Here's how it turned out...
Day 1, Monday.
This was to be Jenny's day. She asked me what time she could bring the kids over and I told her not before 10:00 a.m. She arrived at 10:10. She's no fool. After a brief 5 minute drop off she was out! Her four children and I started out with a reading time. We read three books from an old series about a singing songbook and family. They were books from when my girls were young and we still enjoy them.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not writing this to point out what a fabulous Grammy I am. Actually, it was more that it was a spontaneous unplanned time with the kids that was fun for all of us. I was honored to be a part of it. As you'll see, my "planned" activities later in the week weren't as successful.
After the reading session we had craft time which involved spreading hundreds of tiny foam pieces all over the dining room table, attempting to assemble them together into animals, and ending up with Dixie cups with random body parts stuck to them. Ever the glutton for punishment, I then organized a baking session. All four kids had bowls, each with their own cookie mix. Admittedly, Arrow had a little bowl with goldfish crackers in it and we occasionally tossed him a glob of cookie dough to eat, but the other three measured, cracked eggs, stirred and then carefully got their cookies on the baking sheets. The dessert was shared that night with their parents. It was a bit chaotic but again, fun times and we did at least end up with an edible finished product.
The rest of the day consisted of Arrow's nap time and a private viewing of "A Bug's Life" for the older three, swimming (30 minutes of changing everybody's clothes and applying sunscreen followed by 10 minutes of water play in cold windy conditions followed by another 30 minutes of getting everyone dried off and changed again), and finally, throwing rocks over the hillside while we watched for Jenny and Zac to come rescue me. All in all, a good first day. The kids and I had a lot of fun, Jenny got her break, and I went to bed tired and happy.
Day 2, Tuesday.
Melissa's turn. I picked her up at our mechanic's place so we could leave her car there for an oil change. She hoped to spend the afternoon sewing, something that is difficult to accomplish with a clingy, though miraculous, 4 month old. As it happened, Melissa was sick that day so she really wasn't feeling up to much. And sweet little Quinten, true to form, just wanted his Mama and not his Grammy. Melissa told me later that when she and Donny were going through the adoption process, she had asked the Lord for a baby that would bond with her, that would snuggle her, that would want her. Well, her prayer was answered! Quinten wants to be held constantly by either Melissa or Donny and he also isn't convinced that sleeping in his own bed is advantageous. No matter! He is here, praise God! Melissa is so patient and loving with him. I heard her singing to him while I did dishes and laundry. Melissa and I sat and visited but I kept getting stressed because she wasn't doing what I thought she wanted to do. Eventually, she told me that she just needed some company and she was perfectly happy sitting, holding and loving her son, and talking to me. It was humbling - I wanted to serve her, I wanted to be helpful, but I wasn't listening to her. I had my plans, my expectations, and I was determined to see those plans accomplished, come hell or high water. In the end, we had a pretty nice time. I had brought her a crock pot dinner, lots of laundry was folded and put away, dishwasher run twice and unloaded, baby played with and smothered with kisses. I drove her back to town so she could pick up her car. I had an unsatisfied feeling - I felt like I had let her down on two fronts. One, she didn't get to sew (I count this even though she told me she wasn't up to it) and two, I pestered her all day to do something fun when fun to her would have been just resting in peace and talking. Lesson learned? Probably not, sadly. My girls will be quick to tell you that I bulldoze them whenever I can. I'm well-intentioned but misguided. Melissa was gracious about the day and said she was glad to not have to worry about some of the housework but I hope to try again another day.
Day 4, Thursday.
Yesterday was uneventful - I puttered at home, organized my fabric, went to the office for a bit, etc. But Thursday was Sarah's time. I wanted to take Gabriel somewhere and do something with him. He is 11 now and getting so big that I find it hard to think of creative activities for him to enjoy. I decided he would have more fun with a buddy along instead of only his old Grammy so I invited Logan to accompany us. My plan was to take the boys on a hike. I'd never been on the Bob Jones Trail but had heard about it and thought it might be just the ticket. Ever the planner, I got up early and typed out a scavenger hunt list. I had 15 items selected for them to look for and and then...I also had a spiritual lesson (don't worry, it was brief) to go along with each item they observed. I was pleased with my insights and I had visions of the boys being amazed by their Grammy's wisdom and ability to make God's truth applicable to them but still fun. I packed snacks, water, a first aid kit (after all these were boys) and took off for what I was sure would be a grand adventure. I met Jenny in town where I collected Logan and the three of us took off for the Atascadero Subway. Logan had a gift card to Subway and he had been saving it to use when he was with Gabriel. On the way to Atascadero with two young boys in the back seat, what topic do you suspect came up for discussion? What else? Farts! Rather than fight it, I told the boys that they had until we pulled up to Subway to make all the farts sounds as loud and as long as they wanted. But after that, it was a taboo subject. For the next 15 minutes I listened to various farts sounds as well as fart competitions and fart lessons. The boys were having a ball but they were real good about cutting it off when we finally (thankfully) arrived at Subway. We also stopped at a grocery store to buy grapes and more water so that we could be healthy for 5 minutes. We took our lunch to a little park in Santa Margarita and after eating the boys ran off to play for a bit. I should have picked up on this cue. They didn't want to leave but...yep, I had a plan. Off to the Bob Jones Trail we went. My roommate had given me directions. She had also explained that the trail started right where there was a sign regarding a mountain lion sighting. She assured me that I didn't need to worry. The sign was dated June, 2013 and had never been taken down.
This is what greeted us. In case you can't read it, the June date had been crossed off and it was now dated 8/22/14, just a few days before. Great. For the first 10 minutes of the trail, all the boys talked about was mountain lions.
"Do they eat people?" "I'll poke his eye out with my stick!" "What was that?" "What will we do if we see one?" "I'm gonna keep beating these sticks together to scare the mountain lions."
"Oh my gosh! Give it a rest!!"
Finally, that subject was put to bed and the boys quickly began finding the items on their scavenger hunt list. That was fabulous! The only problem was that they were uninterested in taking the time to hear my little spiritual lesson that was tied to each item. (For example, shouldn't every young boy want to know how sin is like poison oak or how a bird teaches us about trust in God?) They were also uninterested in hiking. These are two boys that will throw themselves around in my pool for endless hours but were complaining every step of the way about hiking. I admitted defeat and we turned around. On the way back, an older couple passed us heading towards the beach (where we were supposed to have gone.) The woman said to me, "Did you make it all the way?" I laughed and said, "Are you kidding? They've been griping since we got out of the car!" At this, her husband turned to the boys and said, "Right? That's what I said! I just wanted to drive to the beach." Thanks for the encouragement, buddy.
We walked a little farther and at one of the many rest stops, Gabriel decided he would try to break his stick on a boulder that was on the side of the trail. I couldn't resist so I did take that opportunity to tell the boys the story of Moses striking the rock with his staff instead of simply talking to the rock as God had told him to do. I have no idea if any of it stuck but I was bound and determined to try. We made it back to the car, went to another park down in Pismo where we all had a good time and then finished off the day with Slurpee's at 7-11 and another timed "Fart Sound" session.
What do you want to bet that the thing they remember is that Grammy let them make fart sounds in her car? I had to laugh at myself! What a week! And yet, what a privilege to spend hours with grandchildren. Plans? Whatever!
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and
not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Psalm 33:11
But the plans of the Lord stand
firm forever, the purposes of
his heart through all generations.
Proverbs
19:21
Many are the plans in a person’s
heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
No comments:
Post a Comment