A Good Read (For Real!)

A few weeks ago, Jeff and I went on a much needed date. Because we are nerds, we spent most of our night getting lost in Barnes & Noble. As we browsed, I happened to pick up this book and could not put it down. Needless to say, we bought it and I read it within a few hours the next day. It is the story of a three year old boy who almost died from a ruptured appendix. He tells the story of his visit to heaven while his body was being operated on. It is amazing. Get it. Read it. Love it.

In the book, when the boy first mentions his experience to his parents, they both look at each other as if to say, "Did he just say that?" Has that ever happened to you with your children? Because it has with mine.

Experience #1: Shortly after we moved to Utah (and Carson was still three) I was driving home from running errands. All of the sudden Carson YELLS at me, "STOP MOM! There's Daddy's Mommy right there!" I was speechless, and before I could think of what to say to him, he continued on, "She's right there standing in the middle of the road, looking at me!" If you aren't aware, Jeff's mom passed away suddenly back in 2001, so neither Carson or I have ever seen her in person.

Experience #2: One day last week, Jonas was awake around 5 o'clock in the morning upset about something. I was snuggling with him on the couch when he suddenly asked me, "Who 'dat guy over there?" To which I replied, "What?" just to clarify that I had understood his two year old jargon right. He then pointed to a corner in the living room where there was only a lamp on a side table and repeated, "Who 'dat guy over there?" Then after a pause, "Oh, he's going now." Kinda creepy, kinda cool, I still can't decide.

A pragmatist would try to blame such experiences on a mixture of environmental cues and a good imagination. I tend to believe there is more to it than that.

"...the multitude gathered themselves together and they both saw and heard these children; yea, even babes did open their mouths and utter marvelous things..."

3 Nephi 26:16

Out of the mouths of babes, that's what I believe.