Re: Just have to share my joy!

[Guest guest]

ok I got in a good cry for today--thank you for sharing that beautiful story

of love.

maria

Just have to share my joy!

> Dear CHARGE family,

> I have been floating on air since last Thursday, when our son

> returned home from a 2 year mission he was serving in Curitiba Brazil.

> The two years truly did fly by. Neither he, nor we, can believe how

> rapidly it went! Unfortunately for me, but good for Steve, he was only

> home for two days, when he left to attend school at Brigham Young

> University in Provo, Utah. Anyway, I had to let you know of Jeff's

> reunion with Steve.

> We were so blessed to have ALL our children be able to be there.

> Steve flew into the SLC airport, and of course his plane was 45 minutes

> late. Oh the agony!! My daughter and her family came from Highland,

> Utah bearing signs and yellow balloons. My son and his family came from

> Diamond Bar, Calif. with cam corder and yellow balloons in tow. My

> husband, our and I, were waiting with enough small US and

> Brazilian flags for everyone to wave. The moment I saw him my tears

> started. He looked wonderful...so tall, so handsome, the same, yet

> different. There was such a beautiful glow about him. Of course, I got

> first dibs on hugs. Time stood still as I drank in that long awaited

> glorious moment. After everyone else got their own personal hugs from

> this beautiful young man, I got another one. Then, it was 's

> turn....and those that weren't in tears at that point, were when they saw

> the reunion between Steve and Jeff. It was the most touching thing

> witnessed that entire day. Before Steve left on his mission, he was my

> right hand when it came to caring for Jeff. And his whole life, he has

> been Jeff's best buddy and protector. Jeff is deaf-blind (can see a

> little up close in one eye) so he hadn't been aware that Steve was there

> yet. Steve went over to him, knelt down and signed " hi Jeff " , " can I

> have a hug " ? The look on Jeff face was priceless. He immediately held

> Steve's face with both hands, and just looked into Steve's eyes. He was

> laughing and giggling the whole time, then after drinking in Steve's

> presence, he gave Steve a big hug. Then he held Steve's face again with

> his hands, just smiling and laughing and gazing into his eyes. Then he

> threw both hands over his eyes and began to cry. Steve just held him

> until the tears were gone. Jeff doesn't speak, but I think everyone

> there could feel what his voice couldn't express. They have always been

> so close and now they were together again. After many pictures and after

> his luggage was claimed, we all went out to lunch. That evening Bob and

> I went with him as he reported to our Stake President for his release as

> a missionary. He was a wonderful missionary. He loved his mission and

> the people of Brazil. He learned and grew so much from the many

> opportunities he had. We sent off a boy and he returned a man with the

> countenance of an angel. Our Stake President didn't ask him to remove

> his name tag when he released him as a missionary. But he did tell him

> that when he felt ready to remove it, to do so, and to know it has seeped

> deep into his heart. When he did remove it in the car, he cried. He has

> such a sweet, giving, loving, patient way about him. His prayers are

> beautiful and heart felt. I guess I can sum it up by saying, you can

> feel the Spirit and it abides with him. Thursday and Friday went so

> quickly. We all sat at his knee, asking questions and hearing about all

> his experiences. Before I knew it, Saturday was here and it was time for

> him to leave for BYU. We suggested that we could take him Sunday after

> church, but he reminded us that's the Sabbath, a holy day, and he didn't

> feel it appropriate to move in on the Sabbath. He's already setting

> examples for us! So my daughter and her family took him and got him

> settled in. I've already e-mailed him countless times, and phoned each

> day to see how things are going. (I told him he'll have to be patient

> with me, as I didn't get enough of him before he left). Monday was his

> first day of classes and he said he was totally LOST. The professors

> talk so long and fast that it's hard to understand them, as he still

> thinks in Portuguese. He said his one breath of fresh air, is his

> Portuguese class....he can understand everything said there. He'll do

> fine, it's just going to take some time for the adjustments to take

> place. In the mean time, my job is to be his official cheer leader and

> pep talk giver.

> Jeff is fine, and loves holding (and licking) the picture of Steve

> he has in his room. I'm so thankful to have my son home again safely.

> I'm thankful he is healthy, strong and happy. I'm thankful to everyone

> that he associated with in Brazil.. All his mission companions, his

> Mission President, and all the people of Brazil that he grew to love so

> very much. He, and we, have been greatly blessed. And I'm thankful for

> that beautiful reunion that took place between Steve and Jeff at the

> airport. I will remember that for the rest of my life.

> Thank you for letting me share my joy with you. I hope I haven't

> offended anyone, and if I have, it wasn't intended, and I apologize.

>

> Smiles from,

> Baker - Mom to Jeff (20 yrs. CHARGEr), Steve (21 yrs. and off to

> school at BYU), and others married with children of their own.

> Idaho, USA

>

>

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>

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> 7th International

> CHARGE Syndrome Conference, Miami Beach, Florida, July 22-24, 2005.

Information will be available at our website

> www.chargesyndrome.org or by calling 1-. In Canada, you may

contact CHARGE Syndrome Canada at 1- (families), visit

www.chargesyndrome.ca, or email info@.... Thank you!

>

>