You and I, love mom

Mom wrote this for David. Her birthday is today (Nov.9).

You and I

When first I learned I was expecting

(In those days it wasn't so planned)

I worried about attention

Should you and your siblings demand.

But once you were born and I held you

I really didn't care -

I knew you were very special

You were our baby brother to share .

Love didn't seem to be a problem

There was plenty to go around

You won everyone's heart, right from the start

You were our precious baby brother.

The thing you did the very best

From the very beginning 'till the end

Was snuggle and give the best of hugs

To one and all and especially me, your mother.

Oh, how you loved the show, Dumbo

You were the first of the video generation.

Over and over, again and again –

Casey Jr. and his circus train.

The family wishing for cessation.

Fast forward for flying pink elephants

Mom, they really are too scawe!

But will you sit by me and rock me

And sing Baby Mine was your query.

Later in life your pet “hobby”

One of many I might mention if time.

You and your Grandpa together

Continued to create and enjoy

Your very own...Casey Jr. Circus train.

And on Tuesday night in the neighborhood

The children would anxiously wait

For the signal and whistle and smoke to start

An undertaking straight from your heart.

Our birthdays are a day apart.

For me that always had meaning.

For 32 years we celebrated together

Each year recognizing each other.

This year, this week - I'm all alone,

You aren't here to share.

The cake, the gifts, the memories

That as family we hold dear.

Today, I sit here at your side, under a sky of blue,

With majestic mountains reaching up and fountains tinkling true.

And I remember now, the thing

That as parents we've always known.

Though we tend to resist the knowledge

A knowledge that shows we've grown.

The simple fact that you were not mine to keep

But rather a wonderful loan....

It's been a long year, but now I feel

That wisdom has come with time.

I'm finally able to say “Thank you, God,

For letting him be mine.”

For the privilege of being his mother on earth.

For the lessons he taught me as well

For the example of learning, service and work

For the near perfect son to tell.

You were always so special to all of us

To your siblings, cousins, and friends

To grand-parents, teachers and neighbors

The list doesn't seem to end.

But to all of us the thing we'll remember

Is how you liked “us” best

And wanted to spend as much time with each

Never seeming to need a rest.

I wonder at times if perhaps you knew

That your time on this earth was short.

And that you had to make the best use of it

There were so many things to be learned -

To experience and to have and to hold

An eternal partner and wife.

Then a son and a daughter of your own

It seemed you had the perfect life.

But then it ended in tragedy

Leaving the rest of us to grieve,

And so now we hold on to the legacy

Heavenly Father allowed you to leave.