Happy 11th Birthday, Sage

She was born with it.  It's a gift.  A talent.  Sage was born loving children.  She is not only willing to help babysit little ones, she truly loves it, and them.  She has always been drawn to those younger than she.  She is chomping at the bit to be old enough to have babysitting jobs. I love how I can always volunteer to help a neighbor with emergency babysitting needs.  I know that Sage will not only be willing, but eager to step right in and take over, which she consistently does.  I get to just love the kids and Sage gets to be surrogate mom.  When she was about 8 years old, as we talked about what to do for her birthday party, she said she wanted a separate party that she would plan and carry out all by herself for all of her much younger friends, which she did.

In addition to loving children, Sage also loves to organize.  When she is in the right mood, she will organize anything:  a closet, a drawer, her room.  Not to say that her room is never a mess - it is - but everything is relative.  A mess for her is not really very messy for a stereotypical tween from what I hear. 

She also loves to create interesting hair styles for herself complete with intricate braids, twists and buns.  She has done her own hair since the time she could hold a brush.  Her school picture from pre-school at age 4, is of Sage sporting her own style created and realized on her own.  Only on occasion, when she finds a style she wants to try that is just a little too intricate, will she ask me for help.  It really is quite impressive.

She has her own sense of fashion as well.  She is quite particular about what she thinks matches and complements.   Dave has a pair of green sweats that he almost never wears, except to races so that if he doesn't end up getting them back in his drop bag, he is not bothered.  One night several years ago, he happened to be wearing them when he went in to say good-night.  He asked if he could give her a good-night kiss.  She responded immediately and emphatically with, "Not if you're wearing those pants!"

Sage is very responsible, and teachable at school.  It just about kills her to not turn in a homework assignment.  When she has the right motivation from a caring teacher, she would move mountains to finish every task asked of her.

Sage is my buddy, my partner, my always willing companion when I visit a friend, go run an errand, or anything I need to do.  She is very very social and loves to be with people, and most of the time, I will do.  But, she sure loves time with her friends.  They are more willing to play virtual school, or city, or even virtual church.  Everything she creates, she creates big.  She and her friend made up a dance, set up our backyard for the premier, created invitations and tickets, and provided refreshments for all who attended - it was a pretty exclusive list of attendees.  That's just one example.

She has her own set of challenges and difficulties which includes the much practiced talent of annoying her sister, but Sage is a gift and a blessing to me, and most people who know her.