It was a beautiful day when I rolled out of bed yesterday. I knew it was going to be a special day when I turned over and looked into the eyes of two eager teenage girls and it wasn't even 8am! What could drag them out of bed on a day they didn't have school? Roller Coaster Day!
Roller Coaster Day is a tradition we started to celebrate Joshua's 13th birthday last year...now we are celebrating his 14th birthday! So hard to believe a year has passed.
Throughout all the trials of living without Josh, I have learned it's a good idea to listen to my girls and how they wish to handle the challenging situations that arise in this new normal. Every time I want to sit in a dark corner and cry, I just follow them instead and I am better for it. Last year it was THEIR idea to ride roller coasters instead of sitting at home with the shades drawn like I was leaning towards. We ended up actually having a great experience last year remembering Joshy while doing what he loved, and a new tradition was born.
This year Stephi chose Hershey Park which was fine with me since it involved eating lots of chocolate...need I say more?! We took the Newmanettes to the same park several years ago when Josh was barely in school so the park holds some happy memories.
We had also planned on being "cupcake angels" where we drop off cupcakes for the entire 6th grade class at Joshua's school but we found out we couldn't do it because they wouldn't be around...they were going to Hershey Park! There is no such thing as coincidences!
We first stopped for a chocolate appetizer....big ole Reeses cups...a Josh favorite. No sooner did we walk into the park than we began running into moms and kids from school. We grabbed hugs from several moms as well as from Joshua's former teachers and saw the familiar 6th grade tshirts running throughout the park.
One of the challenges with riding roller coasters for Josh is you have to do what he would do, which means ride the fastest, toughest roller coaster as soon as possible and as many times as possible. Yikes!
For one day the conversations take on a happy tone as we relive the Josh memories and WWJD (What Would Josh Do?) It's a great way to celebrate our sweet ornery one and I am so glad my girls make it happen.
I admit it took a lot of effort to do this both physically and mentally and by 3:00 Brad and I were leaning on each other wanting for our comfy bed. We're not sure if it is the grief or old age, but I prefer to blame the grief. It doesn't matter because it is all worth it when we walk out arm and arm with our girls who have those smiles and a good new memory to add to our blessings. For one day, they can have a somewhat normal family day, which I know they treasure.
After we returned that evening, I kissed everyone goodnight and went to Joshy's room to have my own time with my memories. It's what I would be tempted to do all day if left to my own wishes and would bring pity, but at the end of a day of celebration of his life, it takes on a special air of it's own and I just spend time with my sweet boy who I so love and miss!
He was so ornery, keeping him with us in a park was a constant challenge; He was so much fun, helping us to enjoy the simplest things, and oh how he loved roller coasters! I am so lucky that I got to ride so many with him while he was here.
Happy Birthday Joshua, sweet angel boy!
Hugs!!!
Mom
Roller Coaster Day is a tradition we started to celebrate Joshua's 13th birthday last year...now we are celebrating his 14th birthday! So hard to believe a year has passed.
Throughout all the trials of living without Josh, I have learned it's a good idea to listen to my girls and how they wish to handle the challenging situations that arise in this new normal. Every time I want to sit in a dark corner and cry, I just follow them instead and I am better for it. Last year it was THEIR idea to ride roller coasters instead of sitting at home with the shades drawn like I was leaning towards. We ended up actually having a great experience last year remembering Joshy while doing what he loved, and a new tradition was born.
This year Stephi chose Hershey Park which was fine with me since it involved eating lots of chocolate...need I say more?! We took the Newmanettes to the same park several years ago when Josh was barely in school so the park holds some happy memories.
 |
| Britt 11, Stephi 9, Joshua 7 with their new friend |
We had also planned on being "cupcake angels" where we drop off cupcakes for the entire 6th grade class at Joshua's school but we found out we couldn't do it because they wouldn't be around...they were going to Hershey Park! There is no such thing as coincidences!
We first stopped for a chocolate appetizer....big ole Reeses cups...a Josh favorite. No sooner did we walk into the park than we began running into moms and kids from school. We grabbed hugs from several moms as well as from Joshua's former teachers and saw the familiar 6th grade tshirts running throughout the park.
 |
| Hangin with some of Joshua's teachers! |
For one day the conversations take on a happy tone as we relive the Josh memories and WWJD (What Would Josh Do?) It's a great way to celebrate our sweet ornery one and I am so glad my girls make it happen.
I admit it took a lot of effort to do this both physically and mentally and by 3:00 Brad and I were leaning on each other wanting for our comfy bed. We're not sure if it is the grief or old age, but I prefer to blame the grief. It doesn't matter because it is all worth it when we walk out arm and arm with our girls who have those smiles and a good new memory to add to our blessings. For one day, they can have a somewhat normal family day, which I know they treasure.
He was so ornery, keeping him with us in a park was a constant challenge; He was so much fun, helping us to enjoy the simplest things, and oh how he loved roller coasters! I am so lucky that I got to ride so many with him while he was here.
Happy Birthday Joshua, sweet angel boy!
Hugs!!!
Mom
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