It has been a full

And good day.  For several years one of my church callings has been to take care of a handicapped boy who is now 11.  From the time I first started, he has progressed quite a bit.  When I was doing it alone, I pretty much did whatever he wanted to do just to keep him happy, which mostly consisted of dancing for him. 

This last year another woman in the ward, Jill, just volunteered to help me.  It has made such a difference.   She is a special education teacher,  and she knows how to work with children with disabilities. We have set rules, like he doesnt get a snack unless we are in our room sitting down.  He is much happier having routines and he is much smarter than you would know.  He doesnt talk, but he is able to synchronize an ipad and an ipod so they are in the exact same place in a movie.  He is able to match letters and numbers,  The real reward comes when he makes eye contact and smiles.  I think about what an amazing spirit he must have inside his disabled body,  I used to dread doing it when I was doing it alone because I was never sure about what to do or how to handle situations. I felt so badly when he would get on the floor and kind of wail.  But with Jill helping and with knowing that we can set rules and that he can follow them, it has become very rewarding.   I think of his Mom who faces the challenges with both of her children who have fragile x syndrome, and I feel such admiration