February 16th is a day that is still sending out ripples and waves in the water.  Everyone who knew and loved Josh can still remember his joy and enthusiasm for every little thing...the way he shook his arms when he was excited... and his big hugs and smiles..... and how HE LOVED EVERYBODY.  Josh didn't know judgement or holding a grudge - nor did he know how much he affected so many people in his life through those ripples that are still moving.   
     I think of my niece Heidi, and how she helps kids in the special ed class -and how her tender heart for those with special needs students all started with her knowing and loving Josh. Many, many people who never even knew Josh will feel the ripples and waves of love through Heidi.
     My nephew Joey, another one of Josh's cousins, I know will always be different through his experience of being such a good buddy to Josh as well.  Who knows how his paths will change and whose lives he will touch with a compassion that is deep and real and comes from Josh's brief time with us!
     I remember when Josh's brother Jimmy was in high school and how Jimmy stood up for the girl in a wheelchair at school when somebody was picking on her.  No doubt Jim will never forget how people with special needs need special advocates. 
     And even a couple weeks ago a fourth-grader at the school where I work ran into class one morning and threw his arms around me...."Miss Linda!", he said, "I read Josh's Website last night!"  He said he looked at all the pictures 8 times each! He had lots of questions and we had a nice talk about Josh.  More ripples....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSH!  WE ALL LOVE AND MISS YOU SOOOOO MUCH - YET EVERY DAY WE FEEL THE RIPPLES OF LOVE FROM YOUR LIFE!  THANK YOU!!

I love you Buddy,,,see you in the morning...
MOM

It was one year ago I was worried about your mom Josh on this special day and I will NEVER EVER forget her wonderful response when I talked to her.  She said she wasn't too sad because this day when you were born JOSH was the happiest day of her life and the joy you have given her ALL THESE YEARS is truely a gift.  I miss you still Josh and am thinking about you and love you.  xo aunt chrissy

Dear Josh,

   It's been six months here without you and I still miss you every day.  I dream about you about half of my nights and I wonder where you are.....  So many of my dreams are about when you were a baby or when you and Jimmy were little.  Last night I dreamt we came home and you had been home alone and made yourself something to eat and were sitting with a tv tray in front of the tv- just smiling when we came in! Is that you telling me you are doing ok? You are taking care of yourself wherever you are? I am glad you are not suffereing any more and you are free!! Free from the pains and confines of these bodies!  We will all see you soon- in the scope of things all of our lives are SHORT and we will all be together soon.  I love you so much buddy.

Love, YOUR MOM

Some things just go together

Peanut Butter and Jelly

The Beach and Seashells

Sticks and Stones

Basketballs and shoes

Mowers and Trimmers

Garth and Guitars

Tractors and Trucks

Music and Movies

LINDA AND JOSH

We watched Josh grow  into a simple man

He simply loved HIS music

He simply didn't care what you made him for lunch or dinner

He simply touched each heart of anyone who knew him

He simply LOVED the outdoors

He had simple clothes

He had a simple way of communicating, he used his simple actions of a hug, or highfive or smile to say I love you.

Joshua simply ADORED his Brother, Father and Mother, his face would light up at the mention of their names.

LINDA WAS SIMPLY THE APPLE OF HIS EYE.

This is such a sweet picture of Josh and Joey (his cousin), take another look at this picture, look at the glow and joy on Josh's face.  Look at how Joey is embrassing Josh, that's all you had to do to feel Josh's love, give him a hug, high five, or alittle of your time to talk with him one on one and he would light up and you could feel his love.  Many times I would ride in the car back and forth from Mansfield with Josh, just me and him and I LOVED those times.  We would sing together, (Bye Bye American Pie over and over)  duck as we go under bridges, or look for tractors or big equipment.  He often liked to hold hands if he wasn't holding a basketball or football.   He also enjoyed looking for cars he might recognize, he loved to talk about family members.  I miss him.  He made me feel loved.

      There is a large Dawn Redwood tree at the entrance to the Earth Kind Garden at Whetstone park of Roses.   Soon this tree will be marked with Josh's name.  If you would like to contribute to this memorial for Josh please send a donation to:  Chris MacMillan at 3367 Orchestra St. Cuyahoga Falls, Oh 44223

      When Josh was having trouble standing up straight recently we looked for creative ways to help him stand tall.  We didn't want his back to get sore from hunching over with such poor posture so we kept encouraging him to stand up straight.  One day Ethan (he's three years old now) heard us trying to help Josh and he said, "HEY JOSH!!  STAND TALL LIKE A TREE!!"  while Ethan had his hands in the air like tree branches.  Ethan was just the inspiration Josh needed! Josh smiled from ear to ear and from that time on he'd put at least one hand in the air when we'd say, "Stand up tall buddy!"  "Stand like a tree!"

     The Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia) is a very large and beautiful tree that can grow to be 200 feet tall.  It is presently critically endangered in the world.  We thought it was the perfect tree for Josh!!!  The world needs more big trees and LOVING HEARTS like Josh!!

     JOSH:  You are so beautiful and strong and your loving heart so rare to this world.  We miss you so much every day and know you are standing tall.