8/10/2011...IT'S NOW BEEN 2YRS.,7 MO.'S AND 1 WEEK SINCE YOU RAN YOUR LAST CALL.
     I JUST HAD A PHONE CALL FROM SHANNON'S MOM. SHE WANTED TO TELL ME A STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED TO HER THIS PAST WEEKEND WHILE DOING SOME SCHOOL SUPPLY SHOPPING.
     SHE WENT TO HER LOCAL WAL-MART AND FORGOT TO GET A BUGGY. WHEN SHE WENT BACK, SHE TOLD THE GREETER THAT SHE NEEDED TO GET A BUGGY AND HE SAID THAT HE WOULD GET IT FOR HER.
     WHEN HE TURNED AROUND, SHE NOTICED HIS NAME TAG. HIS NAME WAS: JARRETT. SPELLED THE EXACT SAME WAY AS YOURS.
     SHE TOLD HIM THAT HIS NAME WAS SPELLED THE EXACT SAME WAY AS HER DAUGHTER'S EX-BOYFRIEND WHO WAS A FIREFIGHTER.
     HE SAID THAT HE KNEW...HE WAS KILLED GOING TO A FIRE. SHE ASKED HIM HOW HE KNEW YOU AND HE SAID HE DIDN'T. THAT HE HAD JUST READ ABOUT YOU AND SEEN YOUR BUSINESS CARD AT AN EATERY EARLIER THAT DAY. 
     HE TOLD HER THAT HE WANTED TO BE A FIREFIGHTER TOO.
WHICH PUT HER IN TEARS.  
     HER AND SHANNON WERE HANGING OUT~DOING MOTHER/DAUGHTER THINGS TODAY AND WHEN SHE TOLD SHANNON, SHANNON SAID THAT SHE HAD TO CALL AND TELL ME! 
     SO, SHE DID. IT WAS HEARTWARMING, YET HEARTBREAKING BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT HERE TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT YOU LOVED DOING. 
     SHE WANTED ME TO KNOW THAT SHE AND HER FAMILY STILL LOVE YOU AND ALWAYS WILL.  THEY MISS YOU TOO!
     YOU'RE STILL REACHING PEOPLE AND GETTING 'EM TO JOIN THEIR LOCAL FIRE DEPT. THOUGH, I SURE WISH YOU WERE HERE!

     MISS YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY!
     LOVE YOU MY JARRETT  ALWAYS, MAMA

 

Love and Miss you ALWAYS Jarrett!!!  This video reminds me of you EVERY time I hear it.  I know you would like it too.  

Love,
Nicki
8/6/2011

7/29/2011...IT'S NOW BEEN 2 YRS. AND 7MO.'S SINCE YOU RAN YOUR LAST CALL. ME AND YOUR DADDY JUST GOT THROUGH WATCHING THE SLIDE SHOW OF THE PICTURES FROM YOUR WRECK. TWO YRS. AND 7 MO.'S LATER.............................WE'RE JUST NOW GETTING THE PICTURES.
     BRINGS BACK MEMORIES. BAD MEMORIES. BRINGS EVEN MORE TEARS. STILL HARD TO BELIEVE THAT YOU'VE RAN YOUR LAST CALL. TO LOOK AT THE PICTURES AND THE PHOTOS THAT I TOOK ~ AFTERWARDS...YOU LOOK SO GOOD THAT IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA IS THE CAUSE OF YOU NOT BEING HERE. 
     YOU'RE MISSING OUT ON SO MUCH! SURE DO WISH YOU WERE HERE AND DOING WHAT YOU LOVED TO DO. THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOT TO TRY TO KEEP REMINDING OURSELVES OF....THAT YOU WERE DOING WHAT YOU LOVED. NOT MANY PEOPLE GET TO "GO" DOING WHAT THEY LOVED.
     MISS YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY.
     LOVE YOU MY JARRETT  ALWAYS, MAMA    
   

7/24/2011...IT'S NOW BEEN 2YRS.,6MO.'S,3WKS. AND 4 DAYS SINCE YOU RAN YOUR LAST CALL.

     TODAY IS YOUR 27TH BIRTHDAY. FOR THE MOST PART PEOPLE USUALLY SAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BUT WHAT DO YOU SAY WHEN YOU'RE NOT HERE TO CELEBRATE IT WITH ALL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS?

     WE'RE CAUGHT BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE. THE ROCK BEING THE WAY THINGS USE TO BE AND THE HARD PLACE IS THE HERE AND NOW AND HOW THINGS ARE WITHOUT YOU WITH US.

     SPENT MOST OF THE WEEKEND IN TEARS. GETTING THINGS TOGETHER FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY. WE DECIDED TO HAVE YOUR 27TH BIRTHDAY BALLOON RELEASE AT THE LAKE HOUSE THIS YEAR. I THOUGHT THAT SINCE YOUR BIRTHDAY FELL ON A SUNDAY, YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN OFF FROM BOTH YOUR JOBS AND WOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE LAKE RIDING YOUR SEA-DOO OR SWIMMING IN THE POOL.

     EVERYONE WAS HAPPY AND GLAD THAT WE MADE THAT DECISION AND THEY ALL JOINED IN ON RELEASING THE BALLOONS FOR YOUR 3RD BIRTHDAY IN HEAVEN. 

     I HOPE THAT YOUR BROTHER UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS IS ALL WE HAVE LEFT TO ''DO'' FOR YOU. 

     YOU'RE NO LONGER HERE TO HAVE A REAL BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. YOU'RE NOT HERE TO ENJOY ALL THE HOLIDAY GATHERINGS AND ALL THE FOOD THAT YOU SO LOVED TO EAT. YOU'RE NOT HERE TO ENJOY BEING WITH YOUR BROTHER AND HELPING HIM OUT OR JUST TALKING WITH HIM. YOU WEREN'T HERE TO SEE HIM BE HAPPY OVER THE BIRTH OF HIS LITTLE GIRL. (THE LATEST LITTLE-LITTLE).

     YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE CHANCE AT ALL THE THINGS THAT YOUR BROTHER IS GETTING TO DO AND I JUST HOPE HE UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS ONE TIME A YEAR BALLOON RELEASE IS ALL WE HAVE. IT'S HARD TO DO~MENTALLY...BECAUSE IT'S AS IF I'M SAYING GOODBYE. (TO WHICH I'VE NEVER DONE! NEVER WILL!)

     MISS YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY!

     LOVE YOU MY JARRETT  ALWAYS, MAMA

    

7/21/2011...IT'S BEEN 2YR'.S,6MO'.S, 2 WKS. AND 6 DAYS SINCE YOU RAN YOUR LAST CALL.  SUNDAY WILL BE YOUR 27TH BIRTHDAY.  YOUR 3RD ONE IN HEAVEN.  IT'S STILL HARD TO BELIEVE.  IT'S LIKE YOU'RE AT WORK OR ON VACATION.  AS IF YOU'VE ALREADY GOTTEN UP AND GOTTEN READY AND LEFT BEFORE WE GOT TO GET UP.  HOW I WISH THAT WERE TRUE!
     WE'VE DECIDED TO TAKE YOU TO THE LAKE HOUSE AND DO YOUR BIRTHDAY BALLOON RELEASE DOWN THERE THIS YEAR.  I THOUGHT THAT SINCE YOUR BIRTHDAY WAS ON A SUNDAY ~ YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN OFF FROM THE FIRE DEPT. AND THE POST OFFICE AND YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE LAKE RIDING YOUR SEA-DOO AND HAVING FUN. 
     SO, WITH THAT ~ THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS YEAR.  AS ALWAYS, I'LL START BAKING CUP CAKES AS SOON AS WE GET THERE.  
     MISS YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY!
     LOVE YOU MY JARRETT  ALWAYS, MAMA

7/10/2011

"I think of you"

I see rain, I think of you.

I see rainbows, I think of you.

I see flashing lights, I think of you.

I hear sirens, I think of you.

I see a fire, I think of you.

I look at pictures, I think of you.

I see you in my dreams, I think of you.

I look at Tyler, I think of you.

I look at a calendar, I think of you.

I visit your website, I think of you.

I see your smile, I'll never forget you!

I miss you Jarrett and I hope you're at peace.  We sure do miss you down here and wish you could be here to enjoy everyone and everything like you always did.

Love,
Nicki

7/9/2011...IT'S NOW BEEN 2 YRS.,6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK SINCE YOU RAN YOUR LAST CALL. WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE????
     THIS YEAR WILL BE YOUR 3RD YEAR TO HAVE YOUR BIRTHDAY IN HEAVEN. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT! IT SEEMS JUST LIKE YESTERDAY THAT I DECIDED TO BAKE YOU A BIRTHDAY CAKE. 
     I REMEMBER HOW I THOUGHT ABOUT ''NOT'' BAKING YOU ONE BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD THINK THAT YOU WERE TOO OLD TO HAVE YOUR MAMA BAKE YOU A BIRTHDAY CAKE. HOW I'M GLAD THAT I DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND BAKE IT.
     JUST LITTLE THINGS LIKE THIS CAN BRINGS TEARS. HOW I WISH WE STILL HAD MORE TIME AS A FAMILY. HOW I WISH WE COULD SEE HOW YOU WOULD HELP YOUR BROTHER WITH HIS LITTLE GIRL. YOU'D BE A PROUD UNCLE! YOU'D DEFINITELY BE SPOILING HER! YOU'D PROBABLY SPEND YOUR WHOLE PAYCHECK ON HER! AFTERALL....YOU HELPED OUT MANY-A-FEMALE FRIENDS WHO HAD BABIES WHO COULDN'T AFFORD 'EM. SPENDING HARD EARNED MONEY....AND WHERE ARE THEY NOW??? I KNOW YOU SPENT $300.00 DOLLARS ON JUST ONE!
     HOW IT BREAKS MY HEART THAT GOD TOOK YOU BEFORE YOU EVEN GOT TO MEET YOUR OWN BABY NIECE. SHE'S SO BEAUTIFUL. SHE HAS BLUE EYES~JUST LIKE YOU AND YOUR DADDY. SHE'S GOT YOUR BROTHER'S HAIR COLOR. SHE'S GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY ONE DAY...TAKING AFTER BOTH HER MOM AND YOUR BROTHER. HE'S STILL HANDSOME!
     I MISS YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY!
     LOVE YOU MY JARRETT  ALWAYS, MAMA

6/29/2011...IT'S NOW BEEN 2 YRS./6 MO'S SINCE YOU RAN YOUR LAST CALL. THE DAYS JUST KEEP ADDING UP AND IT'S STILL HARD TO BELIEVE THAT YOU'VE RAN YOUR LAST CALL.
     I CAN'T GET MY MIND TO ''WRAP'' AROUND IT OR FIGURE IT OUT...WHY YOU? WHY AT 24 YRS. OLD?
     I STILL CRY, STILL HAVE THE TEARS WHELL UP WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT A CERTAIN SUBJECT THAT INVOLVES YOU. I GUESS THAT'S NEVER GOING TO STOP. 
     YOU'RE MISSING OUT ON YOUR NIECE GROWING UP. SHE'S A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE-LITTLE. SHE'S ALMOST 19 MO'S OLD. HOW TIME FLIES. 
     I GUESS IT'S NORMAL TO WONDER ABOUT A LOVED ONE IN HEAVEN...WHAT THEY DO AND HOW THEY SPEND THEIR TIME. 
     I STILL WORRY ~ AS A MOTHER SHOULD ~ ABOUT YOU. I ALSO WORRY THAT I'M GOING TO FORGET WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE OR THE SOUND OF YOUR VOICE.
     I WORRY THAT IF I SHOULD DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT WITH MYSELF, WOULD YOU RECOGNIZE ME IF I SHOULD PASS AWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN...WOULD YOU BE ''THERE'' TO GREET ME? 
     THESE ARE JUST A FEW THOUGHTS THAT I THINK OF ON A DAILY BASIS. THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT KEEP RUNNING THROUGH MY MIND.
     I'M TORN BETWEEN MISSING YOU AND LIVING TO ENJOY WHAT TIME I HAVE LEFT HERE WITH YOUR BROTHER AND HIS LITTLE GIRL. WE'VE GIVEN OURSELVES A GRANDPARENTS NAME AND WE STILL HAVE THE J-NAME AS WELL FOR TYLER AND GAGE.
     IT'S JUST SO MENTALLY HARD AND ONLY ANOTHER MOTHER WOULD FULLY UNDERSTAND IT. WE SHOW ONE SIDE TO ''EVERYONE'' ELSE AND THEN WHEN WE GET HOME ~ WE HAVE OUR MOMENTS. THAT'S OUR BREAKDOWN TIME.
     I JUST WISH THAT THE WHOLE ACCIDENT HADN'T HAVE HAPPENED. I KNOW THAT YOU LOVED WHAT YOU WERE DOING AND YOU WOULDN'T HAVE WANTED IT ANY OTHER WAY. THOUGH I WOULD. WE'RE SUPPOSE TO GO BEFORE OUR CHILDREN!
     MISS YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY ~ 
     LOVE YOU MY JARRETT  ALWAYS, MAMA

~I AM~

     WITH TEARS ROLLING DOWN MY FACE I THINK AND WONDER ABOUT ALL THE MOTHERS (AND FATHERS) WHO HAVE LOST A CHILD AND IT BREAKS MY HEART TO KNOW AND SEE SO MANY BECAUSE NOW~I AM ONE OF THEM.

     I SEE JUST HOW MANY YEARS THAT HAVE PASSED FOR OTHER PARENTS AND I CAN'T IMAGINE ME BEING IN THEIR SHOES. ALL-THE-WHILE~I AM.

     I STILL CAN'T SEE MYSELF IN THE FUTURE YEARS AS A PARENT WHO HAS LOST A CHILD~YET KNOWING DEEP DOWN WITH EVERY DAY THAT PASSES~I AM.

     THE THOUGHTS THAT RUN THROUGH MY MIND ON A DAILY BASIS MAKES ME WONDER JUST HOW I MADE IT THROUGH THE DAY.

     WE ALL KEEP GOING FOR MANY DIFFERENT REASONS AND YET WONDER HOW WE DO IT. 

      ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT SOMEWHERE OUT THERE SOMEONE IS THINKING OF YOUR LOVED ONE~I AM.

(6/26/2011)

SEAN'S 26TH BIRTHDAY GRAPHIC/JARRETT'S 27TH BIRTHDAY GRAPHICS ~ 7/6/2011 AND 7/24/2011 ~

Man, talk about waking up crying like it was the night that I found out you were gone!!  But this time, it was supposed to be a good dream.  I don't think I cried that long in a while... thinking that you were actually back.  Bawling right now just thinking about it!  It was beyond measure good to "see" you, Jarrett!!  I miss you so much!  I love you even more!!  I may not show it, but you're still ALWAYS in my thoughts.  I don't know what triggered a dream about you... maybe the fact you knew last night I needed a really good hug and NO ONE hugs and makes me feel better than you.  Either way, it was one of those dreams that I just wish would come true!!  Like Cinderella sings... "A dream is a wish your heart makes", well that's certainly what it was for me last night.  I wish you could come back.  The world is a little less brilliant in color without you.  You had a way to light up the whole room that no one else possesses.  I just wanted you to know that.  Take care and hopefully I will get to see you soon; the Lord cannot come back soon enough so I can see my best friend again!!(JUNE 2011)

6/8/2011...IT'S NOW BEEN 2YRS.,5MONTHS AND 1 WEEK SINCE YOU RAN YOUR LAST CALL.

     HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A CO-WORKER AND BY THE TIME WE WERE FINISHED~WE BOTH WERE IN TEARS.

     SHE HAS THAT "NEED" FOR INFORMATION ABOUT PAM AND HER FAMILY ON THE NIGHT OF THE TORNADO. COULD YOU ASK PAM TO COME AND VISIT HER~LET HER KNOW HOW EVERYONE IS DOING AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL HELP CALM HER NERVES.

     I TOLD HER THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME. THAT THINGS HAVE TO HAPPEN AND THEY WILL COME IN STAGES. EVEN THOUGH I'M SPEAKING FROM "LOSING A CHILD" AND SHE'S LOST AN "IN-LAW", IT MAY HELP IF SHE GOT A VISIT FROM PAM.

     I EVEN TOLD HER ABOUT ME BEING MAD AT GOD AND BLAMING HIM. SHE FULLY UNDERSTOOD THAT AND SHE HAS EVEN ASKED: WHY.  WHY THEM. DID THEY SUFFER? SHE HOPES NOT. SHE DOESN'T WANT TO KNOW THAT ANYONE SUFFERED.

     I TOLD HER WHAT I KNEW FROM LISTENING TO THE SCANNER. SOME THINGS, I HADN'T TOLD OR TALKED ABOUT. I WAS ONLY GOING TO MENTION IT-IF THEY ASKED. THEY KNOW THAT WE STILL LISTEN TO THE SCANNER.

     YOU BE SURE TO TELL 'EM HELLO AND TELL TODD TO COME VISIT HIS DAD TOO.  BE SURE TO COME VISIT YOUR DADDY FOR FATHER'S DAY~HE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU AND HAVE YOU STRETCH YOUR ARMS OVER HIM AND HOLD HIS ARMS DOWN (SO HE DOESN'T PANIC) WHEN YOU GIVE HIM A HUG.

     MISS YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY.

     LOVE YOU MY JARRETT  ALWAYS, MAMA

4/27/2011...IT'S NOW BEEN 28 MONTHS SINCE YOU RAN YOUR LAST CALL~WHICH HAPPENS TO FALL ON YOUR DADDY'S BIRTHDAY. HOW TIME FLIES!
     IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT'S BEEN THIS LONG ALREADY. IT JUST REALLY SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE AT TRAINING OR AT WORK (THE MANY JOBS THAT YOU HAD AT ONE TIME)...KEEPING YOU BUSY.
     YOU'RE MISSING OUT ON SPENDING TIME WITH YOUR BEAUTIFUL LITTLE NIECE. SHE'S GROWING UP SO FAST. SHE'S ALMOST 17 MONTHS OLD NOW. YOU SHOULD SEE HER RUN. SHE'S A DELIGHT TO WATCH. SHE'S GOT A GOOD SET OF LUNGS ON HER TOO! SHE'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE - LITTLE!!
     SURE WISH YOU'D COME AND VISIT MORE OFTEN. YOUR DADDY CAUGHT ME - YET AGAIN...CRYING~WANTING TO KNOW WHAT'S WRONG. I TOLD HIM THAT I WAS AFRAID OF ''FORGETTING'' WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE, THE SOUND OF YOUR VOICE, YOUR FEATURES~JUST FORGETTING...SINCE WE'RE GETTING OLDER. GUESS HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND! WHICH IS NOTHING NEW.
     BE SURE TO WATCH OVER YOUR BROTHER ON THE DAYS THAT HE WORKS. MAKE SURE HE MAKES IT HOME TO HIS GIRLS. HE'S GOT ALOT ON HIM NOW...SINCE HE'S LEFT HERE ALONE AND DOESN'T HAVE YOU HERE TO SHARE THINGS WITH. I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND THE REASONING BEHIND IT AND I GUESS I NEVER WILL. ALL I KNOW IS THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE THIS WAY AND IT DOESN'T GET ANY EASIER WITH TIME. 
     MISS YOU EACH AND EVERY DAY ~
     LOVE YOU MY JARRETT  ALWAYS, MAMA

JARRETT'S EASTER GRAPHIC...4/24/2011

I wanted to share this link... it gives the most "up to date" information about the SB155 (Jarrett Little Act).  It is in the 2nd reading of the House right now!  This final reading and a vote and it should go to the governor's desk.  I urge everyone who reads this to call Gov. Deal and URGE him to sign this.  That you know Jarrett and his family and that this needs to pass for those like them.

Jarrett Little Act link

Contact Governor Deal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtEzKzG3sqI