The Best High Fives Ever!

The Best High Fives Ever!!

And Joshua proceeded to high five every girl on the opposing team's bench.

A fabulous bowl for Joshua!
And I loved our high fives!

To know Joshua, was to know he also loved high fives!!  And to greet Joshua meant you never knew if you were going to get a hug, a high five or a handshake!  But that was so fun!!  And he was equally enthusiastic about each greeting!  He would most likely be clumsy in his high five greetings, but he made up for it in enthusiasm, in his loud and infectious laugh, and in his pure love and joy that accompanied all of his greetings!

A favorite memory is told by my brother, who was the Girls Basketball Coach at Pleasant Grove High School:  "I think everybody's talked about how Joshua loved to give high fives.  Well, in the middle of a game, Selma was late bringing Joshua.  I was standing up – I can't sit down during a game.  And I look over at the entrance, and I see Selma and Joshua walk in.  And Joshua proceeded to high five every girl on the opposing team's bench."

Opposing teams, strangers and even people who were mean, didn't stop Joshua from sharing his love and enthusiasm.  I remember this moment well, and was so proud and happy to be his Mom!!

Here are a few pictures of high fives caught on camera!!

Bowling with my brother,
Uncle Doug Larson
(High fives even came after gutter balls!!)

High fives for my brother,
Uncle Carl Larson who was Joshua's computer fixer hero!
(He had probably already given the high five!)

Hugs of Pure Love and Joy!

Hugs of Pure Love and Joy!

I will never stop missing Joshua's hugs!!  I can't even count how many I would receive in one day!  He gave them freely and lovingly all day long!  Whether I was out of the room for a few seconds, or had been in the room with him for a while, I loved hearing his unique yelling of my name "Selma" with his arms outstretched into the air, walking or running toward me to give his very special Joshua hug.  Family, friends and strangers loved his hugs!  (Although many strangers were a little startled at first, but then would embrace the enthusiasm and love of this special young man!)

Joshua's hugs were so wonderful, so enthusiastic, and so treasured, and completely filled with pure love and joy! 

And we gave him countless hugs back!

I love and cherish the blessing of every single hug I ever received, and have a few pictures of this beautiful blessing!

Joshua and Me!
A favorite and sweet hug while camping!

A brother hug from Jeremy!

A brother hug from Jacob!

The most classic Joshua hug ever!!!
With my youngest brother, "Thee Uncle Mark"

Joshua hugging my brother Glenn's wife,
his Aunt Debbie Larson

Joshua hugging my brother,
his Uncle Carl Larson

Joshua hugging his dad's sister,
Aunt Debbie Anderson

The beginning of a classic hug for
The Uncle Mark!

Hymn Books are Flying! A Joshua Treasure!

Hymn Books are Flying!  A Joshua Treasure

My Favorite Hymn Book Memories

Last Sunday, November 20, 2016, I visited a previous ward and neighborhood for a missionary homecoming.  I felt at home, and loved the hugs and reunions with close and treasured friends!  As we talked about a few Joshua memories, Kyle said that Joshua's hymnbook was in the bishop's office and was used for their meetings!  I was so touched, and so very thankful, that this special boy, and his love of hymn books and sharing, was still very much a part of this special ward.  A few (of many) experiences are below.

As a family, we left five hymn books in Joshua's memory with our favorite songs that remind us of him.

The last few years of his life, Joshua discovered hymn books!  And he absolutely loved handing out hymn books to the congregation.  But then again, he also loved collecting them back from people too!  And many times, before the hymn was even finished!  So it was always fun to watch reactions on people as they were given a hymn book by this very tall and handsome young man saying "here ya go" and then to suddenly have that same hymn book taken away right in the middle of the song!  

On March 5, 2016, I received a touching message from my friend, Melissa Hunter, from my Provo home and ward:  "

...  A little while ago I saw a hymn book that said in loving memory of Joshua.  It brought tears to my eyes as I remembered him, and his sweet spirit.  He was very special, and has a wonderful mother."

This message touched my heart deeply.  And I was very thankful for his kindness in sharing, and for the five hymnbooks that are still scattered through the congregation in memory of my special son.

A few hymn book experiences stand out in my mind....

Joshua loved people!  And he noticed and wanted to say hi to everyone!  One day Joshua noticed a gentleman sitting in the back of the congregation, new and alone.  In his very unique and awkward Joshua walk, he rambled over the man and handed him a hymn book.  I could tell the man was touched, and Joshua usually gave his Joshua "one clap" with a huge smile on his face.  But as he went to share a hymn book with the next chosen suspect, I saw him return to the man in the back and give him a 2nd book. They man looked a little confused, and when it happened the 3rd time, he was really not quite sure what to do.  So I did have to slip over and ask the man if he would just keep taking the hymn books as Joshua was so happy to help in this way.  Well, by the time the meeting was over, this gentleman had stacked up 30 hymnbooks -- in 3 stacks of 10!  And Joshua was thrilled with his new friend and all he had done to help him that day!!!

And as shared in an earlier post, my friend Keri Witte, wrote this in a memory book for Joshua:  [M]y favorite memory of Josh was the Sunday he was supposed to speak in Sacrament Meeting.  He sat on the stand, took a hymn book & chucked it – sent it flying clean off the stand.  That was inhibition at its best!  What an unfettered spirit, what a lover of life.  We will miss him.

And another favorite memory of mine was when Joshua was being very disruptive in Sacrament Meeting (which was weekly for sure), and this time as I was struggling to get him out the door into the foyer, I had almost maneuvered him out the door, when he suddenly and quickly grabbed a hymn book and threw it back into the chapel, with a huge gleeful smile on his face.  And then, at last, we made it to the foyer!  But he had had the last word!  :)

And the words of Bishop Jensen at Joshua's funeral, which brought an understanding chuckle to the ward, were as follows:

"It was suggested by a good brother in our ward that we ought to have a ceremonial throwing of hymnbooks at the funeral....  We'll all remember Joshua with kindness."

Thank you to so many people who saw Joshua's love of hymnbooks - whether throwing them or sharing them -- as Joshua's way of helping, and sharing, and loving!

Because of this special connection and love Joshua had for hymn books, his hymn book was placed with him in his casket. It was so fitting and a sweet treasure and memory of a special boy and his love for every person he met!