Thursday Interview: Barbara Ann Baranowski Part 2

Welcome back to another installment of Thursday Interviews and Part 2 of our discussion with GTO contributor Barbara Ann Baranowski. We still have quite a bit to talk about with Barbara, so let’s dive in!

Here’s a picture of Barbara and her family at a recent Nana Camp:

GTO: Barbara, we know some time has passed since you first submitted your story to us. Can you give us an update on recent developments with your grandchildren since writing your story?

Barbara: Well, my husband and I are in the midst of planning our eighth camp experience for our grandchildren.  We now have a new grandchild to add to the faith camping experience–making five.  Our theme this year is “Living the Truth.”  Our older grandchildren will have a part in instructing out youngest in what they have learned from past lessons.  We are planning a trip to Philadelphia to study the symbols of freedom, with reminders that Jesus has made us truly free when we accept Him as our Savior.  All of our grandchildren, with the exception of the two-year-old have accepted Jesus as their Savior.

GTO: That’s certainly a testimony to God’s power through grandparenting! Now, tell us what’s happened in your life since writing your story—any new developments or fun adventures?

Barbara: I always tell our grandchildren that life itself, in the Lord, is a grand adventure.  We have traveled together to places such as Pidgeon Forge, Tennessee (Dollywood), and Williamsburg–Jamestown, Virginia. In historic places I explain to the children the importance of celebrating our country’s founding through God’s plan for America.

GTO:  It’s obvious that you have a passion for this country, the freedoms it offers, and how that relates to the freedoms God has given us.  The prospect of protecting our freedoms is definitely a big challenge that we face today as a nation. What do you think is perhaps the greatest challenge faced by children today, and how can grandparents help them with this challenge?

Barbara: As a retired teacher, mother, and grandparent, I feel that one of the greatest challenges children face is to feel loved and to understand they have a purpose for being here.  So many children are aimless and without goals in life–thus the dependence on drugs and other “highs.”   Teaching them that God loves them and knows exactly why they were created (and will reveal it to them over time through prayer) gives them meaning and purpose to life.  Showing them His love brings them to the ultimate “high” of knowing God and serving Him with a future, a purpose, and a hope.

GTO: Now that you’ve invested so much in your grandkids, what do you hope they’ll most remember about you when you’re gone?

Barbara: I hope my grandchildren will remember that I loved God, accepted His salvation for my sins through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, and that  serving Him and sharing Him with them and others is my greatest joy.  I hope also that they will remember that my eternity is wonderful and secure because I am with Him forever.  I truly want them to remember Jesus when they think of me.  Of myself I am nothing, but through Him and His love, I can be what He has created me to be.  I want them to know that about themselves as well.

GTO: I think that says it all. I believe those words are shared by the hearts of grandparents everywhere who are trying to influence their grandchildren for Christ.

Barbara, thank you again for sharing your story and your heart with us! And, readers, thank you for sharing your time with us. We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Barbara.

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Creating Your Own Grandparenting Camp

Last Thursday and this Thursday we are interviewing book contributor Barbara Ann Baranowski, who wrote the story “Gone Camping” for Grandparenting Through Obstacles. Barbara and her husband do not live near their grandchildren, and they wanted to find a way to help them grow in Christ during the short times they were together. After praying about it, God gave them the idea to create a special camp-like experience for their grandkids over the summer. It was soon dubbed “Nana Camp” by the grandchildren!

Barbara kept the camp simple, but made sure it included Bible stories, memorization verses, songs, crafts, games, and fun play times. She also gave her “campers” a special keepsake to take home with them to remind them of Nana Camp.

In our book, we suggested some ways that virtually any grandma or grandpa could start their own grandparenting camp:

• Pick a theme for the camp then choose activities to support that theme. Your theme could be creation, God’s grace, forgiveness, God’s power, and so forth.
• Plan the camp for the middle ages of your group. You can always allow the older children to help the younger ones.
• Plan your activities around your expertise, whether that’s art, science, or baking. If you have a passion for something, your grandkids will join in your enthusiasm. And, if both Grandma and Grandpa are helping out, this is a great opportunity for both of you to share skills and interests with your grandkids.
• Be sure to create opportunities for the kids to ask Jesus into their hearts. Don’t ever assume that children have a personal relationship with the Lord. Always give them a chance to get to know Him in a safe environment.

The best part about a grandparenting camp is that you really don’t need any special equipment or even a fancy place to hold it. You can have it in your own backyard or at a neighborhood park. The most important ingredient is you–and the spiritual memories you will provide for your grandchildren.

If you do prefer a get-away time with your grandkids where you can truly bond with them in a fun and biblical environment, you may want to consider an established family camp, such as Grand Camps, hosted by The Christian Grandparenting Network.

How about you? What special moments or activities have you created for your grandkids that make them want to keep coming back to “Nana’s” again and again? We’d love to hear your ideas!

Don’t forget to come back Thursday for Part 2 of our interview with Barbara Baranowski.

Thursday Interview: Contributor Barbara Ann Baranowski

Today we have the privilege of speaking with Barbara Ann Baranowski, who wrote the story “Gone Camping” for Grandparenting Through Obstacles. God gave Barbara the creative idea of having Nana Camps for her grandkids. What she thought would probably be a one-time experience has now been blessing her grandchildren for many, many years. Below is a picture of Barbara and her grandkids from a recent Nana Camp.

GTO: Barbara, why did you choose to share the story you did for our book?

Barbara:  I shared my story of providing a grandparenting “camp” because I think it addresses two issues that grandparents face: how, as grandparents, we can share our faith legacy, and how long-distance grandparents can participate in the faith development of their grandchildren.

Grandparents, whether living near or far, can use the suggestions to engage the grandchildren in deepening relationships with themselves and God through Bible studies and shared activities.

GTO: We agree that your camps are a great way of doing all those things! What are you hoping that are readers will take away from your story?

Barbara: I hope that the readers  will be inspired to share their faith legacy with their grandchildren through the ideas and suggestions.  We are all different in the way we pass on our faith in God to our grandchildren, but perhaps the story I have shared will give them inspiration and a way that they had not thought of to personalize their story and faith for their own grandchildren, especially if they live away from them.

GTO: Barbara, what can you tell our readers to encourage them to not give up on their kids or grandkids no matter how bad their situation might look?

Barbara: The Bible reminds in us Proverbs 22:6 that we are to “train a child in the way in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (NIV).  If we are obedient to the Word and follow the instruction of training our children and grandchildren as God instructs, we have hope for their future.  Without sharing the Lord with them (whether from us or others), they have little hope for eventual spiritual joy and happiness or the promise of eternal life with God.  We must do our part, pray, and let the Lord do His.

Children are a gift that may not show every aspect of a gift’s beauty now, but with the Lord’s touch, every beautiful aspect reflected through Him will be uncovered.  Prayer is the key to answers for the lives of our grandchildren.  Many a praying grandparent has made the difference.

GTO: You are absolutely right about that…where would most of us be today without that praying grandparent in our lives? And, that’s something that every grandparent can do. What advice can you give our readers to help them become more intentional about imparting spiritual truths and values into their grandchildren?

Barbara:  God did not leave grandparents out of His Word.  As  Christian Grandparents, we are told clearly to be intentional.  Deuteronomy 4:9 says, “Do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live.  Teach them to your children and to their children after that.” And Psalm 71:18 reminds us, “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come” (NIV).

So, if God felt our importance in sharing with the generations to come, we must understand that our part is crucial.  It is a great privilege and honor to know that God still has great plans for us and for our mission as grandparents.

GTO: That is very good advice, Barbara. Thank you so much for joining us here today.

And, I know we still have more to talk about, so we’ll be continuing our discussion with Barbara next Thursday. Hope to see you back then!