Wow. I can't believe it has been 9 years already. :'( So much has happened in that time, but I am sure you have seen it from up there. Hoping that you are keeping an eye on your siblings and nudging them when they get off path. Everyone misses you, but no one more than me. Birthdays, holidays and your DOD are so hard. I remember being pregnant with you, going into labor on mema's waterbed, giving birth to you- a beautiful boy 8lbs-7ozs, the many days spent at the hospital with you before you turned 1 (not knowing where the high fevers were coming from), you being diagnosed with profound sensorineural hearing loss, your first sign, the first song you signed, you and Allen signing in your room with a flashlight when you were supposed to be sleeping, the surgery for the cochlear implant, you refusing to use the cochlear implant, the friends you so easily made, the notes home from the teachers because you were cutting up in class or being the class clown, watching you be an amazing big brother to your siblings (Allen, Steven, Mandie, Becca, Joshua and Faythe) and trying to teach them all sign language, the day you asked me if I would still love you if you chose to stay deaf, watching you graduate, you excited about culinary arts school, you loving your girlfriend (Whitney) so much that you thought you couldn't live without her, seeing your face light up when you told me you were going to be a father, being there with you watching the birth of your child and the tear going down your cheek when you first held her, watching you sign to me that with your hearing aid- you heard her cry, watching you bring humor into everyone's life, always making me smile when I was down. And then getting that call that you were gone, preparing a funeral service for one taken too soon, not realizing how many people your personality and loving way touched over the years (almost 300 people at your service), being alone in the room with you at the funeral home, picking up your urn :'( , your Celebration of Life ceremony, and living on memories and pictures since. Only GOD knows why you were called home so early in your life. I am so thankful he allowed me to have those amazing 27 years with you. You will never be forgotten, and you will always be missed and Loved so dearly. Love you now, forever and eternity. ~MOM~