Blocks And 3d Puzzles

“God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere… God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere… God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere… but God Himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 msg

Each day we should focus on magnifying God.  This is why we were created and according to Paul “you yourselves are our letter written on our hearts, known and read by everybody… “.

When we think that we are too messed up, have too much sin in our lives or are too weak, remember that the Lord is our strength.  God always wants to show Himself to others through you. When we are weak, He is strong.

Remember the saying, “Bloom where you are planted”.  Whatever your walk in life, God can use you for his purpose and glory. Trust in Him always.

Are we inadvertently depriving our kids of important tools for learning and growth? Experts tell us that wooden puzzles and board games are two of the best substitutes for electronic games.

Wood puzzles provide kids many opportunities to learn and practice the important skills important for success when they enter school.  Playing with puzzles may at first seem dull or a waste of time compared to the excitement of electronic games, but children still love to play with all the differently shaped pieces and are drawn to the bright primary colors just as we were as children.

Important for building eye hand coordination you will want to have many puzzles on hand in varying degrees of difficulty as children mature at different rates and could get bored with their current selections. When a toy becomes to easy you will notice your child will set it aside and stop playing with it.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
- John 3:16

Taking a few moments each day to spend quietly with God is becoming more important and necessary because of all the noise and confusion around us.  With this Uplifting Inspirations page I hope we can find something each day that will uplift our spirits and souls and give us a quiet moment to reflect on Christ and His great love for each of us.

Sometimes I may post just a Bible verse that is especially meaningful to me, or my own personal thought for the day.  Maybe a cute joke to hopefully make you laugh or a short story or devotional I have read online or in a book.

As a Christian business woman I dedicate this blog to my savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I hope this blog page will bring me and my readers closer to God.

I look forward to living each day with my Lord and Savior and in finding Uplifting Inspirations for us all to enjoy.

Attending toy and hobby shows are one of my favorite things to do. I love seeing, touching and picking up an antique wooden toy or an old die cast truck or Lionel train engine.

Remembering toys such as Raggedy Ann and Andy, Lincoln Logs, yo-yo’s, tea sets, story book dolls, Barbie, wooden spinning tops, Jack in the Box, Tonka Trucks, easy bake oven, the Hula Hoop, ant farms, metal doll houses and fire house play sets, the list could go on and on makes me wish I were a kid again.

With these toys of yesteryear in mind I have created this category so we can reminisce together.  I plan on researching various toys children played with in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s and maybe back further in time.  I will be writing blog posts about the history and origination of many toys and find out what they are worth today.

I will also look up and post where current toys shows are being held so if there is one in your city or a nearby town you could pack up the kids and go take a look back to the toys of yesteryear.

As I walk around in the stores and in public places it seems to me I am seeing more items ranging from T-shirts to fridge packs of soda pop that have evil looking designs and characters. The underlying purpose of this is something I do not even want to think about.

It is becoming more evident that we must carefully monitor what we see, hear and allow to come into our hearts, spirits, and homes.  Educating our children with clean-cut materials, computer games and books must remain paramount in our minds as we select learning tools to bring into our homes.

There are still manufactures who are producing educational toys for boys and girls that teach the morals we want instilled into our children to help them learn and develop into the young adults Christ would have them be.

I’m glad there are products on the market such as Journeys of Paul, Hermie and Friends, Veggie Tales board games and Charlie Church Mouse and Exodus computer games.  Granted, these games probably won’t be found in your local stores but your children are worth the effort to search for clean-cut, morally uplifting, Bible teaching games.

A child’s imagination is only limited by the artistic materials at his or her disposal. Creative talent establishes itself early in development, so it’s critical that kids are allowed to express themselves. Apprentice architects are drawn to kids building blocks like moths to a flame. Blocks teach kids the principles of rudimentary physics, as well: Without a solid foundation, even the most intricate architectural creation can tumble to the ground.

While the building process can provide hours of fun in itself, half the fun for children comes in populating their creations. Depending on preference, kids can add dolls and action figures to their specially designed environment. Parents should promote these creative impulses as much as possible. Who knows, these efforts could pay off down the line when your child is designing homes for the rich and famous.

Money in hand; excitement is in the air.  “Come on, Mom, let’s go!”  It’s Saturday morning back in early 1950 and I’m going to be driven to the toy store.

A new magic show is being planned and I needed some new tricks. I remember the anticipation as I walked up to the counter in the toy store and pointed to each magic trick I wanted the salesman to take out and show me.

As a child growing up in the Chicago suburbs you would often find me practicing my magic tricks that came in my Magic Set.  I especially loved my black wand which I carefully placed on the table next to my tricks before the magic show began.

Nowadays there may not be many independently run toys stores with counters full of toys, but when you notice your child’s interest in magic and you can’t find age appropriate tricks in a store I’d recommend trying online shopping where you will likely find what you need.

Perhaps someday there will be a sign on your front lawn, “Magic Show Today – 5 Cents.”

When I was in a store last week I saw a nurse’s kit in the toy section.  Seeing the kit brought back memories of when I was a young child and had aspirations of being a nurse.

Kids love to play dress up and pretend and playing nurse or doctor on a doll or maybe another child is a wonderful open-ended game for kids to develop social skills.  I remember having such fun playing nurse as a child.

While the nurse’s and doctor’s kits you find in the stores probably include a stethoscope you may find it beneficial to purchase a real, working toy stethoscope for children who show an extra interest in the health care field.

If someone in your family has high blood pressure and has to take his blood pressure at home your child could use his own stethoscope to help.  Some of the child’s fears may be eliminated or lessened as you use these opportunities to explain what he is hearing and a lesson on taking care of one’s health could open up many new teaching opportunities.

As a child I was fortunate enough to be exposed to board games at an early age. I have fond memories of playing Chutes and Ladders, Potato Head, Dominoes and many other games.

Families nowadays have many electronic gadgets and if you think your family as a whole is disconnected maybe you could institute an old-time tradition – weekly family night.  Rule number #1; turn off all cell phones.  Spending time playing board and card games will re-unite and reconnect the whole family.

To this day I still love to play Monopoly, Parcheesi, Sorry, Uno, Rook and so many others.  Create many new memories for your family by “daring to turn off your cell phones for one night a week”.

It’s difficult to see your children feeling under the weather especially when a doctor’s visit is necessary. It may help ease your child’s pain to have your child’s favorite stuffed animal handy.

Let your child show you where it hurts by having him/her point to the spot on his plush toy. Taking the stuffed animal along to the doctor’s appointment will give your child opportunities to get the focus of the pain off of himself for a minute as he takes care of “his patient”.

In the doctor’s office the physician may have an easier time relating to your child as he first checks out the little stuffed animal and helping to ease the pain of your child. When you get home you could surprise your child with a new doctor or nurses toy kit (I just saw one in Kroger’s last night, which made me think of this).