Happy Birthday To My Son In Heaven

Today would be my son Joe's 29th birthday.  I miss him beyond words can ever express. He was a blessing to our family and a friend to so many.  I keep the tears bottled up and then they come to surface many times, especially on his birthday.  Last year in 2017 I shared a memory of him in this post:
https://ajoyfulheartjourney.blogspot.com/2017/08/sharing-memory-of-my-son.html
Today I would like to share a little of his personality.  He loved every kind of sport.  As a young boy he participated in soccer, softball, and hockey.  When he was in 8th grade he wanted to try football, my thoughts were perhaps it was too late to start, however, I supported his decision.  When he was in 8th grade during phy-ed class he participated in some running drills and the teacher noticed he had the stamina for running and encouraged him to try track.  The following spring, he did participate in track, he found that he enjoyed running more so than any other sport he had participated in.  It was during that time that a coach approached him and asked him if you would like to be a part of cross country team starting in the fall of 2005 which would be new to his high school at the time.  That fall the boys team consisted of Joe and two other boys. The girl's team was small as well. Both teams bonded so well for just starting out and they all became very good friends. The teams saw much success and as parents we were there every step of the way cheering them on.  Joe was the captain in his junior year and was asked to be the captain again in his senior year. I remember him telling me he felt that perhaps he should allow someone else to be the caption since he had already had his opportunity. However, his coach wanted him as the captain for another year.
In his senior year they encountered tougher competition and at times Joe was discouraged, however he persevered. At the end of the season of his senior year, his coach gave him a book to read and had written some very encouraging words to him.  To show his true personality I want to include a little of what he wrote "I know this fall wasn't how you pictured it going. It was a tough one, but you hung in there and still got the job done" he also wrote "Leaders don't just get the most out for themselves; they enable the people around them to be better"- my hope is that those written words give you an insight to his personality.
Here are a few photos of us at a cross country meet in his senior year:

 

He was also so good about taking time to help out at my parents' cabin by cutting the grass and helping with other chores.  The summer before his senior year he wasn't able to help out as much because of work and sports.  He told me "I'm feeling so bad I did not get a chance to help Grandpa this summer".
He was always willing to help his sisters whenever they needed him for something. He was a chauffeur to his younger sister.
I realize this a long post today, and I'm sharing things from well over 10 years ago, yet this is where my memories are and it brings healing to me to share them.
Thank you for visiting my small, humble blog.
Have a blessed day.
With love,
Patty

Reflections At 1-1/2 Years (18 months)

 

Today, August 19, 2018 brings us to 1-1/2 years (18 months) since Paul moved to his heavenly home. I'm always missing him.  However, I know I must continue on this journey without him here.  Psalm 28:7 tells me "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him".  Yes indeed the Lord truly is my strength.
 Today I wanted to reflect on a happy moment. The photo above as you can see was taken in a photo booth.  In all our years together, we had never had our photo taken in a photo booth.
  The photo booth was at a wedding we were attending and we both thought it was such a neat idea.  So, we took advantage of the opportunity and had our photo taken.  I love the result-it may not show up well here on my blog, however in person the photo looks great.  We had this photo hanging on our refrigerator, I now have put it in a frame to keep it from fading.
May I suggest, find an opportunity to have your photo taken in a photo booth with someone you love.  It provides for a unique photo and beautiful keepsake.
Thank you for visiting my small, humble blog.
With love,
Patty

Taking Time To Look Up To The Sky

"Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies"
Psalm 36:5

In my grief, I often look up to the sky and see the beauty before me that brings a sense of awe and wonder of God's creation. The photo above was taken at one of those moments. God loves us with an unending love that sometimes can be hard to grasp and understand. Yet, He loves us in Psalm 36:5, we read these words "Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies."

The Lord knew this life would not always be easy and that we would have difficult times. Many of those difficult times can bring us to wonder where He is. We can choose to keep wondering where He is or make a choice to find Him through reading His words in the Bible. We can choose to see Him when we look up to the sky and know His love reaches the heavens and His faithfulness to the skies.

We may never know why difficult times happen as they do. A Bible verse in 1 Peter 5:7 tells us, "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

 May I offer up a prayer for you today?

"Lord, right now this is difficult for me _________________________. Today I cast my cares to you and know you are with me. Amen"

If possible, take a moment sometime this week and look up to the sky and see the beauty of God's creation.

Thank you for visiting my small, humble blog.

God's blessings to you,

Patty