Jacob's Hug from Heaven

Jacob's Hug from Heaven

My son Jacob sent me a touching text message today:

"Joshua said hi to me today" with the picture below:

I can see Joshua with his arms outstretched yelling out "Ja-tob" with his big, loving smile.  He loves his family!  There is no doubt that Jacob felt that hug from heaven today!

And my heart just smiled as I thought of the beginning of our license plate journey.  The first personalized license plate was purchased by "The Uncle Mark" when Joshua was alive, and it said "WA HAPN" as we all loved to hear Joshua say, in all innocense, "Wa Hapn" when he would drop something, throw something, etc., etc.  He knew, yet he didn't know, what it meant!  With how much we loved that phrase, Mark bought the very first "Joshua" license plate.  

More license plates and stories are at this blog link:
http://joshuasheartfullofhugs.blogspot.com/2014/07/license-plate-fun.html

A Comical Drive-Thru Order -- Our Wienerschnitzel Story!

A Comical Drive-Thru Order

Our Wienerschnitzel Story

While it may seem simple to order food at a drive-thru fast food restaurant, it actually became quite complex with Joshua!  Since one of Joshua's favorite things was to throw anything and everything out any window or over any fence, or into any river, etc., etc. an open window was an invitation to find the closest items - no matter how large or small - and throw them very quickly and with great precision right out the window!

To be safe in my own car, the garage door opener was way deep under the front driver's seat -- and far enough under my seat that Joshua could not even see it or reach with his long, skinny arms!  My purse had to be also pushed under the seat or as far on the left side of me as possible.  If the kids dropped any toys, money, trash, etc., they were ready targets!  Items small and large could be thrown without notice! And with four younger siblings, we did have many items that were always in the car!  

So one day when we stopped at Wienerschnitzel to get some hot dogs, I had the usual problem of trying to figure out how to place the order without losing the very throwable items within Joshua's ever-ready reach!  

I pulled up to the drive-thru window, and decided that if I only rolled the window down an inch, Joshua certainly could not throw anything out that window!  While I was leaning closely into my very small window opening and talking loudly to place my order, a worker came out the back door.  He noticed me, noticed me talking at the top of the widow, stared with great confusion for a moment or two and decided he certainly needed to give me a little help!

While using his arms very dramatically to show me how to roll down the window, he also yelled very slowly to me these words:

"You have to roll the window down!"

All I could do was smile, give him a little wave and a thanks, and laugh to myself!  Of course I looked like a silly mom trying to place an order through a tiny little opening in the window!  He was so kind to try to help -- just think if we didn't know!

And Joshua, as always, was totally oblivious and completely innocent!  He just wanted his french fries and root beer!

I can only imagine what he told his co-workers about how it certainly was a good thing he walked outside and helped that poor lady and her five kids who were trying to place an order through a closed window of all things!

Oh well, we probably needed to lighten their day.  Joshua -- your fun and unique ways certainly brought great adventure and sweet memories!!

So if you ever see me placing my order through a tiny little opening in the window, I am just missing my Joshua boy!

"Remember Joshua's Encouragement"

Jeremy ... Jacob ... Janson

"Remember Joshua's Encouragement"

Miracle at LDS General Conference

On Sunday, April 3, 2016, my beautiful daughter, Jamie Eisenstat, was making her debut in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir!  Well, this was so exciting for all of us!  Jamie had worked so hard, and although auditions for the Choir are extremely rigorous and demanding, she made it!  I was looking so forward to this special day to see her at General Conference and completely joy in the thrill of her performance with this incredible Mormon Tabernacle Choir!

My handsome sons, Jeremy, Jacob and Janson were there with me, which is always extra special.  As a single Mom, I always love this precious Mom time no matter how old they are!!  And through my wonderful friend Kristy, we had seats on the 9th row!!  In fact, we laughed because when we picked up our tickets, we were told, "oh ... YOU have the red tickets."  We didn't know what that meant.  But they joked that we would need an escort to our seats.  Well, we basically did!  We kept walking closer and closer to the front, and there we were -- in the middle, 9th row back!  We could see everything so clearly!

I cried tears of joy as Jamie walked to her seat with the Choir!  This was incredibly special and such a joyous Mom moment.  I was sitting with my boys, supporting Jamie and I was so thankful.

And we were close enough to see her so well!  And she could see us!!  This moment cannot be adequately described it was so incredibly wonderful and special!!

Jamie was beautiful.  Her countenance was filled with light!  I am still in awe and gratitude for this wonderful blessing in her life, and all of her lives!


But I always have a little sadness in my heart that all of my children will never be all together on these special occasions.  So on this very special day, I prayed in my heart, that I would feel Joshua with us today.

The second to last speaker was Elder Paul V. Johnson titled "And There Shall Be No More Death."  He spoke tenderly and lovingly of his daughter Alisa who died of cancer.  His words were powerful and hopeful.  I thought of my Joshua, of my Dad and the great hope that they are whole, happy and we will see them again.  He said:

I am grateful for the blessings that are ours because of the Atonement and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. For all who have laid a child in a grave or wept over the casket of a spouse or grieved over the death of a parent or someone they loved, the Resurrection is a source of great hope. What a powerful experience it will be to see them again—not just as spirits but with resurrected bodies.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/and-there-shall-be-no-more-death?lang=eng


The final speaker is a favorite, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.  He spoke about looking at the audience, and that became very personal that day!  I truly felt like he saw all 4 of us, on the 9th row and that he somehow knew us!  And then he gave us all a great and powerful pep talk on perseverance, and faith, and miracles!  He is so inspiring and powerful.   Part of the way through his talk, he stated:

 Keep loving. Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep growing. 
Heaven is cheering you on 
today, tomorrow, and forever.

(We have Joshua and my Dad cheering us on!!)

And then to become even more personal, he further stated:

If gospel standards seem high and the personal improvement needed in the days ahead seems out of reach, remember Joshua’s encouragement to his people when they faced a daunting future. “Sanctify yourselves,” he said, “for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”  I declare that same promise. It is the promise of this conference. It is the promise of this Church. It is the promise of Him who performs those wonders, who is Himself “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, ... The Prince of Peace.”  Of Him I bear witness. Of Him I am a witness. And to Him this conference stands as a testament of His ongoing work in this great latter day. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Left

It was as if I could hear Joshua saying those words of encouragement personally to me.  And saying "I love you Mom.  I am aware of your heartaches and struggles.  And I am here for you."  Joshua's understanding of the plan of salvation and the promises of eternity are beyond my comprehension now and I know Joshua really is cheering me and my whole family on!  I felt a greater faith and joy at the promises of miracles and blessings.  I am so very, very thankful for this personal blessing and power of Elder Holland's words, and the incredible miracle of feeling all 5 of my beautiful children together that special day.




https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/tomorrow-the-lord-will-do-wonders-among-you?lang=eng