Happy 17th Birthday Adam

I've been lucky enough to be a part of my step-son Adam's life for the past 14 years. To say that he is full of life would be an understatement. From the moment I met this little, bounding ball of energy, I felt a special bond. He ran up to me (having no idea who I was) on the football field, plopped himself right in my lap and asked me for food. Smiling, I handed him some candy, his eyes lit up, he began to ask all the questions that a three year old is capable of asking.


He has brought incredible laughter & joy to our family. He isn't afraid to do anything, climb anything, ask anything or make a fool of himself...much to his 4 brothers delight. They would tell him to make crazy noises at people in restaurants, walk up & stair directly into peoples faces without saying a word, all while 'the brothers' would laugh hysterically at their response. His extra energy would annoy us at times because he didn't always understand how to turn it off.

attacking his dad at the beach after he told him to stop!lol!


being a nerd to get a laugh...

and yes...always the faces!

But that's our Adam! Our lives have forever been filled with excitement, fun and yes sometimes annoyance...but most of all love and laughter. He is the most giving and generous member of the family, giving away his last dollar, cookie, candy or whatever, just to make someone happy.

My hubby & his boys (Dillon & Adam) Easter 2011

So Happy 17th Birthday to my lil' Addy Boy...I love you, and we feel so blessed to have you for a son!

Easter 2011 (missing Josh & Natascha)

Adam & his girlfriend Carla

adam running for the end zone!

Happy Birthday John-We Miss You!

Today would've been my brother John's birthday. It's hard to believe that it's been 19 years since his passing. No matter how much time has past, we still celebrate the joy, laughter & love my brother brought to our family.

John, Stacy & Me

My brother John (October 5, 1968-July 5, 1991) & baby brother Bryan

My mom said, "I can't imagine what he would look like now."

I can imagine him a little chubbier around the middle, but still working out to keep the muscles he loved to show off. His hair would be graying and thinning, there would be deep wrinkles around his eyes from so many years of laughing & causing laughter. His forehead would have lines that years of worrying and caring for others tends to leave. But I know his laughter would be as loud as ever...I can still hear it to this day.

Time would have aged him as it does all of us, but his joy of life & love of family and always his, "live life on the edge" attitude would be stronger than ever. I'm sure he would be out on a bike with his son Johnny, telling him, "Try to keep up with your old man!" He would have spent every day looking for his daughter Whitley & once he found her, he would have done everything he could to make sure she was laughing, happy, having fun & knew how much he loved her.

He may be gone from our sight, but I know he is smiling down from above, waiting patiently for the day we all can be together again. For what may seem like a long time to us, is just a blink of an eye in heaven.

I Love You John...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

On the day of John's funeral, there was a double rainbow.
Whenever I see one to this day I know my brother is watching over us from above.