Joy at the Car Dealership

Joy at the Car Dealership!

I'm always amazed at the

impression Joshua left!  Earlier last year I was inside a car dealership.  In talking to the manager, he mentioned he lived in Pleasant Grove.  He seemed close to my age so I said that his kids might have known my older boys.  We talked about their ages and names, and they definitely had gone to school together.  But then once I mentioned Joshua, and his disability of severe autism and how he was the one who said hi to everyone, he excitedly said to me that he knew exactly who we were!  He said he would see us at the Pleasant Grove basketball games and I was the one always chasing Joshua around.  (I know that chasing a 6'1" tall handsome young man was certainly not easy to miss!)

I was truly touched because I could tell that he really enjoyed seeing Joshua at the basketball games, and because he was so sad when he heard that Joshua had died.

I will always love talking to people who knew and loved my special Joshua boy!  And this can happen even at a car dealership!

The Joshua Wave

The Joshua Wave

My brother Doug said that his 9-month old "baby Chase did a Joshua wave today.  It was deliberate - he was waving at the boys and then they freaked out.  He did a Joshua wave!!!!"

I love it - Joshua's wave was truly classic and unique and fun!  

Thanks Baby Chase!  He is just too cute!!

The Prayer of a Child

The Prayer of a Child

My brother Doug shared a prayer given by his cute daughter Kaylee earlier this year.  In her words, she said , 

"...bless Joshua that he will have a good time in Heaven..."

And I know that her prayer is answered.  I miss him every day, but I know that Joshua is having a very good time in Heaven. 

"Angels Calling" - Happy Father's Day Dad!

Happy Father's Day to my Wonderful Dad

This is my first Father's Day without you, and we all miss you so much!

You sacrificed for and loved your family every minute of every day.

My sister Susie found this song that is so beautiful, and has so much meaning.

I know that my angel Joshua, greeted his precious "Papa" home.

We love you Dad!

"Angels Calling"

The sun, the sun is going down.

All I see is love around me.

You know, what I believe.

Now I see it so completely.

I, I need you to know, that time, time is letting go.

Don't cry, dry your eyes.

Can't you hear the angels calling, me up? Up above?

Can't you hear the angels calling me home? Me home?

They're calling me home.

Take, take my hand.

Stay with me, as I surrender.

We've lived a life of happiness.

You will be in my heart forever.

I, I need you to know, that time is letting go.

Don't cry, dry your eyes.

Can't you hear the angels calling, me up? Up above?

Can't you hear the angels calling me home? Me home?

(They're) calling me home, home.

Home, home.

Home, home.

Don't cry, dry your eyes.

Can't you hear the angels calling me up? Up above?

Can't you hear the angels calling?

Don't cry, dry your eyes

Can't you hear the angels calling me up? Up above?

Can't you hear the angels calling me home? Me home?

Calling me home,

They're calling me home.

I'm going home

Share a Coke with Joshua

Share a Coke With Joshua

My sister Julie received her own kisses from heaven today!! 

I'll be on the lookout for my own! 

Who knew we could receive them on a Coke bottle! 

"Like a Broken Vessel" by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"Like a Broken Vessel"

by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

A Favorite General Conference Talk

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

There were a few times in Joshua's life when I caught a quick but powerful glimpse of him as "normal".  These moments did not last long but left an impression and influence on me to think of what he will be someday, and what he already is in heaven.  I love who Joshua was, even in his disabled mind and body, because I felt like he served and loved all he could with these limited capacities.

In fact, Joshua showed us how to love and live time and time again because the most important things to him were family, friends and service.  He LOVED saying hi and hugging people.  He loved trying to help - even when his efforts actually made more work.  (But I didn't tell him that and he wouldn't have understand that anyway.)  But he was so full of joy when he helped others.  He was the epitome of pure charity and love.

This amazing and inspiring talk has brought me much comfort.  I can picture my incredible son Joshua, already perfect, completely whole and healed, with his outstretched hands of love and joy.  That's who Joshua was in this life, and I will cry tears of joy to see him again someday, perfected, but still serving and loving with that same pure charity and love.

And Elder Holland also spoke so compassionately and eloquently to other emotional challenges and heartaches in this life.  He gives perspective and hope and love.

Thank you Elder Holland for this beautiful testimony.

#generalconference

For the entire talk, here is the link:

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/like-a-broken-vessel?lang=eng

A Sister's Love and a Special Gift

A Sister's Love and a Special Gift

May 6, 2015

My beautiful daughter Jamie Eisenstat wrote about this touching and beautiful experience she had today about my angel son Joshua:

I just had the most powerful experience. Second period on Wednesday at Wasatch, there was a special needs boy sitting directly in front of me as we gathered after games to sing and testify. Brother Eggett quoted a line from Master the Tempest is Raging and asked if anybody knew what song that was. The special needs boy pronounced proudly "Master the Tempest is Raging!" And the biggest joyful smile came on his face when he realized he was right! Then he said "Peace, be still." It was such a sweet sight of pure joy. Then as we were singing that song, the boy sang with us the "Peace, peace be still" part. I then had an overwhelming feeling of the presence of my older brother, Joshua, who passed away 9 and a half years ago. We moved into the last song "Oh Sweet the Joy This Sentence Gives" and that special little boy sang the last verse with us. He was glowing with the light of Christ. I could not stop smiling at him and then, crying, as I again felt the physical presence of Joshua in the room, and along with him, our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ, together moving through the crowd, touching and healing hearts. It was so overwhelming and beautiful. I have been moved today.

Joshua loved his sister!  And I can still hear him yelling "Jamieee" across the room and giving tall hugs to his small sister.  Thank you Jamie for sharing this beautiful and precious experience today.  I love you!