TIGGER

My Tigger, my John: I don't know son, if you remember when we had moved to Florida. You were about six years old and very "active". We spent alot of time at the Broward Mall in Plantation, Florida. We were new to the area and did not have alot of friends or functions to attend. So rather than being lonely or bored, we would walk around the mall and window shop. I use the term "walk" lightly when I refer to our son. At that time, the mall design had seats and tables made out of stone or marble. This apparently made great stepping stones for our son John. But instead of stepping from level to level on these seats, he would "jump" like Tigger from Winnie the Pooh. Maybe more like a "bounce" around the mall. I know you are probably thinking "how rude" or "how obnoxious", but I assure you no one else was there. That may have seemed alittle undisciplined, but it launched him into a record breaking High-Jump athlete in Middle and Senior High School. They say never stop a baby from crying (unless he is hurt) because it exercises his lungs (in case he wants to be a vocalist) well, I guess he was in training for his High-Jump days. I wonder John if you wish you could reach those heights today? There are greater heights than that to be reached my son and with God, all things are possible. Love mom

Grandpa Sal

Dear children: Today I was thinking about Grandpa Sal. December 2007 marks seven years since he has passed away. I just wanted to tell you how much you all meant to him. You were his only grandchildren, and his pride and joy. He was a very quiet man and did'nt express his feeling much, but if you looked into his eyes you would know how much he loved you all. Grandpa Sal had a quiet, gentle and patient spirit about him. He was very intelligent. He went to engineering school after high school but never went further because he was drafted into the Air Force. He served in World War II and flew in many maneuvers as a flight engineer. During one of these attacks, he had to risk his life to climb out towards the wing of the plane and release a bomb that would not release. For that brave act he recieved a Purple Heart which is one of the highest awards for bravery. When grandpa came home from the war he met Grandma Florence and they got married. Jobs were hard to find so he took whatever was available. Unable to buy a house, they lived with his parents for many years. They lived together in Brooklyn for many years before grandpa and grandma decided to move to Long Island to buy their first house. I was a teenager by then. They lived there until Grandma Florence died in 1984. He only owned one house after that and it was his house in Florida. I'm only saying all that to say, he wasn't rich or owned alot of material possessions like we expect to have today. He never had the job of his dreams, or went on many vacations. You might say that the life he lived was dull and unfullfilling, but he enjoyed his home, his family and loved his grandchildren more then himself. He never had a charge card or owed anyone. When he put his head on his pillow to sleep, he had peace. He would dance around with Danielle and Jessica to the song "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey. You'll never know dear how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away". John, he loved to fish with you when you had the patience. He would be so proud to know you have all of his medals and pictures of his Air Force days. This is his legacy. We SALUTE you.....Love mom

John-Gods' Gracious Gift

To my dear son John: Did you know that your name means Gods' Gracious Gift? After having given birth to two beautiful girls, dad and I decided we would like to have a son now. So we asked God to please allow that to happen. I asked my dear friend Linda Spies to believe with us and pray along with me on my behalf. I chose a day to fast and pray and trust that God would honor my request. I opened my Bible to a scripture verse that said "a son will be born unto you" I felt that this would be done because God confirmed it in His word. I did find out shortly after that I was pregnant and was excited about Gods promise. A few months along the way I started to doubt, so I asked God to show me somehow. A few nights later I saw you in a dream. You had a beautiful round face with pink cheeks, black hair and blue eyes. Blue eyes, where did that come from? I thought this is not so, it couldn't be, blue eyes. At that time (1980) we did not do ultrasounds often. I didn't know I was really having a boy, except by faith. The ladies in the Church gave me a wonderful baby shower and all of my gifts were for a baby boy! (they were all believing with me). God granted me the desire of my heart on June 16, 1980. A baby boy with black hair and BLUE EYES! John David----Gods' Gracious Gift Love Mom

MELODY LOVE NOTES

Danielle remember Melody Love Notes? She was your favorite doll in the world. You carried her wherever you would go. Melody had blonde curls and big painted on eyes. She had music note sounds in her hands, feet and stomach. She could play a tune if you followed the notes in a book. Melody was your constant companion for many years. She was your first best friend. You would love to sit and suck your thumb and twirl your fingers around the curls on her head. You couldn't go to sleep without her, or go anywhere without her, even into the bathroom. Melody went into the washing machine many times over the years. So often, her body started to fall apart, but you didn't care, you were inseparable. I remember the time when we were rushing to leave for Church one Sunday morning, and it was raining. Dad and I grabbed all of our stuff for Church and all of you guys. You grabbed Melody and we ran to the car and jumped in before we all got too wet. You started to cry and low and behold, there was Melody Love Notes face down in a puddle of water. You had dropped her on the way to the car. She got a Sunday bath and was fine. The end finally came when all that became of her was a "head". You still carried her around by her curls. I eventually decided to let her gently slip away to "Never-Never Land" I hope you never held it against me. For my darling Danielle, in my heart there rings a Melody and that Melody is you. Love mom

Our Little Laura Ingles

That's our Jessica, dad always called you Laura Ingles from Little House on the Prairie. I guess it was because from early on, you were fiesty and energetic like Laura. Maybe it was because you had a headful of ringlet curls and slightly protruding front teeth. (which were straightened by braces)But all in all you were so much fun to watch scurrying around the house getting busy and being creative. The one time that always comes to mind and we like to tell the story, is when I was upstairs in our house. I was in your bedroom making up your bed. Your room was over the gararge. You were about four years old and had your bike in the driveway. You had some of dads tools and as I watched from above, I could see that you were trying to take the training wheels off of your bike. You managed to get most of it off with dads wrench and didn't want any help to finish the job. Mission acomplished! What were you to do next? You took your bike over to the curb of the street and with one foot on the curb and the other flung over the other side of your bike, you went up and down the curb until you taught yourself to ride without any assistance. Like the bird out of its nest, you became independent. Love Mom