Tantelizing Tantelloneous Tantelly

To know this lady is to absolute love her! I’ve grown up with this silly, giggly girl all my life. She’s my big sister and my loyal friend. She’s always been a part of me – who I am, and who I want to be. She’s a reminder of where I want to be after this life. She’s an anchor to what matters most to me. She’s a reflection of compassion, love, inspiration, laughter, loyalty, patience, longsuffering, and true joy. Ah, I am so grateful to have this beautiful and amazing girl in my world!

Chantel was brought to this earth with a very specific trial. Did she know before she came that she’d live in a body that would make it very difficult to express her feelings? Did she know that being able to communicate would be extremely challenging? Did she know that for many years doctors, and even her own family would not know what was wrong with her? Did she know any of this before accepting her “temple”?

To think that God might have sent her to any of the other trillions of families out there, but how blessed we are to have her in ours. To think that some other Mother and Father would be hers, but she came to two of the most loving and patient people possible. To think that she was the oldest, and right away knowing she had some complicated challenges ahead these parents brought 7 more children to their lives. I thank Heavenly Father for the gift of being sent to this family, where we would grow and be lead by our big sister. Many have called her a burden, but she is one of the greatest gifts God could have bestowed on this family.

As I flip through my memories of growing up with Chantel. I remember many times where I wondered what was going on inside of her. Did she know I existed? Did she know I was her little sister? Did she know and feel bad that there were times I was embarrassed by her? We talked to her and laughed with her and she seemed to have those expressive eyes that spoke to us. But until that day almost 13 years ago, when we all rushed into the kitchen where Chantel, nearly 22 then, could communicate through that little keyboard, ironically called “the communicator”. It was a huge breakthrough for our family, because before that point, we knew our sister and daughter could talk, but for her to patiently spell out actual words was revolutionary for us and must have been leaps of liberation for her.

I remember way before that some funny memories…

- We couldn’t really collect stuffed animals or we’d find them chewed on by Chantel. Mom would just stuff them in the washer, but they were never soft like they should be.
- Chantel loves animals and we loved her birthday because we always went to the zoo for her special day.
- In Arizona, the girl’s dorm was next to the pantry. Chantel would sneak a bag of chips and we’d find a chip trail from the pantry to our beds! Ah, this Chip-Tornado lasted for years!! It used to rampage in Idaho too, from the front closet all the way down the hall!
- Specialist always had “bright” new ideas about how to help Chantel. One day they set up a funny contraption in the girl’s dorm (that was my room). They hooked her up to some funny looking boots, then tipped her upside down on this teeter-tooter looking thing. We’d have our friends over and play on it.
- Remember putting the Christmas tree on a table in AZ? Why did we do that again? Something to do with Chantel.
- Remember being very astute to shut the gate to the spa, shut the gate to the yard, put the chairs or that board (in ID) up in the kitchen, or you’d be sorry.
- Remember when she got lost in the neighborhood in Michigan and Aaron found her in a police car.
- Remember singing K-K-K-Katy…what time is “at the moonshine” anyway?
- Remember her biting her wrists, or one time biting and breaking into a dinner plate, and once, Candra’s finger.
- Remember her body brace she wore daily to improve her scoliosis.
- Remember rubber hamburgers.
- Remember “Mokum”.
- I tried to teach Chantel the piano in Michigan. I just knew that she’d miraculously become the next Beethoven phenomenon.
- Remember going to see her win at the “Special Olympics” a couple times.
- Remember our family sitting in 2 rows in Church. That was to protect any body from getting smacked or grabbed in the head by Chantel. Remember her sobbing, saliva strings and all, in Sacrament meeting. Remember her random stands or loud yawns during boring talks or testimonies. What an honest gal.
- Remember “watching” her on the T.
- Remember her saying “NO” to the Bishop in Florida about getting baptized.
- I remember taking her for walks in Florida.
- I remember she always brought home bowling trophies.
- Remember (I hope she doesn’t) when I left her in the tub, while babysitting the Allowitz kids, and Kit found her in cold water an hour later.
- Remember in Chile, we all came home one night. I heard scratching at the front door, and upon opening it, Chantel stood with earnest eyes outside waiting to come in.
- Remember when she jumped in bed with Heber.

I love…
- her smile.
- her perfectly even teeth.
- her bright eyes.
- her giggle, bursting laughs, sighs, hisses, belly laughs, cat meows, and seal cackles.
- her HUGE yawns.
- when she tries to get food that’s stuck on her back teeth.
- her I love the way she pounces on the couch or bed, especially when you are already sitting down.
- how, in the car or at the table, she doesn’t even need to look at you, she’ll just grab or point or peck at you from the side to tell you to SHARE!
- how she itches her nose.
- the way she thinks she’s a cat and adores her kitty photos.
- how Dad called her Booger Jones, Devin called her Gary, and we all call her Telly. I like Tantelloneous.
- watching her with Grandma, Dad, and our angelic Mother, and with strangers.

She brings light to those around her. Ah, I love everything about this lady. I want everyone to know her. She brings so much good into the world and mine would not be the same without her. I love this girl!