Thursday, August 12, 2010

Mourning Another Birthday

Joseph Neal Johnson 8/17/79-5/22/08

I miss you, beautiful son.

Miss your presence here with us.

Miss your warmth and humor, your enthusiasm for life, your insight and interested mind.

I miss getting hugged by you. Tall tender hugs. No one hugs me like that anymore.

I loved being your mother. I felt so proud of you. I loved your vibrance--that red hair and those deep brown eyes and the radiant, ever-ready smile.

I miss the closeness we all felt with you, and the way you enjoyed being with us.

I miss traveling with you, meeting up at the airport someplace, and exploring the world through your lively commentary and alert eyes.

I miss my cultural guide, and your efforts to keep me properly informed.

You, my son with an opinion on everything, also listened.

I loved our talks.

Playing music with your dad, or talking investment schemes. Laughing with your sisters and brother-in-laws. Entertaining your beloved nieces and nephews. Surfing, eating, traveling with Rachel. Rushing at life with Kevin and JR and Theo and Josh and so many others. And music.

Your life was rich with the sound of melodies

rising up.

Your voice --a song.

Cut short.

I can hardly wait to open the door one day and find you standing there.

Radiant and alive.

I miss you so, beautiful son.

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

9 comments:

Robin said...

Oh . . . I so miss all the same things. Especially the hugs from the only tall person in our family.

Much love to you during these hard days, Karen. Your boy is so very beautiful.

Liza on Maui said...

How can we not miss such a wonderful man ... and how can you not miss such a wonderful son? ....

It's hard to find words of comfort to say, but know that we are here ... remembering Joey with you.

Jeri said...

Missing Joey too and thinking of you all during this time.

Love & prayers,
Jeri

Marina said...

Karen and Joe:
My heart aches for you as you face another birthday without your precious Joey. I'm so sorry and wish I was there to give you both a big hug.
Love you both so very much and you will be in my thoughts and prayers the next few days.
Marina

Gberger said...

This is a beautiful tribute to your gorgeous son. You have made me miss him, too - made me wish that I had met him and had the gift of spending time in his presence. Thank you for sharing him with us, as you grieve his absence on his birthday.
I am thinking of you, sending love, and praying for comfort for you. Holding faith that we WILL see them again! xoxoxoxoxo
P.S. I LOVE the surfing photo of him. It tells so much.

Anonymous said...

Karen and Joe, Just letting you know you are in my thoughts and prayers as you go through another reminder that Joey is in heaven. You both have many things that you loved about Joey, know you miss him.
xoxoxoSharon

Beckypdj said...

I'm glad I know Joey through your blog. Even though I never met him, I think about him. I was thinking the other day about his adventures I've read about and what great parents you must be to have raised a man with so much confidence and sense of adventure.

I know you miss him so much. Hugs to you and your family and keep writing about Joey. I love hearing about him.

Anna/Flowergardengirl said...

Hey Karen, I hugged you lots on the 17th and posted it to your FB wall and since then I've been caught up in the crazy world. The world without Joey. He made it better. A world without him leaves a big old pothole.

Joey was and probably is so productive. I can relate to his drive in life. He lived 3 lifetimes while as a human being and so he will certainly make good use of a spiritual one.

I'm sure there is no loneliness in heaven cause God is love. But there is lots of hurt here on earth and it's probably cause we don't get enough of God. We don't see it in people around us and Walmart was out last time I looked.

We when hurt the whole body hurts and so for today---and all the tomorrows till you see Joey...I'm wrapping you in the same love that Joey gets every day. Wouldn't that feel so good right now? To have the full---right on--straight love from God that heals and deals in our hearts and we hurt no more?

I'm praying God will wash you in that today and give you the giddiness that comes with such a visit. I got such a visit this afternoon and it caused me to have chills.

Love ya Karen--holding your heart in mine--while our Father gives you a dose of love that only He can give.

Daisy said...

((((Karen))))

Mich