Oh Greggy...

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails. Laughter is the sunshine in any life, and Gregory Edward you gave us a life time of love and laughter. You lived and loved full throttle and we simply delighted in you.

It seems like it was just yesterday that you held out your little hand for mine as you toddled towards me. Your smile was a ray of light after a storm – it was so bright – your infectious giggle used to bring tears of joy to my eyes when I would listen to you and your brothers’ playing. I can still hear you and your brothers playing while watching Barney. I can close my eyes and still see you and your brothers marching around the house singing. “I Love you, you love me, we’re a happy family with a great big hug & a kiss from me to you, won’t you say you love me too!” I can remember teaching you all what it meant to be gentlemen, and from that early teaching watching you grow into fine young men. 

Gregory, you and your brothers were inseparable, and yet you were so different from each other. The love that you felt for one another was beautiful, however, it was your friendship with each other that gave me the most comfort because you chose to be friends and you just happened to be brothers as well. My Three Sons, you all were The Three Musketeers, The Three Amigos, & The Three Greatest Gifts God Ever Gave me!

I used to think every moment with you and your brothers, was a Kodak moment and had my camera almost always ready! You & your brothers were such hambones – you all would stop and pose for me regardless of what you were doing. But then sometimes you all would run off and hide, saying No more Pictures Mom! As you grew older, I would pull out my camera & you would shoot me the dirtiest looks and say no way and dart off again. Those pictures never failed to make me laugh – you were such a stinker. I used to think the more determined I was to capture every moment the more resolute you were to make me work for my pictures. But that last Halloween day when you dressed up in those butterfly wings & asked me to put on your makeup... You didn’t have a problem with me taking photos that night.

Gregory, you were the most determined child – so opinionated in your likes and dislikes – so passionate for the family. You never failed to amaze me with your love for our family. You were the one who always helped me plan our next family meal or trip. It used to make me smile when you would share your heart with me, and tell me about your day, and then tie that into us going out to Sonic for Milkshakes or you driving to Arby’s for Dinner for you, Dad, & me...

Oh Gregory, if only I knew that Sunday Night was going to be our last conversation, I would have held on and never let you go. If only I knew as I watched you, make those silly faces at the patio door, that Thursday that it would be the last time I saw you laughing, I would have thanked you for all the joy and love you have ever given to me. If only I knew the last time I hugged & kissed you that Thursday was to say goodbye to you forever. If only I knew...

Gregory every day of my life I have given thanks for the privilege of being your mother, you were such a blessing and a joy to your father and I. We loved you so, and will continue to love you as we always have. The years went by too quickly. I still had so much to say to you, so much to teach you. However, as I struggle with my loss, and the over whelming grief I feel, it is your voice I hear as you teasingly remind me that love is a gift that never goes away, and the blessings never end, because love never fails.