For Jordan – Heaven’s Angel

It will be a year ago tomorrow when you followed that bright light to Heaven’s door……

…yet it feels like yesterday that the USAF notification team arrived to give us the raw and painful news that our son had passed away. Never before did we ever imagine that scenario – that 3 Class A Uniformed Officers would be knocking at our door to tell us that our son was gone. I never thought that our family would ever have to have our child’s body flown back home on a plane. I never imagined that I would be that mother who would be presented her son’s flag - the very one that covered his casket back home - the one that was precisely folded and honorably handed over with a salute.

Just the day before, we had talked for a long time on the phone. He shared with me what kind of dog he wanted to get and that he was having a touch of food poisoning from an under-cooked BBQ burger he had made for himself. We laughed and talked about how the family was and how his work was going. He loved being a firefighter. At the end of the conversation he said to me, “I love you, mom.” He always told me this and he always thanked me for cooking dinner. A very appreciative heart. A very loving heart. An excellent young man. A wonderful son, brother and friend.

Always smiling....that sweet and slight sideways smile...

Jordan loved to come home on military leave time. We were always greeted with big hugs and kisses and caught up with what he had been doing on our drive home. One time he grabbed the wrong military duffle bag and didn't realize it wasn't his until he pulled it out of the trunk and an Army issued combat helmet fell out. So back to the airport we went, wrong bag in tow. Luckily, his was waiting in the baggage claim area. **whew!**

See....even as a child, he was always making us laugh! When Jordan walked into a room, people noticed. People loved him - and he loved back.

As his friends will say, Jordan always found fun and humor in each day. Here he was pole dancing in the firehouse…..

…and goofing around with the Hulla-Hoop at a BBQ with coworkers and friends whilst in England.

Oh how he loved to play with the water hoses! He so loved his family and friends…

How much do you love us? “THIS MUCH!!”

Jordan wanted to make a difference in the world and enlisted with the USAF to be a firefighter because, in his words, “I want to serve our country and to help people as a firefighter.” And that you did, son. That you did. You have made a difference in the world – both then and even now. We celebrate YOU – we celebrate your LIFE – all that you gave to us while on earth.

Forever you will reside in Heaven to live in the presence of His light and love. As we look up at the stars at night, we know that your star is shining down on us like a little beacon. Someday we shall be together again. Someday. Till then, just know that each tear shed is because we love you so much.

There is a special place in Heaven for those who serve our country.

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Our family has been so touched by the compassion, prayers and acts of kindness shown to us this year. We thank each of you. To all of you who have shared your hearts and your life with me, thank you. None of us escapes the sorrows that come our way in life. We can only draw strength from our Father, our Faith and friendships. A dear blog reader, Constance, wrote this:

“Dear Becky, I know we have never met but you are very dear to me. I never told you, but the day it was posted on your site that you had lost your son, I wept for days . I did not know you could love and care for someone you had never met or be so hurt by their loss. I know the wounds are still very fresh and I hope this doesn’t increase your pain today... we women are all sisters , in every country, in every land, language, economic situation, age, color, and religion. We all come from the same Father. The older I get the more I realize how much we are all tied by our joy and grief. The more we come together the more we can uplift each other and support each other. I could go on and on but when one other woman's heart breaks, all our hearts break with her, don't you think? I do not think anyone gets off this planet unscathed. I always wished some could , but I haven’t met anyone yet that has.”

And dear Kim said, “

“God bless you and your family and our precious Jordan. Please know that I will light a candle on his day in honor of him and of course pray for him and all of you. On Jordan's Day we will celebrate his beautiful life and remember how precious life is in honor of him.” ….thank you, Kim.

And thank you, Wave, for your beautiful card…and yes, I see the yellow butterfly and the rainbow that represents the one that stretched over us at the cemetery last February 13th. God’s promises…..blessings from The Holy Spirit. Amen.

For you, sweet and precious son….In God's speed....

We love you. Always and forever, my baby you’ll be.

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note: I will taking a break now to be with my family. God Bless all of you.