Wink from Heaven: Pucker up!

Friday, February 13, 2009

Pucker up!

I told Caleb that Valentines day is a day for smooching...

I told him to practice his pucker...

It took a lot of concentration...

So I decided I better better show him how...

Ahh... a happy boy now that the smooching is over! Eewww!

XOXOXOX

11 comments:

Junior said...: so sweet, love that smile
Big valentines hugs
Heidi & Junior; February 13, 2009 at 11:10 PM
Becky said...: THAT was the CUTEST post EVER!!! I love how hard he was concentrating in the first two pictures...I love the way he is looking at you as you are smooching him and his smile at the end is PRICELESS! Thanks for making ME smile today Caleb.; February 14, 2009 at 5:11 AM
minerfam said...: That smile melts my heart! What a great picture of the two of you!! Happy Valentines day!!
-DanaLee; February 14, 2009 at 7:39 AM
Joy said...: Loved the pictures and the post. Very cute. Happy Valentines Day!; February 14, 2009 at 9:05 AM
Chanda said...: What an Angel! It gave me goose bumps to see him look at you when you were kissing him! You can sure tell he LOVES his mom! Have a Happy Valentines! And thanks for all the sweet messages on your blogs!; February 14, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Wiggles said...: Oh Caleb, smooches are the best. I like to give them to your friend Ben in New Hampshire. Those chubby cheeks are the best.; February 15, 2009 at 2:43 PM
shirlgirl said...: Awesome pictures of Caleb! Loved the one of him looking at you--so very sweet, and the one of him smiling is just so precious. Love those cheeks. Give them a big kiss for me.; February 15, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Jen said...: I love this post! He is so cute- the kisses and the smile made my day.

Jen
God's Shining Stars
Creative and Curious Kids!; February 16, 2009 at 9:29 PM
Tara Bennett said...: Oh my word. SO. CUTE. Chloe is jealous you got kisses from Caleb!

That 2nd pic is one of my favs of Caleb!; February 17, 2009 at 8:30 PM
Christensen family said...: That is to sweet April. I have to say that last picture is my favorite!!! What a precious little boy.; February 18, 2009 at 8:26 PM
Tanya said...: The picture of Caleb smiling is absolutely perfect! What a sweet post!; February 20, 2009 at 8:44 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.