On Saturday, September 11, we had an open house to celebrate John's 60th birthday.  Family, ward members, co-workers and neighbors joined us in our backyard for a juice bar and appetisers.  All of our children were there as well as eight of our twelve grandchildren.  This picture was taken while the musicians played, "There Are Places I Remember" by the Beatles.  The weather was perfect, the music was wonderful, and the food was great!  One woman commented on our next to youngest grandson, Justin running endlessly back and forth across our deck.  Everyone seemed to have a good time.  As I visited with the wife of some one from John's work, our grandson, Christian, came up to us and held out his hand to the woman I chatted with and said, "My name is Christian."

"Who are your parents?" the woman asked.  We both waited and waited as Christian struggled to answer.

"Dan and Sherilyn." he finally said, then ran off as abruptly as he arrived.  I felt like I had witnessed a tiny miracle.  A miracle that I would get to see Christian, who struggles with Autism, walk up to a complete stranger and initiate a conversation.  I suppose some one could say he was only copying the behavior he saw modeled by those around him, yet isn't that how we all learn?  We copy those who came before us.