So, here we are seven years later. Pat would be so proud of how grown up that Millie is and what a great young girl that she has become. Through thick and thin, MB has carried on and remains a great role model for Millie to follow. Pat would be so proud.....

Whenever I think or hear about MB & Millie's antics I always think of Pat, and smile! BTW, Gator was so happy to see him, he's walking Gator showing him all around his new home! :)

Marybeth and Millie continue to be the perfect role models that would make Pat so proud!

Well, I had the pleasure of attending a "tea party" with Millie O'Keefe recently....it was so HOT here in August that I could barely stand it, but the tea was very good and Millie was a beautiful hostess!! We also had fun washing "dollie's" feet in a lawn sprinkler and looking for black squirrels....she continues to be the apple of Pat's eye and I could hear Pat's laughter at Millie's never ending shenanigans! MB is so strong and loving in both parental roles...she is an inspiration to us all! HBD Pat, you would be so proud of your ladies!

Pat would be so proud of how MB and Millie have bravely "soldiered on" with their broken hearts!

MaryBeth and Millie just spent six days with us in Michigan. It brought us so much joy and laughter watching how happy they are despite the ever present loss and pain in their hearts. Pat would have just been beside himself with so much unconditional love for Millie...it is hard to comprehend. She is such a little "pistol" and we continue to laugh out loud at Millie looking over the top of her sunglasses and in her little voice imitating MaryBeth's 5th grade teacher..."MaryBeth... MaryBeth....stop talking to your friends and go sit in your seat" Happy Birthday Pat, and continue to watch over the two that you loved so much!

Because we live in Michigan we didn't get to know Pat well. We were so excited for Marybeth when we heard that she had found "someone!" Knowing MaryBeth since she was born, we knew that Pat had to be someone special! I remember a conversation that Pat and I had around the time that he and MaryBeth were married. I asked him if he had ever been to Ireland and he said "not yet"! I told him how strange it was to walk down the street of some small Irish village and see people that looked just like himself, or just like his brother or his sisters! I guess Irish genes stay strong! I can just picture Pat now, walking down the street in heaven and greeting everyone with his friendly smile and everyone looking happy and familiar...just like long lost relatives....