Valentines Day 2012

HEARTS, HEARTS, EVERYWHERE THERE ARE HEARTS

Dear Davey,

There are hearts everywhere now that I look.  I honestly believe they are from you. Who else could they be from?  They are so obvious, to me at least.  The first one I saw, I just thought "weird" and walked away.  Later it happened again and it made me think, so I took a picture.  Then they kept coming...at times when I needed them and then a lot of other times.  The heart above was taken by Dad's cousins wife.  I was on Facebook Christmas Day, missing you of course. This heart was staring me in the face when I opened my page.  Here are the others.  I know you know what they look like, but others don't so I want to post them so everyone can see.



One morning when I was driving your car

Carpet at home-not even wet

At work on my way to lunch



Bathroom rug




A piece of carpet

 

   


Dog pee???? Really Davey!!!



I LOVE THEM ALL...KEEP THEM COMING.

Now here is one for you.  Happy Valentines Day Davey. I Love You.



Mom

Uncle Steve

Hi Davey,
On January 26, 2012 Uncle Steve left this earth to begin his eternal life in Heaven.  Steve was an awesome Dad, son, brother in law and uncle.  He will really be missed here on earth but I am sure that you have already met up with him and are having a great time.  I can just hear him when he saw you....."hey Davey"..the way he always greeted you.  Do they let him make his salsa in heaven?  We sure miss it here and we miss him too.  Why?  Why Steve?  Why you?  I guess that we won't know until we get to heaven ourselves.The picture above was on your 3rd birthday.  Weird that Steve was the only one that took a picture with you that day.  I guess it was so I could post it here but who would have known way back then.  I miss you more and more everyday and wish you were here.  I know that you are safe in God's hands and are happy there.  We are the ones that are suffering.

Until we meet again, my beautiful son,  I love you
Mom

New Years 2012

Hey Davey,

Happy New Year!!!  I am sure the celebration in Heaven is awesome.  I wanted you to see what party people us Chavez's are!!! 

Fun and simple.  We celebrated together....because of you.  I love you and miss you. Mom

Merry Christmas Davey

Merry Christmas Davey,

This Christmas was harder than last Christmas without you.  Everything is harder these days.  Christmas Eve of course we were with the family at Alicia’s house.  Something was missing…you. Even though we hadn’t been there with the family in a while, it was sad not to have you there.  Here is a picture of all your cousins together plus Autumn and Raegan.  If you look really close, you will see Batman in the picture-left side of the picture on the tree. Was that you?  I want to think that you made that happen.

Christmas Day the family met at Forest Lawn for Papa.  We all had not been there together since the day of his funeral. It was very beautiful there and the weather was nice too. 

After we left there we came back to our house to open presents.  Raegan doesn’t yet have the hang of it, but she will.  I am sure by her birthday she will realize what presents are all about.  Of course she scored big time everywhere she went.  It wasn’t the same not having the living room FULL of presents.  Shopping was a chore for me. Everywhere I went I would see something that reminded me of you and then I would need to go home.  Shopping just isn’t the same. Thank goodness for the internet!!! 

Cooking already



Eggs and ranch for breakfast!

 

Her first bike



 I am sure that Christmas in Heaven is awesome and nothing compared to here on Earth.  I miss you Davey so much but I know that you are safe in the arms of Jesus and if you can’t be here with me, then there is no place that I would rather have you be.

Love Mom

Christmas decorating 2011

Here we ALL are again this year decorating your tree.  We have a lot more stuff this year too.  As you can see by the pictures, it was a bit colder than last year.  Last year we were in shorts and Raegan was in just a diaper…it was a lot colder this year.  Everyone rally’s’ together to get it all done and it is nice to see the family there.   Of course I believe you made an appearance too. The big tall bird that always seems to show up????  DAVEY????  I like to think sooo.

I hope you can see the lights from Heaven!!

Shiloh

Together at last?  You always reminded us that it was “you” that found her and that she belonged with you.  Now you are together. She fought a short battle and Autumn made sure that she did it with pride and without pain.  She saw that she was suffering and knew when it was time to set her free.  Knowing that you were there to meet her at the Gates made it so much easier.  She released her from her pain but right into your arms.  Love her and make sure that she knows how much we all loved her.  Remember that she likes to be kissed on the side of her nose…she will “purr” for you. Love her for us until we are altogether again.  Mom



Shiloh Marie
2004-2011



HE IS GONE?

HE IS GONE?

You can shed tears that he is gone

Or you can smile because he has lived

You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back

Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left

Your heart can be empty because you can't see him

Or you can be full of the love that you shared

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday

Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday

You can remember him and only that he is gone

Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back

Or you can do what he would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

Written by David Harkins

Thanksgiving 2011

Today marks 14 months since I last saw your beautiful face.  Hard to believe I have made it.  Today is Thanksgiving and I do have a lot to be thankful for.  I thank God every day that he picked me to be your mom.   Out of the millions and millions of people, he chose me.  I feel very lucky.   I only had you for 24 years, 1 month and 16 days but I cherish each and every one of them.  Of course I wish there had been so many more, but that was not God’s plan.

 Life goes and so do other people, unless they have lost their child.  There are no words to explain the pain and the loss of not seeing you again.  People are sad that you are not here anymore but it will never affect them the way it does Dad and me.  We are thankful that they can’t understand, but then we want them to, so that they could understand that we are NOT “ok”. Every day we get up and put this mask on that makes people think that all is well.  If they could only see what was behind that mask.  We know that we can’t let our grief control us, but it is hard.  The thought of never seeing you again on this earth is just way too much to comprehend.  God has his purpose and I guess we will just have to wait to see what it is.

I do have to remember the others things I am thankful for because they do matter as well.  I am thankful for your dad.  Without him here for me, I don’t know where I would be.  He holds me up when I don’t think I can go any farther. He gives me the strength to go on.  I am also thankful for Autumn and Raegan.  They are the other piece of the puzzle that helps me go on every day. Autumn is always there when I need her and keeps me going.  I wish you were here to see Raegan.  You would be so proud of her.  She is an awesome little girl.  She will always know her Uncle Davey; probably will know more about you than she would have, if you were still here. She knows who you are when she sees your pictures and when Autumn asks her where Uncle Davey is, her response is “home”.  She is so right.

Well, Dave.  Here are your decorations this year.  A bit better than last year, I might say.  We are learning…unfortunately.  Who would have thought..

I love you beyond words and can’t wait until we are all a family again.  Love Mom

5 years ago

It is so hard to believe that this was just 5 years ago.

Having Davey here on my wedding day meant so much especially since he had just moved to Colorado. Looking back at this day, I can't imagine not having him there.


Who would have walked Nana down the isle?

 Who would have made sure that there was always a party on the dance floor: (No, not mom, althought it looks like she did a good job at it)

 

Who would have towered over the rest of the guys but still make sure not to get the garter?

Having Davey there on this day just 5 years ago means more now than it ever could back then.  We miss you, Davey!

Halloween 2011

Well Davey,

This year we were able to decorate a bit.  Last year was just way to hard but we managed to find some things that we felt were appropriate.  I hope you like it.

Dad and Raegan trying to decided what they needed to do.

Night view.  We had to stay until it got dark to see the lights.

We love you and miss you!!!

 

Remembering September 24

Dear Davey,

September 24, 2011 we celebrated your live here on Earth. Although you were only here a short 24 years, 1 months and 16 day, you made a huge impact on those lives that you touched. Life is not fair at times and I can say this is one of those times. We never really appreciate what we have until it is gone. As your parents we never really understood the relationships that you had with your friends…because you wanted it that way. But now that you are not here, we totally understand the magnitude of those relationships and are in awe at what a wonder friend and mentor you were to so many people. The lives you touched, the lives you changed and the support you gave to all your friends truly amazes us every day. The more we talk to people the more we know of the Davey that they knew, not just the one that we knew. Some of your family members didn’t really know you as an adult and they are sad that they didn’t. It wasn’t you or them; it was just the way that life was. If we all had only known that your life would have been cut short, I am sure we would have done things a lot differently. We cannot change that now but what we can change is the future. Because of you we all have learned to be more compassionate to others, not judging what people do or say and we look at life in a whole different way. Little things do not matter anymore. We can’t worry about those things that we cannot change. We have to work on changes those things that we can change. We have learned to love each other more because we never know what will happen. People come into our lives and people go but it is the ones that leave the imprints on our hearts that matter the most. You, my son left so many imprints on lives and I don’t believe you realized what an impact you had on people. I wish you were here to see the love that others have for you because of the love that you showed to them. I know you were watching from Heaven and have a beautiful smile on your face, just looking at us all together in your memory but I just wish for one day we could have you back so that you could see what you have done here.

Here are some pictures from the celebration of your life. So many people came out in your memory. It was awesome to see so many friends and family there to help us remember what a wonderful person that you were while you were here. We don’t need anyone to tell us, but is it nice to see that others knew too!!! A lot of family was there of course, but people showed up that never met you before to people that you knew since you were in kindergarten. It was awesome to see so many people there. The day started with family and friends gathering at Rose Hills early in the morning. You can see that Steven and his little boy Gilbert were there. They were the first ones there that morning to remember you. What a special friend. Then later in the evening we all gathered to remember you again. We had dinner and then the children released balloons in your honor and then the adults lite candles. Ashley spoke of that horrible day when she heard the news and how much she misses you. Others didn't speak out loud but I know they were thinking of all the wonderful times they had with you. Please watch over us and let us know you are with us. Until we meet again, my beautiful son....Mom

These are the pictures from the morning at Rose Hills

Memorial table

And then of course Batman was there. The littlest Batman ever came...Mia Hydaryacil...soo precious

Friends and Rae

Balloon release and candle lighting

VIDEO-MISSING DAVEY-1 YEAR

On the day that God took you
I thought that I would die.
I wondered where the time went?
I asked a lot of whys.

With people all around me
I felt alone inside
From all their words of comfort,
I couldn't seem to hide.

I thought I might be dreaming,
That I'd wake and find you here,
I thought "This can't be happening,"
As I wiped another tear.

On the day that you were laid to rest
My heart broke yet again,
I wondered if the pain would end.
But mostly, I wondered when?

It's hard to be without you;
At times the days seem long.
Sometimes I just sit crying
when there's really nothing wrong.

I wish we'd had more time
before your life was done.
I hope you're resting peacefully
my precious beautiful son.

Author Unknown

Remembering Davey

Remembering Davey….
One year today, God took you away. Since that day, not a moment goes by that we don’t think of you. You were taken too soon and left behind so many. We are thankful for each day we had with you only wishing there were more. As we reflect on our memories, we laugh until we cry and we cry until we smile. You were the light of our lives and held the key to our hearts. While our dreams of the future with you vanished that day, you will forever be in our hearts. We promise that your legacy will light our future. Life takes some unexpected turns and this was one for which we could not prepare. We will survive but it will not be easy without you.

When we lose someone we love it seems that time stands still. What moves through us is a silence... a quiet sadness... A longing for one more day... one more word... one more touch... We may not understand why you left this earth so soon, or why you left before we were ready to say good-bye, but little by little, we begin to remember not just that you died, but that you lived. And that your life gave us memories too beautiful to forget. We will see you again someday, in a heavenly place where there is no parting. A place where there are no words that mean good-bye.
David Andrew Chavez
8/8/1986 to 9/24/2010
Forever Young

Who I was

One year ago today marks the last day of who I was. That is because one year ago tomorrow, I became who I am now.

I am now a person who knows what is it like to lose a brother. I am now a person who knows what it means to grieve. I now understand the four stages of grief and know that some times you have to take steps back before you move forward.

I now know who the real Davey was; that is who he was around his friends. Of course, I saw the tenderness he had with Raegan but I only know now the true extent of what a great uncle he was. I knew I as his "littler" big sister but now I know how much he longed to protect me.

I now understand the meaning of life is too short. And while it is too short to waste a moment, it is also to short to waste a moment on things not worthy of that moment.

I now know who I can count on to be there at anytime of the day or night. And I now know who I can't.

And while I am happy with who I am now, I long for the days of who I was....just an average sister who had a brother.

Our girl, Shi

I know you know the week I have had. I know you knew even before I knew that our precious girl, Shiloh is sick. As I sit here and watch her sleep so peacefully, I think about her life with us.

How it started....that day after Christmas in 2004 when you came home from working at Ralphs. You were so scared to come into the backyard when you saw a little (75 pound) Rottweiler waiting for you. She had snuck in the side gate and was looking to find a new home; apparently, she like ours. We let her back out the gate that night in hopes that she would return home. She had other ideas; she had found her new home. And so, when Mom and Dad headed to work the next day, we decided to let her back into our backyard. Lord only knows what we planned to do with a Rottweiler considering we already had Samantha and Sydney (the paralyzed wiener dog). But none the less, we wanted to keep her as she wanted to keep us. So, with your help, we convinced Mom and Dad to let us keeper.

I can't say how Shiloh ultimately became my dog because frankly we know how much she loved you. She would always appreciate when you brought a few of your guy friends home for her to hang out with on your bed. And even when she and I moved out, she loved the time she got spend with you when you would dog-sit at our house. She always loved to see her Uncle Dave.


Over these next few months, I hope you will be with us and take care of our girl, Shi. Please help me to make sure she remains comfortable and that I stay strong around here. Please continue to help me find peace in the decisions we have made and let me know that we are not alone.

And when the time comes, please make sure you are there to welcome her. There is no one that I am sure that she would rather see than her Uncle Dave.

Happy 25th Birthday

Happy Birthday Davey
Hey Dave. It is hard to believe that it is your 25th birthday and you are not here to celebrate it. I heard all the stories of all the birthday parties you had, especially the last one. I guess it was awesome…even though you did get sick in Eddie’s car. I am glad that we got to take you to Dave and Busters for dinner too. That was the last time we went out together. I cherish those times and wish there were more. This picture was taken August 8, 2010….if we had only known we would have taken more.


I created a Facebook page for you so that all your friends could post if they wanted to. Here are the birthday message everyone wrote to you..uncensored!!
• Joseph Baioa
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRO LOVE U MISS U NOT A DAY GOES BY THAT I DONT THINK OF ALL OUR MEMORIES ...LOVE U HOPING U UP THERE PARTYIN IT UP... TIL WE MEET AGAIN BRO! LOVE YA
• Theresa Rodriguez
Happy bday davey love and miss you...party it up in heaven chavez style...love the rodriguez fam♥
• Vicky Rodriguez
Happy Birthday Davey! me and my family miss you.. we think and talk about u all the time...
i kno ur watchin over us.. and cant wait to go see u later today♥
missing ur lovable antics♥
• Mark White
Happy Birthday man i still cant believe your gone but i guess from what i've been hearing lately is the good die young and with you fam i can see it..you did nothing but good for people and always cared..haha man i miss you and love you man..the most amazing time of my life was spent with you and brittany lmao and bruce...
MISS YOU SO MUCH MAN LOVE YA SEE YA SOON
• Alicia Chavez Sandello
Happy Birthday Davey! You are always in heart and never leave our thoughts.
• Rey Rolon
o Happy Bday Bro I miss you Shit Load All the fun times we had!! You will always family no Matter What. N im Still taking your advice Everytime I think about messing Up. Ill see you later one today. Lik always Gunna get Chocolete wasted For you YOu already know lol. Memeber last year you painted the inside of Eddies caddie with the new color of Goldshlogger lol Good Time =)
Julie Patton
o Happy Birthday Davey. I lit a candle tonight for you and Cindy. I hope you're celebrating together.
o Jackie Almaro-Burton happy birthday in heaven cousin, missing you down here
• Anita Brown Chavez
Happy Birthday in Heaven Davey. 25 years ago today at 7:28 am, God blessed me with a perfect baby boy. What a happy day that was. Today you celebrate your first birthday in Heaven. What a happy day that is for you. I am sure that birthday's in Heaven are nothing compared to birthdays here. Just know that you are on my mind 24/7 and I know that you are always with me. Just because I can't see you, doesn't mean that you are not here with me. I love you. Mom
• Christian Santiago
happy birthday man.....stay up....LOL....miss u man
• Ashley Alvarado Hydaryacil
Happy birthday my buddy! We all miss you so much down here!!!! Thank you for being with Mia when she came down from heaven. I know her uncle Davey was with her every step of the way. We love and miss you so much. Always thinking about you. ♥
• Lisa Hill
Happy birthday davey. We miss you xoxo
• Brett Shaub
Happy Birthday Cha Cha!!!
• Rachael Ross
wow, happy birthday Davey i miss you alot!
• Cindy Tierney
happy birthday davey, we miss you
• June Bug
♥ happy birthday Davey! :)
• Tyler Vilander
Happy Birthday, hopefully that awkward pick off to first base is winngin some games up in the Pearlie Gates All-Star game!
• Laura Logan
Happy Birthday Davey!!!!!!
• De De'
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY ANGEL ♥ I LOVE YOU SO MUCH &WISH U WERE HERE TO CELEBRATE WITH US!! BC WE ALL KNOW YOU WOULDVE GOT THE PARTIED STARTED "LIFE OF THE PARTY" U WERE ALWAYS ♥ I MISS YOU AMIGO, DEARLY.. & ILL BE SEEING U LATER ♥ xoxoxoxo
• Jasmine Hupp
Happy birthday davey, I miss the shit out of you but i just found some pics and I just laughed and laughed so thank you for those awesome memories, love and miss you!!!
• Alexis Cornejo
happy birthday B.F.F dee..i could write forever and ever but then ill get sad..i missh yoou man :( not a day goes by that i dont think of yoou..i loveyou insanelyy davey from earth to the moon and back..bigger than any ocean..here or not you will always and forever be my best friend..happy birthday..loveyou and miiiis yoou♥
• Samantha Tate Trager
Happy Birthday Davey
• Danielle Logan
Hey davey wish i could see you to give you an amazingly huge birthday hug....I miss you and hope you get to party down up there. Love you. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Carol Chavez Largent
Happy Birthday Davey! :)
• Hailey Elizabeth Hupp
Happy birthday cousin!!! :]
• RudynRobyn Chavez
Happy Birthday!
• Joshua BootLife Ivaska
Happy birthday, buddy. Miss ya man
• Nohae Almaro
Happy Birthday cuz
• Dave Mathews
Happy Birthday Davey!! You're forever in our hearts dude.
• Sylvia Mortensen
Remembering Davey on this special day......Happy Birthday in Heaven! Always remembered with love! The Mortensen's
• AmberLina Kellams
Happy Birthday! i love and miss you very much!
• Sergio Corona
Happy Birthday....................
• Brandon Hague
HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOMIE.
• Derrick Chung
Happy Birthday...Hope you are doing well up there...
• Lauu Atilano
Happy birthday!!!
o Annalita Chavez-pratt Happy bday
• Cindy Lo
Hi Davey. We never met before but i hear so many great things about you from Vicky Theresa and Thomas. And from what i hear i know i would of loved you.. You were such a great person to them and others.. I went to your 25th Birthday party yesterday and met your cool dad and real sweet mom.. Im glad i was there and i was honored to be there for you. You will always live in our hearts and minds. BATMAN FOREVER! Forever young Davey. ♥ Love _ Cindy Lo.
• Brittany Logan
happy birthday. I had a hard time writing you yesterday. Emotional day. I miss you and it was really weird not being the one to throw you a huge bday party. We all miss you and love you.
•Anthony G. Baioa
Happy birthday davey!! Man i still remember how much fun we had last year! Those are supper funny memories ill NEVER forget! :) love you schmaveyy!
•Stephie Michele
Happy Birthday my angel!! We as a family miss, u so very much!! Hope ur having shots and getting ur groove on up there!! Love u to the moon,and back cousin!!!
•Alicia Chavez Sandello
Happy Birthday Sunshine! You would be touched by all the outpouring of love for YOU, just wait to see...You are always on our minds and forever in our hearts. I love you.
•Vicky Rodriguez
So happy we went today..
It was alotta fun.. today reminded me of the good old days... miss you Davey.. we love you.. and Happy Birthday :)) ♥


We had a party in celebration of your life at Rose Hills. It was a Batman theme. We asked everyone to wear something Batman. The whole Chavez Family..Nana included wore Batman attire. Here are some pictures that we took. I hope you like them.







Happy Birthday Davey...we love you.

Mom and Dad

I keep thinking, “He would be twenty five today.”

I keep thinking, “He would be twenty five today.” I wonder what he would have been doing? Would he still be living with us? My guess is yes. Why would he move? He had the best of everything. Hardly no rent, hot cooked meals, clean clothes, a warm bed to sleep in and someone to take care of his Bruce.

I keep thinking, “He would be twenty five today." I wonder what he would have been doing? Would he still be hanging out at "the block" every day, every waking hour that he wasn't working? My guess is yes. That place was his life. Even on Christmas Day after he opened all his presents, he would leave and spend the day there. I guess they had something to offer him that we couldn't. He only came home to eat and use the bathroom. We often wonder how he lived in Colorado for 1 1/2 years without our restroom.

I keep thinking, “He would be twenty five today." I wonder what he would have been doing? Would he still be wearing size 4XLT t shirts? My guess is yes. That boy had probably 15 white ones and 15 black ones and a few other colors. Why so many? Don't you know that you can only wear them once? I hope in Heaven they have 4XLT size wings or he won't be happy!!!

I keep thinking, “He would be twenty five today." I miss my son. I miss him for the precious baby he was and for the man he had become. I miss him for the memories I have and for the memories that never will be.

I keep thinking, “He would be twenty five today.” I cannot believe that a year has passed. I cannot believe that our family has survived without him for a whole year. But I know that we really haven't. He has always been here. He will always be here. He is a part of our lives. We hold him in our hearts…and yet, I still wonder who he would be today?

I keep thinking, “He would be twenty five today." I wonder what he would have been doing?

A 1000 words

"A picture says a thousand words"

A picture can remind us of a happy day. It can remind us of a day of celebration. A picture can show the love we feel. It can show how proud we are. A picture can last a lifetime. It can remind us forever of how special we are.

A picture can also bring back memories. It can bring out questions of "what if". A picture can be hard to look back at. It can bring out tears.

This picture can do all of these. It was taken on Davey's 24th birthday (Raegan was just 6 months old).

As we come up to Davey's birthday this year, we will inevitably look at this picture. I choosing for this picture to say words of happiness and love. It was taken on a happy day that we spent celebrating Davey as a family. There was so much love that day as Davey held Raegan in his arms; he was so proud to be an uncle. We will treasure this picture forever as it shows how truly special he was.

The Dragonfly Story

Down below the surface of a quiet pond lived a little colony of water bugs.
They were a happy colony, living far away from the sun. For many months they
were very busy, scurrying over the soft mud on the bottom of the pond. They
did notice that every once in awhile one of their colony seemed to lose
interest in going about. Clinging to the stem of a pond lily it gradually
moved out of sight and was seen no more.
"Look!" said one of the water bugs to another. "one of our colony is
climbing up the lily stalk. Where do you think she is going?" Up, up, up it
slowly went....Even as they watched, the water bug disappeared from sight.
Its friends waited and waited but it didn't return...
"That's funny!" said one water bug to another. "Wasn't she happy here?"
asked a second... "Where do you suppose she went?" wondered a third.
No one had an answer. They were greatly puzzled. Finally one of the water
bugs, a leader in the colony, gathered its friends together. "I have an
idea". "The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk must promise to come
back and tell us where he or she went and why."
"We promise", they said solemnly.
One spring day, not long after, the very water bug who had suggested the
plan found himself climbing up the lily stalk. Up, up, up, he went. Before
he knew what was happening, he had broke through the surface of the water
and fallen onto the broad, green lily pad above.
When he awoke, he looked about with surprise. He couldn't believe what he
saw. A startling change had come to his old body. His movement revealed four
silver wings and a long tail. Even as he struggled, he felt an impulse to
move his wings...The warmth of the sun soon dried the moisture from the new
body. He moved his wings again and suddenly found himself up above the
water. He had become a dragonfly!!
Swooping and dipping in great curves, he flew through the air. He felt
exhilarated in the new atmosphere. By and by the new dragonfly lighted
happily on a lily pad to rest. Then it was that he chanced to look below to
the bottom of the pond. Why, he was right above his old friends, the water
bugs! There they were scurrying around, just as he had been doing some time
before.
The dragonfly remembered the promise: "the next one of us who climbs up the
lily stalk will come back and tell where he or she went and why." Without
thinking, the dragonfly darted down. Suddenly he hit the surface of the
water and bounced away. Now that he was a dragonfly, he could no longer go
into the water...
"I can't return!" he said in dismay. "At least, I tried. But I can't keep my
promise. Even if I could go back, not one of the water bugs would know me in
my new body. I guess I'll just have to wait until they become dragonflies
too. Then they'll understand what has happened to me, and where I went."
And the dragonfly winged off happily into its wonderful new world of sun and
air.......
Thank you God, for the story of the water bugs and the dragonflies.
Please remember Davey who left the pond we live in...and remember me...

Love Mom

4th of July 2011

July 4th came and went. I remember last year we were all together and celebrated at Autumns house. It was nice to be together but little did we know that would be the last time we would all be together. At least we took a picture, I just wish Autumn and Tyler were in it also. Raegan was so young that she will not remember it but don't you worry, that little girl is going to know so much about you that she will think she knew you!!!

I remember how you loved the 4th of July. I remember that you would go to Sergio's house and make those horrible bottle rockets!! Oh how you loved those things. You would set them off and they were so loud that I thought the Sheriffs were going to come for sure. I also remember those little things that you throw on the ground and they pop. I liked those, not to loud and no fire involved. We went to Aunt Karen's house this year to celebrate and your cousin Melissa had a bag of those and it made me think of you. I wish you could have seen Raegan at the party. She was out there partying with all the big kids. She played the donut on the string game, whipped cream eating contest with a candy at the bottom of the bowl and she even played tossing the water balloon contest with Danielle. Oh and she even danced a bit too!!!

I am sure in Heaven you have fireworks all the time. To be honest with you, I did not look at a single firework this year. There is nothing for me to celebrate. Yes, I am proud to be an American but not this year. What I am proud of is the man than you had become and how you touch so many lives here on Earth. I just wish I would have told you more. I love you and miss you very much. Until we meet again.

Mom