As soon as school lets out, one of the first things Sage looks forward to is Vacation Bible School at Golden Springs Baptist Church. I just realized that she has gone since she was FIVE years old...little girl. She didn't know a soul her first year, and she didn't care. AND THIS year, someone else was old enough to go, but that someone was pretty much forced there. That would be Jaggar Cruiz. This year was another "first" for us since Sage was diagnosed last summer. This was one of the things that ran through my mind where I thought..."she can't go." But my main goal in life is to let nothing stop her on the basis of diabetes. So, I called the church and spoke to the children's director, and she was willing to be more than accommodating for Sage. She let me stop by the church the week before where she led me back to the kitchen and showed me all of their food that they had that they'd be serving, and I wrote some things down. The lady over the meals for the week was actually the cafeteria manager at Sage's school, and she said, "Oh is this our diabetic?" I said, "She has diabetes." I know, people just say it, but it's one way to really annoy me very quickly. If you have arthritis or osteoporosis or any other DISEASE, do you introduce yourself that way? Or describe yourself that way? It's so insensitive, and I don't even wear my feelings on my sleeve. Sage is a daughter, a sister, a friend, a thinker, a dancer, a dreamer, a carer, a problem solver..she IS so many things...but diabetic is not WHO she is. So...have some tact and thought and think about what that sounds like when you say it and think if you had a horrible illness, if you'd like to be described that way in an introduction or EVER or if you'd say to a child or someone that had cancer, "Oh! you're the cancer kid!!" I am FULLY aware that people, EVEN/ESPECIALLY in the medical field, have no clue what all this really entails (Example, my dentist asked if we had to check her sugar....really?) but still...anyway, I'm getting off on something that has nothing to do with anything with this, but I wanted to say it. Don't say it. Especially to me. I will correct you. Or ignore you. That felt good. I don't take the time to write how I feel much lately, and I just wanted to throw that in there. PS: The cafeteria lady had no bad intentions...but people say that and it's stupid. That and "How is she doing with HER diabetes?" That's stupid too. It's not hers. I think that my be a Southern thing because people say that about a lot. Don't be an idiot. Is that too much to ask? Clearly.
Anyway, when I went to register BOTH kids...and let me just say, Jaggar had NO desire to go. None. He cried even talking about it. "Are you going to take me to that place where you leave me?" But he is with me all the time, and I think he just....NEEDED to know he could go somewhere without me and be okay. When I registered them, and this was literally going to the church and filling out a paper, he lost it. We got a shirt (I wasn't buying for him yet in the event he bailed) and then went to the kitchen so I could write down some nutrition facts, and you would've thought I was going on a cross country trip without him and leaving him with strangers. He was hyperventilating and it wasn't even the day of it. BUT I thought....if I could get Paisley to go, they'd be in the same class and THEN he'd be okay. But....I was trying it with or without her. So right after registering him, we go to Panera Bread, and who is standing the window waving but PAISLEY? It was a sign. Nichole had already said she didn't want to go and wasn't going to force it, but I said, "Paisley! Jaggar is going to VBS! Do you want to go?" She said yes, and they signed her up. We were in business. The first day, Jaggar left me crying his eyes out, but I got a shirt for him and went to the balcony to watch them when they marched in to sing. He was okay then..and I felt good. I came back each day about an hour and a half before it ended and found Sage's class, gave her a shot for the food and was out until the end of their day there. Her teachers were great and called me before it even started to talk with me. Sage LOVED it. Jaggar's only motivating factor was the tickets we told him he was earning for each day to spend on family night. Every day he'd say, "When am I going to get my tickets? When do I get my prize?" He cried when I dropped him off every day. EVERY. DAY. But he was having fun when I got him, and they were so sweet with him. It was a GREAT first experience to be away from me (aside from church). And Sage always has a blast.
So here they are after their first day. Sweet, matching shirts.
On the last day, they brought home all of the things they made, and they make a LOT. Both kids made an awesome manger scene on wooden blocks. After all of the grief he gave me each day, Jaggar was SO proud of all of his things and was telling me bible stories and about sharing. It was so precious. He then hung every paper and picture that was his on the fridge. It was so cute. He was so proud...but check out this picture....yes. His class picture. Look at him. I said, "What was wrong with you?" He pointed at me and hit my leg. I said, "What does that mean?" He said, "I wanted you." lol Sigh...perfect, right? He then wanted to know when he'd be getting his tickets.
And THAT was happening that night. I failed to mention that Travis was out of town shooting Bonaroo (modern day woodstock basically), so we were on our own. Jaggar said, "I am not singing on stage, and I am not dancing." But I told him that I'd be in the audience and not really leaving him. I sat up in the balcony with Costner because I thought I'd be able to get to their classrooms afterwards easier and faster from up there and see better. Jaggar was so cute with his class...and once he spotted me, he waved to me nonstop. And telling his teacher I was up there. And waving more. It was adorable. I kept waving to him too. And giving him the thumbs up. And blowing kisses. Sage couldn't see me and I hated that because I'm always on the floor instead of the balcony, and I could see her looking for me. Here's Jaggar in the crowd with his class.
And then it came time for his age to sing..the youngest ones. And the craziest thing happened: He DID it! He did the dance. He sang! He did the motions. I couldn't believe it. The funniest thing was that Paisley, who had been waiting for her chance on the stage, froze...and twirled her hair while Jaggar did all the motions beside her. She'd been telling Nichole all week that if they'd just give her a change, she could do those dances and sing. Ya just never know. Here's a video, but it's not the greatest because I was in the balcony recording with an iphone in one hand and holding a 6 month old in the other arm.
You actually have to maximize it to even see Jaggar somewhat. He is on the top left.
After each group sang, I picked them up in their classrooms and then we got the long awaited tickets to redeem in the gym, fulfilling Jaggar's purpose in even going. That was a little crazy because there were SO many kids, but Sage and Jaggar each got their prizes and left happy. Very thankful for all of the volunteers who lovingly pour into this so my kids and many others can experience this wonderful VBS...even if one was forced. When we drive past the church now, Jaggar says, "Don't take me there! That's not my friend!" He got his tickets, and he is done.
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