Mom,
     You're gone now and I didn't get to say goodbye or tell you that I love you. When you accepted me into your family you opened my eyes to a side of life that I wasn't accustomed to. Sometimes I didn't know how to handle it, how to behave or what to do. And I know I brought you to your wits end on more than one occasion.

     Despite all that you showed me love. The same love you showed to your own flesh and blood. You gave me a sense of belonging and showed me what it was like to have family. I wish there was more time. That I wouldn't have squandered away what time I had to show you I'm grateful.

     Thank you, Mom. Thank you for showing me love, for chewing me out, for hugging me, for kickin me in the ass, for calling me Polly Wolly, for calling me a lil shit, for reassuring me with a hug and kiss atop my head and reminding me the sun will rise again and everything will be alright, for holding an ice cold rag on my neck after I climbed out of a hot attic and for soooo many, many countless other things.

      I will love you always, Mom. And miss you even longer...

                                   Love Your Son,
                                            Paul         

Charlie,
First I feel I should say thank you. Thank you for two great friends. Thank you for giving us all a place to be together doing what teenage boys do. Thank you for many great meals. Thank you for loving all of your sons friends. Thank you for making me laugh more often than I can count.
While it has been years since I have seen you, you come to mind often when I think of my youth. You were a mother to many. You will be missed but I believe your fire will be appreciated in the after life. Love you and I hope you are in a happy place and please know that your children have many that are here and will always love them.

My memories with you were always fun times. From KOA campground and going to the pool or the beach, which is also my favorite place to NC and going swimming in the pool. You dared me to dive off the diving board which was a high dive and it ended up being a belly flop, which knocked the breathe out of me but you were right there to make sure I was ok. Love you.

Mom,
You were always so self reliant and fierce. I always tried to make you proud. As I know you were. The love you showed me was always there. I may not have understood it at times. But I knew it was there. Thank you so much for all the fun and wild times. You really knew how to make my life special. For that I am so thankful. Even in hard times you made it great. Your love will be carried with me always and forever.

It always had to be your way even at the end. I was nowhere near ready for you to go and will miss you terribly. Life wasn’t perfect but you never claimed to be. I’m so thankful that you are now without pain or stress. Thank you for being a strong woman who took no shit from anybody and showing me no other way to be. I love you and will always have you with me.