This is one of my favorite pictrues of Daniel. I am just not sure why except that he has such a pleasant look on his face and, because he was opening his birthday present, he looks like he wants to say, "Here, look here what I am doing!" I believe that this was his 12th birthday. The look on his face lights up my life. I am just so happy that we had him with us for 9 more years after this. It is ironic (but not coincidental) that this picture shows up at the time the words to the song, "Gone to Soon," say, "Like sunlight on a cloudy afternoon" because sunlight is exactly what I feel and see when I see this picture and, if you look to the left of the picture behind Daniel, you can see that it is a cloudy afternoon. It is just so perfect and I did not edit any of this website. It just happened this way.

I miss him so much as his birthday just passed (January 4th) and he would have been 22 years old now. I am so sad that he is no longer here with us but my memories of him will never die. Time must keep going which means that we have to take some things with us as it does and leave some behind. I do believe that time does heal but I think that it is our decision as to what that healing means. For me, healing of Daniel's death is in knowing what a wonderful affect that he had on everyone and not think of him as remembering his death but remembering and celebrating his life with us.


I love and miss you, dear son!!! Pray that our merciful Lord will allow us to be greeted by you on the day that we are called home ourselves!    

As we all know that Daniel's love for skating got him this memorial bench at the Watertown, New York Skate Park. The money for the bench was raised at a fundraiser during the summer in August. We all worked hard to raise this money but many of the arrangements were made by Daniel's best friend, Rob Finn. Of course, with the help of my daughter, Ariana, and myself, we managed to raise over $900 to pay for the bench. The fundraiser was a smash and so many people showed up to show their support and donate to the fund. Daniel's pediatrician, Dr. Gianfagna of Watertown Pediatrics even showed up to express his support and to make a donation. We received donations from a few business owners in Watertown, as well. It was a great turnout and the event couldn't have been on a more delightful day as the sun was out and there was never a threat of rain. 

An interesting story about this bench.....
As most people know, Daniel's two younger brothers (Patrick and Joshua), his sister (Sara), and myself and my husband had moved down to Lithia Springs, Georgia just about a month after Daniel's passing (as this was the plan before the tragic turn of events occured). The kids started school down here in August and had, of course, made friends quickly. Sara, (my 8th grader), had just recently made a conversation with one of her good friends in school and told this girl how she (Sara) had a brother that just died. Not knowing anything about the details of my son (i.e. where he lived, how old he was, etc), this girl asked Sara, "Was his name Daniel?" Sara described it by saying that, "it was like a light went on in her head!" Well, of course, Sara said yes, his name was Daniel and the girl proceeded to tell Sara that her Dad saw his memorial bench. Well, evidently, this little girls' father was in Watertown, New York from down here in Georgia (mind you, one just doesn't make it a point to stop in Watertown, NY for no reason...lol) and, for whatever reason, saw Daniel's memorial bench in the skate park. Why this man was in the skate park in Watertown, New York, I do not know. And, for him to make it a point to tell his family about the bench tells us that this bench made an impression upon his mind and heart and that Daniel did not leave us no matter how near or far we are!!   

I am happy that this picture showed up as the first photograph of the slide show as it was Daniel's last Thanksgiving with his sisters and dad. The fact that this picture did end up as the first one in the slide show is fitting because these are the three people that Daniel lived out his life here with. Despite that the circumstances were not ideal in that four of his younger brothers and sister lived in different housholds in a different part of New York, Daniel was undeniably loved and thought of often! Thanksgiving is just around the corner now (next week) and it is going to be very different without Daniel around! We will miss him sorely! Ariana, Lauren, and Tony, God will bless you as he knows you will be missing our Daniel for the first Thanksgiving without him here with you!