Saturday, July 18, 2009

Sage's First Birthday

Crystal and I knew that Sage's birthday was and will always be a difficult day for us so we decided to celebrate it in a "Big" way.  We knew if we didn't fill the day full of activities then it would become one of the hardest days yet...and that isn't what we wanted.  We wanted to celebrate the life of our little Sagebrush.  So here is Sage's Day in photo's.

Crystal wanted cake but we knew a traditional cake with a candle would be to sad so she came up with the neatest idea.  She made 246 red velvet cream cheese cake balls dipped in white and dark chocolate!  Each one was decorated differently to represent the 246 individual day's Sage was with us.  She did all the baking and rolling two days before then froze them.  Then Amanda, Crystal and I spent the next day melting, dipping and decorating.  As we placed a finished cake ball sucker into the styrofoam tray we counted off a day.  I have to say the room got quiet as we approached 246.  Every ball that was dipped we would think...it's Halloween...it's Christmas...it's March...he only has ten days left, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1.   Yes we cried and as we stood back and looked at all of his completed cake ball suckers we realized how blessed we were to have had that much time with him.
This is a cake made out of bird seed, popcorn and peanut butter.  Sage is burried under a big beautiful ficus tree and it is always full of singing birds...so we left the birds a special treat.
Spencer offered the most heartfelt prayer...
Aunt RaLee read the special birthday wish attached to each balloon.  This is what it said...
This Balloon was released in memory of Sage Lawrence Eldredge who was born on July 17, 2008 to Spencer and Crystal Eldredge. Sage has four older siblings…brother’s William-8, Wayne-6, Treyton-4 and a sister Jayden who is 2. Sage was born perfectly healthy and had a wonderful life. He was happy everyday and rarely ever cried. He loved watching life happen all around him and he woke up happy every morning. His mother nursed him and put him to bed as she did every night and in the morning when his daddy went to get him from his crib to take him to his mommy he found him not breathing. Sage had passed in the night of SUID- Sudden Unexplained Infant Death on March 19, 2009. Our hearts are broken and we miss our happy little man but we are also celebrating the 246 days we got to be in the presence of an angel! So today we are at his grave sending birthday wishes to Heaven. Since Sage wanted you to have one of his birthday wishes we would love to hear from you. You can visit his memorial web site and leave a comment for his family…let them know how and where you found his balloon and if you want how receiving his birthday wish today has touched you. We would love and look forward to hearing from you! His web site is http://sagelawrenceeldredge.blogspot.com or email us at teeleliz@msn.com
Then we released Sage's balloons.
Jayden takes "Bear"  everywhere and she told me Sage could play with him a while.
I Love these beautiful Sunflowers!
We left the cemetary and went to Crystal and Spencer's house to celebrate.
Cake Ball Suckers all 246 of them!
Uncle Royal ran the snow cone machine!  He made perfect Snow Cones!
Then there was a huge water slide...the kids and adults had a blast on this!  They played on this in the heat, wind, rain and even in the dark.
We blew up more helium balloons to release.
We went into the backyard and released more balloons.
Don't these balloons look like they are floating above the clouds?  They really look like they are floating to Heaven.
Crystal and Spencer LOVED playing in the wind/rain storm!
There was a precious little 5 year old girl at the party.  Her name is Berlyn and she has OS or brittle bone disease.  This little tiny girl is just beautiful and reminds you of a little princess fairy.  She is so sweet and innocent.  She has had more than her share of pain and suffering.  Her little bones break so easily.  She has just recovered from yet another broken back but despite her trials she smiled and played all day even though she couldn't play on the slide. 
Just before the summer storm rolled in Berlyn came in and sat down beside Crystal and told her, "Sage is Very Happy in Heaven today"!  Then she proceeded to tell us that when the wind starts blowing that means that Sage is VERY Happy!  Then within the hour the clouds got dark and the winds came...we even had a power outage.  Then this sweet little Child of God came in and sat between Crystal and I and said, "Sage is Super Dee Dooper Dee Happy Happy Happy!  The stronger the wind blows the Happier he is and he is going to send the rainbow."  Now a rainbow in the desert is really kind of rare so Crystal and I just listened to her.  She jumped off the couch and went to play.  Then the winds got stronger and the rains came and Crystal and Spencer went outside and played in Sage's "Happy Storm"...
Can you see how the wind chimes are blowing.  Berlyn told me that it was Sage singing.
Although we never doubted her any doubt we might have had left when we saw this...
Crystal said, "Happiness is something that doesn't just happen to us...we must make a conscious effort to be Happy!"  It's strange to be able to say that this was the funnest party we have ever thrown and yet one of the saddest days we have lived through.  Yes this birthday party was different.  There was no baby to blow out his candle and get messy from head to toe eating his own special little cake.  There were no presents no Happy Birthday song.  But what we did have was the love and support of family and friends. We are blessed to know that we are an Eternal Family and that we are sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father.  He may send the storms and they can be hard to endure but then he shows us that he has not forgotten us and he sends the Rainbow.

15 comments:

Liz said...

I wanted the following comments to be moved to this post so I coppied and pasted them.

Anonymous said...
Sweetest Sage, I've thought about you all day. Happy Birthday Angel Baby. Look in on your Mama she's missing you badly but doing her best.


Much Love, C.S.

July 17, 2009 11:26 PM

Liz said...

More Birthday Wishes for Sage

Danielle said...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAGE!

I hope you are celebrating in Heaven this morning.

Crystal and Spencer I will be thinking of you.

July 17, 2009 7:04 AM


Pam said...
Dear Sage's family,

I've been thinking about all of you and Sage today. Thank you for sharing this little guys precious story. His life story and your family has inspired me to try to be a better person, even just little things like being a better visiting teacher and planting a garden.

I hope you are feeling blessed today.

Pam in California

July 17, 2009 5:38 PM

Sharron said...

I am so glad that you had this day. I thought and prayed for you all day hoping it would have a healing affect for you.

I hope this will be one more hill you have made it over and can rest a little better now, mentally, spiritually, and physically.

I love you guys, take care of yourselves.

Liz said...

Here is our first Balloon find! We were so excited. I read this response at his party and it made Crystal so Happy that somebody found and responded to one of Sage's birthday wishes. It surprised us that it was found in Guadalupe because the balloons did not float in that direction...we thought Sage sent this balloon exactly where HE wanted it to go.

Anonymous said...
"Happy Birthday sage", i came acrosss your blue balloon in our neighbor hood park at the playground,something told me to pick up the balloon.Crystal,am sorry to hear of your loss,i belive that sage's presence in your families life although only for a short time, made your family stronger,our lord sent you a angel forever in your heart.My name is andrea,i am from a poverty sticken community,also a mother of 5,i found a balloon at the guadalupe park at the playground,your story had deeply touched my soul,i am also what you would call a orphan,i have no parents here on earth,but someday we will all meet.stay stong,i will always keep sage in my thoughts and prayers.

July 17, 2009 2:07 PM

Mama Byrd said...

Happy Birthday Sweet Sage.

Cori White said...

I thought about Crystal all day long on Friday knowing it was Sage's bday. Glad you had such a fun time those sucker balls look great.
Im sure he was having a great party in heaven

Liz said...

Sage had one of the funnest Birthday Parties I have ever been too. It was hard not having preasents for him or blowing out the candels. but the amount of support was awesome that little baby is loved bye so many.

Happy BIRTHDAY Sage we all love you and MISS you so much.

Sharron said...

Hi Crystal and Spencer, it me again, the website that some one mentioned on your family blog is a really good one.
http://adailyscoop.blogspot.com/

I used to read it every day and then kind of got away from doing it. I checked in on it last week and decided to give it to you after the birthday had passed. If you go to it, there is also a special blog she has put together for parents who have lost children that she keeps private. It might be a good place for you as a an additional support system. If you want to see her whole story, you can go back to mid June of last year.

Stephanie is an attorney who can express herself so well and can explain gospel principles really well. She is down to earth so I have appreciated her efforts to answer the questions she has gotten. She has a little boy that was born since she lost her little girl and has been very honest about the mix emotions since his birth. She had 4 girls and now this little guy.

I hope it is a help for you.

TheSooner7 said...

I loved reading your blog today and the pictures...what extraordinary faith you all have. I think this is one of the most awesome ways to celebrate Sage's life. Thank you for sharing this difficult time with us. We can really see how God rules in your lives :)

Marie said...

That girl Berlyn sounds amazing. I think sometimes children with special needs like hers can see and understand things that other people will never know. I'm glad you were able to make something positive out of Sage's birthday, maybe it will be a tradition for your family.

Jessica Caldwell said...

My first comment was posted under Moms name! I just wanted to say that Sage was remembered on his birthday. he had so many people there that love him and miss him so much. I know for me I need days like this to help ease the pain and loss I feel in my heart.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY beautiful baby! I miss you so much.

Amanda Griggs said...

Sage's celebration was very bitter sweet. We all had a wonderful time and we were able to remember Sage.

Making the cake balls was an experience that's for sure. I learned that chocolate and food coloring don't mix.

Sage I miss you every day, I think about you daily. I love you!

Trina said...

I loved reading and looking at all the wonderful pictures as each one of you celebrated Sage's 1st birthday. What a beautiful way to celebrate such a special child of our Heavenly Father. I am sure Sage was enjoying every second of watching all of his loved ones! You are all in our prayers and thoughts everyday.
We love you,
Trina & Curtis & Family

Mariah said...

I woke up Friday morning and your family was one of the first things that came to my mind. I prayed the day would go ok for you. These pictures turned out well. The balloons and cake for the birds were such a neat idea. The cake suckers turned out beautiful, what a great way to represent every day. I will forever think of Sage and your family when I see a rainbow now. Sending hugs your way.

Cheryl said...

Hello,

What a beautiful day it sounds like you had celebrating Sage's life.

I don't know if I have ever shared our story with you, but my husband and I have six children. Our youngest son Caleb (17 months old) died last August in his crib. He was trying to climb out and got asphyxiated when he got his head stuck between his crib and the bunk bed next to his crib.

My husband went to get him in the morning to bring him to me to be nursed and that is when we realized that he had died.

Your story is so similar to ours in some ways. It really touches my heart when I read about how your family helps you cope with your loss. I am so happy to hear that your living children are doing well.

We have a great faith and know that we will be reunited with him when we go to Heaven.

May you feel God's presence and comfort and peace.

With Hope,
Cheryl