Wink from Heaven: My BYU boy

Monday, February 28, 2011

My BYU boy

Psst... Did you hear BYU basketball is ranked #3... and they are well on their way to a possible #1 seed in the tournament?

My BYU boy isn't a bit surprised!

Caleb is still trying to feel better, but we couldn't resist a quick walk on a sunny day!

Time with cousins is time well spent!

Caleb's head fits into Dallan's hats perfectly.

That's what happens when your head is full of heavenly thoughts!

Go Cougars, and Go Caleb.

You're always #1 to me!

Rah Rah Rah!

11 comments:

Becky said...: I LOVE that boy...I LOVE HIM! Please give him kisses for me!!! xoxo; March 1, 2011 at 7:05 AM
Janae said...: I love your blog and I've fallen in love with Caleb!; March 1, 2011 at 8:19 AM
Unknown said...: Sweet!
He's true blue.; March 1, 2011 at 8:32 AM
Emily said...: Hi buddy! We miss you. Go Cougs!; March 1, 2011 at 8:39 AM
Junior said...: oh so cute; March 1, 2011 at 9:02 AM
the woodwards said...: Who needs Jimmer when you have Caleb!!!!; March 1, 2011 at 10:55 AM
Janene Baadsgaard said...: Love that BYU and love that Caleb!; March 1, 2011 at 3:08 PM
Angela said...: I just adore Caleb :); March 1, 2011 at 8:48 PM
Colleen said...: Could he get any cuter? What a sweetie!; March 2, 2011 at 6:43 AM
Jenny said...: Our own little Sammer Fredette over here is wondering why Caleb's wearing a red shirt. I tried to convince her that his loyalties are still with our Cougs...that he bleeds blue...but she was questioning. I mean, I'm just sayin'. :) We love you Caleb!!!; March 2, 2011 at 3:06 PM
shirlgirl said...: Glad you could get out for a quick walk. Caleb is just so sweet. Give him a big kiss for me. He's a rootin' tootin' sports fan for sure!; March 3, 2011 at 6:05 AM

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.