“In any man who dies there dies with him,
his first snow and kiss and fight.
Not people die but worlds die in them.”
Not people die but worlds die in them.”
Yevgeny Yevtushenko (Russian Poet, b.1933)
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This is Joey at our last dinner together, May 17, 2008. Mama's Fish House, Maui--his favorite restaurant. Double-click to find his memorial brochure
Our only picture with all of us together and Joey and Rachel, who took a break from their road trip to be with us.
I was so blessed to bring this wonderful and funny young man into the world.
Joe is missing his best friend.
They shared the best kind of friendship and rarely missed a chance to be together.
There's nothing they liked better than jamming together.
Joey and his Rachel enjoying nature in the great outdoors-- Double-click to go to their blog about their trip
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.
Hebrews 6:19
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
John 14:1-3
Heavy
~ by Mary Oliver
That time
I thought I could not
go any closer to grief
without dying
I went closer,
and I did not die.
A card to me from JoAnne for Joey's 30th Birthday
Joey in Denali, Alaska, Summer 2006
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies..." Jn 11:25
About this Blog
We are in the midst of major life changes triggered by the loss of our only son. He died from an epilepsy-related syndrome called SUDEP--Sudden Unexplained Death by Epilepsy. With absolutely no warning, one day he was alive and the next day he was gone. Our hearts are broken.
From the shores of Maui, to the woods of Virginia, to our ultimate destination in Heaven, we are on a difficult journey of discovery. This blog is a form of therapy for us and a place to also count our blessings. It's not what we planned for our lives--Plan A, but instead we are trusting that God has a Plan B.
From the shores of Maui, to the woods of Virginia, to our ultimate destination in Heaven, we are on a difficult journey of discovery. This blog is a form of therapy for us and a place to also count our blessings. It's not what we planned for our lives--Plan A, but instead we are trusting that God has a Plan B.
Our Beloved Son
This is Joey at our last dinner together, May 17, 2008. Mama's Fish House, Maui--his favorite restaurant. Double-click to find his memorial brochure
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Revelation 21:4
Revelation 21:4
All Together, Whistler Christmas, 2006
Our only picture with all of us together and Joey and Rachel, who took a break from their road trip to be with us.
Joey and Mom
I was so blessed to bring this wonderful and funny young man into the world.
Joey and His Dad
Joe is missing his best friend.
Joey and His Adoring Sisters
They shared the best kind of friendship and rarely missed a chance to be together.
The Musicians
There's nothing they liked better than jamming together.
Joey and Rachel's One Year Van Trip--Alaska to Panama, West Coast to East and back again
Joey and his Rachel enjoying nature in the great outdoors-- Double-click to go to their blog about their trip
What Is SUDEP?
Sudden
Unexpected
Death in
Epilepsy
Read more here, from New York University: http://www.med.nyu.edu/cec/epilepsy/sudep.html
Unexpected
Death in
Epilepsy
Read more here, from New York University: http://www.med.nyu.edu/cec/epilepsy/sudep.html
Quotes I Really Love
"In the end everything will be all right, nothing can harm you permanently; no loss is lasting, no defeat more than transitory, no disappointment is conclusive. Suffering, failure, loneliness, sorrow, discouragement and death will be part of your journey, but the kingdom of God will conquer all of these horrors. No evil can resist grace forever."
-Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel
brothers and sisters, the church is not mistaken.
the church awaits with certainty the hour of redemption.
those who have disappeared will reappear.
the sorrows of these mothers will be turned into easter.
the affliction of this people,which knows not where it goes amid so much affliction, will become easter resurrection
if we join ourselves to christ and hope in him.
Archbishop Oscar Romero
-Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel
brothers and sisters, the church is not mistaken.
the church awaits with certainty the hour of redemption.
those who have disappeared will reappear.
the sorrows of these mothers will be turned into easter.
the affliction of this people,which knows not where it goes amid so much affliction, will become easter resurrection
if we join ourselves to christ and hope in him.
Archbishop Oscar Romero
“God’s will was not hidden somewhere ‘out there’ . . . the situations [in which I found myself] were his will for me. What he wanted was for me to accept these situations as from his hands, to let go of the reins and place myself entirely at his disposal.”
Jesuit Walter Ciszek’s (1904–1983)
Promises We Are Holding On To With All That Is Within Us
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.
Hebrews 6:19
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
John 14:1-3
Mother's Day Poem
Heavy
~ by Mary Oliver
That time
I thought I could not
go any closer to grief
without dying
I went closer,
and I did not die.
Surely God
had His hand in this,
as well as friends.
had His hand in this,
as well as friends.
Still, I was bent,
and my laughter,
as the poet said,
was nowhere to be found.
Then said my friend Daniel
(brave even among the lions),
"It's not the weight you carry
but how you carry it --
books, bricks, grief --
it's all in the way
and my laughter,
as the poet said,
was nowhere to be found.
Then said my friend Daniel
(brave even among the lions),
"It's not the weight you carry
but how you carry it --
books, bricks, grief --
it's all in the way
you embrace it, balance it, carry it
when you cannot, and would not,
put it down."
So I went practicing.
Have you noticed?
Have you heard
the laughter
that comes, now and again,
out of my startled mouth?
How I linger
to admire, admire, admire
when you cannot, and would not,
put it down."
So I went practicing.
Have you noticed?
Have you heard
the laughter
that comes, now and again,
out of my startled mouth?
How I linger
to admire, admire, admire
the things of this world
that are kind, and maybe
also troubled --
roses in the wind,
the sea geese on the steep waves,
a love to which there is no reply?
that are kind, and maybe
also troubled --
roses in the wind,
the sea geese on the steep waves,
a love to which there is no reply?
"a joey always loves his mama"
A card to me from JoAnne for Joey's 30th Birthday
Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?
—Clarence the angel in "It's a Wonderful Life"
—Clarence the angel in "It's a Wonderful Life"
Joey's Memorial Blogsite-doubleclick for link
Joey in Denali, Alaska, Summer 2006
Other Remembering Joey Websites
My Friends and Fellow Grieving Parents
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An Inside Look3 months ago
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16 years 20236 months ago
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Fog and faith1 year ago
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Christmas Eve5 years ago
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A New Blog6 years ago
-
Eight7 years ago
-
You can't hurt steel!11 years ago
-
You Are Mine11 years ago
-
Kit's birthday14 years ago
-
-
Websites I Like and Use
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5 comments:
I think you are missing the snow?
I really just love all your pictures. As I looked at them a smile came across my face. That is what is supposed to happen...
memories of good things... we already know that sadness. We do not need to be reminded.
Love Sharon
I'm so glad that you have these precious photographs. He is such a gorgeous young man - he has a radiant face. I am so sorry that he isn't with you right now. Thank you for posting your photos here. The treasures of love that your family shares is clear in your pictures.
These snow photos of Joey are reminders of how he lived his life to the fullest. These are precious photos - whether he's on Maui Surfing or on Virginia playing in the snow he was enjoying life :) I am sure he's having a blast in Heaven. Soon we will all be there with them.
I feel sad, I know you do. I wish he was here. I cried a lot tonight. It's no fair. When I read this...I just want to take everybody to heaven. I just want to go home and grow flowers in heaven.
I always LOVE looking at your family photo's!! You are a family that LOVES to live life to the fullest...taking every moment to build memories. I love seeing pictures of Joey, he, thru the pictures, reminds us all to live life to the fullest and to lavish love on our loved ones! Thank you Johnson's for modeling what a Christian family should look like! We love you all!! xoxo
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