Happiness X a million!!

So many happy memories! Many of those are from our many trips to Disney. Sammy loved Disney and his best Disney friend was his nephew Marcus. Marcus and Sammy both loved each part of Disney. They loved to watch parades and shows, ride the many rides and of course meet the wonderful Disney Characters! I want to share with you one of the short rides Sammy and Marcus loved. Goofy's barnstormer! We all rode it several times and sometime 2 or more times in a row. (My filming skills leave a lot to be desired!!) The smile on Sammy's face is worth MILLIONS! I miss Sammy and that sweet smile so much every moment of every day. More Disney memories to follow!!

It doesn't get any easier. You just get better at it.

Proud Server!

This past Sunday during mass a sweet memory came to mind. Our new seminarian was walking up to Monsignor to hold the Holy Book for him to read from when the memory of Sammy's sweet determination to be just like everyone else came full force into my mind! As I am writing this I am smiling. Sammy wanted to hold the "Book" just like Vinnie, Donnie and Seth always did when they served. Of course those boys were all 5'11" TO 6'2" tall. Sammy.....not so much! SO when Sammy proudly carried the Book and stood on the lower step and held it up for Father Mike to read from there was a pause and Fr. Mike (who is not a tall person) adjusted his glasses, bent down and with a slight grin on his face proceeded to read aloud. I think most of us sitting in the front section of church that Sunday were very entertained and no one was more proud than Sammy himself!! I miss seeing Sammy on the altar serving. Many memories of those days to follow!!

It doesn't get easier, you just get better at it. God is good!

Happiness!

I am sitting here at 3:30 am and I am concentrating on remembering Sammy's sweet voice. I remember him swinging on his "new" play set in the back yard. I was filming him as he was perfecting his "pumping" skills and I asked him simply. "Are you happy Sam?" and he smiled his big smile and said "YES" and just kept on pumping and smiling! So simple yet such a wonderful memory. Sammy was most often found smiling and enjoying life. I pray my 3 older children will discover the same degree of happiness in their lives and embrace it!

It doesn't get easier you just get better at it. God is good!

When you lose a child you miss everything about your child, even the tedious things and the "unpleasant" things. What I thought at the times was unpleasant, now I would love to be doing. Sammy was in diapers all of his 15 years and I would love to be changing diapers right now. I remember after every change how I would kiss his belly and Sammy would always pat it and say "Paw Paw". This was to tell me his belly was just like his Grandpa Don's. Sammy also like to dump his toys and markers. Picking up toys and markers.............how wonderful that sounds! And to have a little foot in my face or arm slung over my neck while trying to sleep......priceless! So many things to miss.

It doesn't get any easier, you just get better at it. God is Good.

The Gangs all Here!

Most years our family traveled to Disney World. As Sammy got older some years we were blessed with two short trips there. Disney was always, without exception, wonderful to Sammy and all of us. Because of Sammy's hips he used a wheel chair to get around when we went there. Sammy loved the rides but he lived for the parades and the Characters there. One year we were there for Sammy's birthday and as many of you know Sammy got a button that announced his birthday celebration. Epcot was a favorite place to see the Characters because they were so easily accessible to everyone. As we got in line a staff member noticed Sammy and moved us to the front of the line. (Disney is very good about giving children with disabilities the "right away") Then all of a sudden Minnie came running over, then Donald then Pluto, Mickey, Chip and Dale and lastly Goofy came running over from where he was out in the hall. It was priceless. Sammy was so excited and hugging everyone. People were crying in line and grabbing their cameras and it was like the Hollywood paparazzi was there! Sammy was on cloud nine the rest of the day and a large poster hangs in Sammy's bedroom and at Sartoris Drug store to forever mark that day. Thank you to all the beautiful people at Disney World who treated Sammy like a VIP each time we were there and giving us magical memories!
It doesn't get any easier, you just get better at it. God is good!

Dad, Look, Look, Look, there he is!

If all of our children could be as passionate as Sammy when it came to going to church and enjoying his time there! Every week I struggle just to get through mass without tears. The memories are so beautiful and it was one of Sammy's favorite places to be. Of course he loved to serve mass but when it wasn't his turn he just loved to be in church and pray and sing and most times "bug" his dad from the pew! Oh how he loved to try to make Vince turn around and look behind him to wave at Pam and Mike or to the side to notice J.T. But his most most favorite time during mass was when Monsignor would come out just before communion would start, to assist in the process. Sam would grab Vince's chin and point with such excitement. LOOK, LOOK, LOOK! He was filled with such joy and happiness every week like it was the first time and he was surprised Monsignor was there to help out. Sammy also loved to sing the Alleluia right before the Gospel. Then as we all filed out Sammy would run to Monsignor and give him a big hug then go back to the front of church and kneel, bow his head and praise our Lord with his left handed sign of the cross.

It doesn't get any easier, you just get better at it. God is good

The King and Sammy!

My friend Peg just went to Memphis and this brought wonderful memory forward! One year Rhiannon, Marcus, Sammy, Donnie and myself were driving back from Florida and decided to add a stop at Graceland. What a blast. The first evening we went for a walk on Beale Street. First stop "B B Kings"! As we walked in we were greeted by what we refered to as Beale Street's own Oadie! What a blessing for our children. Sammy and Marcus began to dance and were joined by "Oadie"! It was a performance enjoyed by all. After several minutes of dancing we finished eating then went on to the gift shop that was attached. There in the window was a child size drum set. Both Marcus and Sammy went for it!! I remember such joyful sounds along with such LOUD drumming!!I also remember being worried that the boys should not be in the window drumming! That night we enjoyed a wonderful evening in the "Animal" room at the Heartbreak hotel. In the morning as we toured Elvis' home Sammy decided to lay down and the front steps and refuse to get up. So as any mom would do I decided it was a photo op! Unfortuately it was before digital so the picture is not one of my best but the memory is in perfect focus. Pictures will be posted at a later date. For now I will post a sweet picture of my sweet boy.

It doesn't get easier, we just get better at it. God is good.