Happy Birthday Sam!
You are 9 years old today! It's hard to imagine what you're like these days. Your favorite color was purple. You loved root beer, olive pizza, baseball, hockey, skiing, and laughing ... 3 years ago. You loved to tease your sister, Tara, "just because it's fun." You'd do anything to get Luke to sit on your lap for a while. You'd practice a new sport for weeks to get it just right! I remember you rollerblading on the front porch for hours alongside the chairs and railings. And what about those trips to the baseball field with all your imaginary friends? You hadn't learned to read or write yet, but you really wanted to learn so you could read instructions to games better. You were just getting into Legos, and loved Ricky Carmichael and motorcycles. Are these things you're interested in now?
Our lives here have changed a lot too. Tara would probably be teasing you back now, since she does that to Luke ALL the time. Luke won't sit on your lap unless you're reading something to him. You had so much patience with Tara and Luke -- do you still? I hope you like other ingredients than olives on your pizza. And maybe you've branched out your soda likes to Coke or Pepsi or Dr. Pepper (not that I would buy them for you). Tara and Luke are now skiing at the level you were at before you got sick. We got a dog, which I'm sure you'd love to play with. And your old room with Tara is starting to look more girly ... sorry.
We miss you very very much, but I think I miss you the most. I still, and always will, have 3 children in my family. That hole in my heart is just scarred, not gone. I have so many questions that I know you could easily answer, but I may not be able to hear your answers. What's heaven like? Why you?
We're celebrating your 9th birthday today -- I hope you are too. Cake, pizza, and bowling ... all for you. You will never NEVER be forgotten, Sam. We love you so very very much. Happy Birthday my Big Boy!
Oh yeah, one more thing Sam. Luke now says that you ride on the smaller clouds -- they won't let the legos fall through like the bigger ones.
Love,
Mom
