VBS and a Week With Three Granddaughters

There's nothing I would rather do than spend time with any of my adorable grandkids. I have been so blessed to have five granddaughters and one grandson, and they make me feel young every time I am with them.

Last week, our Church did its annual Vacation Bible School (VBS) and I invited three of my granddaughters (sisters) to spend the week with me and attend VBS. The two older ones, Hannah and Becky had attended several but this was to be Maggie's first. Maggie is four and there is something so darned appealing about four-year-olds that I can't wipe the smile off my face when she's around. I should have kept a notebook handy just to write down the funny things she said, but I was too busy snapping pictures and wiping up after her.

Maggie can be quite shy around others so I asked Hannah if she would hang out with Maggie the first day. Maggie had NO problems meeting the other kids and listening to the teachers. I would have her tell me the Bible story she'd learned that day and she was spot on! Her rendition of the Prodigal Son was correct and oh, so funny! She learned her verse the first day, but never did get the pronunciation of Leviticus right; frankly, I loved the way she said it and didn't correct her.

Hannah liked being the assistant to the Pre-K kids and hung with them the whole week, proving to be a big help. She'd tell me funny stories about the kids and how many she had to take to the bathroom during the three hours. She already asked me if she could do the same job next year.

Becky remembered a few of the kids from the last time she'd been and had all kinds of friends the first day. She is very outgoing, and actually came up with the bonus answer in a Bible jeopardy game, giving the girls the win.

I volunteer in the kitchen every year, a job I love. We set up for five classes, and of course clean up after them, which doesn't take very long. We have a chance to visit with kids we know from teaching Junior Church, as well as the teenagers who do some of the teaching and activities.

In the afternoon, the three girls soaked and splashed in our hot tub, which I had turned down to 92 degrees, played in the Enchanted Forest, colored in my many Barbie coloring books or went for walks. They couldn't possibly have been better. Other than a few arguments, they were perfectly behaved and were real helpers when it came time to clean up.

Before I knew it, it was Friday and after the evening closing program, the girls would go home with their parents. It had all gone so smoothly and I had enjoyed having them here so much that I really hated to see them leave. I hope and pray that memories remain for them of the week; not only here with me but lessons learned in Church. I know my memories will never ever fade of Maggie learning to swim without plugging her nose when she went underwater; of Hannah learning to make Beans and Rice and of Becky stuffing her face with hot dogs at the Church BBQ.

Thank you, God. You've blessed me way more than I deserve.