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Author: Deb Blaha, Debjblaha(at)aol.com
Middlebury UMC, Ovid, MI
Date submitted: March 01, 2005
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For several weeks before Grandparents Day (4 would be good) children and teens gave a surprise gift to a "grandparent" in our church family. The senior members who chose to participate completed a survey listing some of their favorite things. Names were drawn to pair each young person with a grandfather or grandmother the week before the gift exchange. The young ones and their parents managed to "sneak" gifts into a special box. Our secretary delivered these to keep the identities of the gift-givers secret. Gifts of hand-picked wildflowers, cards, music cds, birdfeeders and even tacos were delivered. The children received candy, sports trinkets, and toys in return. Grandparent's Day was also our Rally Day. Several teens read a poem honoring grandparents. As the congregation sang God of our Fathers, other teens joined in the fanfare on cornets and trumpets.The connections between all ages of our church family were celebrated.
Months later several children were surprised by gifts, cards and special thoughts from their Middlebury grandparents at Christmas.