Right after Sage's diagnosis, it seemed that everything was a challenge. Everything. VBS at our own church was rapidly approaching, and I had major concerns about sending Sage. Sage didn't even question NOT going, of course, so I never voiced my concerns to her. I NEVER told her she wasn't going. I actually made it a priority to make sure that she WAS going. But it definitely wasn't without anxiety. There's no nurse there. And I don't expect anyone to have a clue about what we are experiencing unless they have a child or they themselves have dealt with type 1 diabetes. I have a difficult time not rolling my eyes when someone hears what we've experienced and immediately says, "Yeah, I have type 2." Night and day. No where NEAR the same thing. I'm not saying that's not an illness. But the overwhelming majority of these people are overweight, middle age, still eat whatever crap they were eating before and take a pill at the end of the day.
I talked with Nikki, the children's director, about my concerns and asked what kinds of snacks they were having. Anyway, I talked to Sage before about what snack they were having each day. I sent her own things with her if she wanted them or needed them, but she ate what they ate each day...just sometimes less...like the day they had 4 cookies with marshmallow cream, Sage had 2 without marshmallow cream. She was SO excited about the last day because they were having cupcakes. It was almost pitiful to me at how excited she was. We take these things for granted. If you love sweets like me, then you take your kids out for some without thinking twice. Sage can have cupcakes...but not without insulin right now. So I figured out what the carbs were, and she could have half of one because there was no one there that could give her insulin. If there was some type of nurse or I was there, she could've had the whole thing. She said, "I'm taking that other half home." And she did. She had a great time each day at VBS. And each day that went by smoothly gave me a little more confidence that she would be fine.
At the end of each day, they would draw out names for prizes. These included glasses, stickers, tattoos...just little things. I always got there during this, and I noticed a lot of kids getting called a lot. I asked Sage, "Have you been called once?" Nope. No big deal but I just wondered. They could get their names entered in the bucket several times for: 1. being there. 2. bringing a friend. 3. bringing an offering 4. bringing a Bible. So, anyone could have 4 chances. We were obviously there. I brought her offering the first day. I didn't even know about any of these "added names" until the day before the last day. Sage told me this, and I said, "OH! Well, we'll definitely bring an offering and your bible and you will be there." She wanted to invite a friend, but it was too early to call her on that morning. This day counted the most because the last day was the day they were giving the BIG prizes away. These included razor scooters (4 different ones) and a DS. And Sage said, "I really hope I get that pink scooter." They had one pink razor scooter, and she had her eye on it and was talking about it a LOT the night before the last night.
So we did all we could to get her name in. 3x. Was it LIKELY in the odds? No. And we just don't typically win that kind of thing. It always seems to be a kid I have never seen, and that's fine. It's more likely you WON'T get that kind of thing than you will. But as I walked in on that last day knowing they had already drawn for those big prizes or were getting ready to, I couldn't help but think, "God...if you were ever going to do something really cool. If she could win that scooter at this time of all times, it would be awesome. It would just be FITTING." She wanted it so badly.
So when I walked in, they were calling names for the little prizes: glasses and stickers again. Sage actually did get a sticker, which was nice. I'm glad her name was called. Then I watched them scoop all the names up and put them back in. Heather said, "OKAY...is everybody ready for the big prizes???" Kids screamed. She said, "Are we going to praise God if we win?" YEEEEAH. Are we going to praise God if my friend wins?" *cricket, cricket* Just kidding. They screamed then, too. Maybe the crickets were more in my head. And they picked up the bucket to draw. I didn't even know what the first prize was. I honestly couldn't bear to watch Sage's face. I was sitting at a table to the side talking to some friends. Heather reached in and pulled a name out....."SAGE SPENCE!" No way. But I had no idea what she won. Was this really the big prize? I asked someone, "What did she win?" They said, "The pink scooter." Tears came to my eyes. Lori and others were coming over to me saying, "Did you see???" I watched Sage come around wheeling her prize with such a smile on her face. She said, "God heard me. I prayed I'd win!" All the adults and workers were so glad for her. Heather said, "I was so happy to see her name."
I was so grateful. Because it was more than a scooter. It was hope at just the right time. Renewed hope that God heard us. Heard HER. And He'd continue to do so. You have never seen a more proud child. She wanted to relive it, she said. Be back in the seat and hear her call her name again. Every girl in that room wanted that pink scooter, and Sage won. She waited all day (which turned to 8:30 at night when he got home) to SHOW Travis, not tell him, and he was shocked and also so thrilled for her. We were so glad FOR her. Look at that face. It has already gotten a lot of miles on it.
I talked with Nikki, the children's director, about my concerns and asked what kinds of snacks they were having. Anyway, I talked to Sage before about what snack they were having each day. I sent her own things with her if she wanted them or needed them, but she ate what they ate each day...just sometimes less...like the day they had 4 cookies with marshmallow cream, Sage had 2 without marshmallow cream. She was SO excited about the last day because they were having cupcakes. It was almost pitiful to me at how excited she was. We take these things for granted. If you love sweets like me, then you take your kids out for some without thinking twice. Sage can have cupcakes...but not without insulin right now. So I figured out what the carbs were, and she could have half of one because there was no one there that could give her insulin. If there was some type of nurse or I was there, she could've had the whole thing. She said, "I'm taking that other half home." And she did. She had a great time each day at VBS. And each day that went by smoothly gave me a little more confidence that she would be fine.
At the end of each day, they would draw out names for prizes. These included glasses, stickers, tattoos...just little things. I always got there during this, and I noticed a lot of kids getting called a lot. I asked Sage, "Have you been called once?" Nope. No big deal but I just wondered. They could get their names entered in the bucket several times for: 1. being there. 2. bringing a friend. 3. bringing an offering 4. bringing a Bible. So, anyone could have 4 chances. We were obviously there. I brought her offering the first day. I didn't even know about any of these "added names" until the day before the last day. Sage told me this, and I said, "OH! Well, we'll definitely bring an offering and your bible and you will be there." She wanted to invite a friend, but it was too early to call her on that morning. This day counted the most because the last day was the day they were giving the BIG prizes away. These included razor scooters (4 different ones) and a DS. And Sage said, "I really hope I get that pink scooter." They had one pink razor scooter, and she had her eye on it and was talking about it a LOT the night before the last night.
So we did all we could to get her name in. 3x. Was it LIKELY in the odds? No. And we just don't typically win that kind of thing. It always seems to be a kid I have never seen, and that's fine. It's more likely you WON'T get that kind of thing than you will. But as I walked in on that last day knowing they had already drawn for those big prizes or were getting ready to, I couldn't help but think, "God...if you were ever going to do something really cool. If she could win that scooter at this time of all times, it would be awesome. It would just be FITTING." She wanted it so badly.
So when I walked in, they were calling names for the little prizes: glasses and stickers again. Sage actually did get a sticker, which was nice. I'm glad her name was called. Then I watched them scoop all the names up and put them back in. Heather said, "OKAY...is everybody ready for the big prizes???" Kids screamed. She said, "Are we going to praise God if we win?" YEEEEAH. Are we going to praise God if my friend wins?" *cricket, cricket* Just kidding. They screamed then, too. Maybe the crickets were more in my head. And they picked up the bucket to draw. I didn't even know what the first prize was. I honestly couldn't bear to watch Sage's face. I was sitting at a table to the side talking to some friends. Heather reached in and pulled a name out....."SAGE SPENCE!" No way. But I had no idea what she won. Was this really the big prize? I asked someone, "What did she win?" They said, "The pink scooter." Tears came to my eyes. Lori and others were coming over to me saying, "Did you see???" I watched Sage come around wheeling her prize with such a smile on her face. She said, "God heard me. I prayed I'd win!" All the adults and workers were so glad for her. Heather said, "I was so happy to see her name."
I was so grateful. Because it was more than a scooter. It was hope at just the right time. Renewed hope that God heard us. Heard HER. And He'd continue to do so. You have never seen a more proud child. She wanted to relive it, she said. Be back in the seat and hear her call her name again. Every girl in that room wanted that pink scooter, and Sage won. She waited all day (which turned to 8:30 at night when he got home) to SHOW Travis, not tell him, and he was shocked and also so thrilled for her. We were so glad FOR her. Look at that face. It has already gotten a lot of miles on it.
1 comment:
Thank God for answered prayer! That's so awesome for Sage! :)
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