What & Where is True Happiness & Joy? - Coffee & Conversation

Do we need something complicated or elaborate to make us happy?

Do we need something beautiful or intricate to make us happy?

Do we need something expensive or outlandish to make us happy?

No I believe that mostly the simplest of things make us happy.

A Silly Picture

This picture that I saw on Facebook one day really made me laugh out loud.

Photo Credit - Holiday Spirit

 A Funny Word that makes us Laugh

 A Familiar Taste

So happy that there was one Mr Frostie ice pop left in the box because I don't like the Mrs Frosties

A Sense of Satisfaction over something we Achieve.  

The highest score I have ever got for one turn in a game of Wordfeud.

When we try and plan things to be happy events or special moments or fantastic pictures, they can be spoilt by the simplest of things as well.  But some of the best events, moments or pictures are the ones we haven't thought out or planned or hoped for but have just happened when we are not thinking about them.

I am definitely a person who likes to plan things but I have to learn to sometimes just let things happen and enjoy the moments that God gives me and not just the ones I plan.

Often I have been struck by the different things that I would chose as happy moments. 

It is great to think that the majority of them do not involve spending money so who can possible claim that money brings happiness.  

Often things that bring happiness are things I have made or achieved or took part in with others and memories.

These things were perhaps not perfect and not the most beautiful but I learnt new skills and I am always ready to take some time to enjoy my memories.

There is the contact with friends and family that make me happy.   

We were happy to have all our family together for summer holidays for the previous 3 years

A hug that made me very happy when I had a headache

Then there was that ordinary day when I was very happy to be able to embed this
 Gospel Presentation Video
 by Glen Scrivener

 in my blog sidebar.

This was not something that made me laugh or was cute & made me smile.

This was not something that involved my memories.

This was not something that I had accomplished.

No.

This was something that I knew would help to bring true happiness and in fact true joy to others.

What could make us happier than to know that others are happy too!

What can make others happy?

Where does our true happiness come from?

                   Not money and not perfection anyway!

Our true happiness is really deeper than happiness it is pure deep joy that comes from the Lord 

What and Where is True Happiness and Joy?

Can you say that you are truly happy?

Do you have this joy that nothing can take away from you?

I hope you take the time to watch the short 321 video
and share it with others too.

You may enjoy reading some more Coffee & Conversation Posts from this Blog

You may be interested in reading more encouragement around Happiness  at

Thankfulness & Happiness go Hand in Hand - A Dose of Encouragement 

 

Happiness, Happiness - A Dose of Encouragement  

What Makes us Truly Happy - Coffee & Conversation

Marie & Mr Bee Kids Book - Book Review

It's time for another Children's Book Review.

Today it is a book for young children about a girl and a friend she makes.

We have always felt that books are very special to our family and share a love of reading but now that Fred and I have got to the "grandparent stage" we are once again looking at, buying and reading books that are suitable for young children.


So when I heard about this book and the fact that the main character is a girl in a wheelchair I was quick to get a copy but unfortunately very slow to review it.


I did buy this book and I am not being compensated in any way for this review.


So let's have a look at

Marie & Mr Bee

As with another Children's Book I reviewed

SSHH Don't Wake The Baby! - Christmas Children's Book Review

We got our grandchildren involved and here is a short taster of how we did that:

If a book is meant for that young age group then it should be tested with children of that age.

We have 3 grandchildren Matthew 4 years and , Ruby almost 3 yrs now and Sarah the baby, all of whom fall in this age group.

Unfortunately Sarah was having a nap during this part of our facetime with the kids and this time we did not have the pleasure of cuddling with the other two on the couch as we would normally do to read a story book to them - well we are in lockdown at the moment so all our time with them is spent online.

You can see how we manage this in 10 Easy Ideas for Facetime with Kids



Well back to testing out the book.

You can see from that brief video above that this book is very bright and colourful with beautiful illustrations and very clearly presented with a lot of detail which means that the children will enjoy coming back to the book for further readings as they will not have remembered all the fine details of the pictures on each page even after several readings.

Look at the concentration on those faces below as they listen to Grandpa read the story.

Here is the front cover of the book

Here you can see the back cover of the book

There is also a pancake recipe included in the book - for the children to help the grownups to make and them and then everyone can enjoy eating them.

Now that I have told you about this beautifully illustrated book which I believe would be a great book for all children especially to make them more aware of the similarities between themselves and children with disabilities because they all have imaginations. 

I want to say that I believe it would make a great gift for any family to read together.



The book actually comes in two versions although the difference is very slight.

Zooming in closer to the front cover you can see that my version is the Scripture version denoted by this symbol on the front cover.

So you can choose between one which has a Bible verse included on the last page or one which does not.

This book is written by Margaret Welwood  and illustrated by Coralie Rycroft and you can check out  Grandmasbookshelf.net  for more info on this and other books by Margaret.




You can also watch this longer video of reading Marie & Mr Bee together. 







So Deciding thought on this book?


Yes it's a big Tick from me and Fred and the grandkids.

Disclaimer:
I have NOT been offered a free product to write this blog post nor any other compensation. 

I bought this book myself. 
The views expressed here are completely my own.

The Simplest Easter Egg Hunt! - Xtra Special Day

Last year we had our first Easter Egg Hunt.

Yes we are not young, in fact we are grandparents yet up to now I have never had an Easter Egg Hunt.

But now we are grandparents and I decided that we were going to have one.

So I planned that I would hide them all around the back garden for Matthew last year when he was 17 months old.  He was well on his feet and always full of energy and loved running around playing with nanny, grandpa, aunt or uncle or whoever would be around when he would visit our home on a dry day.

Hence my idea was to get some eggs that were a decent size for him to find easily and some Cadbury Creme eggs (really these ones would be for the grownups) and I would hide them all around the back garden.

BUT!  It wasn't a dry day.

Plans had to be changed easily and quickly so it became an indoor hunt with eggs hidden (well sometimes almost in plain view - he was very young) in the hall, lounge, sun room, and guest bedroom.  5/6 hidden in each room some easier to find than others so that he could get some by himself and so that uncle Jonathan could help him while his mum and dad had a little sit down and catch up with social media on their phones.


In the Sun Room Matthew immediately decided he would have to get into the TV unit

then he jumped around to look behind the furniture so fast that I could hardly get a picture that wasn't blurred.

With the eggs found from that room he headed off down the hallway and immediately spied one on the little flower stand there.

We had not hidden any in Fred's Office because Matthew loves to play the drums there and might have got a bit distracted but we were surprised when he didn't even ask to go into it at all.


Next was the guest room where he sometimes stays overnight or takes a little afternoon nap.

After finding one beside the teddy bear doorstop and a few others on one side of the bed he quickly ran over to the wardrobes and found one behind a briefcase.

Now there were several more still to be found in the guest room and he needed a little help for some of them as you can see in the short video.

Then back up the hallway because he thought maybe some would be upstairs and he went so quick he missed a very obvious one

so we had to call him back.

He was now so good at this hunt that he easily found the ones in the lounge and then

it was time to make sure they were all in the crystal basket (yes I hadn't thought to buy an Easter Basket so we had to improvise).

We counted the eggs to make sure he had now got all of them and he was rewarded with a few to eat straight away and the rest were put into a bag to go home with him.

Sometimes the simplest things are the best.

It was such a simple easy hunt to prepare but such fun to watch him enjoy running round and searching excitedly for each one of those tiny eggs.  

The quick, simple, inexpensive things we do together can be as much fun as big outings or more expensive adventures - we just judge things by how many laughs and smiles we hear and see because a joyful time together is an Xtra Special Time.

I am not Dropping the EASTER! - Coffee & Conversation

Yes it's an Easter Egg - I am not dropping the EASTER!

What is a chocolate egg without Easter?

We would not have had chocolate eggs if it had not been for Easter.


Now the chocolate companies want to drop the Easter in Easter Egg and just have an egg, will it sell more because it will be seen to be more PC?

But it will not be an Easter Egg to many people.

A few years ago I was introduced to "The Real Easter Egg" which is produced 

by Meaningful Chocolate.

I was attracted to the eggs because of the fact that they are fairtrade and because they don't just provide a chocolate treat for children (and the rest of us) but they have a booklet (new one each year) for the children as well which teaches them about The True Meaning of Easter in an interesting way.

We have bought them for the kids at our church and we have enjoyed them at home.

But the main thing about these eggs is the fact that along with the chocolate egg 

is the Real Meaning of Easter.

When many other Eggs are going to be sitting in our shops this year without the word Easter on them, this is an egg that still proclaims the real meaning of Easter which is the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus who is the only Saviour of the world and the only one by which we have a way to God.

You can read my review of The Real Easter Egg Here.



Then why not check out the website here for more info and details of  the other eggs they offer and the shops that stock them but because Easter is early this year orders online need to be in through the site before 6th March to have them delivered on time.

As I said at the start of this post

 "I am not dropping the EASTER" 

and this applies to Easter as well as to eggs.  

Our special times of the year all seem to changing to "seasons" or  "holidays" now but I'm still a Christmas and Easter supporter and I will not be dropping either.

Yes it's an EASTER Egg! - I am not dropping the EASTER!

Christian Songs for Kids - Rolled Away

Do you find it hard to get visuals and recordings for different kids songs?


Each month I am going to share 
one or two songs with you providing  

Visuals 
(Powerpoint or Picture or details of how you can make one) 

Words   
(chords also available)

Recording  
(mp3 or video to learn the song) 


Then if you would like to download the visual of the song there will be a link provided to my creation, or I will direct you to where else you can find it.   

Also don't forget you can go to the top of this post or to the sidebar on the right and sign up for an email reminder of my posts. 

Then you will know when the next song is posted.

This month I am taking the theme of

Forgiveness of Sins

The song I have chosen is 

Rolled Away

This is one of the most enjoyable choruses for the kids to interact in as they love to do the actions and sing it faster each time trying to keep up with the actions and not get mixed up.

When they are enjoying it they are still picking up the concept behind it and it is also the type of tune that just sticks in their heads.

I have been using this song for over 30 years and all the children over all those years have had fun with this song.

POWERPOINT

More recently I made slides and pictures to print out for this song

Here is a powerpoint show with music from Hebron Outreach so have a look at it and if you go to their website you can copy it freely.







WORDS

Rolled Away, Rolled Away, Rolled Away, 

And the Burden of my heart Rolled Away, 

Rolled Away, Rolled Away, Rolled Away, 

And the Burden of my heart Rolled Away, 

Every sin had to go

'Neath the cleansing flow, Hallelujah

Rolled Away, Rolled Away, Rolled Away, 

And the Burden of my heart Rolled Away.

To get a copy of the words and the chords 
CLICK HERE

ACTIONS

Rolled away   -  roll your hands around each other and flick them over your shoulder  x3
And the burden  -  rest both hands on your shoulder
Of my heart  -  move both hands to your heart
Rolled away  -  roll your hands around each other and flick them over your shoulder
Every sin had to go   -  repeated flicking of hands over shoulder
Neath the cleansing flow  -  raise hands and ripple fingers as you bring your hands down in front of you
Hallelujah  -  nothing
Rolled away   -  roll your hands around each other and flick them over your shoulder  x3
And the burden  -  rest both hands on your shoulder
Of my heart  -  move both hands to your heart
Rolled away  -  roll your hands around each other and flick them over your shoulder

Notes:
I cannot find any information on the author or the copyright for this song.

I have read online that the arrangement of the song is credited to R.R. Brown
If anyone can help me with this information please leave a comment below or contact me by email which you will find on my About Me Page

Christian Songs for Kids - Jesus Loves Me

Do you find it hard to get visuals and recordings for different kids songs?

I have always found this a problem so I am now sharing songs that I have used with children providing you with

Visuals 
(Powerpoint or Picture or details of how you can make one) 


Words   
(chords also available)


Recording  
(mp3 or video to learn the song) 


Then if you would like to download the visual of the song there will be a link provided to my creation, or I will direct you to where else you can find it.   

This month I am taking the theme of

The Love of Jesus

The song I have chosen is 

Jesus Loves Me

This must be the most well known Christian song for kids.

Based around  Ephesians 3 v 17-18

The first verse and the chorus were written by Anna B. Warner and then other verses were added at two different times later.

When one of my kids was very young they misheard the words and for quite some time they thought that everyone was singing "Tea is weak but He is strong" and we still talk & laugh about that today even though he is now a Pastor.

POWERPOINT

Bible Photo credit:  FreeDigitalPhoto.org

To Download a copy of this visual for printing on A4 Card  or  Letter size  
CLICK HERE


WORDS


Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak but He is strong


Yes Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me
Yes Jesus loves me
The Bible tells me so



To Download a copy of these words with chords for guitar and piano 
CLICK HERE

ACTIONS

Jesus  -  Simply point and look upwards
Loves me this I know -  Place two hands palms over heart

For the Bible tells me so  -  Bring hands together in front and open them to represent a book

Little ones  -  Hold hand palm down to your side indicating small height

To Him belong  -  Simply point and look upwards

They are weak   -  Flop both arms down by your side

But He  -  Simply point and look upwards
Is strong  -  Make fists with both hands and hold up to represent strength 

VIDEO

This may be a suitable video for pre-school children





Notes:
Written by Anna B. Warner 1860    Ref. by William B. Bradbury 1862
This song is in the Public Domain, see HERE for further info

I Hope you enjoy the song and this is a help to you.

DON'T FORGET
If you are interested in finding out about more 

Christian Songs for Kids 

SIGN UP HERE for an email reminder of my posts & you won't miss any I feature on the Blog


OR

See Our Other Kids Songs:   

Creation  -    Who Made?
Easter  -    He's Alive
Bible  -    I will Make you Fishers of Men
Love of Jesus  -    Jesus Loves the Little Children
Love of Jesus  -    Jesus' Love is very Wonderful
The Attributes of God  -    God is So Good 
The Promises of God  -    No Never Alone

(Click on the names of the songs above to view them)

I Hope you enjoy the song and this is a help to you.

Songs for Worship #26

Welcome to the Sunday Series

Last year from January to June I wrote a series on
Why We Worship  where I considered an attribute of God each Sunday.


At different times people mentioned to me about a song that a post reminded them of so I thought that I would now go through those attributes again with a song for each one.

Today we come to our last post in this series.

                         Looking today at 

God is the Great "I AM"

Holy

What heart could hold the weight of Your love

And know the heights of Your great worth

What eyes could look on Your glorious face

Shining like the sun

You are holy, holy, holy

God most high and God most worthy

You are holy, holy, holy

Jesus, You are

Jesus, You are

Your name alone has power to raise us

Your light will shine when all else fades

Our eyes will look on Your glorious face

Shining like the sun

Who is like You, God?

You are holy, holy, holy

God most high and God most worthy

You are holy, holy, holy

Jesus, You are

Jesus, You are

Who shall we say You are

You're the living God

Who shall we say You are

You're the Great I AM

The highest name of all

You're all You say You are

You are holy, holy, holy

God most high and God most worthy

You are holy, holy, holy

Jesus, You are

Jesus, You are

And You shall come again in glory

To judge the living and the dead

All eyes will look on Your glorious face

Shining like the sun

Who is like You, God?

If you would like to see the post from last year that this is based on please click on the graphic below

Thank you for joining with me for this Songs for Worship Series and I hope you have enjoyed the songs as much as I have.