Wink from Heaven: Memorial Day

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Memorial Day

This year for Memorial Day weekend we visited Caleb's grave on Sunday evening. I liked being there when it wasn't quite so busy. We enjoyed sitting under the tree and talking about the things we loved and remembered about our Caleb. Last memorial day was so tender for me...this one was softer...it was a sweet time to fill our hearts with remembering.

We spent Sunday night at my parents cabin and on Monday enjoyed sleeping in, going on a hike and having a yummy barbecue.

When Mitchell got tired on our hike I taught him the magic way to get more hiking energy. You find a pine needle, break it in half then take a big sniff and it fills you with energy. Mitchell filled his pocket with pine needles and every time he would break one and sniff, he'd take off at full speed! "Thanks for teaching me about the magic" he said, as we walked up the path toward the cabin.

Mitchell was also convinced he uncovered a Big Foot skeleton and footprints! As we walked back to the cabin he about had a heart attack when my dad jumped around a corner pretending to be big foot!

I am thankful for sweet, tender and funny memories this memorial day.

2 comments:

brigette said...: His spot is beautiful. You have such an amazing family! Have I told you how cool you are for being BYU fans ; 0); June 5, 2013 at 7:41 AM
arianne said...: Glad there was peace for your family this year. We all feel peace when we visit Caleb. I love that big foot story. And the hiking energy--I'm going to have to use that one.; June 5, 2013 at 7:48 AM

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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.