"Ahh, here come the cruise guests!" my husband exclaimed as Dan and Laura dropped off their three younger children for the day so that they could enjoy biking around Washington, D.C. with their older two kids. Chuck tells me the grands think I'm their Cruise Director, as in, "What can we do now, Grammy? What games can we play? Can we bake cookies again? What's to eat?" His words challenge me to think about my time with our grandchildren. Am I just waiting on them and spoiling them? Well, yes, I guess I am, but all that waiting and spoiling has a purpose.

All of those fun times are helping me reach a goal that was planted in my heart before any of these young ones were born. Some of Jesus' last words to His disciples were, "I go to prepare a place for you..." As a young mother, that promise seemed to be a call to action for me. Jesus' words outlines a plan for our children, that just as Jesus is an ultimate Place for His family, and just as He is preparing a place for us, I have the priceless call to prepare a place right here for our family. No doubt my efforts were often flawed. But I haven't given up hope that each member of our family, from adults to grands, sees our home as a safe place - sees us as a safe place.

INTENTIONAL FUN

I want them to KNOW that no matter what, they are unconditionally loved by us. The older the grands get, the more challenging this goal becomes, as their busy lives make it more difficult to have quality time with each of them. I'm hoping that all the fun "little person" times we shared are building blocks into a lifelong friendship. All those special moments of reading stories, baking, playing games, shopping trips, naps with Grammy, Dollar Store adventures, neighborhood walks, s'mores in the backyard, beach times, cousin sleep-overs - they are all stepping stones in a pathway that I hope will lead them back to us when they need a second opinion or reassurance that their parents are the best and adore them even when they might have to say no or when they wonder if God is real and really loves them. There will be moments when the lights go out, where they will need someone ahead of them who is a credible witness of the hidden things of old, things taught to us by our God. Things He exhorts us not to hide from our children, important stories to tell the next generation that declare His power and the wonders He has done.. So that they will tell the next generation, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. So that they will put their trust in God and will not forget his deeds, but will keep his commands

(Psalm 78).

And so, while I may look like a Cruise Director at times, I'm actually intentionally laying a foundation for influencing not only the children I can see, but my great, great grandchildren - those not yet born. Maybe even my great, great, great......well, you see what I'm saying!

Our together times have a parallel unseen goal that is even more important than having fun.

When I showed these pictures to Eva, Siddhi and Jovan, they begged to come over again - yes, my plan is working!

Looking forward to more of those Cruise Director moments.

Blessings,
Sharon
PS - These pictures are from a few years ago but my goals haven't changed!

Cruise Director Grammy

INTENTIONAL FUN