I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Jim through Lee, his father-in-law. I did not know Jim that well but my first impression was that this is a fine young man that any father would be proud to call his son.

Lee and I served together in the Navy, he and Nancy are dear, life long friends. I remember their daughters as infants, over the years growing up and how proud and happy they were with their beautiful girls. 

The joy that Jim brought into this family was obvious. When Lee & Nancy would speak of him, you could see the glow in their faces and feel the love he had helped create, he truly was a gift. 

My deepest condolonces to all the family for your loss, in his short time here, he has left a legacy of love and family that will live forever, we should all hope to do as well.  

Her hair was up in a pony tail,her favorite dress tied with a bow.Today was Daddy's Day at school,and she couldn't wait to go. But her mommy tried to tell her,that she probably should stay home.  Why the kids might not understand,if she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid;she knew just what to say.What to tell her classmates of why he wasn't there today. But still her mother worried,for her to face this day alone.And that was why once again,she tried to keep her daughter home. But the little girl went to school eager to tell them all. About a dad she never sees, a dad who never calls.                              There were daddies along the wall in
back, for everyone to meet.Children squirming impatiently,anxious in their seats. One by one the teacher called a student from the class.To introduce their daddy,as seconds slowly passed. At last the teacher called her name,every child turned to stare.Each of them was searching fora man who wasn't there.
"Where's her daddy at?"She heard a boy call out."She probably doesn't have one,"another student dared to shout.
And from somewhere near the back,she heard a daddy say,"Looks like another deadbeat dad,too busy to waste his day."The words did not offend her,as she smiled up at her Mom . And looked back at her teacher, who
told her to go on. And with hands behind her back,slowly she began to speak.And out from the mouth of a child,came words incredibly unique. "My Daddy couldn't be here,because he lives so far away.But I know he wishes he could be,since this is such a special day. And though you cannot meet him,I wanted you to know.All about my daddy,and how much he
loves me so. He loved to tell me storieshe taught me to ride my bike.He surprised me with pink roses,and taught me to fly a kite.We used to share fudge sundaes,and ice cream in a cone. And though you cannot see him.I'm not standing here alone."Cause my daddy's always with me,even though we are apartI know because he told me,he'll forever be in my heart" With that, her little hand reached up,and lay across her chest..Feeling her own heartbeat,beneath her favorite dress. And from somewhere there in the crowd
of dads, her mother stood in tears.Proudly watching her daughter,who was wise beyond her years. For she stood up for the loveof a man not in her life.Doing what was best for her,doing what was a right. And when she dropped her hand back
down, staring straight into the crowd.She finished with a voice so soft,but its message clear and loud."I love my daddy very much,he's my shining star.And if he could, he'd be here,but heaven's just too far.But sometimes when I close my eyes,it's like he never went away." "I know you're with me Daddy,"to the silence she called out.And what happened next made believers,of those once filled with doubt… Outside the window of that class two rainbows were painted across a clear blue sky. And a child was blessed, if only for a moment, by the love of her shining star.And given the gift of believing,that heaven is never too far.

Dear Ashlee and J.R.,

Your Daddy talked about you before you were born when he was in highschool.

I remember a conversation we had in class about what names he would give his children. He said he didn't want to name them anything people would make fun of. He gave the example "If you name your daughter Victoria, people might say-"What's her secret?"

I didn't know him very well but, for some reason it stuck with me all these years. I think to put a smile on your face one day. :)

Jim, you were always so good at water sports.  You could do all kinds of tricks, I loved to watch you! 

I never learned how to water ski so you wanted to teach me.  We were down south in the intercoastal waters and you were treading water with no life jacket.  You were going to push me up when the boat started and you even gave me about a 15min pep talk in the water.  So all ready to go, everyone is just waiting on my thumbs up and I said " I don't think I wanna learn how to ski", so I just swam back to the boat. 

I really knew how to test your patience.  Just getting you ready for the kids, I guess.

We went to Gator's Dockside the other day.... the last time we had eaten there was when we met up with Kelly, Jim, J.R. and Ashlee.... I remember where we sat because we were so close to the arcade games and "motorcycle" rides....  I was looking over at the table where we sat and I was envisioning how all 8 of us crammed into that 6 seater booth. We welcomed the idea of the kids to 'pretend' to play the arcade games with out any money so that we had more room to sit....

J.R. and Ashlee, your daddy could put down some chicken wings!!! :) Your dad was the first one to introduce me to wings when he worked at Ramshackles.... I remember your dad explaining to me how to make them. Your daddy was an awesome cook!! Everytime I eat wings now... I always think about that......

Written for J.R. with love by Ms. Brandi...

My Daddy, my best bud and me

Down to the beach to play in the sea

Daddy would lift us up to the sky

Up and over the waves he’d help us to fly.

Back down in the water our toes would splash

Then onto the beach the waves would crash.

Daddy would bury our legs in the sand

Logan and I thought that was so grand.

He’d lather us in lotion so we wouldn’t get red

Then he’d tickle and tease and adorningly pat my head.

How we loved to spend the whole day in the sun

In the water or in the sand it was always fun.

Whenever it was My Daddy, my best bud and me

I knew there was nowhere else I’d rather be. 

J.R. - your Daddy loved playing with you, you could always make him laugh, and you always made him proud!  I know you miss him, but he's watching you & he loves you very much!  Keep making him proud buddy!

Memorial Day Weekend, 2009...

This story is mostly for Ashlee...

Our first annual Memorial Day Weekend away was at Maderia Beach, FL.  The girls had just turned a year old.  The condo we stayed at had a table, with seating for 4 and a counter with bar stools.  The boys were 3 (Logan was almost 3) so they were big enough to sit at the bar while the 4 of us sat at the table.  So, Brandi had this great idea that we'd hook the girl's portable seats to the glass coffee table.  After Jim & I hooked them up, he grabbed Ashlee & put her in... just about tipping the table over... until I could get Layni & we had to put them in and out together... 1, 2, 3...

Of course the picture is not of Jim, but you know he was there by the Mountain Dew bottle in the middle of the table.  :-)  (Obviously before he switched to Diet Mountain Dew)

" My Daddy's truck goes real fast"

Today on the way to church J.R. shared with Ashlee and I how after children's service he would always race Luke & Ian Burnsed while his daddy & Mr. Ben would just walk.

So our friendship began with a double date to Hooters!  We should have figured from that point on our relationship would be full of fun times together:) 

The first time we went camping together, we had a great time until we realized that we forgot part of the tent.  No big deal, it was just the rain cover, it wasn't supposed to rain anyways...  so when we, by we I mean all four of us and Eddie the dog, woke up laying in a foot of water it was a bit of a surprise!  We toughed it out, shaking in the cold, until daylight.  Well, all of us except Kelly who took Eddie in the truck and slept in the heat:)  Do you know we actually went camping again after that?!  It just kept getting better.

So next trip to the woods included some target shooting and riding four wheelers.  I love riding four wheelers, and I'm pretty good at it, but shooting a gun is another story.  I had never shot at targets before, but the guys insisted I try it.  So jim was the lucky one that got to throw the target and I followed it with the barrel of the gun and took my best shot.  I think maybe I hit it?  I thought I did good, that is until I heard Kelly scream that I almost shot her husband in the head!  I was so focused on the target I didn't realize I nearly shot Jim!  He just laughed:)  But I haven't shot a gun since.

There is so much more, but I will wrap it up for now with this story.  I was at home in our first apartment when I got a phone call from Jim.  He told me that I needed to meet him at the Leesburg hospital right away because Tony had cut off his finger at work!  Well aparently we had joked around too much with one another because I said very funny and just hung up.  Next thing I know, Jim is knocking at my door insisting that I follow him to the hospital, so I believed him then!  As I headed into the hospital, poor Jim had to head back to the jobsite as he explained Tonys blood was sprayed all over the customers garage.  He cleaned up Tony's mess and gave Tony a new nickname, Nubby:)

We love and cherish every moment we got to spend with Jim and every memory we made together.  We can only hope that JR and Ashlee will keep their father close to their hearts and understand how much he meant to everyone who met him.  Jim Singer will live in us all for the rest of our lives:)

Unlucky July 4th's seem to be a tradition....when it comes to boating w/the Singer's! The one I particularly remember goes back to 2003....so long ago.

 We went boating w/Kelly & Jim on Lake Harris, on the "Donzi" for an all day 4th celerbration. We were out & enjoying the day when some nasty storm clouds started to roll in. Jim tried his hardest to out run them, but they finally caught up with us. He tried to shelter us under a bridge.....but the current was too strong.

Kelly & I were freaking out!! With the hard (stinging) rain & all the lightening bolts, I felt like we were in the movie "perfect storm". Jim & Robert tried to shelter us girls w/towels, but it didn't work for long.

Then finally the storm was over! We enjoyed the rest of the day. But the boys teasaed us about how scared we were during the storm. I agree w/Brandi, that I'd love more 4th of July's like this with you, rather than none!!! The pic w/this story is from that day, notice our towels drying in the background.

We love you Beans & miss you tremendously!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your life was only earth bound for a moment, we all want to know why... Answers we will not get until we meet again...

The impression you left on every person you ever came in contact with, was the best thing I remember. You made everyone feel welcomed & comfortable, that was your way... You were quite, yet always present... You were kind, yet firm... You were not boastful, yet you beemed...

 Kelly, J.R. & Ashlee were blessed with the time they had with you, even though it was short. Your spirit lives in your children, that I see is very clear and your love is engraved in Kelly's heart forever...

Though we are all sad, the thought that comforts me most is that I know you are in God's kingdom ready to greet us when we join you...

Jim's greatest feature was his smile....

So when you think of Jim... SMILE, because his life happened, don't cry because he is gone...

Jaime, Brian & Preston Goldsmith

Someday I'll be able to sit down & write all the fun (& crazy) stories down, but for now I'm gonna keep it short. We (Singer's & Combs') started the traditions of spending Memorial Day Weekend away (our new favorite place was our recent discovery of Singer Island) & 4th of July (ending on the boat for fireworks near Monkey Island, Leesburg)  together and had done so for the past 4 years and planned to so do for the next 40 years, although something always seemed to happen / go wrong on 4th of July...

In my last conversation with Jim he told me "Brandi, I promise, one of these years WE ARE going to have a GREAT 4th of July!!!"

Jim, to you I promise...  the worst 4th of July with you will always be better than the best 4th of July without you! 

We will never forget you my friend!

I left Aimee Young's house late on New Year's Eve and went to Nikki Neal's house.  You were there with your gator hat on.  You kept trying to talk to me but I wasn't impressed. I said" You need to take off that ugly hat", so you turned it around. Then I'd find something else wrong so you would change that.  A month later you finally talked me into a lunch date at Pizza Hut in Leesburg.  I remember us going back there and recalling that booth that we sat in.  A few years ago they remodeled it and we were kind of bummed because the booth was gone.

From the beginning you did whatever it took to make me happy.  There aren't many people out there like that.  You completed me in every way.

Jim, we miss you so much. its just so hard to fathom that you are not with us. Sometimes I feel like I am in denial. The thing I miss most is your smile and your radiant energy. You were always my dancing buddy and Mitch and I had a blast sharing a room with the two of you at our highschool reunion. I'll always remember our boating adventures and our days at the Tiki Bar with our families. The first time you brought the boat to Clermont, you found a water moccassin. J.R. was so proud that you got it and he told everyone about it. I remember when you went kneeboarding and skiing and how J.R. and Ashlee were watching you and they were so proud of their Daddy and would cheer for you. They never liked it when you fell though. I am going to miss being on the phone with Kelly and you beeping in because without fail, you and I always called her at the same exact time. We would both be getting off from work when we called. I will always treasure our last weekend our families spent together down south at the island and how amazng you were with helping all 6 kiddies fish off the dock. 6 adults and 6 children in one tiny cabin and I don't think I've ever had that much fun at the island before! I was going through some old photos the other day with Mitch and we came across this one of you and Kelly. It was from 2004 when we all went out to dinner. I also remember one of our first 'double dates' when you met Mitch for the first time, the four of us went out to Old Town and you brought your Mustang. ... I'll never forget when J.R. and Ashlee were born, and going to the hospital and what a proud daddy you were. You are an amazing father and you would do anything for your family. They were your whole world.....

We miss you so so much, you are always in our thoughts, always in our prayers..... it's just not fair................

We often think of bygone days
when we were all together,
the family chain is broken now
but memories live forever.
to us he has not gone away
nor has he travelled far,
just entered God's eternal home
and left the gate ajar...

Remember that I love you, know I'll always care,
whatever path your life may take, feel that I am there.

As I rocked you, my little ones, and soothed your tears away,
the little fingers on your hand, touched my heart that day.

A day has come when dark skies, make you feel all hope has gone,
but in time, the sun will shine, to cast your shadow long.

Look to see that shadow - look, learn and find,
behold, your silhouette is first - with mine, a step behind.

I found a penny today
Just laying on the ground
But it’s not just a penny
This little coin I’ve found

Found pennies come from Heaven
That’s what my Grandpa told me
He said Angels toss them down
Oh how I loved that story

He said when an angel misses you
They toss a penny down
Sometimes just to cheer you up
To make a smile out of a frown

So don’t pass by that penny
When you’re feeling blue
It may be a Penny from Heaven
That an Angel’s tossed to you

When Friends Go To Heaven

They do not go alone

cause when friends go to heaven

part of us goes along.

When friends go to heaven,

our memories here remain

when friends go to heaven,

its our plan to meet again.

When friends go to heaven,

silently our hearts and souls do cry

for when friends go to heaven

there isn't an answer to why.

They never really leave us

they are in are hearts to stay

when our friends go to heaven,

they never really go away.