License Plate Fun

License Plate Fun

He would drop a plate, break it, and if you saw him, he would say “Wa hapn” with a look of innocence

that he really didn’t know and he wanted you to tell him.

My youngest brother, "The Uncle Mark" started the legacy of personalized license plates with his first license plate.  Joshua could not talk very well, but we all loved hearing his special phrases.  One of the most popular was "Wa hapn".  The translation of this was "What happened."  As my brother Mark said in his funeral talk "He would drop a plate, break it, and if you saw him, he would say “Wa hapn” with a look of innocence that he really didn’t know and he wanted you to tell him. 


Of course my very favorite phrase was "Where Selma."  To hear this phrase countless times a day brought joy and fun into my life!  Joshua used it appropriately while he was at school, while I was at work, etc.  But he also would ask family and friends "Where Selma" the second I walked out the door.  He would ask strangers in the store when I was standing right beside him.  He just needed to know where I was.  And I loved this so much!  See an earlier post at: http://joshuasheartfullofhugs.blogspot.com/2014/03/wheres-selma-my-favorite-phrase.html


 After Joshua died, I gave my brother, Glenn, and his wife, Debbie, their own plates because they loved Joshua so much, were his caregivers the last year, and they also really loved the way Joshua pronounced their names.  To make it even funner, when Joshua attended Pleasant Grove High School, Glenn was a teacher there.  And Joshua's daily routine walk to the bus after school was to walk by Glenn's truck.  He had to see that truck every day!  So when Glenn bought a new truck, he immediately drove it to our house so that Joshua could see his new truck.  Of course Joshua just wanted a ride, looked at Glenn, and said "ride please" in his sweet Joshua way.

And Joshua loved Debeeeeee, and that is how he called her name.  He also had no concept that Debbie was about one foot shorter than him.  He knew Debbie loved him, and he would give Debbie his big Joshua hugs and even climb on her back!!  Thank you Debeeee!!!







And then my sister Vickie, surprised me by giving me her "Wa Hapn" California license plate for my Joshua keepsakes.  I love all of these plates.  There are more from Vickie, and a wall collage from Mark.  I will find those and post them too!  It was such a wonderful blessing to have a family that loved Joshua, and knew how to bring happiness, laughter and joy into his life.

In Memory of a Special Friend

A Tribute to a Special Friend

In Memory of Gary Hawes

February 14, 1939 -- May 7, 2014

The Salt Lake Tribune headlined the tragic story of Gary Hawes with the title: 
Former U-2 spy plane pilot, flight student killed in Utah crash. 

The following statements are of the same amazing man:

The Salt Lake Tribune:

He flew recon missions over Cuba, Southeast Asia in ‘70s. 

 

My own title:

He volunteered to help a boy with autism in church every time we visited

over the course of about 15 years.

 

 

Words cannot express our sorrow over Gary's sudden and tragic death.  His wife Suzan is a beautiful example of love, support and warmth.  There is no dout that when Joshua greeted Gary when he stepped into the eternities with a huge hug and high five.  And I'm sure that Joshua said "Thank you Gary ... for loving me, chasing me and laughing with me."

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/57919212-78/hawes-crash-pilot-wednesday.html.csp

Living Water

My life with Joshua was full of the strength and blessing of the Living Water of the love of Christ.  My testimony and assurance that Joshua was loved and known by our Savior Jesus Christ, brought both of us strength, hope and purpose.  I love to run near rivers of living water, so symbolic of my need for water physically is a sweet reminder of an even greater need for the living water of the Jesus Christ. (John 4:14)

Grief

Here is one of my favorite talks on death and grief by Elder Lance B. Wickman, given in October 2002, titled "But If Not."  This has brought me much comfort and strength, and through study and prayer, sweet comfort and meaningful experiences. It can be found at:  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2002/10/but-if-not?lang=eng.

I know that Joshua's spirit lives on, that Joshua is working hard for the building up of the Lord's kingdom and that I will see my Joshua Boy again and our reunion filled with sweetness and joy.

Flying Hymn Books or More Adventures in Church!

Flying Hymn Books - Keri Witte

Or More Adventures in Church

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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!  :)

Fences and Fun!

Fences and Fun!

One of the first things I tried to do when moving into a new home and neighborhood was to meet the neighbors, especially the neighbors who had fences bordering our property.  It was extremely important that they be ready for the assortment of items that were sure to come flying over the fence at any moment.  Our neighbors have been good and kind, and we have sweet and fun memories of their patience and good humor.  Dave, our neighbor in Sandy, loved to tell the story of cleaning up his back yard one day.  He saw various items that had been thrown over by Joshua (these items could have included TV remotes, various toys, video tapes, balls, utensils, food, etc.) 

 

He returned them by throwing our item back over into our yard.  But before he knew it, those very same items came flying right back over the fence and into his yard again.  He threw them back into our yard again, and within moments, those same items (and probably  more) were thrown right back into his yard again.  Dave and Joshua were in the middle of a very fun game, and Joshua was loving it. 

 

Although the game was fun, Dave decided that he should throw the rest of the items back over into our yard once Joshua was in the house for the night. 

McDonalds and Joshua

McDonalds and Joshua

I received kisses from heaven on my morning jog last year when I saw a bag of McDonalds in the road! I'm sure the person who threw that in the road had no idea of the sweet memories they were giving me. So thank you whoever you are. That's the 3rd time! 

And now that I have run for a couple of years now, about half of the time I see a McDonalds cup, bag, or wrapper.  I love this!

Thank you McDonalds angel!