Those of you who follow me on social media may know I spent the entire past weekend at Great Wolf Lodge indoor waterpark resort in Colorado Springs. I'll be sharing much more about the grand place for grandparent-grandkid vacations later on this week.

Today, though, my first moment back on the blog since returning from the mini vacation, I must immediately offer online thanks and gratitude to a young man who helped me out immensely over the weekend.

Here's the scoop: I was invited to participate in the media event in celebration of the Great Wolf Lodge's brand new location in Colorado Springs. My husband got to go with me. All my grandkids were invited to attend as well. Unfortunately, living more than 800 miles away from me made it rather difficult for Bubby, Mac, and Jak to participate in the fabulous — and wet and wild — fun. And Bud was with his mom this weekend, not his dad and Brianna, so he couldn't come either.

So while all the other media folks participating in the event had kids along to play and pose for pics, I had none. Just me and Jim. We still had a fabulous time, don't get me wrong, but having grands along would have made it even better.

Discussing gem discovery with JimAt one point, Jim and I decided to take try out to try the Gemstone Mining Experience activity at Oliver's Mining Co. (one of the many "dry" activities at the waterpark resort). We set out pouring our bag of gem-filled dirt into the sluicing screen as instructed, Jim shot a pic or two of me in action, then I noticed a young fella watching us with great interest (and a wee bit of longing, it seemed).

So I called him over, asked him — and he's accompanying adult — if he'd be my model for the gem mining piece, and he graciously sluiced and sloshed with gusto, all the while allowing me to take photos. He was quite enamored with the gems that appeared from the grit, the obsidian, in particular as it played a role in his Minecraft gaming.

'Twas my only activity of the weekend that I had the great privilege of enjoying with a child.

Gemstone Mining Experience at Great Wolf Lodge

Our borrowed boy in action

And all it cost me was the two biggest chunks of obsidian from my basket.

Thank you, young man who mined for gems with me! I hope you held on to the card I gave you and have found your way here to see the photos I promised to post.

(Stay tuned for the full write-up on my time at Great Wolf Lodge!)