Santa saw Joshua!

2004 - Joshua's own special visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus!

Santa saw Joshua!

In this season of Christmas memories and love, I think of so many blessings and miracles through the years.  And there is one I happen to have a very special picture of!

It was December 2004 and as a single Mom I took my cute kids to our Ward Christmas party - which was a traditional dinner, program and a surprise visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus!  My kids always loved the excitement of Santa Claus appearing after all the children would sing Christmas songs as loud as they could!

Joshua, age 21 at this time, still did not understand Christmas and he never was able to stand in a line very long!  So as his hyperactivity and restlessness took over, he ran out into the foyer in the church building.  And there was no way Joshua would go back in to the gym.  Once he was done, he was done!  

So of course I ran out to the foyer with Joshua and left my younger children to finish waiting in line for Santa so they could get their special Christmas candy and sit on Santa's lap too!  And then Joshua and I just hung out in usual Joshua fashion in the foyer (running from couch to couch, saying hi to anyone who walked by and just enjoying being together.)  

Suddenly I heard a little Christmas noise, and "what to my wondering eyes should appear," but Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus!!  They were looking especially for my Joshua boy!!  I cry happy tears today to think about it!  Santa and Mrs. Claus came over and sat right with Joshua on the couch and talked to him with their Christmas cheer and Santa's Ho, Ho, Ho!  And Joshua had learned to say "Ho,  Ho, Ho" so that was pretty exciting!  They gave him the priceless gift of time and serving and loving the ONE! 

This was a moment never to be forgotten.  My friends, Julene and Kyle Fuller, had noticed that Joshua would not stand in line, and so like the best Santa's elves that they were, along with other fabulous ward member elves as well, they made sure Santa and Mrs. Claus knew there was one more precious child to visit.

Santa saw Joshua!

We did not know at the time that it was Joshua's last Christmas.  But I always believe they were all so inspired to make sure we had this very special Christmas moment and treasured picture to last a lifetime, and to bring such joy and warmth to this Mom's grateful heart.

Thank you Julene & Kyle and Parkway 3rd Ward!

And as we love about Joshua's pictures, notice the video tape in Joshua's hands - his own security blanket!  

He was rarely without his precious tape!