Wink from Heaven: Church attempt #1

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Church attempt #1

We took Caleb to church with us for the first time since last November! We were so excited! We even made it all the way to the first speaker before Caleb started to struggle and Mitchell had a diaper escapade that couldn't be contained at church.
Do I think it was a failed attempt?
Nope!
It was a treat to be there all together as a family! Even with Josh and Matthew poking, Mitchell you know what-ing, and Caleb coughing- it was worth it! Next week I just know we'll make it so speaker number 2!

7 comments:

Suzanne said...: What a wonderful present just one week after mothers day. It is so great to have your whole family there all at once!; May 20, 2009 at 2:23 AM
Becky said...: Hooray for milestones! I just KNOW he'll make it even longer. What cute, cute pictures of your darling boys. Kiss Caleb's sweet cheeks for me! :); May 20, 2009 at 5:08 AM
Junior said...: that is great news, your boys are so cute.; May 20, 2009 at 8:49 AM
arianne said...: Here's to hoping #2 goes better.; May 20, 2009 at 9:41 AM
Janene Baadsgaard said...: April, You have a wonderful attitude. That's why you're full of joy even when things don't go as planned. I'm so proud of you! MOM; May 20, 2009 at 2:14 PM
Devon said...: Wonderful! We are debating takin Dakin back this weekend--we had him at church for 2 weeks and then this whole swine flu nonsense started.; May 20, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Ashley Dawn said...: What a great perspective. I think making it there would be considered a successful attempt. Congrast on that! Good luck with attempt #2!!; May 24, 2009 at 8:20 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.