Wink from Heaven: Caleb's Ninth Birthday

Monday, January 13, 2014

Caleb's Ninth Birthday

Last week Caleb had his ninth birthday... his second birthday in heaven.
We like to make his birthday a special day we all look forward to. Last year we gave each of our boys special trunks so they can have a special place to keep treasures that remind them of their brother.
Inside their trunks this year the boys found a picture of the Savior with this note on the other side.

To my wonderful brothers,

I wanted you to have a picture of the Savior in your trunk because I know it is through him that we can be together again.

Each time you choose to be

close to Him, you will also feel close to me.

I love you and am so proud of you.

Love, Caleb

Caleb also gives the family something fun to do together. He knows it's important to continue to make happy memories together. This year he gave the boys a special coupon to attend a special event that they've been hoping for!

It was a sweet and tender day as we celebrated Caleb and reflected on our sweet memories together. I know Caleb is close and that he is still being true to his special mission. As we celebrate another birthday without him here, I know we are also one year closer to being together again.
I love you Caleb. Forever and ever.

6 comments:

shirlgirl said...: Loved this blog and all of your pictures--the roses are beautiful!; January 21, 2014 at 12:58 PM
The Johnson Crew said...: Happy late birthday sweet angel! Lots if love to you all.; January 22, 2014 at 7:32 PM
Kelli said...: I love how you love your boys! Happy Birthday, Caleb!; February 6, 2014 at 7:57 AM
Janene Baadsgaard said...: I'm so glad we could celebrate with you.; March 11, 2014 at 6:43 AM
Janene Baadsgaard said...: I'm so glad we could celebrate this birthday with you!; March 11, 2014 at 6:44 AM
Jen said...: That was so special!! Blessings to you and your family.

Jen; March 12, 2014 at 5:22 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.