Today would have been your 73rd birthday.  Not a day goes by that I don’t think about you.

A lot has happened since you’ve been gone.

Sydney was born shortly after you left.  You didn’t get to meet her, but I know you would love her.  She looks so much like Gina.

Stephanie, Amanda, Richard, Kyle, Clay, and Dillon have all graduated from high-school.  Some have gone on to graduate from college…with the highest distinction.

~

All your grandsons are very protective.

Clay has been true to his word.  He takes good care of his Mema.  He has a manner about him that is remarkably familiar.  I always think of you when I see him.

Clay married Chynna; now they have a little boy and two little girls.

Richard had a hard time after you left; we spent many nights consoling him.  He had just turned 11.

You would be so proud of him today.

He is a preacher.  Richard married Emily… and now they have two little girls.

Lydia is Richard’s oldest;  although she doesn’t look like me, if you spent time with her, she would remind you of me when I was a little girl [according to Mama].Can you believe I’m a Glammy???

You might find it hard to believe, but all your grandchildren remember you vividly;  And your great-grandchildren know you from the many photos they’ve seen.

I know you would enjoy seeing photos of them too:

They Are So Sweet

Mama is crazy about them…

you would be too!

~

We’ve met some of your relatives and learned a lot about your heritage in the past 18 years.

  Recently Stuart discovered and shared pictures of your great grandfather William VanSickle Cox.

This is what he looked like His nose is familiar.

It appears that he was in the service; something I understand you considered.

Mama told us about that.

We talk about a lot of things in our group text.

Speaking of group text…

When you left us, we weren’t as technologically equipped as we are now.

Today everyone in the family has a personal cell phone and we keep in touch via this group text.

We talk about you often.

I saved this bit of communication from last Memorial Day:

Remembering will sometimes invoke a tearful moment, but will always bring a smile.

Thank you for the memories and for leaving a bit of yourself in each of us.

 

You would be HAPPY to know that Mama is doing well. 

And we are all fine.

We know that we will see you again Daddy; and thank you for showing us The Way.

~

Thank you for taking time out of your day to stop by my blog.