Thank you for your support!

Hi, Renee here! I just wanted to take this opportunity to personally thank all of you who voted for our book at Book Fun Magazine and who have supported us by reading our blog, purchasing our book, or telling others about us. Since Grandparenting Through Obstacles was released in August 2012, we have won two awards:

~ GRAND Magazine’s Top Grandparenting Book for 2012; and

~ Book Fun Magazine’s Nonfiction Book of the Year

I believe I speak for both Dianne and myself when I say that this is far more than we had imagined! Our hearts for this book have always been to reach as many grandparents as possible in order to encourage them, put some creative resources and ideas into their hands and imaginations, and arm them with relevant scriptures and prayers.

By doing so, it is our hope that Christian grandparents everywhere will step more confidently into their role of intentionally grandparenting their grandkids in order to ultimately bring them into a closer walk with Jesus.

Obviously, the more that word gets out about our book and the more recognition it receives, the more grandparents it can reach. Awards and accolades are always nice, but they’re not worth much if they don’t help to achieve a greater goal. We’re praying that the accomplishments of our book so far–and hopefully those that are still to come–will help us achieve our greater goal of helping to spiritually equip grandparents to help them do their job more effectively and with more joy and peace.

So, I thank you for helping us to move one step closer to that goal and for your continued support moving forward by helping us promote the Grandparenting Through Obstacles book and blogsite.

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Merry Christmas!

We will resume our normal posting on Thursday, but for now we just wanted to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed and prosperous 2013.

Thank you all very much for following our posts and stopping by Grandparenting Through Obstacles.  We pray that this Christmas season will be filled with God’s peace, presence, and provision for you and your family!

Renee and Dianne

 

Thursday Interview: Contributor Barbara Ann Baranowski

Today we have the privilege of speaking with Barbara Ann Baranowski, who wrote the story “Gone Camping” for Grandparenting Through Obstacles. God gave Barbara the creative idea of having Nana Camps for her grandkids. What she thought would probably be a one-time experience has now been blessing her grandchildren for many, many years. Below is a picture of Barbara and her grandkids from a recent Nana Camp.

GTO: Barbara, why did you choose to share the story you did for our book?

Barbara:  I shared my story of providing a grandparenting “camp” because I think it addresses two issues that grandparents face: how, as grandparents, we can share our faith legacy, and how long-distance grandparents can participate in the faith development of their grandchildren.

Grandparents, whether living near or far, can use the suggestions to engage the grandchildren in deepening relationships with themselves and God through Bible studies and shared activities.

GTO: We agree that your camps are a great way of doing all those things! What are you hoping that are readers will take away from your story?

Barbara: I hope that the readers  will be inspired to share their faith legacy with their grandchildren through the ideas and suggestions.  We are all different in the way we pass on our faith in God to our grandchildren, but perhaps the story I have shared will give them inspiration and a way that they had not thought of to personalize their story and faith for their own grandchildren, especially if they live away from them.

GTO: Barbara, what can you tell our readers to encourage them to not give up on their kids or grandkids no matter how bad their situation might look?

Barbara: The Bible reminds in us Proverbs 22:6 that we are to “train a child in the way in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (NIV).  If we are obedient to the Word and follow the instruction of training our children and grandchildren as God instructs, we have hope for their future.  Without sharing the Lord with them (whether from us or others), they have little hope for eventual spiritual joy and happiness or the promise of eternal life with God.  We must do our part, pray, and let the Lord do His.

Children are a gift that may not show every aspect of a gift’s beauty now, but with the Lord’s touch, every beautiful aspect reflected through Him will be uncovered.  Prayer is the key to answers for the lives of our grandchildren.  Many a praying grandparent has made the difference.

GTO: You are absolutely right about that…where would most of us be today without that praying grandparent in our lives? And, that’s something that every grandparent can do. What advice can you give our readers to help them become more intentional about imparting spiritual truths and values into their grandchildren?

Barbara:  God did not leave grandparents out of His Word.  As  Christian Grandparents, we are told clearly to be intentional.  Deuteronomy 4:9 says, “Do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live.  Teach them to your children and to their children after that.” And Psalm 71:18 reminds us, “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come” (NIV).

So, if God felt our importance in sharing with the generations to come, we must understand that our part is crucial.  It is a great privilege and honor to know that God still has great plans for us and for our mission as grandparents.

GTO: That is very good advice, Barbara. Thank you so much for joining us here today.

And, I know we still have more to talk about, so we’ll be continuing our discussion with Barbara next Thursday. Hope to see you back then!

Grandparenting Through Obstacles Book Launch Today!

Please help us celebrate the official launch of Grandparenting Through Obstacles: Overcoming Family Challenges to Reach Your Grandchildren for Christ! We are so excited that our book is finally “live” in both print and digital versions.

Please take a moment to go to our Amazon link and click the “Like” button next to our book’s cover. You can also find our book online at Barnes and Noble.

For those of you who prefer e-books, we also have a Kindle version at Amazon.com and a Nook version at Barnes and Noble.

Don’t forget that Grandparents’ Day is just around the corner, and our book would be the perfect gift for any grandparent wanting to make a difference in their grandchildren’s walk with the Lord.

Please help us spread the word!

Great gift idea for Grandparents Day!

September 9th is National Grandparents Day. Are you planning to celebrate it?

According to Surprising Facts About Grandparents on www.Grandparents.com, 66% of grandparents have never celebrated Grandparents Day!

Is it time to change that? Why not get the new book Grandparenting Through Obstacles: Overcoming Family Challenges to Reach Your Grandchildren for Christ for your favorite grandparent — even if that’s you!

Order now! You’ll have the book just in time for Grandparents Day on September 9, 2012.

Follow us on Twitter: @GParentObstacle

Like us on Facebook: Grandparenting Through Obstacles

Thursday Interview with Grandparenting Through Obstacles book contributor Elaine Burbridge

Elaine Burbridge is a writer in Richardson, Texas. She faces both parenting and grandparenting challenges in that her daughter is not currently walking with God. But Elaine is playing “A Divine Role in God’s Theater,” which is the title of her story in Grandparenting Through Obstacles: Overcoming Family Challenges to Reach Your Grandchildren for Christ.

Unfortunately, Elaine’s story in not unique. Many grandparents face similar challenges. But Elaine has made an impact on her grandchildren, even through those challenges by being intentional about her grandparenting. Here she shares some insights.

GTO:   Hello Elaine. Thanks for stopping by today! Tell us, what are you hoping our readers will gain or learn from your story?

Elaine:   Never give up asking the Holy Spirit to minister to loved ones. He does answer in a mighty way.

GTO:   Well that sounds like you’ve experienced some answered prayer! Please give us an update on any developments with your grandchildren since writing your story.

 Elaine:  I witnessed my grandchildren’s baptism. Yeah!

 GTO:   Oh my! That is terrific. And actually, that is the very fruit we are hoping to see. That fruit, the spiritual fruit of seeing grandchildren come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior (of which baptism is a sign), is what it’s all about. So thank you so much for sharing such good news.

          Surely you had something to do with your grandchildren’s decisions. In what ways do you believe God has used you in affecting your grandkids and influencing them toward Him?

 Elaine:  By showing His love – hugging, kissing and caring for them. Also, in testifying that Jesus is my Savior and He died for all of our sins. And of course encouraging them to live for Him too.

GTO:   Elaine, what do you think is the greatest challenge faced by children today, and how can grandparents help them with this challenge?

Elaine:   There are too many worldly turn-on’s which consistently grab their attention. Here are some ways to intentionally counteract the world:

1. Take them to church (and lunch for fellowship) as well as Christian-based activities (camp, choral groups, etc.).
2. Introduce the real Bible text into their daily lives, even via Internet connections.
3. Take a specific time to pray with them (kneeling is important), considering their needs and desires.

GTO:   You shared some very significant challenges you faced in your story in the book. How have you grown in the Lord through the challenges you’ve faced in trying to reach your grandchildren?

Elaine:   I’m better at studying His Word and praying. I’ve learned to depend more on His promises. I’m reaching out to others more – no longer afraid to witness.

 GTO:   That is awesome, Elaine. Not being afraid to witness for Him is an area God has been working on in me, too. Let me ask you what advice can you give our readers to help them become more intentional about imparting spiritual truths and values to their     grandchildren?

Elaine:   Take time to converse and read with them. Young minds are so open to absorbing what grandparents have to say. They will listen and ask questions – be prepared to answer.

GTO:   What do you hope your grandkids will most remember about you when you’re gone?

Elaine:   That with all of my heart, I loved them and Jesus. And, I loved to take them catfishing too!

GTO:   Awesome answer! A catfishing grandma! I’ve been trout fishing, but not catfishing. I really must try that.

Thanks Elaine so much for spending time with us today. We’re also grateful you shared your story in our Grandparenting Through Obstacles book.

The pre-publication special price is still running, but time is running out because the publication date, August 17th, is approaching quickly. How exciting is that! Get the Pre-Publication price today!

Now Taking Pre-Publication Orders for Grandparenting Through Obstacles!

Hi! Dianne here. Renee and I are really excited that Pix-N-Pens is now taking orders for the book. Does this mean it’s getting close?! Wow!

The release date for the book is August 17, 2012. We’ve just learned the book will retail for $15.99. Right now you can order it for $12.00 plus shipping. Order your copy of Grandparenting Through Obstacles here.

I have to tell you, I’m so stinkin’ excited. I’ve never done this with a publisher before, so to watch the publication of our book progress is just really fun. To see a page go up where it’s actually for sale. . .  Well can it get any more exciting? Okay, well maybe it  can. But I’m having fun just the same.

Currently the publisher is creating the back cover of the book. I got my first glimpse of it as a pdf, which just adds to my excitement! We have portions of endorsements on the back cover. Plus the publisher’s logo. And. . .  What’s that?! Hold on, I’m printing it out.

While I’m waiting on the printer, does anyone else here remember the movie “The Jerk” starring Steve Martin? I remember the scene where he discovered, for the first time, his name was printed in the phone book. (For those of you who are younger readers, that’s a large book that used to be published with everybody’s phone number in it–back before numbers were stored IN the phone. Also known as “The White Pages.” Anyway. . .) Steve Martin’s character got so excited that he took the phone book and went running down his neighborhood’s street yelling, “I’m in the phone book! I’m in the phone book!”

That’s how I feel. Excuse me. The printer’s done and I’m going to grab that printout of our book’s cover and go run down my street. “We have an ISBN number! We have a bar code!”