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!