Wink from Heaven: It's Autumn time

Friday, October 2, 2009

It's Autumn time

* I will take Caleb outside to enjoy the Autumn sunshine.
* I will let him taste a caramel apple
* I will help him crunch leaves in his hands
* I will wrap his arms around a pumpkin
* I will take him to the canyon to see the magic of the mountains
* I will dress him up for Halloween
* We will experience the magic of this season, and we'll try not to worry about what the winter will bring...

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October."
- Nathaniel Hawthorne

7 comments:

Janene Baadsgaard said...: I think as you help Caleb experience the simple joys of life that you are experiencing them as well. Caleb is gift to all of us to remember how precious life is and how dear the simple every-day miracles all around us.; October 2, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Emily said...: Way to be positive! Sounds like Caleb has a fun-filled Fall ahead of him. Have a great conference weekend.; October 2, 2009 at 10:06 PM
Ashley Dawn said...: Have a wonderful fall!! And may this winter come late and be the best one yet!; October 3, 2009 at 8:45 PM
Becky said...: DO IT! Caleb will have SO much fun getting out and experiencing the GREATEST season of all. :); October 4, 2009 at 2:03 PM
Tara Bennett said...: I just love this. Thank you for sharing your amazingness. Love the quote too. Perfect!; October 5, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Lisa Christine said...: This post just warmed my heart. Caleb is blessed to be in a family that helps him enjoy the beauty of the season all around him.

Happy Autumn :); October 6, 2009 at 9:06 AM
Christensen family said...: Now that was very touching and sweet! You are amazing April! Sure do wish I lived closer....; October 8, 2009 at 10:09 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.