My First 10K Race!

 My First 10K Race!

I finished the Speedy Spaniard 10K - my first 10K at age 55!!  Although I'm not speedy and definitely struggled (I had some walking moments for sure)! I loved starting the race with my beautiful daughter-in-law and having Kristin, Jeremy and Jacob cheering me in at the finish line! Seeing family at the finish line was the absolute best!  I am not a great runner, and wasn't fully prepared so that first hill right at the start threw off my hopes, since I had to walk right away and get past that difficulty!!  I did run most of the time and knowing Kristen was running in front of me, and my family would be at the finish line kept me going!! 

I also had a beautiful tender mercy when my running pace was the same as a dad running with one son and pushing another son in a large stroller! I talked to them later and his son had similar disabilities as Joshua. So I felt Joshua cheering me on too!  With Joshua's super hyperactivity and running everywhere, I called Joshua my very own home gym, so I loved this very sweet blessing today!

My time was 1:16.  For the record, I got 6th place out of 6 women in my age group!!  But I finished.  :)

Thanks Kristen for inspiring me to do this!! You rock!!

The Computer Piggy Bank!

The Computer Piggy Bank!
Thank you Gerald Bringhurst!

I ran into Sue and Gerald Bringhurst at a wedding reception a few days ago.  They are wonderful neighbors and friends of mine when we lived in Pleasant Grove.  It is always so fun to re-connect and remember good times with cherished friends!  We had a good laugh remembering Joshua's own hidden piggy bank!

One of Joshua's favorite things was to play "Wheel of Fortune" on his own computer.  He loved calling out the letters, finding the letters on the keyboard and cheering with Pat and Vanna as the players won some money!  He especially loved it when one player said hi to "Joshua" even though it wasn't meant for him!

Anyway, periodically the computer would stop working.  Gerald was so kind as to donate some time to repair Joshua's computer when needed.  So as he dug into Joshua's computer to find the problem, he was super excited to tell us the problem!

Joshua had been using the small opening where the floppy disk went, to insert pennies, nickles, dimes and quarters!!  And he had inserted quite a stash!!  So Gerald emptied the computer of its latest windfall, and the beloved computer was back in action!!  But of course, it didn't take long to realize that another windfall of money was inside, and Gerald would be called back into action.

Thanks Gerald -- you saved many days!!

To see another article on our own family computer repairman, my brother Carl, see the link below!!

http://joshuasheartfullofhugs.blogspot.com/2017/07/computer-mishaps-thank-you-uncle-carl.html

Computer Mishaps - Thank You Uncle Carl!

Computer Mishaps - Thank You Uncle Carl!

Joshua was very hard on computers, so we needed more than one computer repairman!  inside Joshua's computer.

And my awesome brother, Carl, came on multiple occasions to find other mysterious computer problems.  With Joshua's fingers clicking away, computers definitely didn't last too long.  And it was always a harder day if Joshua did not have his computer to play Wheel of Fortune!!

But Joshua knew that Carl would and could fix his computer.  In fact, when he would see Carl, he would say in his cute voice, "Carl ... puter."  He was very thankful for his wonderful Uncle, and I was also very thankful for his willingness and love for Joshua.  

Our neighbor, Gerald Bringhurst helped us find missing money in our home, that ended up inside Joshua's computer.  That deserved its own post!  

The pictures below are worth more than a thousand words!  Thank you Carl!!

A sweet Uncle and Nephew bonding moment!

Carl giving Joshua two high fives after a successful computer fix!

Joshua showing Uncle Carl his gratitude with his special Joshua hug!

A Silent Prayer to God - Paul Nolan

A Silent Prayer to God - Paul Nolan

My long-time friend from high school, Paul Nolan (a 35+ year EMS veteran in Los Angeles), wrote a touching and tender experience today which I wanted to share.  This captured so well my feelings for the amazing love and wonderful unity I was blessed to be a part of with my Joshua boy for 22 short years.  Thanks Paul for your wonderful insight, compassion and example!  

This afternoon I stopped in at an In-N-Out Burger for lunch. It was busy but I noticed a Toyota Sienna pull up and several special needs adults come into the restaurant with a woman who takes care of them. She was very patient with them and it showed she really cared about them.

I watched as they waited in line, shuffling from side-to-side, needing a little bit of attention to stay focused. I noticed that if one of them had trouble ordering food or figuring out how much money they needed to pay for their meal, another in their group would help them. The young girl behind the counter was extremely helpful, pointing to the pictures on the menu when necessary, and helping them with their money.

As they waited for their orders I saw them laugh and joke with each other, patiently waiting for their turn at the drink machine. They were together, they protected each other, they helped each other. The bonding of these five adults was amazing. They needed each other when they were out in public unlike any other group of people who were there.

As I watched them I said a silent prayer for God to watch over them, keep them safe and free from harm or ridicule. I've always had a soft spot for the less fortunate among us and have always gone out of my way to treat them, not just as a patient, but as the special person they were.

They made me smile today. At least for a brief moment anyway, and that's all that really matters.

#silentprayers

Athlete of the Month at Pleasant Grove High School

Athlete of the Month

Pleasant Grove High School

Inclusion, Love & Joy

While Joshua was attending Pleasant Grove High School, he truly thrived on the love and understanding and inspired teaching he received.  I will always love the many special friends who were and still are incredible blessings in our lives because of their love and sacrifice for Joshua.  In fact, I was so thankful for the lovely lunch ladies at the school, that I wrote a thank you post for them:

http://joshuasheartfullofhugs.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-lovely-lunch-ladies-at-pleasant.html


Joshua's incredible teachers, Lisa Clark and John Kernan and incredible aides, made sure Joshua was involved in school activities and adapted sports.  Well, one day in 2002, Pleasant Grove High School called and invited me to an assembly because they were going to honor Joshua.  I quickly called my brother Doug and asked him to come with me, and we hurried down to the school.  We were thankfully able to sit in the first couple of rows on the right side of the auditorium waiting for Joshua's special award.  And Doug was ready to capture this special moment on film, which he perfectly did!

As the assembly began, the student leader announced the introduction of this month's "Athlete of the Month" ... Joshua Eisenstat! I was overwhelmed with this special honor!!

As Joshua started to appear on the back part of the stage, one student helped him walk out toward the front of the stage (which is always a challenge because he can be very resistant), but once Joshua heard the student body very loudly cheering and clapping for Joshua, he jumped up and down with his wonderful smile and pure JOY!  

And the student body cheered and clapped for Joshua for a very long time!  It was an indescribable moment of joy and acceptance and love for Joshua!

He did not understand the nature of the award, but he definitely understood that he was LOVED by the students and faculty at Pleasant Grove High School.  He was so HAPPY!!

Joshua was an incredible athlete in every way!  He loved and cheered for his own team  And he always loved and cheered for the other team as well.  Everyone mattered!  He was enthusiastic and happy!  He always did the best he could.  He usually did not earn the gold medal, but he always placed first place with his incredible HEART!

I was an incredibly proud and happy Mom, and like Joshua, filled with joy and love!  

With all of my heart, I thank 

Pleasant Grove High School, 

for their recognition of my very special athlete 

and son!

#athleteofthemonth, #pghs

Joshua Wins a Membership at Gold's Gym!

Joshua Wins a Membership at Gold's Gym!

As I picked up the phone I was surprised to hear a man ask to speak to Joshua Eisenstat.  There were many phone calls for Jeremy, Jamie, Jacob and Janson, but definitely not for Joshua.  So I let the caller know that I was his Mom and asked what he needed.  He asked again to speak to Joshua.  I said that Joshua couldn't come to the phone.  He wanted to know he if Joshua was home.  I said that he was but that he really couldn't talk on the phone.  And the caller said that he just wanted to let Joshua know that he had won a Gold's Gym Membership by entering a contest and needed to tell Joshua. I expressed my surprise since Joshua would not have been able to enter a contest.  He told me that Joshua had written down his name and information.  I then told him that Joshua could only write a line on a piece of paper so I didn't think he had entered the contest.  It was a fun conversation, but I was a little baffled at how Joshua had entered this contest.  I also knew that Gold's Gym probably did not want Joshua hanging out at their gym!  He would probably throw some of the barbells for sure!


Anyway, the man said that since Joshua wouldn't be able to use the membership, that maybe I would like it!  I told him that Joshua was actually my own home gym!  (And he really, really was!)

Anyway, I had fun telling the story at dinner that night.  But I noticed that Jeremy was a little quiet and serious.  He finally spoke up and tentatively admitted that he was the one that signed Joshua up for the contest!!  Jeremy really wanted to win a membership at Gold's Gym, but you had to be 18 years old to sign up, and since Joshua was 18 that solved his problem!

We all got a good chuckle over that one.  

Joshua was the best gym I ever, ever had. He was my weights and my cardio every day!  And he was definitely the most entertaining!  

The Flying Pumpkin - A Little Halloween Story!

One of Jamie's pumpkin carvings!

The Flying Pumpkin - A Little Halloween Story!

Halloween with Joshua was always a treat!  Just think -- I was able to go trick or treating with him for 22 years!!  He loved people and he loved being able to knock on doors and get candy his entire life!  But of course he would want to go inside each house, so we would have to persuade him to keep going to the next house, and the next!  We usually were the slowest trick or treaters ever!  And many times he was on my back between houses to help him get to the next house.  I cherish those piggy back rides!

And then having him help pass out candy was an adventure in itself.  He loved 

Our cute neighbor Candy Jackson helping Joshua get candy!

answering the doors and hearing the kids yell "trick or treat!"  And he loved passing out candy!  You never knew if you would get one piece, or an entire handful!!  However, an unsuspecting trick or treater could be surprised as he was walking away from our door as Joshua would grab one more handful and use that amazing throwing arm of his, and throw it as they walked away.  It was like having our own pinata all night long!

 But one Halloween season brings a special memory as I had taken all five kids to choose their very own pumpkins at a local pumpkin farm.  It is so fun to watch my young children carefully and painstakingly try to find the perfect pumpkin!  With hundreds to choose from, this was quite a long process.  But we left the pumpkin patch with each child very happy and excited carrying the perfect pumpkin they had each found.  Joshua, Jeremy, Jamie, Jacob and Janson all had a pumpkin!! Hurray!!  

 As we neared our house, I was ready to make the final left turn into our cul-de-sac, just the same time as my friend and neighbor was pulling out.  As we passed, I rolled down my window to say hi.  And that's all it took!  Suddenly, a pumpkin went flying out the window and began rolling quickly down the hill!  And then cute Jamie screaming and crying that it was her pumpkin!  It was definitely a traumatic moment.  There was no doubt that she believed she could never find another one like it!

We waited anxiously for Jeremy to return.  And he did!  Holding Jamie's pumpkin in one complete piece, with only one crack in the pumpkin.  We were overjoyed.  We couldn't believe it!  Jeremy saved the day!!

The flying pumpkin was saved!