To Tiffany...From Wayne

 Merry Christmas Tiffany, I chose a service that you would do had you been closer to NC.  I spent time with AJ...plus Lani asked me to write down my experiences with him.  So me being lazy, I will use this for both. 

When I wanted to do this, first hurdle I thought was Lani.  I did not think she would trust me with AJ and figured I was mean and impatient.  That's true, but I can rise to the occasion and I guess she gambled he was such a handful, she would take what she could get.  I knew AJ's favorite word was NO and he was a master of it with me.  While flying there I thought of D&C 4: "Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of your God; see that ye serve him with all your heart, might mind and strength that you may stand blameless before him at the last day."  I figured I needed some strength.  Turns out the only strength I needed was with how fast he was stripping down to bare feet all the time.  He had patience with me and strengthened me.  He lead me by taking my hand and showing me where I needed to take him. 

I also spent some time with Lani and Hock.  I can report there was never a complaint of "why me or us?"  Instead there was an attitude of "what do I need to learn?"  Instead of choosing self pity, they choose growth.  I could see the growth in them, even if they can't right now.  In the Lords plan, understanding comes line upon line, precept upon precept; in other words, understanding and knowledge come and the price of patience.  President Uchtdorf says, often the deep valley of our present will be understood only by looking back on them from the mountains of our future experience.  Often we can't see the Lords hand in our lives until long after trials have passed. 

My wife was the first one with the idea of helping with AJ.  She is a life saver in general and you can't be a life saver if you are swimming like all the others, you need to be in the look out for those in need and she is a great example for me. 

I heard people say they feel the spirit when in the temple, outdoors, church or in homes.  Upon arriving, I was surprised to feel the spirit with a red-haired clown at the Ronald McDonald house.  We were all humble and equals in receiving the blessing and sacrifice of others.  We all had assignments to keep the place clean and it was easy for the spirit to reside there when we were all working together.  We did not eat Big Mac's that didn't sell that day, rather different organizations brought in well made meals.  It felt like Amy was pregnant again with all the different homemade meals.  AJ showed me they had chocolate milk and we both got hopped up on that and chicken nuggets.  I felt often that AJ was serving and helping me.  Usually when I do service I love it because it feels like the Lord is my companion.  This time I had a different kind of companion, he was much shorter, but a spiritual giant too, he was AJ.  He helped and served me more than I did him; unless you count one of the diapers I changed then I won by a mud slide.  It's not often that I feel the spirit all day everywhere I go but I did.

Tiff this was something I was happy to do in your honor.  Thank you for the opportunity.  I love you.