From the time that Josie was a baby, she and Corey would come to Nanny & Pop's house at least once a week and stay most of the day so that Mommy could have some time to herself.  They got along so good and we all had a good time together.  Josie liked to draw and paint and cook.  Every time she drew a picture of me (Nanny), she always wrote "I love Nanny", which, of course, I loved.  We did just typical grandparent/grandchild activities.  She loved making cupcakes when she got to be around 5 maybe.  We would make them from scratch, and she couldn't wait until all the ingredients were mixed together so that she could stick her finger in the batter and lick it.  She also enjoyed mixing macaroni and cheese.  She and Corey loved macaroni and cheese.  During the summers of 2009 and 2010, we would go swimming at Karns Swimming Pool.  On Sundays, we (Pop and I) would cook Sunday dinner and all of our family would eat together after church.  Those were great times of fun with Josie's Uncle Greg and his family (Aunt Jan, cousins, Caroline, Jeremy, and Ken), and Josieand her family--Corey, Kevin(Daddy), and Amber(Mommy), and sometimes, Uncle Mark, Aunt Lisa, and cousins Keegan and Cameron, who live in North Carolin a and who were about Corey's and Josie's ages.  Josie especially loved being with Caroline (who is 19 now).  Hard to believe that.  And Caroline was always so good to play with Josie and all the little ones.  Jeremy and Ken did tha t as well.  I don't know how to put a picture here.  But I made lots of pictures, so when I learn how, I'll share some here.  I think of Josie every day.  I miss her so much.  But God knew exactly what He was doing when He reached down and took her to be with Him.  And He knows how bad it hurts us and I know that the only help for that hurt is to comfort myself in Him.  I don't know what I would do without Him to turn to.  But, with Him, I will make it until I get to join her, God/Jesus, Pop (who died 12-10-11) and all the others who are there.           

After Josie's passing it started a fire in many childrens and adult hearts from Brickey McCloud Elementary. A month after Josie's passing we were invited to a Celebration of a Memorial Garden in Josie's honor at the school. I did not expect what we saw. Josie's name in flowers about 1 foot tall and 5 feet wide. A bench the 2nd grade pooled together to purchase, a dogwood tree purchased from her classmates, a stone with Josies' name and birth date and death date on it, and some of her art work framed. BEAUTIFUL cannot express my feelings. All her teachers from Kindergarden to 2nd grade spoke. Her principal spoke and the PTO leader gave us gifts that had been donated. It was a wonderful experience. So many tears, she touched so many lives and continues to do so.

Josie was the Central Bobcats #1 fan! Well, it helped that her Dad was the coach. She ran around with the boys, yelled for them, cheered them on; especially her brother! She would sing the cheerleading songs, but didn't want to be a cheerleader. She didn't think she could do some of those jumps. :) She especially liked "Lets get a little bit rowdy, R.O.W..D.Y" writing it on some of her school work. She also liked "Who Rocks the House?, The Bobcats Rock the House!" Singing it around the house, in the car and also writing it in her journals.

The story of Josie and her brother Corey at the Christmas tree in 2011. Josie had her Rudolph play that day in the Boys and Girls club so she still had on her brown outfit and antlers. She loved dancing and singing to Rudolph and she did a great job! So that evening they both decided it would be a performance night. They danced and acted out Christmas songs from the radio. Josie laughed most of the time while Corey acted like a silly head. She could barely keep her composure but was most certainly able to finish the song with a signature pose while her brother lay on the floor wailing from an attempted split. I was able to capture this on my cell phone and still find joy and laughter in watching it.