Wink from Heaven: jiggety jig

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

jiggety jig

Home again, Home again, jiggety jig!

12 comments:

Becky said...: Can I be the first to say HOORAY!!! Probably not...it looks like Josh already beat me to it! :) What cute brothers.; February 3, 2009 at 7:08 PM
Devon said...: YAY! Congrats!!!; February 3, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Tara Bennett said...: I am totally joining in on the happy dance! Woo hoo!; February 3, 2009 at 8:34 PM
Junior said...: Yeah, so glad you are home.; February 3, 2009 at 8:39 PM
Maxfields said...: Yay! There is no place like home. I'm sure it is great to be all together again!!; February 4, 2009 at 4:56 AM
Janene Baadsgaard said...: We're all so happy that Caleb is home. He better look out because we're coming over with a zillion hugs and kisses for our special boy!Grandma B; February 4, 2009 at 5:47 AM
shirlgirl said...: Looks like everyone is very happy in this picture! Glad he's home and I am sure Caleb is very happy to be in his own bed with all his family around him. Welcome home, little angel.; February 4, 2009 at 5:48 AM
Rodney and Deborah said...: I am so glad that you are all a happy family again. Looks like Josh is excited to have his little brother back in watchful eye to be able to protect him like he always does. We are happy for you. The Briggs Family; February 4, 2009 at 6:57 AM
minerfam said...: Yay Caleb! He looks so happy to be home and with his brothers! Good luck with continual healing. We will keep your family in our prayers.
-DanaLee; February 4, 2009 at 7:24 AM
Joy said...: Oh so glad your home Caleb. It sure looks like your brother is happy to see you too!; February 4, 2009 at 7:36 AM
Christensen family said...: He looks so content and ready to be home! I am soooo glad! Love you guys!; February 4, 2009 at 8:29 AM
PRETTY IN PARIS said...: Yippee, I'm dancing for you too but near the Eiffel Tower! Such great news, your family is in my thoughts. Have a great weekend hugging!; February 6, 2009 at 12:47 PM

Prayer for Caleb

(written by Caleb's Grandma in her weekly column -2008-)

In my family we have a secret code to communicate our love for each other when we are out in public. We wink. When one of us is about to perform or speak, we look for a family member’s face in the crowd. Then we wink at each other. Closing one eye and winking is our secret code for saying, “I love you. You can do it. You’re wonderful.”

About three years ago, my grandson Caleb was born into our family. He must have known before birth that he would never be able to speak to us because he was born with one eyelid permanently closed. So, he is always “winking” at us, always communicating, “I love you. You can do it. You’re wonderful.”

Caleb has one eye lid permanently closed because he is missing one of his eyes . . . and he is also missing his brain. All the doctors said he would die soon after birth. They were wrong. Caleb is three years old. He is a medical miracle. The doctors say he can’t see, hear, speak, think or move. Those who know and love Caleb understand he has his own unique way of experiencing the world and communicating his love to those around him.

After Caleb was born the hospice people told us to buy a burial plot and continually warned us of his imminent death. We soon learned you can not live well in a state of fear and sadness. We decided we could spend Caleb’s entire life anxious and scared he might die at any moment, or we could celebrate each day we were blessed to have him with us. In the beginning, my daughter April celebrated Caleb’s birthday every week instead of every year with balloons and cupcakes because we simply did not know how long we would have him with us. We stopped the cupcakes after we gained ten pounds, but the celebrating goes on.

We all prayed for a miracle when we first learned about Caleb’s condition. We got one. Caleb’s birth, life and mission have had a deep and lasting impact on our lives. His spirit, eternal identity and most of all the loving, individual relationship he has with each of us is truly a miracle. Because of Caleb we know that each of us has a divine purpose and that the physical body is a sacred gift we should never take for granted. We better understand the worth of a soul and the resiliency of the human spirit.

Caleb’s five year old brother Matthew said, “Grandma. The doctors said Caleb was going to die, but he didn’t. That’s the first miracle I ever saw!”

Sometimes Caleb’s baby brother Mitchell pulls out his feeding tube while they hold hands riding together in their double stroller. Sometimes the only intervention that can get Caleb’s heart rate up is when his older brothers Josh and Matty crawl in his crib, hug him and sing, “I am a Child of God.” ...If you have a moment please offer a prayer for the little boy who has never been able to utter a single word and yet has taught everyone who knows and loves him – all the secrets of a rich and meaningful life.