The Daily Blessing of Vicky and BW

The Daily Blessing of Vicky and BW

 

The sweetness and blessing of their relationship will always live on

through Vicky’s love, compassion and understanding of Joshua



We lived in Sandy, Utah when Joshua was ages 7 through 11.  We had a wonderful next-door neighbor and close friend, Vicky.  It didn't take long for us to become fast and treasured friends.  Vicky was so patient as Joshua constantly threw toys over her fence that could become very messy as her dog, BW, would chew them.  We learned which toys to buy so that BW could chew away to his heart’s content. 



Jamie and Vicky at Joshua's Viewing

There is no doubt that Joshua absolutely loved Vicky!  And he also knew that Vicky loved him because as soon as he got off the bus each day, he went right to her door!  Joshua loved her porch, loved to knock on her door, and many times would not come home until he was finished at Vicky’s house.  The sweetness and blessing of their relationship will always live on through Vicky’s love, compassion and understanding of Joshua.



I cannot even count the number of times Vicky came over to help in a tough situation, and gave up her lap at church for Jamie, and for any other help that I needed.  There is no doubt that Vicky's porch, those precious knocks on her door, and even the chewed up toys by BW, gave Joshua so much purpose, happiness and joy.

 

The day of Joshua's baptism, Vicky was there with her nephew, Joshua.  We loved that they had the same names!  And this baptism was so special as his brother Jeremy was also baptized.  And both Jeremy and Joshua had such Christlike love, purity and innocence, and the Spirit was so strong.  Vicky felt it, her nephew felt it, and it was a day that bonded us all forever. 

The Lovely Lunch Ladies at Pleasant Grove High School

The Lovely Lunch Ladies

at Pleasant Grove High School

Joshua might not have understood all of the words to the birthday song, but he did understand that he was very, very loved by these very special lovely lunch ladies.  

The Cafeteria … a place of learning, friendship, joy and love.  Thinking of Joshua, with his incapacitated brain, autism and seizures making his way through a school full of hundreds of “regular” students brought fear into my heart.  One of the many places I visited and observed him at school was in the cafeteria.  The joy brought to my heart by the service and love given to Joshua there will always bring tremendous awe and gratitude for this very happy place.  

Joshua’s class was always taken to the cafeteria just before the normal lunch crowd so they could be the first in line, learn to select their food, eat at their special table, and also clear their own trash and trays.  This was thrilling for sure that he learned to do this so well.

Joshua had friends everywhere, and I soon found out that he had very special friends in the Pleasant Grove High School Cafeteria.  It was Joshua’s birthday, and I received a phone call asking if I would like to join the “lunch ladies” who worked in the cafeteria because they had made Joshua his very own birthday cake.  And it wasn’t just the birthday cake that touched my heart, it was their initiative to find out when his birthday was and do something about it.  And it was the beautiful friendship, love and joy that came with this very special birthday cake.  Joshua might not have understood all of the words to the birthday song, but he did understand that he was very, very loved by these very special lovely lunch ladies.  He did know how to show excitement, and I can still see his clapping hands and hear his happy laughter when they gave him his cake and sang his very own birthday song.

This friendship with the lovely lunch ladies lasted through his high school years, and even after Joshua left for other school programs.  When Joshua died, I received this very special poem from these very special and lovely lunch ladies.  I am thankful for each one of them, and yet, they are thanking us for Joshua.  The words bring joy and peace to my heart.

JOSHUA

Josh to us, the high five kid.

A bright part of our day was the smile he always had.

He was always so proud of himself when he put his tray away.

He always came in with a quick “Hi”

Followed by his smile.

We remember that he loved basketball and Bowling.

And he had his Barney Video he packed around.

It was so fun to take him his Birthday cake.

He would get so excited he would jump up and down.

The memories he left with us tells it all.

Some people the good Lord sends to us to brighten our days.

And Josh was one of them.

It may have been a short life,

but the part he shared with us was so full of joy.

He touched our hearts and crawled right inside.

His memories will stay there always.

The Pleasant Grove High Lunch Ladies would like to thank you for the

opportunity you gave us to get to know Josh.

Our love and prayers go out to you all of Josh’s family.

To go with this poem, they wrote individual notes as follows that remain in our hearts:

“I will always remember Josh and his smile.” - Claudia

“We loved to see cute Josh every day in the lunch room.  We loved him!”  - Sharon

“We loved Josh.  He was a joy to be around.”  - Linda

“Josh always made me smile.  I am so glad I got to know him.”  - Kris

“Josh brought so much joy to us lunch ladies everyday!  He will always remain in our hearts.” - Whitney

Kisses from Heaven - Joshua's 31st Birthday

Kisses From Heaven - Joshua's 31st Birthday

Once again, I smiled, remembering a handsome young man cheering out loud in church 
after many special musical numbers.  I loved that third special kiss blown my way.

 January 26th is always a happy, tender, sweet and sad day for me.  My two oldest boys were born on the same day!  I bought two balloon bouquets and put one on Joshua's grave and gave the other to Jeremy.  I wrote about the birth of Joshua's brother on the post titled "Jeremy John Eisenstat."  They were always best brothers!

As we have celebrated this special day after Joshua's death, we celebrate Jeremy and the amazing young man he is, and rejoice at all he has done, and all he has yet to do.  But we also miss Joshua and think of him and what he would be doing today.  No doubt throwing Jeremy's IPhone out the window!  But if he did, I also know that Jeremy would completely love him anyway.

My scripture reading that morning was 3 Nephi 17 in the Book of Mormon.  This is one of my "Joshua" chapters and holds so much meaning as Christ healed the sick and afflicted and blessed the children.  I can feel His love for Joshua.  This was my first kiss from heaven.

This year their birthdays were on a Sunday.  As Janson and I sat down at church, I noticed two adorable twin baby boys a couple of rows in front of us.  Both of them had helmets on!  I smiled and knew that another kiss had just been blown my way.  

A little while later I was sitting in Primary, with children ages 3 to 11.  After a young child gave a talk, a boy about 4 years old, clapped right out loud!  Once again, I smiled, remembering a handsome young man cheering out loud in church after many special musical numbers.  I loved that third special kiss blown my way.


Then we had a special birthday dinner for Jeremy, his siblings and his girlfriend.  Jeremy is such a blessing in our family and carries a spirit of humility ad love.  And I love having my kids over and rejoice to be their Mom!  One of the gifts from us was a McDonalds Gift Card to Jeremy from Joshua.  I asked Janson to write a little note to Jeremy with the gift card.  His words were absolutely perfect as if Joshua had wrote them himself.  He told Jeremy "not to throw the cheeseburger out the window."  It really is hard not to!!  Thanks for the fourth kiss blown my way Janson!

This was a special, sweet day to rejoice as a mother in my two wonderful sons!

And then just six days later I was at a baptism at church when an older man with disabilities talked right out loud in the middle of the meeting.  It was all I could do not to jump up and go give him a high five!  But I did get to meet him later and shake his hand.  That was another beautiful kiss from heaven.