bible verses from the first week…

“In him [Jesus] was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4 

…along with another favorite of mine…

Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world ; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." John 8:12

One of the grands spent the night, and as I was helping him get dressed in the morning, we sang Christmas carols and talked about Jesus coming to earth as a baby, and how that fulfilled so many prophecies – something this series focuses on. And don't these Scriptures go great with Sunday's praise and worship music from Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman, Light of the World? :) I love it when God helps a very busy, sometimes overwhelmed Sandwich Generation granny nanny like that.

For more comforting and inspiring Bible verses and pictures for a lovely Word-Filled Wednesday, be sure to visit Internet Cafe Devotions. 

P.S. You can find more Advent activities and ideas for all ages, from kids to seniors, at Keeping the Christmas Spirit Alive 365. 

P.P.S. If you are looking for a great Christmas resource for Advent devotionals for the kids or grand children, click here to find out more about this Christmas Adventure "download n go, or click here to check out The ADVENTure of Christmas by Lisa Whelchel. They are both terrific resources for us – in AND out of the Sandwich Generation!

Kaye

My grandkids and I were talking about God and sin and how to deal with it last week. I shared with them the encouraging Scripture, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." from 1 John 1:9. This Sunday, that verse came up again in church. It's definitely one of those sweet promises of God in the Bible that also makes for great memory verses for our whole Sandwich Generation family from seniors on down to the children and grandchildren, don't you think?

As I've shared before, I'm so grateful to Campus Crusade for Christ and one of their terrific little booklets that taught me about the concept of Spiritual Breathing:

If you retake the throne of your life through sin — a definite act of disobedience — breathe spiritually.

Spiritual breathing (exhaling the impure and inhaling the pure) is an exercise in faith that enables you to continue to experience God's love and forgiveness.

Exhale — confess your sin — agree with God concerning your sin and thank Him for His forgiveness of it, according to 1 John 1:9 and Hebrews 10:1-25. Confession involves repentance – a change in attitude and action.

Inhale — surrender the control of your life to Christ, and appropriate (receive) the fullness of the Holy Spirit by faith. Trust that He now directs and empowers you; according to the command of Ephesians 5:18, and the promise of 1 John 5:14, 15.

That has been a real blessing in my life and I have already started teaching the principles to my grandkids.

For more encouraging and comforting Bible verses and pictures, be sure to visit Internet Cafe Devotions. And have a blessed and Word-filled Wednesday as you go about your Sandwich Generation day of caring for elderly parents, while caring for your children or babysitting your grandchildren.  

Kaye