There was a time when they were this small … and this cute.

Christmas 2015

And then, this happened.

Lydia’s graduation 2026

Granddaughter Lydia texted. “Grandma, can I come early and bring some friends?” The original plan was to spend a couple nights with us on her way to college. Plan “B” was to arrive four days early and be the activities director for a handful of her hometown high school friends.

They shot photos at Tumalo Falls. Rafted the Deschutes River. Hiked the trail above the moraine lake in Three Fingered Jack. Attended a concert in the amphitheater. And hiked up to Misery Ridge at Smith Rock State Park.

Misery Ridge at Smith Rock State Park

We started with five teenagers, The Parents joined us a couple days later with a 16-year-old grandson, and then two more of Lydia’s friends showed up … bringing the teen count up to eight overnight.

We stacked them in, and when they all left at the end of the week the youngest stayed behind. He mowed lawns. Spread bark mulch in the landscaped areas. Weeded. Helped Grandpa Dan hang a wall for shelving in the shop.

Earlier in the summer, we camped with kids and grands. Sticky fingers from marshmallows roasting over a fire. Bike riding. Deer watching.

Camping at Lava Lake

And then a granddaughter asked to come for a few days. More hiking, bike riding, and fishing on Paulina Lake with a mid-day break for lunch at the lodge.

Fishing on Paulina Lake

A week later, two grandsons were here. An air show, more outdoor food truck cuisine, conversations around a firepit.

2026 Madras Air Show

Of course it would have been easier cooking for just the two of us. It would been easier not hauling teens and floating devices. Not pulling the boat to the lake. Not to mention feeding a hungry crew. (Although the teens grocery shopped and made dinner for us one evening. Chicken alfredo and Caesar salad. Yum.)

But it also would have been less lively. There would have been less laughter. Fewer important conversations. Fewer non-grandkid teenagers asking, “Can we call you grandma?”

No matter the loads of laundry, the expense, falling into bed exhausted at the end of a day—this is infinitely better than wondering how the grandkids are doing, and why we never hear from them.

Are connections all that valuable?

You’ve noticed the trend, right?—how our culture continues to come up with better and better ideas so people don’t have to interact with people.

Pumping your own gas. Ordering groceries through DoorDash. Placing your meal order on a machine in the fast food lobby where you once conversed with an actual person who took your order. Buying almost anything online. Even the UPS guy doesn’t stay to chat; he drops, knocks, and runs.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with ordering online or having your meal/groceries/yarn delivered at your convenience. But if this is how you do business on a daily level, then may I gently suggest that you look for ways to interact with people.

A Prevention magazine article, titled “The Ultimate 21-Day Brain Health Challenge,” lists 21 things to do that will help you sharpen your brain. The suggestion for Day #14 is to talk to everyone you see:

Every time you connect with another person, whether it’s a smile or a quick hello, it’s thought to sharpen your brain’s synapses and boosts your mental health. Today, interact with everyone you encounter: Wave to the delivery guy, stop your dog-walking neighbor for a quick chat (and puppy pet), compliment the color of the store clerk’s sweater.

You don’t have to run a summer camp for teenagers out of your home to strengthen family relationships. Maybe your method for staying connected consists of tea parties with The Littles, teaching your pre-teens how to play chess, starting on old-fashioned letter-writing project that keeps the mailman busy between you and the grands.

Happiness and fulfillment and success are achieved by staying connected to our Creator and the people in our lives. We weren’t designed to do life alone.

We were meant to gather family. And friends who are like family. And strangers who will become friends. We were meant to love and encourage and share food within community.

As for whether the grandkids age the grandparents more quickly … or help keep them young, the jury’s still out on.

But there’s this thought:

Grandparents aren’t old … they’ve just been having fun longer.