Today is Joe's birthday. He would be 44, sigh. Thinking back to when he was a little boy I can remember so many things. His easy laugh, the way his eyes lit up, walking Lance or Lance dragging him, following David around, playing with Raul, Lisa, and David, swinging his legs at the kitchen table while doing his homework....

I remember reading The Monster at the End of this Book over and over again to Dave and Joe. They'd laugh at the ending every time. So, for Joe's birthday I'm sharing the youtube video version below. 

Happy Birthday Joe! We love and miss you xoxoxoxox

Well, today is Mother's Day. I miss you. I do have my favorite Mother's Day Card from you. I am thankful that I saved it because I gave it to myself today from you. Thank you for the beautiful card and for loving me. I wish I were the perfect mom and could have given you the world. I'm proud of the person you were here on earth. Your heart was bigger than big. That never changed, regardless of life's circumstance. I know you're in Heaven with family and friends...and Barney, and Keisha, and Hammy, and Sugar...Hope you were watching today as we celebrated with dinner today. Dave, Unjen, Jared, Joey, Jayden, Brian, Mark, myself, and you in spirit. Love you Joey! xoxox 

Well, that explains why he always ate a turkey leg for Thanksgiving!! I forgot all about this! I believe he stayed home that day because he didn't feel very well!!! Thanks for the memory. I was feeling a bit down on Thanksgiving because Joe always came around to cut up the rutabaga or turnips and then he and I ate them. None this year. Every now and then I remember great moments....like the time he and David built a wood fort out back in the wooded area and then made a camp fire inside the fort. Yep. They did that. Or the time I handed Joey our dog Lance on a leash, let him out the back door and told him to take him around the yard for a walk. Next thing I knew I heard a commotion out front, opened the door, and there went Lance dragging Joey behind him - literally - as the dog chased after something or other. Then, when we lived in the land before time aka Citrus County, he took to collecting scorpions, spiders, snakes, rats, etc. and more often than not they got loose in the house. So many smiles (well, most of them)! Miss you so much Joe. xoxox Hugs to mom, grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and more....