With Valentine's Day just around the corner, and today being Word-Filled Wednesday, this Sandwich Generation granny nanny decided to have some creative fun this season, combining encouraging Bible verses about love with cute country clipart from Trina and Friends. And while there may be no snow outside, I'm having SNOW MUCH FUN inside with these cute Valentine snowpeople. Here's a cute duo – one in color and one in black and white, thanks to one of my new favorite and fun apps for the iPhone – Instant Sketch. 

The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you. 2 Corinthians 13:14 (MESSAGE)

What an awesome "Valentine" from God to us. And what a fun way of sharing these words of encouragement with our grandkids.

I thought these might be fun Valentines for some of our grandkids to enjoy coloring or maybe even share with some of their friends, not to mention their grandparents and great-grandparents. Happy Early Valentines Day from my Sandwich Generation Family to yours.

Kaye

While Colorado and other areas were wrapped in snow, my Sandwich Generation family has been blissfully exulting in off and on spring-like weather – much of it quite delightful.

We did get a hint of a storm the other day. (Check out this photo – shot with my easy to use digital camera in my iPhone and edited on my Mac with my latest of the fun photo editing apps, this time, though, for the Mac instead of the iPhone! It's called PaintBrush! It's not as easy to work with as Picnik.com but it's the easiest I've discovered so far, so I'm going to keep trying it. What do you think? I just resized the pictures and added the text. )

But all that came from those stormy looking clouds were a few sprinkles and then they were on their way, leaving my grandkids and me laughing with glee over ball tag and kickball in the MIDDLE OF WINTER.

Uh Oh, though. So many trees are sprouting too early. It will definitely be "interesting" for this Sandwich Generation granny nanny and senior mom to see what happens with gardening over the next few weeks and months. How about your weather – are you getting spring instead of winter too? Or even summer?  Don't forget, you can enjoy more fun photos at Sweet Shot Tuesday. Also, easy to use though they may be, if you have questions about your digital camera, she has a photo twitterchat coming up tomorrow. And… 

Kaye

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, it's definitely time to make sure we have our Valentines ready for our Sandwich Generation family. I just mailed off some kids' fun and easy crafts and activities Valentine cards for my long distance grand kids that I found at Walmart and Dollar Tree. I'm thinking my compadre seniors-in-law might have fun helping the grandkids work on them.

I admit, I also enjoy cute SMALL goodies to go with the cards. For the kids, I do avoid candies, preferring something like the fun and small Webkinz stuffed animals I also sent off earlier, thanks to the great deals on Amazon. It's perfect timing for them to update their account for another year!

For older grandkids and their parents, I love to give "HUGS" via thick towels I find on sale, cozy fleece or Sherpa throws and blankets, or encouraging and interesting books. My sweet seniors love all the Karen Kingsbury Christian novels. Her latest books are  Longing, which just came out in  November, and Loving, which is due to be released in March. It's a fun way to spread out the holiday if you get both of them.

For the younger grandkids, another fun and inexpensive non-edible treat is one of the Happy Meal Toys from McDonalds. Unlike some other restaurant fast food chains, McDonald's is wonderful about letting you buy the toys WITHOUT buying the Happy Meals – making them a great treat for all grandkids, including those dealing with food allergies and intolerance symptoms. Right now, they have some uber cool Hot Wheels cars my grandboys are loving, along with some girly toys (Barbie I think?) for the grandgirls.

For those who do prefer the traditional candy, I gotta tell you, I am currently hooked on Lindt Lindor Dark Chocolate Truffles. Oh…my…delicious….gracious!!!! They are so tasty and healthier than plain chocolate (after all, they do say Dark Chocolate is the "new vegetables." I don't know about that. I DO know that when the Sandwich Generation juggle starts getting on my nerves, lots of prayer and a couple of those tasty treats are a GREAT RX!

Well, that's my main Valentine's Day shopping list. What's yours? We're always up for more fun and creative gifts ideas for our Sandwich Generation family members – from grand kids to the beloved elderly seniors!  :)

Kaye

It's Super Bowl Sunday! I have to admit, I'm not a big football fan (though if any of my grandkids starts playing it, that will change – at least for the time they play ). I don't even pay that close of attention to the funny commercials, though I usually get to enjoy one or two of the best, thanks to the TV news. Nope, this Sandwich Generation granny nanny's favorite sports are whatever my grandkids are playing and right now – that's Upward basketball. 

One of my favorite parts of any Upwards sport is that they have the kids work on encouraging Bible memory verses through the week and I get to have fun helping them practice saying them. This week, we've been working on Joshua 1:9 from the NIrV and I have to tell you, it's been such an extra special blessing to me and is so perfect for so many situations, including the Sandwich Generation issues of life!

"Here is what I am commanding you to do. Be strong and brave. Do not be terrified. Do not lose hope. I am the LORD your God. I will be with you everywhere you go." 

This was already a favorite Bible verse of my grandkids and myself. I love to sing them the version I learned from GT and the Halo Express, back when my kids were young. Thanks to that song, they already knew the verse but I still keep having them say it and listen to it. I don't think we can ever get enough of this particular one. What do you think?

So when your life feels a bit like the stormy clouds in the picture above, I pray that this comforting and uplifting Scripture will be as much a blessing to you and your family as it is to me and my family – in AND out of the Sandwich Generation. Happy Spiritual Sunday!  

Kaye

Are you, like so many of us in the Sandwich Generation, caring for a family member – whether your elderly parents, or another member – with some type of major illness or other special needs? I just learned something new that I had never heard of and thought it might prove useful for some caregivers. Most will never need this but for those who might, here's the scoop.

Did you know that there are special plastic laundry bags, called melt-away water soluble laundry bags, that dissolve in the hot water wash? These are primarily geared for medical care facilities but they are available at Amazon, among other places, and I could think of a couple of instances where they might come in handy for senior OR junior home care givers, can't you? Even if it's just to give a weary caregiver an occasional break from dealing with certain unpleasant odors when doing the wash. It may seem minute, but I still have vivid memories of one beloved's clothes, many years later, during the last couple of weeks and I would have loved anything that could lessen that. And, of course, if you are dealing with someone with a contagious illness, that's exactly what these are well-suited for.

Per Amazon, These Sani-Melt Water Soluble Laundry Bags…designed to isolate soiled or contaminated linen — are a great way to manage dirty or infected laundry while protecting your staff! Clear bags can be washed along with linen contents. Bag ties dissolve at 40 degrees F, the bag itself dissolves in hot water flush at 140 degrees F.

As I explained at the beginning, I doubt most of us caring for elderly parents or other family members will ever need these melt-away bags. But I've learned from experience to pass on anything unique like this because there WILL be some of us who will be thrilled to learn of these bags. And any useful little tips for taking care of elderly parents or any other family members in the Sandwich Generation are always such a blessing to share as well as learn, don't you think? And speaking of great tips to help caregivers, the latest Twitter #ElderCareChat recap is now available at Seniors For Living. Great resources for the Sandwich Generation, all!  

Kaye

Because of all the various issues, including health, that my Sandwich Generation family is dealing with on a regular basis, we do spend a LOT of time in the car!  I'm always on the lookout for great educational and character building resources for quiet times together and I've got two excellent resources to share with you this week and next.

The first is one I've mentioned before – Down Gilead Lane. It's a Kids Christian radio drama full of interesting stories, character building episodes, and plenty of Biblical values – and it's really fun to listen to!  You can actually listen to episodes at no cost at CBH Ministries or buy them on CD or as mp3 downloads to listen to in the car or on your iPod or other mp3 player.

I first bought a couple of their CDs back when my oldest grandchild was about 10 or 11. We had a long drive ahead of us and I thought they would help to make the trip a bit more enjoyable. They did! And I enjoyed the stories as much as she did! Now my 8 and 10 year old grandsons have started listening and they are all enjoying them just as much. 

The stories center around the Morrison Family – five kids and their parents – living in a small town. They have a variety of friends, some saved, some not. There is mystery, intrigue, family fun, drama, happy times, and sad times – and it's all Christ-centered and biblically based. We are currently listening to the stories about a beloved family friend who is a senior citizen. He is in the midst of developing Alzheimer's Disease and I was wiping away tears as we listened to the story of how he disappeared for a few hours during a storm. Having lived through something similar with a great-aunt, I used this as an excellent opportunity to talk about ways to deal with this situation if it ever occurs again.

I know, from listening to some special episodes set later than this story, that his passing away will also be dealt with – and with senior grandparents on both coasts, I am sure that will be another good opportunity to plant seeds of love, compassion, and caring in the hearts and minds of my grandkids – both from the stories themselves and from our chats as we listen.

And yes, I continue to listen to AND enjoy these stories right along with my grandkids. They truly are very interesting. There are 12 seasons in all, with 12 half hour shows per season. I was able to purchase a complete set of all 12 episodes on CDs during an extra great discounted sale this past Christmas, so if you think you want to buy them, signing up for their email list can be a great idea. I've transferred them to my iPod and "iTouch" and my grandteen is enjoying the new episodes as much as the rest of the grandkids!

I enjoyed reading some of the CBH history in an article by the West Michigan Christian News. I still remember my own kids listening to some of the original radio programs with their home schooling buddies many years ago – talk about your sweet family memories! 

I love the fact that these are audio stories rather than video. Don't get me wrong – I do enjoy TV (LOVE my TIVO), but, as Dr. Michael Rich, MD, MPH, Children’s Hospital Boston’s media expert and director of Children’s Center on Media and Child Health, puts it in the article, Are audiobooks a good use of kids’ time?, "Audiobooks are valuable media for your children because they don’t pre-digest imagery for them. That means that as your kids listen to the stories, they’re given the exquisite experience of actively imagining the worlds they’re hearing about, rather than having the characters and scenery presented to them like in a book or TV show." (Hmmm – sounds like that would make it excellent brain exercise for all of us boomers and seniors as well )

You can get more information about all of this, plus find out about more of the great Christian resources they offer our kids and grandkids, by clicking here. And whether you're out and about on those zillion errands that are a part of our Sandwich Generation lives, or gathered around the computer the way our senior parents used to gather around the radio, enjoy some quality programming and fun stories with your grandkids. You'll treasure your own sweet family memories in the years to come as well. And be sure to check back next week for another interesting audio resource. In fact, to make sure you don't miss it…

P.S.I thought I'd use one of my fun new iPhone apps, Ransom Letters, to wish you all -

Kaye

Eyesight and aging eye changes can definitely be an issue for the whole Sandwich Generation family – from grandtots in eyeglasses to senior parents facing cataract surgery. And one that is especially concerning to me personally, and perhaps to many of you, is Macular Degeneration. Since this is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Awareness month, I thought it would be good to share some important facts about this not-very-nice disease that my own senior dad had. 

According to the National Institutes of Health:

Macular degeneration, or age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 60 and older. It is a disease that destroys your sharp, central vision. You need central vision to see objects clearly and to do tasks such as reading and driving.

AMD affects the macula, which is the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail. It doesn't hurt, but it causes cells in the macula to die. In some cases, AMD advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision. In others, the disease progresses much faster and may lead to a loss of vision in both eyes. Regular comprehensive eye exams can detect macular degeneration before the disease causes any vision loss. Treatment can slow down vision loss, but it does not restore vision.

They have some very useful and comprensive information and FAQs for us at their site, Facts About Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Genentech and the American Society of Retina Specialists also share some concerning info about this disease including:

"The same things that put you at risk for heart disease and stroke also put you at risk for AMD, such as:

• Obesity
• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol

I was surprised to discover that gender (WOMEN more than men) is one of the other things that play an important role in whether you might get this disease, along with age (over 60), and family history. You can read all the warning signs and find more useful information at their site, AMD Awareness.

As Dr. Ryne C. Wood, Optometrist with Leet EyeCare in Missouri, points out, "February is AMD Awareness Month and we encourage all people, especially those at higher risk for this disease, to familiarize themselves with the potential symptoms and need for regular eye examinations." Sounds like good advice for all of us in the Sandwich Generation, along with our senior parents! 

P.S. If you'd like more information on this subject, you might like to check into the book, The First Year: Age-Related Macular Degeneration: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed by Daniel L. Roberts, which comes in a Kindle and Extra Large Print books. Mr. Roberts is a patient of AMD himself and has a resource-full website devoted to the topic of AMD.

P.P.S.

Kaye

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

Last year, I wrote that it was the "year of weird weather" for my whole Sandwich Generation family! Apparently, this year is trying to tie that record! We've gone from ice cold freezIng to California-style warmth to snow to tornadoes to EARLY DAFFODILS! WOW! My senior mom is thrilled and hoping to get back to gardening early, while another sweet senior is concerned we'll get a late frost that will wipe out fruit tree crops. Hmmmmm!

Inside, things are warm, busy and fun with the Words With Friends game app, old AND new LEGOs activities, checkers, and plenty of solid ABCs with junior high homework and gradeschool homeschooling programs like Time4Learning.com.

Not only that! My grandsons have been working hard in my living room creating ever new and very cool forts! Today's fort has been dubbed the "beaver lodge." (Yup, the Wild Kratt Brothers are still a fun part of this weird winter season.)

Check out a couple of their fort-tastic forts - 

Total pillows for this grandchild:

This grandkid added a chair to help stabilize his longer fort:

I'm continuing to enjoy researching easy (and not-so-easy) options and iPhone apps for editing photos from my digital camera. Lots of fun goodies out there that I'll be sharing on Mondays – starting with yesterday's WordFoto  (Great reds for Rednesday ) and the new online and app tool, Pixlr, I tried out today.  Gotta find some good tools for photos for Sweet Shot Tuesday, right?  

Well, that's the good AND bad weather and home news around here. So, how's the weather in your Sandwich Generation neck of the woods? 
 And…

Kaye

Well! Who knew! That sad sad news about Picnik.com has turned into pretty good news for this Sandwich Generation granny nanny. It sent me off on a hunt for a replacement for an easy to use photo editor for my photos from each digital camera and in the process, I've discovered SEVERAL great new tools – most on my iPhone, but not all. And yes, I'd LOVE to share the cream of the crop with you over the next few weeks, starting with a fun new iPhone app, Wordfoto, that is $1.99.

I used it yesterday for my post, Verse By Verse Bible Studies “To Go” Are A Blessing for the Busy Sandwich Generation, to create this fun picture with encouraging Bible verses:

And here's another cute picture I whipped up in just a matter of minutes. All you have to do is:

• Open the Wordfoto app
• Press the 2nd icon at the top of the app
• Select your picture
• Select T from the bottom of the app
• Click on Add New Word set
• Type one word in each block, click return – you can enter up to 10 words – and words can be a max of 12 letters 
• When you are done entering the words, click on BACK at the top
• Select the word set you want 
• It then creates your Wordfoto and voila, you have your picture.

You can also crop your picture, do some fine tuning, and even change the shading like these:

It's a fun little app that you and your grandkids might have fun with - for example, how about using it for spelling words with a picture of your granddog?

Wouldn't they have fun looking for that spelling word? It would also be fun for easy handmade greetings cards crafts for grandkids and all us seniors. It's definitely one of those fun and useful little apps for the iPhone that are handy grandparents in the Sandwich Generation.

Kaye