It started a few years back. We had given our daughter Annie one Friday a month off from having to be a non-stop mom. We would take her kids, do something fun, have an overnighter and breakfast in the morning, and bring them home early afternoon. It quickly turned into a cousins party, with kids from each family joining in on the first Friday of every month. This makes my heart happy because if you could give this old Gummy anything precious it would be to know her children and grandchildren understand, love and generally enjoy each other. We've had so many memories on Friday nights that we could probably make a fairly thick photo book that would trigger all sorts of memories down the road.
This Friday started with a little service project. When I saw this ad from the Farmington Parks and Rec Team I sent a message that Clan Connors could help.
I kind of expected a few hundred eggs to be filled for the annual Farmington Easter Egg Hunt. When Dave and I picked up the supplies at the Farmington Gym today, they asked us if we had brought a truck or van. I asked just how many eggs they wanted us to fill. Turns out they needed a dolly and we needed the whole back of our van.
I cooked up some chicken while Dave, my sister Ann Marie, daughter Sarah and six grandkids stuffed candy and toys into plastic eggs. We took a short break for dinner, then had competitions to see who could fill the most eggs in ten minute time slots. (Make it a game and they're more likely to enjoy the work.)
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| Team Girls vs. Team Boys |
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| Sarah teamed up with me. |
Two hours later we had filled roughly 2000 eggs, a fraction of what we have left. It's going to be a long week for some of us. But our grands will never look at a typical Easter Egg Hunt the same way they used to. They learned a bit about lending a helping hand for our community.
Next, as planned and promised, the kids gathered up their swim towels from winter hibernation, made sure their swimsuits still fit, and off we went to the Bountiful Rec Center for a night of swimming. Dave and I remained fully clothed, keeping watch from the poolside and sweltering in the chlorinated humid air of what used be be called the Bountiful Bubble.
They wore themselves out with fun. Sarah and her kids had been skiing all day, before swimming. I'm exhausted just watching them. I love them with everything in me that I understand is capable of love. There may not be many more First Fridays when they will all want to be together. Calvin is almost 14 now, and Joe not far behind him. We savor every moment while they are willing to snuggle under our proverbial wings.
I sit beside Dave and watch them splash and giggle and shout. I wonder if God feels this way watching us enjoy His earth and delight in each other. I think He must feel saddened by how poorly we speak of each other lately here on earth, and how cruel we behave toward each other and this temporary home of ours. It was a comfort for my heart tonight to partake of joy in service followed by good healthy fun.
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| A pause for a little rock climbing on the way out. |
After a stop for ice cream cones, we dropped the kids off at their houses (they rarely sleep over these days, preferring their own beds after a hefty dose of togetherness.) I noted that it doesn't need to cost an arm and a leg or a trip to Hawaii to create these kinds of memories. It takes a little research in opportunities to serve (easily found online JustServe.org), a $5 chicken and small bag of carrots and oranges for dinner, $6 a kid to go to the community pool and $1.49 for an ice cream cone afterwards.
The memories and friendships are priceless.
