Our family speaks in code. We use movie quotes from our collective memory to express big things in small words. For instance, when the last of our eighteen little campers drove off into the sunset Monday evening, the appropriate line would have been, “Well, Pilgrim, were it worth the trouble?”
The correct response would have been, “Eh, weren’t no trouble.”
We were too tired for this exchange, but I think it went through both our minds. I did wonder some during the weekend about both my sanity and whether the pay-off would be worth the effort.
When we were trying to settle everyone at various tables for a meal and make sure each child actually had something to eat and drink while also cleaning up the spills, answering a dozen questions at once, and promising that “you can have the tall stool next time”… I wondered.
When we were pinching our little fingers while struggling to unfold the cots, and arguing over who had which pillow first, and trying to sooth the ones who were sure they could not sleep or who were traumatized because I picked a stupid bedtime movie where THE MOTHER DIES!!!!… I wondered.
At 2:00 a.m. on the third day when one grandson was sleep-yelling, two were asking to move to another room, my body was aching as if I’d run a marathon, and morning seemed both imminent and an eternity away… I wondered.
On the final night, when Grandpa picked up two granddaughters and one Narnia book to carry on a tradition started when their parents were young and the children responded to his suggestion that they all suck their toes… I wondered.
But, when the story had finished and the campers began to pray… I stopped wondering. They thanked God for everything from “letting us play video games” to “all the fun we had” to “Grandpa and Grandma loving us so much that they would do all this and take care of us so we could have these days together.”
And then, I knew. They get it.
And, it weren’t no trouble.
Yep it’s true….I wanna be a grandma just like you! I laughed and cried reading this post! You are blessed! Your grandchildren are blessed having you in their lives who love them dearly and completely!
Yep, you guys are the BOMB!!! (yes in our house that means AWESOME!!)
Rog was curious just where you came up with 18 grandkids!?!? cause last time we counted there weren’t that many. I explained that I think you have adopted some people, and we both agreed that that sounded like you and Wendell….
Yep, Andrea. Three of them were great-nephews and three belong to Serenity’s former college roommate who lived with us for a while. And Meghan is my niece who came as both a cousin and a helper.
The whole time the children were there, I was thinking and wondering and praying for you and for them : ) I know they “had a good time”, but more than that, you made memories. Memories they will pass along to their children, cousins, nieces and nephews. I know there were challenges for sure, but like you, hearing those young children pray….gotta say….priceless. God bless you both for your sowing seeds of hospitality, love, patience and kindness into all those children <3
“Courage is being scared to death – but saddling up anyway.”
from the same movie…
love & respect you Kathy & Wendell – ’nuff said!
Sorry about the night screamer. Let’s just say he comes by it naturally. 🙂
I love how days/weeks/months later they remember new little things to tell us that meant so much to them. Thank you for all the effort, energy, prayer, and resources you spent knitting their little hearts together.
People who don’t know us will think I’m being sarcastic, but this camp could really rock when they’re mostly teens. John’s new principal reminds me very much of Dad, which was highly soothing for me. He’s tough on dress code – especially for those terribly distracting GIRLS, he’s raised eight of his own children and has the gray hair to prove it, but he’s “actually really kind and helpful when you come to me lost or with a locker that won’t work or with some other worry”. Also, you’re right, John told me the worry was wearing on him, darn it. Also, the parents will all be more than happy to help make any changes you deem necessary for future camps. 🙂 Including, being there more.
No worries, Molly. He was fine after I roused him once. As for Teenage Boot Camp years, I’m totally planning on reclining on the sofa at those camps and getting manicures and facials from the girls 🙂
Yeah, it was worth it. The memories and the prayers for now, but the relationships being made even stronger for the future..both amongst the cousins themselves, and for the kids to see one more time how much their grandparents love them.
Yeah, this is an awesome idea! I love your blog, and I love you. : )