I have found one of the simplest ways to connect with my grandson is to spend time doing things we enjoy in common. The best part is that we have time to relax and talk to each other while we’re engaged in a fun activity.

I’ve been working on my watercolor painting skills. Trust me, I need lots of practice. When my grandson is with me during the summer, we occasionally sit on the porch and paint together. I sometimes explain techniques I am learning or we talk about the subjects we are painting.

We were both painting outdoor scenes a few days ago. Mine was a big sky over a farm, his was a small sky over a volcanic dinosaur-inhabited landscape. The conversation about our subjects flowed seamlessly into a discussion about God’s creation. Mostly he talked while I listened.

My grandson told me things he learned from Genesis during his first year of school. We talked about Noah and the Ark; how Noah did what God commanded; and how God saved Noah, his family, and the different kinds of animals from the flood. Double bonus: time to paint and to share our faith!

When was the last time you introduced one of your grandchildren to a favorite hobby? I highly recommend it.

What are your hobbies? Let us know at: www.spirituallegacymemoir.com

During the off season, I use the best quality canned tomatoes available to make my grandson’s favorite Homemade Tomato-Basil Soup. That all changes mid-summer, when the vines in my little veggie garden start kicking out mouthwatering, vine-ripened fruits. This week, I fulfilled my grandson’s menu request – and watched it vanish before my eyes. Start to finish, it takes about 20 minutes to make this flavorful soup.

Ingredients (approximate measurements)

• 1 tablespoon each, olive oil and butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 cloves  chopped garlic
• 10-12 fresh, ripe garden tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 handful fresh basil, torn or chopped
• (Optional) small amount of milk or cream

In deep pan, slowly heat onion in olive oil and butter until translucent. Add garlic and cook an additional minute or two. Add salt and pepper.

In separate pan, lower tomatoes into boiling water and heat for 1 minute. Remove from pan with slotted spoon and place in a bowl to cool. Remove cores and skin, discard. Use your hands to smash tomato pulp. Add to onion-garlic mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cook 5 minutes. Add basil leaves.

Use an immersion blender (or standard blender) to mix ingredients to desired consistency. If needed, thin mixture with a small amount of water or tomato juice. Adjust seasonings to suit your family’s tastes. Serve with a sprinkling of grated cheese and/or chopped basil leaves.

My grandson likes a little milk added to his serving bowl to reduce the acidity of the tomatoes. He mixes it into the soup with the bit of cheese I sprinkle on top.

Yield, 3-4 servings.

Here it is, the closest flag on the practice green where I am showing off my lack of golf skills. It’s about 120 yards out and with a little luck, I can bounce a golf ball about halfway to the flag. The few occasions when I manage to get near the goal come as total surprises. Those only happen after a lot of misses. I keep swinging through those crummy hits, partly because it felt good to exercise, and partly because I want to see if practice really does make perfect.

Being a writer, my thoughts automatically turn to the discipline of writing. Like golf, or any other learned skill, writing takes practice. Don’t try to write the next great novel on a practice round. Just see if you can improve one technique. Read a book on the topic, or try out some of the techniques your favorite authors use. Allow yourself the simple pleasure of practicing.

Several people have told me they would like to write a memoir for their grandchildren. What’s stopping them? “I’m not a good writer” or “I don’t have time” are the most common excuses I hear. That’s where practice rounds come in. They provide a chance to test out your skills without high expectations. Plus, practice doesn’t require a lot of time.

Try it. When you find yourself thinking about a grandchild, jot those ideas down in a notebook or on your laptop. You’ll gain a sense of accomplishment and might even improve your writing skill. Who knows, you might hit a perfect shot to your goal.

This is a weekend of graduations. On Friday, my grandson said goodbye to Kindergarten with a ceremony, a diploma, and a class picnic. His biggest hurrah is the end of afternoon naps. For me, it’s a reason to celebrate another milestone in his life. I noted some of his accomplishments: reading the entire Children’s Bible, mastery of the sign language alphabet, and an art portfolio that sings of his creative spirit.

Many of our friends were cheering their own graduates as well. The house parties and Facebook posts for elementary, high school, and college graduates lit up anticipation of the next great firsts as they bade farewell to the former. It’s easy to think the crisp edges of celebratory memories will resist fading. It’s natural to expect the coming years will brew up more reasons to celebrate. It’s common to forget this life doesn’t promise any nexts.

This is also the weekend we celebrate Memorial Day. It is a solemn reminder of those who sacrificed their remaining firsts so people like me can revel in the toothy grins of our favorite graduates. I share my appreciation for their sacrifices with my grandson, who has been known to freely erupt in a slightly off-key rendition of the “Star Spangled Banner” at any given moment. I view it as part of his training as an American citizen to appreciate the blessings God has bestowed upon him. Give it a big hurrah!

Read this and other blog posts at: SpiritualLegacyMemoir.com.

It surprised me to realize Jesus is a feminist, although it is should be no surprise considering the way He interacted with women in this world. Way back in Genesis 2:7, the “Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” It’s not until Genesis 2:21-22, after the garden had been planted, the rivers were nourishing it with heavenly waters, and Adam had taken up farming, that God introduced woman into His private paradise without so much as a mention of dust.

In contrast to the inequality argument some modern-day women profess, in God’s eyes, we have always been equal but different. Beyond the obvious physical characteristics, scientific research continues to reinforce the distinct qualities of male and female brains and genetics. I am a member of the female camp who appreciates how Jesus favored us. God did that!

The Bible contains numerous accounts of women who held positions of authority and ran successful businesses. Read a few about Lydia in Acts 16:12-15, 40; Philippians 1:1-10. Flip over to the account in Matthew 28. Mary and the other Mary were heading to the tomb where Jesus was placed after his death, only to find it empty. Talk about favoritism! The women were the ones who delivered the news to the men, who by the way were in hiding. (Granted, they were wanted by local authorities.)

When you talk to your granddaughters, do you remind them how Jesus demonstrated His love for women? Or, do you remain silent, leaving them to hear messages that are contradictory to the Word of God? I believe Jesus wants your granddaughters to be confident of themselves and to embrace the complementary role we have with men. Be an intentional part of that conversation.

Share your thoughts on this topic at: SpiritualLegacyMemoir.com.

If you’re one of those lucky grandparents who interacts with grandsons (or boys in general) on a regular basis, these simple lessons could help keep you sane. For those whose grandsons are with you less frequently – say during holidays or out-of-town visits – keep these lessons handy. The same rule about sanity applies regardless of how often they are applied.

Lesson #1 – Let them be boys.

Give them space to get physical, both literally and figuratively. If that means a pillow fight in the living room, be sure the family heirlooms are safely stored away before the feathers fly. Trust me, this activity will only last for a few minutes, but the giggles will last for years.

Lesson #2 – Protect your property.

Plan diversionary tactics before the pillow fight begins. This reduces the need to blurt out such comments as “Watch out for that lamp!” or “Don’t try to knock off his head!” Instead, you might more calmly say, “Hey guys, let’s put the pillows back on the sofa (after we get it upright) and race the remote-control cars.” This tactic works most of the time.

Lesson #3 – Sometimes boys need to sit.

Slow the tempo with a few breaks to read stories. Ignore the initial objections and give them a few minutes to stop jumping on each other before you begin to read. Choose an easy-reader book on a topic of interest to them: dinosaurs, automotives, animals, or whatever… Before you know it, they’ll be pointing out “sight words” they learned at school. Score some points for providing a teachable moment. That’s about how long it will last.

Lesson #4 – Review lesson #1.

Expect to see more cars, wrestling, and/or makeshift weaponry as soon as a story is finished. You can’t keep a 6-year-old boy down for long. Divide that time in half if you’re dealing with two boys and divide that time in half for each additional boy. Put a reminder in the “notes” app on your phone, a pledge that you will allow your grandson to invite only one boy per play date.

Lesson #5 – Boys like to play with food.

Let them help prepare their own dinner – after they wash their hands, of course. Try something easy, say, “Make Your Own Pizzas”. Portion off thawed pizza dough and let each boy roll out his own crust. Then provide sauce, cheese, and pepperoni as toppings. (That’s probably all you’ll need, unless you have a culinary child prodigy who prefers exotic ingredients like green peppers or olives.)

Lesson #6 – Let them pray.

Before the guys tear into their pizzas, give them time to thank Jesus for the food they are about to eat. You might be surprised by what you hear when they are given the opportunity to express thanks in their own words. Sometimes, not always, in addition to thanks for food you may hear thanks for the time they had to play together and thanks for the people who allowed them to just be 6-year-old boys.

Bonus Lesson – For those who have granddaughters.

Take heart. For the most part, the lessons presented above apply to girls, except there is more pink and lace involved. Let them be girls, and let their interests drive the choice of activities. Yes, this might involve nail polish on grandpa’s fingernails to go along with his intriguing new hairstyle. Just keep a comb and some polish remover handy for after they leave.

Add your own lessons to the list at: SpiritualLegacyMemoir.com.

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