This past week our 21 grandchildren, ages 6-20, gathered at our little family farm for 4 wild days together followed by 4 days with their parents for Family Camp. Parents are not allowed at Cousin Camp and this thrills everyone.
Since all of our grands are now over 4, all get to come to Camp. Our own kids are delighted to drop their kids off and run away for their own honeymoons!
How best to describe Cousin Camp?
LOUD as the kids race in the front door to read numerous posted sheets explaining everything from the schedule, to buddies, to sleeping arrangements, to teams, to the camp theme and camp verse, etc. We post it all in the kitchen so we don’t have to answer the same questions over and over. However, we do reserve the right to change anything at any moment!
LOUD as they gather in the kitchen to serve plates for dinner. Our granddaughter Callie (20) plans the meals and recruits the cooking and cleaning up teams. She likes her cooking better than mine. YAY! I do the shopping. We use all paper products because there’s no way to wash that many dishes.
LOUD is the laughter as they jump into the pond on top of each other—and as they cheer for a really big fish caught or a winning shot in the Ping-Pong tourney.
LOUD as we pile in cars to go pick raspberries at a local orchard.
LOUD as each one tries to be the first to raise a hand to answer questions in Bible Study. This year we studied Jonah. Campers have their own journals that live at the farm. They roar as they look back to previous years to their funny handwriting then.
LOUD as they race to the “party barn” for craft times.
LOUD as they engage in the whipped cream war and race in teams to complete a fantastic scavenger hunt that our friends Rachel and Preston Hansen have prepared.
LOUD when we try to get them in bed, on floors, in closets, at night. Of course, we have arguments and sibling nastiness throughout. These are normal kids!
Our Camp theme verse this year has been:
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, YOUR GOD REIGNS.”
(Isaiah 52:7)
Four of our grandsons, along with their Uncle Will, left last weekend for a Mission Trip with our Church to Haiti. Each of the grandkids raised money to help them go and we took time to hear about the trip and lay hands on them to pray for them.
Every year we close camp with a special candlelight ceremony called Band of Cousins, or BOC for short. We recite our pledge: “As cousins, we pledge to serve the Lord and to take care of each other always.” This year the 11 eldest cousins shared three things: their favorite Bible verse, one thing they want God to do in their life this summer, and one piece of advice for the younger 10 cousins. Tears came quickly to my eyes and John’s.
Here are a few post-camp reflections from campers:
“Starting from the very original Cousin Camp with five of us, to the most recent with twenty-one, Cousin Camp has always been a very special part of my life. I have been able to form such important bonds with every single one of my cousins, and none of them would have been possible without Cousin Camp. I love getting to play with my cousins and spend time with Ghee and Poppy. I think my favorite parts of Cousin Camp are when we ride horses with Poppy and the mornings when the first thing we do is get a big hug from Ghee. I love Cousin Camp at night when the older kids get to stay up and play cards, eat microwave popcorn, and occasionally stargaze on the roof. Cousin Camp is always one of my favorite things during the year and I look forward to it every summer! I cannot thank Ghee and Poppy enough for doing this for us every year and for putting up with all twenty-one of us, we cherish every minute of it!” – Sylvie, age 15
“My favorites: berry picking, riding horses, and cooking with Callie. We wrote affirmations for one another and put them in a special box to share.” – Bel, age 13
“I loved the late night fishing and all the tournaments.” – Jack, age 11
“I liked fishing and being with cousins.” – Alexander, age 8
“The whip cream fight was so fun and I liked playing with the dog and swinging on the Swurfer with Mimi and Saylor and sleeping with Ghee and Saylor and Mimi. Poppy slept on the couch so we wouldn’t hear him snore!” – Sloan, age 6
It’s been a very LOUD week.
But it’s blissfully quiet now and I don’t mind at all. Yes, it’s a bit lonely. I miss the 21 grandkids, my 10 kids (this includes spouses) but I am very glad I’m the grandmother and not the mother!
A reflection: I am asking God to make me “loud,” or at least very persistent in thanksgiving this summer. Too often we “pray up” an event and when it’s over we are on to something else. I don’t want to do that. I want to become more a woman of praise and thanksgiving continuously throughout each day. I know it delights our Father’s heart. Just as my heart is delighted when my kids and grands rejoice and thank me.
My grandkids have reminded me of two things: Thanksgiving and Laughter.
Lord, please increase both within me.
Clearly not too sad to say goodbye! 
Thumbs up for a weekend without kids! 
Linden (9) clearly enjoyed the whipped cream fight! 
Will (18) shows off the start of his clay beads. 
Morning Quiet Time
Love reading about your cousin camp adventure! I read your books as a young mom and you mentored me from afar. Now that my 5 are 23-31 and starting their families – I wonder if you have considered writing a grabdmothering book! What a wealth of experience you have with your tribe of 21.
Our daughters in law married to our oldest three sons just gave us 3 grandsons born in the span of 11 months. 8/17, 4/18 and 6/18. I (and so many other new gmas, Ghees, Gigi’s etc) would treasure your insights Susan. P
Ann,
Thanks so much for writing! You have a full family! I have a book ,Barbara and Susan’s Guide to the Empty Nest that has a little on grandparenting and some other blogs but I will keep you suggestion in mind! I might do one on cousins camps and reunions. I’d love your prayers!
Blessings, Susan
Yay! Another amazing cousin camp! So fun reading the summary and the kids’ feedback. Thanks for sharing this!
Jennifer, Thanks so much for reading my stuff and writing! It is an encouragement!
Love, Susan
We have an annual Camp HoneyPops but we are stressed with planning and execution for only two families. Only three grandchildren currently qualify for Camp because they must be TWO. Yes, we ARE crazy. Next year it will be four grandchildren. I want to know how you pick the DATE of Camp. That negotiation is worthy of a presidential summit for us. Congrats on pulling this off for so long!❤️
Hey Ann,
I love the HoneyPops name! We have to plan over a year in advance with our 5 families. It’s usually the first week the last kids are out of school. It’s complicated but worth it!
Blessings, Susan
I always look forward to hearing about Cousin’s Camp! These kids are beyond blessed by being a part of this – and even though I know it’s tiring – you are blessed, too!
Betsy,
You are my most faithful follower! Thanks so much for your encouragement!
Love,
Susan
Susan, you and Johnny are such amazing people/parents/grandparents and you are so wise to cultivate these relationships. You are a marvelous example for us all. My family didn’t have Cousin Camp but I still have fun, fond memories of time spent with cousins every summer and we are closer today because of those sweet times. Much love to you all!
Jane,
It’s so great to hear from you. Thanks so much for writing. Big hugs to Catherine from us.
Love, Susan
Thanks, Susan. I always enjoy these “summaries” of Cousin Camp. Now, could you please write a post about the “sibling arguing and nastiness”??? 🙂 or point me to it if you’ve already written it? Thanks!
Hey Joy,
Thanks for writing! I do have 2 posts on sibling rivalry. Go to the search folder and see if you can find them. Let me know if you have trouble.
Hugs, Susan
I just love cousin camp and this is in my bank of ideas for the future! I didn’t grow up with these types of sweet family bonds and I am so excited to do things differently. I am excited to the point of tears to be intentional about building faith, relationships, and memories with my children (who are now teens) and one day with their children. The tears come when I think about God’s beautiful gift of faith, the Holy Spirit making our family different than my upbringing, and the sweetness of trusting the Lord with our future. Thank you for taking time to share!
Sara,
Thank you for taking the time to write! God loves to do new things and He will use you to do a new thing in your family!
Blessings, Susan
The memories, the bonding, the laughter, the fun timed shared with cousins…This is AMAZING!
MJ,
Thanks so much for writing! You have encouraged me today.
Blessings, Susan
Dear Susan, Every year I look forward to hearing about Cousin Camp. What a delightful way to facilitate relationships between family members and create cherished memories! Way to go Ghee and Poppy! Miss you dear friend! Let me know if you’re ever in Texas – would love to catch up!
Thanks Wendy!!!
Send me your snail mail address. Our letter to you came back!
Hugs, Susan
Best post ever!!! Best Ghee in the world love you and THANK you!
BEST KIDS IN THE WORLD of which you are the first born and you set a great example!!!
I love you!
Mom
Dearest Susan, I always enjoy your blog, but your description of Cousin Camp particularly warmed my heart! I intend to wantonly plagiarize you when I have more than one grandchild! I love that you and “Poppy” make this time to deepen your relationship with each grandchild, faciliate their relationships with one another, and deepen your collective faith. How God must rejoice that you desire for your grands to know Him more fully through this time spent with each of you and one another. You are indeed a woman of thanksgiving and praise. XO+
Shannon,
Thanks so much for the encouragement. You are already a great grandma! Hope to see you soon. Love, susan