The Beginning of the End

Today was a very sad day at work. It wasn't a bad day or anything...it just marked the beginning of the end.

I work at Grace Educational Opportunities, which is a developmental therapy agency in Grace, a town about 15 minutes away (10 if you fudge the speed limit a little...not that I'd know). I would post some pictures...but I'm pretty sure that's against the law. I hope you enjoy the story anyway :) Here's my story:

 I started working there in March of 2009. 

I didn't even know it EXISTED until my dad took me along when he went to go give a lady a blessing.

 I saw a friend of mine working with a kid I didn't know, so I walked up to talk to her and that's where I found out exactly what they do. 

Bryan Jensen (the boss's husband) was the other priesthood holder who was giving the blessing and as we walked out he said to me, 

"You should consider working here when you turn 17 (the minimum age of any therapist). 

I told him I would think about it, but in my head I was thinking, 

"Heck to the no! Not a chance!"

 I would guess that was in January.

 In March I got a call from Lorrie'L Jensen asking if I was still looking for a job. 

Not knowing what to say, I told her that I was. I believe her exact words were, 

"Great! Would you like one?" 

Before I knew it, I was sitting across from her being offered a job. 

She kept telling me that she really needed someone like me. 

I didn't even know her...and she didn't know me, how could she possibly think that she needed me? 

I never told her that mentally handicapped kids scared me. 

I didn't tell her that I didn't think I could do this. 

I didn't tell her that I thought she had the wrong person. 

I just kept nodding.

The first few months went by and I couldn't decide whether I loved it or hated it.

Some days were great, but more days were awful.

I remember the day that everything turned around for me...

I was working with one particular kid (I can't say more than that due to HIPPA laws), and we were working on a program they particularly struggled with.

I asked a question that I asked every single day...

...and every single day they answered it incorrectly.

I was beginning to get frustrated, thinking I was DEFINITELY the wrong person for this job.

Then I heard the right answer come out of their mouth.

I can't tell you how excited I got!

We had our own little party right there in the kitchen. Jumping up and down and giving each other high fives and knuckles. I think we even did the Butt Dance (long story).

They looked up at me and they were just so happy.

It was then that I realized that I was making a difference in this kid's life.

I was making a difference in this family's life.

But most importantly, they were making a difference in MY life.

Now I can't believe that I ever looked at these kids and had shivers run down my spine.

I had so much fun! 

Center days were the best!

We would go on long walks to the park or the library.

Some days we would sit in the shade of the trees and try to get every semi that passed to honk.

We would race down slides and get snow cones.

We would get fries and ice cream.

But most of all, I realized that these kids were just like everyone else.

I put myself into my job 110%

I began to understand how to work with each individual kid, their strengths and their weaknesses.

And together we worked and made more strengths.

I will never be able to convey to you how good it feels to hear a child who can't speak say a word,

or see them wash a dish without being prompted, 

or wheeling themselves up a ramp in their wheelchair,

or to have them tell you that they love you.

That is why today was a hard day at work. 

Today was the beginning of my last week. 

I still can't believe that I may never see some of these kids that I have worked with for a year and a half again.

Honestly, how can I give this up?

I have never been so grateful for anything in my life (except for my family and the gospel).

I will never forget the things I learned along the way.

This job has changed my life and I hope that I was able to change a few lives along the way.