David's gift

My son David has Down Syndrome. He is moderately effected, not high functioning, but certainly more capable than many with an extra chromosome. His speech and language is very limited, but with effort he can make himself understood by those with the patience to listen and wait. Many good people have contributed to the quality of life that David enjoys. I am grateful to you all. What I am also coming to appreciate is that David is contributing to the quality of many others lives.

One of my missionary friends had occasion to observe David at his work station in the cafeteria. He was assigned to watch the system that returns dirty dishes to the dish room. If someone puts their tray in wrong he fixes it so everything keeps moving. He stands in a little alcove and greets the people who come through to drop off their dishes. My friend saw him talk to the people, sometimes asking their names, shaking their hands, and giving them one of his winning smiles. She said everyone who walked out was wearing a big grin.

David's cousin Ed came to visit recently. As I drove him to the airport he told me how much he had enjoyed getting to know David and how he was not what he expected.

We had a quick but wonderful visit from our former Bishop from back home, Dennis Pyper. Dennis was in town for a family reunion and took time to see us (read David). He has been an amazing friend to David all his life, but especially since Sheldon's passing, taking him places, bringing him treats, tying his tie on Sundays. Once I asked him why, and he simply replied, "I love him."

I enjoying watching David with the missionaries in my zone. They enjoy greeting him each morning at prayer meeting, and if he is absent one day, everyone asks why and says how much they miss him.

We went to see the movie "Toy Story 3" this week. David of course being a serious fan had to wear his "Woody" costume. He walked into the crowded theater as if he owned it, celebrity fashion, greeting the people, taking bows. It touched me to see the warmth with which his showmanship was received, and the genuine smiles it put on their faces.

Not everyone is so accepting of David. I have witnessed him being treated with disdain and even disgust, impatience and disregard. I am starting to think that appreciating him, with all his quirks and limitations is a kind of litmus test for the rest of us. True followers of Christ will remember that what we do unto one of the least of God's children is counted as being done unto Him.

It is Springtime in my Soul Today

On April 29, 2010 I awoke to a world covered in snow. Again. You've got to be kidding me! Really, it was almost May and still we're getting snow. I went to work but was having trouble getting started, feeling almost depressed through most of the morning. The snow came down thick and hard through most of the day, which did nothing to lift my spirits. I think what happened is that I had let myself believe that winter was over and that warm weather, blossoms and sunshine were what I had to look forward to. It was my expectation that led to the depression, not the weather.

Thankfully, although the weather has remained miserable, the rest of the week has been wonderful. Thursday night was a spectacular event at the conference center, "A Celebration of Family History." David and I went and my mother was able to attend with us. The program was music by the MOTAB, special films of family history stories, a message from President Eyring, and an address by David McCullough, author and historian (1776, John Adams). It was an amazing evening full of inspiring music and words that had us alternately in tears and in stitches. It was also the first time I have ever been in the assembly hall of the conference center. What an impressive, massive room!

Saturday we were fortunate to attend the sealing of my sister Laurel's latest 3 daughters to their parents. This is the stuff of Eternity, and it never fails to inspire. The sight of that enormous family in that sacred place, being sealed forever, reminds me that we are part of an even bigger family, bound by covenants and promises that are more powerful than any force on the Earth, and through our Savior Jesus Christ we can all return to our Heavenly Home. Awesome!

Today after our services, my nephew Oati was ordained a priest. He asked his cousin David to stand in the circle of his ordination. I couldn't hold back the tears as I witness this special, righteous young man exercise his Priesthood.

I'm told that it may yet snow again before this endless winter expires. OK. It seems that there is much to keep us warm.

My Valentine

Friday evening Mom and I attended a concert of Synthesis, the BYU jazz ensemble. Very Fun. But during intermission one of my zone leaders approached me to tell me that a young man had been looking for me at the library after I left that day, and had left a letter and a valentine for me. I assumed it was a relative, but was told this was someone who didn't know me but had something special to give me. Now I was intrigued. I went by the library to pick up my valentine. I was a large, flat box, with the following letter attached:

Dear Sister,

Yesterday I happened onto a beautiful winter scene and quickly retrieved a camera so I never would forget it.

On the 4th picture I realized I had not noticed that a pedestrian was walking through the scene and I had caught him in the picture.

You and I both will have the same thought "how did I miss that!" I'm not sure either, but to a fellow who truly has no photography skills I found it added greatly to the scene.

After a small search, and prompting from the spirit, I learned who the individual was and a bit of his history. Hence a Valentine from someone you have never met.

Hope you like it.

Jeremy Lambert

Inside the box was a large (16"x20") matted and framed photograph of the Salt Lake Temple with a lone pedestrian, my son David, under his red umbrella walking to work.

This little reproduction really doesn't do the photograph justice. I don't know Jeremy Lambert, and my cursory attempts to locate him have not been successful, but I hope to meet him and let him know how touched I am by his thoughtful gift, and that it will undoubtably be my favorite keepsake of our mission experience.

Beauty is as beauty does

I recently posed for a snapshot with a group of my fellow missionaries in front of a beautifully decorated tree in the family history library. The photo was printed and passed around for us to see. I was shocked by the picture. Not because I had spinach in my teeth but because I, in my missionary flats, stood a head taller than all the others in the picture. How had I failed to notice how short all these people are?! I looked closer at the picture and saw such an ordinary bunch of people. These can't be the same people I work with! The people I work with are beautiful, radiant, brilliant (and even tall). It got me to thinking about what makes them beautiful. The picture confirmed to me that physically they don't stand out. It has to be their spirits. Here is a group of people who are united in their desire and commitment to serve, not only God, but each other and the rest of humanity. They seem to me to be completely without selfishness, competitiveness, greed, laziness or any of the other vices so common in the world. What's left is truly beautiful.

Last week David and I went to the festival of trees. This is a huge auditorium full of Christmas trees, wreaths, quilts and other Christmas items, lovingly crafted, decorated, accessorized, and then donated to the festival. They are then sold for outrageous sums and all the proceeds go to the Primary Children's Hospital here in Salt Lake City. I am told they raise over $5 million this way each year. Again, I was in awe of the beauty of these trees. I walked around looking at each one, sure that a Christmas tree had never been so lovely. David was also moved by the spectacle and insisted on buying a tree for our room. After returning home I couldn't help feeling that it had been an almost magical experience. Was it because the trees were really better than any I'd seen elsewhere? I think not. I think it was the combined, selfless efforts of so many people that made this a remarkable night. The love and commitment of so many people, the organizers, the craftsmen, the artists, the purchasers, all working to do something to make the world a better place, filled the event with the true Spirit of Christmas. If Christmas has become too commercial, then this was an event even Christ Himself would applaud.

So I'm learning to see things with my other eyes. The ones that see goodness, not just good looks. The ones that see joy, not just fun. The ones that see purpose beyond the day to day struggle for survival. Merry Christmas to all.

To Tie A Tie

When David was born the very sensitive pediatrician told us to take him home and love him. He said that David would do everything a normal child would do, only more slowly. Over the years I have learned never to say never where David is concerned. After multiple failed attempts to teach him to swim, we decided that was something he just couldn't do. While visiting family in Kansas, David's cousins taught him to swim. Wow! We wondered if he would ever learn to talk or to read, but again he surprised us.

Now, Sheldon always tied David's tie for him on Sunday morning. After Sheldon died David got his brothers to do it for him. After they married and left home he took his tie to church and asked one of the kind men at church to tie it for him. Now here we are on the mission, living in a house with no other brethren. I tried to do it but my knots were sloppy at best. This morning David came to me with his tie already tied. "Who tied your tie?" I asked him. "I did!" he replied. Thinking he was joking, I asked him to show me. The photo is the finished product. Now I don't know if there is another man in the world who uses this particular knot, but I thought it looked pretty good. A little thing, yes, but a reminder that David is not "done" yet. He is still learning and growing and that should be a lesson to me also.

David's mission job is to work in the Church Office Building cafeteria. It is hard work and a full 8 hour day. He rises each morning enthusiastic about going to work and being a missionary. Even with all his apparent limitations, David's potential is limitless. He is an inspiration to me.