I Learned from Linda

Yesterday morning, I woke up bright and early to drive to Coolidge, Arizona with about seventy other young adults from singles ward to spend some time with the sweet people in the Randolph House. Randolph House was founded in the 1950's and serves as a training facility for the severely disabled. Many parents of disabled children did not have the means or were not ready for the responsibility of raising mentally and/or physically handicapped children... and consequently decided to drop their disabled child off at Randolph House where volunteers of the community would raise and train them to become the best they could be. When I visited Randolph house yesterday I was heartbroken to know that the majority of the adults that were living within those walls had grown up there since they were young.

I was assigned to spend my time with a wonderful older woman named Linda. Linda did not speak nor did she make any sound during the two or so hours I spent with her. She was severely handicapped both mentally and physically. The woman who assigned me to sweet Linda (her name was Vicky if I remember correctly) told me a little bit about her condition and her personality, and told me that Linda was not a very touchy person. She liked having her space but also loved having company. As I wheeled her wheelchair from her room to the gymnasium in which we brought all of our friends to sing songs together, I talked her ear off about...well, just about everything you can think of. I knew she could hear me and I knew it was comforting to her to have someone with her.

In the gymnasium we all sang primary and patriotic songs that all of our friends loved so much. Some would jump around and others would sing (never on tune, but just as beautiful) at the top of their lungs the sweet words often about how much their Heavenly Father loved them. Linda did not speak but would move her body to the beat of whatever song we were singing. Oh how I loved singing with sweet Linda.

After a few minutes of sitting and singing with Linda, she put her hand out to me. Remembering what Vicky said about Linda liking her personal space, I was confused wondering if she wanted me to give her something. But I soon realized she wanted me to touch her hand. I put my hand on top of hers and she rubbed her thumb back and forth on my hand and then quickly let go. I teared up at her simple, yet tender gesture signifying to me of her pure love. She held her hand out to me multiple times before it was time for our goodbyes and each time she held on just a bit longer than the last. Seeing these people that loved so wholeheartedly the MINUTE I met each one of them was truly inspiring and humbling. I hope to be able to love as purely as each of them do.

SPREAD THE WORD TO END THE WORD

In the hours since my time at Randolph House, I have been pondering more about the sweet people I met. Their innocence is beyond what any of us can hope to attain. The adults of Randolph House are all mentally retarded and struggle with their mental and physical disabilities. Being retarded means to be mentally challenged but has evolved into a derogatory slang word that is thrown around so loosely. I heard it around school countless times every day. I see it on twitter/facebook/instagram ALL the time. I was once talking to a highly respectable grown adult and was appalled when he described his malfunctioning television set as "retarded". I know that people know what "retarded" means but most people do not understand how horrible what they are saying really is. "Retarded" went from a clinical description to a word of derision. As a community, it is of paramount importance to spread the word to end the word. It is hate speech. Truly, it is. And if more people would see it that way, less people would say it. If you agree with me, practice what you preach! Log on to www.r-word.org and PLEDGE to never use "retarded" in a derogatory manner. Once you've done so, post about it on twitter or facebook and let your friends and family know of how you are helping the cause and, consequently, inspire them to do the same. Seem simple? IT IS. It takes all of two minutes to pledge AND post about it on social media.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world."--Mahatma Ghandi.

 

 

Blogging Amateur

I decided it was high time for me to create a blog since I am starting a different, exciting, yet nerve-wracking chapter of my life! Keep in mind I have never blogged before and, although I have read some dang good blogs, I haven't yet learned the ropes of blogging. So bear with me ;)

Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start (if you can name that reference we will be fast friends). I am by NO means, creative. My mom, my grandmother, all of my aunts and cousins are ALL incredibly creative, but somehow I must have missed that gene. So needless to say, this probably will not be one of those super cutesy blogs. Heck, I'm not even sure if anyone will end up reading a single one of my posts! I just felt that this next year was going to be a big year for me and I want a place to write down daily (ok lets be realistic, probably weekly) entries/pictures of interesting and exciting opportunities and fun that I hope will come my way!

I am so incredibly stoked for this next year. 2013 was SUCH a big year for me. So much change came my way, that I was forced to acclimate to a completely different way of thinking. 2013 was the year of a new Emma Fisher (how cheesy does that sound?). But REALLY. Last year was a huge year for me. I grew emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually more than any year thus far. Many would say, "Well of course you did, you learn and grow with every year." Very true. But last year there was a significant change in my outlook on life. I had to undergo some pretty tough changes and challenges that lead me to think about life in the "grand scheme of things". I learned who I was as a person, and I was able to see myself in a different way than I ever had before. I have become more confident in who I am, and what I stand for. I have had to turn to the Lord for comfort and relief from pain. My testimony of the Atonement and of the gospel strengthened into something it couldn't have without the test of my faith. It's a strange thing to say one is thankful for hardship. But I am. I learned that last year. I am GRATEFUL for trials and tribulations. Because I believe that the time when the Lord communicates to His children most, is when we are on our knees pleading for guidance/forgiveness/relief. It was during those times of desperation, when I heard my Father's voice and influence in my life stronger than I ever had before. I also learned that one can be happy during trying times. I often have to think to myself, "Emma, you do not live a sad life. You are just having a sad day." I have difficult moments. Who doesn't?? Sometimes those moments last for days or even weeks. BUT I often have to remind myself that these sad moments are but for a moment. They do not reflect my everyday life. I am happy. So INCREDIBLY happy. I have so much to be thankful for, how can I not be happy? That is why I'm excited for this next year. I know this year will be challenging and full of hardships, especially as I leave my family and Arizona and go off to Hawaii for school. Leaving my family will easily be the most difficult thing I've had to do thus far. But I am excited for the opportunities and new friends that it will bring.

So, college. I am so freaking ready for you.
(...in two months. I leave September 1st.)

Also quick shout-out to Erika Thompson for helping me in the design and creation of this blog. She rocks.