Pictures of the Week - Birthday Time

Pictures of the Week

January 26, 2016

This week was birthday week for Joshua and Jeremy!  Jeremy turned 31!  And Joshua would have been 33!  


We celebrate the lives of both of these special young men!!

I had lunch with Jeremy at Olive Garden.  We ate too much, but every bite was incredibly delicious!  I love Mother/Son time!!

And then later Jacob, Janson, Sydney and I went to Joshua's grave and put balloons on the grave, shared a few stories and then went to Joshua's favorite McDonalds in Pleasant Grove.  It was too cold to stay at the grave very long, but I always touch his sweet face on his picture and say "I love you."  He is our angel in heaven and we are so blessed to be his family!

Jeremy "Bruder" Thank You!

Jeremy "Bruder" Best Buddy

Happy Birthday and Thank You!

Joshua and Jeremy are birthday best buddies and as Joshua would say "Jemma bruder."  He loved looking for Jeremy and would give his classic Joshua laugh when he would find him!  I loved the love and joy Joshua had for Jeremy!  And although Joshua was two years older, Jeremy was the best "big" brother he could have had!

As I think of these two boys, who shared a bedroom for 19 years, and their special bond, I would like to thank Jeremy for his love, for his sacrifice, for his understanding, and for the many experiences and joys he brought to Joshua.

Some favorite Jeremy and Joshua memories are:

• Taking two pre-school boys everywhere together - the park, McDonalds, swimming and more!
• Jeremy's obedience and calm personality as I was usually chasing Joshua, while Jeremy obediently followed along.
• Jeremy being the "big" brother even at a young age - he loved to help Joshua!
• When Joshua peed on Jeremy's head when he was helping bathe him with Uncle Doug!  Such innocence for Joshua, and such a great sense of humor for Jeremy!
• Jeremy helping with diapers, baths, seizures and many other hard moments!
• Jeremy taking Joshua "cruising" to meet cute girls!
• Jeremy and his friends including Joshua at Jeremy's birthday party -- Joshua always felt so special with so many friends!
• Joshua yelling out Jeremy's name in the middle of church:  "Jemma Bruder!!!"  And of course the classic Joshua laugh would often follow!
• Joshua looking for Jeremy in the middle of the night if he would wake up.  This always brought him so much comfort.
• Jeremy's total understanding when a full bag of McDonalds food was suddenly thrown out on to the ice during a hockey practice!
• Jeremy's heartache as he would witness and help with Joshua's tough seizures.
• Pure brotherly love and more!!

And the pictures below say so much about their very special relationship.  Happy birthday Jeremy and Happy Birthday Joshua.  I love my boys!!!

Joy at the Car Dealership

Joy at the Car Dealership!

I'm always amazed at the

impression Joshua left!  Earlier last year I was inside a car dealership.  In talking to the manager, he mentioned he lived in Pleasant Grove.  He seemed close to my age so I said that his kids might have known my older boys.  We talked about their ages and names, and they definitely had gone to school together.  But then once I mentioned Joshua, and his disability of severe autism and how he was the one who said hi to everyone, he excitedly said to me that he knew exactly who we were!  He said he would see us at the Pleasant Grove basketball games and I was the one always chasing Joshua around.  (I know that chasing a 6'1" tall handsome young man was certainly not easy to miss!)

I was truly touched because I could tell that he really enjoyed seeing Joshua at the basketball games, and because he was so sad when he heard that Joshua had died.

I will always love talking to people who knew and loved my special Joshua boy!  And this can happen even at a car dealership!

The Joshua Wave

The Joshua Wave

My brother Doug said that his 9-month old "baby Chase did a Joshua wave today.  It was deliberate - he was waving at the boys and then they freaked out.  He did a Joshua wave!!!!"

I love it - Joshua's wave was truly classic and unique and fun!  

Thanks Baby Chase!  He is just too cute!!

The Prayer of a Child

The Prayer of a Child

My brother Doug shared a prayer given by his cute daughter Kaylee earlier this year.  In her words, she said , 

"...bless Joshua that he will have a good time in Heaven..."

And I know that her prayer is answered.  I miss him every day, but I know that Joshua is having a very good time in Heaven. 

"Angels Calling" - Happy Father's Day Dad!

Happy Father's Day to my Wonderful Dad

This is my first Father's Day without you, and we all miss you so much!

You sacrificed for and loved your family every minute of every day.

My sister Susie found this song that is so beautiful, and has so much meaning.

I know that my angel Joshua, greeted his precious "Papa" home.

We love you Dad!

"Angels Calling"

The sun, the sun is going down.

All I see is love around me.

You know, what I believe.

Now I see it so completely.

I, I need you to know, that time, time is letting go.

Don't cry, dry your eyes.

Can't you hear the angels calling, me up? Up above?

Can't you hear the angels calling me home? Me home?

They're calling me home.

Take, take my hand.

Stay with me, as I surrender.

We've lived a life of happiness.

You will be in my heart forever.

I, I need you to know, that time is letting go.

Don't cry, dry your eyes.

Can't you hear the angels calling, me up? Up above?

Can't you hear the angels calling me home? Me home?

(They're) calling me home, home.

Home, home.

Home, home.

Don't cry, dry your eyes.

Can't you hear the angels calling me up? Up above?

Can't you hear the angels calling?

Don't cry, dry your eyes

Can't you hear the angels calling me up? Up above?

Can't you hear the angels calling me home? Me home?

Calling me home,

They're calling me home.

I'm going home

Share a Coke with Joshua

Share a Coke With Joshua

My sister Julie received her own kisses from heaven today!! 

I'll be on the lookout for my own! 

Who knew we could receive them on a Coke bottle!