My Sister Joelene

It is spring break and I am in Seattle at my Mom's. I offered to watch my older sister so my my Mom and her husband Scott, could take a little vacation for a few days to Palm Springs to visit my Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Brian. My sister Joelene is about 1.5 years older than I am. She was born with optic nerve hypoplasia, which means she cannot see and she is also mentally disabled. I am not sure if I could totally express my love for this sister of mine and have you understand how deeply I feel about her. From a very young age I have helped my parents take care of my sister and they say you love those you serve, well I can testify to that. Because Joelene is the oldest, but clearly not able to do most things for her self I am technically the oldest and have found it challenging though extremely humbling to fill that roll in my family. Joelene is categorized as high needs, an example: She needs to be bathed, taken to the bathroom and cleaned up after. Her teeth need to be brushed, hair done, she has to be dressed, and be fed. She has epilepsy and some times wets the bed. My mom has been her full time care giver her whole life, Joelene in essence is a 33 year old baby. My mom has done all these things for Joelene for 33 years with very few breaks. I wish I could do more to help, living 6 hours away and having 3 children of my own makes my life busy and not as flexible as I would like, but I am always happy and willing to do what I can. Growing up with this sister of mine has been a blessing all around. I do remember sometimes when I was younger being a little embarrassed when we were out in public with Jo and she would make a funny noise or cry (she is NOT a pretty crier by any means) but the embarrassment never lasted long, as my main concern was for her. As we got older I would make funny noises with her just to make her happy and I did not care on bit what others may think. I often have wondered why our family was chosen to have Joelene? Why we would be entrusted with one of Heavenly Fathers most righteous children? I believe that those people with mental disabilities were so valiant in the pre-mortal life, that Heavenly Father needed to protect them from the evil they would face on this earth. Satan cannot tempt them, he has no vice over them. These individuals, though to us seem imperfect in body and mind, are actually perfect in spirit. Their mission in this life is to gain a body and the test is for us around them. How do we treat them? Are we kind, accepting, and compassionate? How wonderful it is to be with a perfect person and especially to be the sister of a perfectly perfect person! I only pray that I can love and care for her in a way that will be pleasing to my Father in Heaven. I am grateful to my Mom for all the work she does for Joelene, I know it is a big job and no one does it better than her. She deserves a big huge medal in my opinion and if I can help to lesson her load even just a little I will do it. Joelene is a precious gift to our family and so is my Mom!