the “24th”…

For the last 10 months the “24th” has not been especially significant one way or the other.  Sometimes it even sneaks up on us…We usually speak of it only to remind ourselves that it’s ‘that’ day, and people might mention it, so just be aware that today’s the day that Warren died ‘x’ months ago. It’s not that we don’t appreciate the gestures of you remembering.  In fact, for me, I’m glad you remember and I’m glad when you acknowledge it.  Equally so, if you don’t acknowledge it, we are good with that too.  So many of you are an encouragement on “other” days and   I think it goes back to how God uses certain people at just the right time, and for that I (we) are beyond grateful.

However, today, is different and I’m not sure why.  I’m guessing it’s because it means that we are that much closer to the ‘1 year’.  Or, maybe it’s because of special memories like this time last year when the kids were getting out for early dismissal….

I remember pulling in the driveway from work and Warren meeting me out at the car to help me… actually, I don’t think I had asked him for help with anything, he just met me at the car as I pulled up.  He didn’t have plans for the early release day, so he had been home alone (because, I am certain Grace did 🙂 ), and was glad to have some company! (even if it was mom!!)  I immediately could tell something was “off”.  He just didn’t seem himself.  Not sad, just bummed…. I remember him (finally) sharing with me about a text conversation that disclosed some news that maybe a girl didn’t like him the way he’d thought (or hoped).  Of course my heart broke for him, and even the memory of this conversation makes me sad.  I do remember that this ended up being no big deal and even if Warren never had that “special” someone, he was a good friend to lot’s of girls and apparently was even asked by some of his friends, on occasion, to be the “go between”…which I always told him was the perfect place to be !

I wish he were waiting on me today…I don’t know what else we did that afternoon, but I know today I would drop everything and just be with him!

I’m not exactly sure why today seems harder than the last 24th…but it does, or at least I feel more teary.  It has me flipping through pictures and remembering how handsome he was, how funny he was, and how loving he was.  I think some of my favorite pictures are the candid shots of him, better known today as “selfies”.  They show a side of him that make me smile and remember fondly his stage of life…as a 13 year old boy!

The “24th”…just another day to remember our precious, silly, good hair, freckled, music loving, hunter, baseball cap wearing, t-shirt lover, sensitive, strong, confident, Jesus follower …Warren

I must include a couple other “selfies” of the other people that make my heart glad!!

Declaring this today…

“I can walk
Down this dark and painful road
I can face
Every fear of the unknown
I can hear
All God’s children singing out
We will not be overtaken
We will not be overcome”