Old Order Mennonite Memoirs

"Pop, pop," went the kernels of corn under the lid I held over the cast iron pan. The flames of the campfire flickered cheerily in the growing darkness of our seventh annual camping time with our grandchildren. Besides my first-time attempt at campfire popcorn, a whole bag of big marshmallows was toasted over the encircled heat. (This time I remembered to provide long sticks for everyone.)

On our first time in 2014 there were three grandchildren: Dana, age 6, Cassidy, age 4 and Kaitlyn, age 3. This past Friday night there were still only two girls, but there are now six more boys in the adventure. Besides Dana who is now 12 years old, there were the three seven-year-old boys, Logan, Gerome and Tyson. Jairus is age five and the two first-timers, Conner and Trevor are both age 4.

Unlike that first time, it didn't rain and trap us in the tent to be rescued with umbrellas. But like all the other times for Momie and Dawdy, a mat in the woods didn't provide a good night's rest. I have come to accept this as the one negative fact in the happy time with our grandchildren.

The best part is seeing the happy morning faces pop out of the tent flaps to look at me. They always sleep well, they say and their eyes look rested as they cluster around to watch me make a fire for breakfast. This time the girls used blankets for shawls to ward off the chilly morning fog and the boys all sat in a row. We sang songs and said memory verses with strawberry jelly toast for a reward. When their grandpa came back after morning chores we scrambled the eggs to go with the sausage. I didn't try any other campfire food novelties because I've learned to keep things simple with children. Flat paper plates didn't really work well for cereal and milk but they were happy and obliging. There was apple juice for a drink and even some raisins or strawberry dessert with plain yogurt if they wished.

After reading a Bible chapter we were on to simple outdoor games and zip line rides even as the morning fog lingered. Before we started off on a nature hike I gave each child a bag to collect special findings. We were having a good hike but when Dana warned me of brambles up ahead, I should have turned around at once. Our foot path changed into a deer path in the ferns and then disappeared. The brambles scratched into our ankles and grabbed our hair and faces. Besides the youngest boy, already in my arms, two of the boys were barefooted. When cries of protest began coming from my little troop, I looked back to see them in single file behind me, willing to follow but unable. I wasn't lost and I could see the landmarks of my goal, but it was unattainable. Four summers of green growth after one winter of logging had taken away the trails I used to hike with our own children.

Even though it was a moment of distress for the nine children that were with me, I loved it. I was making memories in God's great outdoors with the people I loved. They trusted me to guide them as we turned to retrace our questionable trail to the high point where we could see our camp woods. With the end in sight, we were soon back to building a fire for a doggie roast. Camp clean-up wasn't bad with the three oldest being such good helpers and Dana is now old enough to drive the small tractor back to the farm.

A treasure hunt in the yard is a highlight but rolling a mega ball from child to child as they sat in the shady front yard was new, yielding homemade ice cream for a sweet surprise. A sprinkler in the sunny backyard yielded squeals of delight. The goodness of summer was in our time together before we all went to another picnic along Fair Valley Road. Here, where flowers bloom and children grow, we met up with all the rest of us. Our time together was short but sweet like summer, too soon gone.

In the buggy ride to Piney Creek church the back seat rattled with no grandchildren to weigh it down but we were delighted to take Bella along home. At 22 months, her words are few but expressive and she clapped her pudgy hands together when we turned in our lane for lunch at our table, one of seven.

In New Enterprise church another couple was published to be married. Autumn will be very young on September 24, Lord willing, for the wedding along Lafayette Road where Tracy, the oldest daughter of Linus and Sharon Zimmerman, will be the bride for Skyler Zimmerman, son Wayne and Esther Mae Zimmerman of Muley Lane.