It's been a busier than usual week for us, meaning we actually are going somewhere every morning: Vacation Bible School (VBS). Usually I plan 2 or 3 activities per week to allow time for spontaneity. Library storytime, Pony Time and a playdate looks like a full weekday calendar to me. But I digress...
Our church is collaborating with two others to organize the VBS. The earliest age accepted into the program was 3 years. I eagerly signed up Janie and Ian. After we decided to go dairy-free I signed myself up to volunteer with Snack. I figured it would be easier for me to deal with any food substitutions for my kids than having someone else worry about it.
The kids and I arrived bright and early on Monday morning for Day #1. (Yes, we rode the e-bike there.) It's been a looong time since I attended a VBS program. The decor and organization of the program were impressive. Ian and Janie were a bit overwhelmed by the volume of people once the program got started. 70 kids attended on Day #1 and there were a bunch of adult and teenage volunteers present. Thankfully our neighbor, Nicole*, was the helper in the preschool class. Janie just adores Nicole and was quite happy to go with the group knowing her favorite big kid friend was there. Ian was not so sure about it all. Both kids were more comfortable being 'left' by today and seemed to have a good time with the activities.
During the downtime yesterday I was talking with one of the volunteers, Maria*, and our conversation flowed into our birth experiences and ultimately we learned we had each lost children. My sweet Hope lived for 3 days after birth and her precious little twins were miscarried in the first trimester. It was a touching experience for me to bond with Maria out of the deepest sorrow I've ever experienced. Trust in God was one thing that Maria and I both developed from our losses.
When MEND - NW Arkansas existed we were encouraged to share something positive that came out of our losses at the meetings close. And tonight I'll share two with you. A big positive that came from Hope's death is that I no longer fear death because God's promise of Heaven. It became more real and personal than it ever had been before. My daughter is waiting for me there and I embrace the fact that we will one day be reunited. Another positive is how God used the trauma of Hope's surgical arrival to develop character within me and through it effect positive change in my community. It's breathtaking for me to have a glimpse of how Hope, a precious 5 pound 4 ounce baby, continues to positively effect peoples lives.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Romans 8:28
*Names have been changed to protect privacy.
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