More lessons from grandchildren!

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believe that "dependent" children are special and have a unique and blessed status with our Father in Heaven. I'd not want to speak for the Church officially, but some of us believe these special children/adults have already evidenced their commitment to God and Christ, before coming to mortality and they join us here to have an influence in our lives and to help us learn more about our Father in Heaven.

After more than 35 years of being in association with "special needs" children, I think it is important to share incredible moments of joy that they bring into my life. I am a mother to a 38 year-old dependent adult son, Nathan. He's taught me lessons I may share here another day but for today I'd like to share a lesson taught by a disable grandson.

Amid my history of Gramma Dates with grandchildren, one with my grandson, Gabriel stands out for how he gave me more on the date than I believed the time and cost of the date were to bring to him.

Gabriel spent a season of his young life fascinated and pre-occupied with dinosaurs. I'd created a collection of plastic dinosaurs for his playtime in my home and I'd gifted him dinosaur books and such, and even enjoyed watching dinosaur movies with him.

Gabriel doesn't know it, but before he was born I'd spent more than a year writing a children's book, Land of the Sleeping Dinosaurs. It had been published, was well received in various places and had added to my opportunity to share my adult pre-occupation with the world around me.

Back to my story...

I discovered, by accident that a marvelous family entertainment event was taking place in a nearby city - Walk with the Dinosaurs, and after budgeting carefully I purchased two tickets for the event. I was so excited as I planned and then took action to give Gabriel the ultimate dinosaur experience.

A few images will give you an idea of the excitement Gabriel and I both shared as the dinosaur spectacle unfolded before us. He'd asked me about how the dinosaurs moved around in the arena set. I explained about the motors inside some of the larger dinosaurs that allowed people inside to drive the huge creatures and I pointed out the legs of actual staff in the smaller dinosaurs (see image 1) that allowed them to move about the set to entertain us.

He told me all about dinosaurs as we waited for the performance, and we chatted again during intermission and that's when Gabriel gave me the most wonderful treasure.

"Gramma, this is so good. Gramma, can we come again and bring Andrew? Andrew would like to see all the dinosaurs."

"Gabriel, Gramma only had the money to bring one of you to see the dinosaurs, but Mommy told me that Andrew was going to see the Monster Trucks with Dad. Andrew will have such a good time, just like you are having a good time."

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly his words filled the air around us and filled my heart with lasting joy...

"Gramma, when I grow up, I could be a dinosaur - couldn't I Gramma!"

I knew, truly knew that Gabriel, despite his limitations could have his every dream in life fulfilled, if all his family were always aware of possibilities and sought for opportunities.

I knew other families had done so, and had done so successfully!

I'd seen the Famous People Players on television as a young mother, raising my own disabled son. Now suddenly, for the first time I was in awe of the opportunities and capacities of "special" children to find joy in their own lives and to bring joy to the lives of others.

Gabriel's dreams for his adulthood will probably change, but because he has an Uncle Mark who is a recognized stage, movie and televison actor, Gabriel may lean in that direction one day. Whether or not he does, he brought more joy to me in that simple announcement, "Gramma, I could be a dinosaur!" than I had imagined possible.

We all have to have such vision and such faith in our ultimate potential and find opportunities to make our dreams come true.