Today it's been 10 years since I've seen my son, 10 years since I've heard his voice. Today when looking through and gathering photos to honor Brandon's passing it hit me like a brick wall that this was all there was, all there would ever be, there would would never be any more photos of Brandon in life, yet another brick wall I must stand up to and climb over. Though great sadness fell over me when that reality hit, a deeper sense of how precious each and every photo is and the memory in each one. So I chose a photo to honor him, it was the last photo taken during our 'Summer Tour of Rollercoasters'. We traveled surrounding states riding the old wooden track rollercoasters, 4th dimension, figure 8, floorless, etc. coasters. After our last rollercoaster ride Brandon became violently ill and as we lay in the grass as he recovered his bearings he proceeded to tell me he never liked rollercoasters. In life it was how Brandon was...he chose to make his momma happy and for that reason and many others, 10 years later he is missed even more. Remembering and honoring My Sonshine!

This year on a social media website I shared a picture of Brandon when he was 7 yrs. old and played Little League baseball for Yukon. He was in his team uniform holding a bat and biting his bottom lip to keep from smiling so big. He was so proud of himself and I was of him too. That photo has so much meaning and what I'm the most proud of and what was so profound to me then and now, is when it was time for him to bat for his team he walked up to the homeplate and took a moment before he stepped in to hit the ball and blessed himself with the symbol of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He had spoke and prayed for help and success from God at that moment. My son at such a young age was filled and felt the Holy Spirit in his life and he continued on that path with the Lord all the days of his life. 

Thoughts of Brandon come to the forefront at Thanksgiving when memories come to mind of when it became Brandon's turn to become the 'Family Turkey Carver'. When Brandon's brothers moved out and on their own, Brandon became our official turkey carver. A position I'm still not quite certain he totally enjoyed and even though it was short lived, the grin that always came across his face when asked to carve the family turkey at Thanksgiving was priceless and remains unforgettable. I am now our family's official turkey carver and as I take the reins, cherish how beautiful it is to stand at the same table in the same place... he did last. Remembering our special Thanksgivings together son.