Janet Schultz is an amazing woman with a gift and passion for hospitality. She loves, gives and makes making breakfast for 200 people look effortless. She always has a smile on her face and brings joy with her everywhere she goes. You will love her straightforward, matter-of-fact faith today.
“Children’s children are a crown to the aged and parents are the pride of their children.”
Proverbs 17: 6
I’ve been thinking about the blessing of seven grandchildren and it made me stop and think; what will they remember about us?
Will they remember big events, shared conversations, or having fun together?
Over the years we have had many great vacations and adventures together.
The adventure of the Googlefrack: Grandpa went to the nursery one day and bought a stone gnome. He brought it home and put it in the basement without the grandchildren knowing. Grandpa’s story was that he had found a “Googlefrack” living in the basement and didn’t know what to do with it. One night with a flashlight and 2 very frighten grandkids they went down the basement stairs with him. With a quick throw Grandpa covered the Googlefrack with a gunny sack and as tradition has it, the Googlefrack turned to stone! After putting him in the yard for a week, we watched the Googlefrack out of the window and he never came back to life. One day he just disappeared (somebody stole him). Many stories about what it was and where it went are still talked about. We all know the real story now, but no one admits it…
In Illinois, we also played in the leaves and told ghosts stories with the lights out. The grandkids loved making Grandpa the biggest dessert they could use whatever was in the kitchen. Grandpa always ate it while the little ones smiled.
The adventure of the treasure hunts: One year on Sanibel Island Grandpa arranged and hid 5 treasure chests on various island locations. He prepared treasure maps and “found” the treasure maps, giving one to each grandchild. They were young enough to believe this. The funny thing is 10 years later while shopping on the island our granddaughter saw a gold coin which looked just like the one in her treasure box. She and I just smiled at each other neither saying a word. We all know the real story, but no one admits it…
On Sanibel, we had a shell contest every year, best shell or best shell craft. To this day they all know their shells and have private collections.
The adventure of meeting Grandpas lost brother: Once Grandpa dressed up in a costume with funny teeth and magnifier glasses. He claimed he was his older brother Freddy who had disappeared long ago. He made up many stories of the adventures his brother had and how he even worked for the President. Sightings went on for years and as the grandchildren got older they didn’t believe it, they thought it was Grandpa. So, Grandpa had his real brother dress up in the costume and I took their picture together. We showed it to the kids and the oldest child said: “What! I thought that was a joke”… and the mystery goes on.
Things we have done together for years; making Christmas cookies and meals together. Christmas candlelight services together. Shopping for gifts for their mom and dad and letting them pick out the gifts. Making movies, writing a script, and having everyone have a part in the movie. I have all of these on a disk; once every so often we watch with them and are amazed at how good they are. We started buying an ornament each year for them. The ornament usually had something to do with something we had done together that year. We stored the ornaments in a box along with some of their artwork, cards and pictures. As they leave home we give them their box, so far three have their boxes and all those memories.
We have so much more but these are some of the things we love the most.
Now that ours are adults, we don’t always agree with some of their thinking and some don’t agree with our thinking but we have an unbroken bond with each other. We love listening to them as adults…
Making good memories with your children, grandchildren, and family is important.
Don’t get so busy living your life that you miss the opportunity to make memories with them.