Im LOVING  these pictures!! Thank you for posting them. I am reminiscing,  thinking back to memories of my 1st sleepover at my uncle Mike and aunt Paulette, it was finally my turn (my summer)!! We went to Nonies and that was always something to look forward to with all the animals to pet & play with & playing in the hose or swimming, and with her bowls of cat food for the racoons I thought at the time was just brilliant 😊 Uncle Mike would come home from work and still fire up the grill to make burgers (almost raw-super pink inside which is never seen before) 😆 It was delicious!! So thank u Uncle Mike for teaching me the joys of medium cooked meat. Also, let's remember his impeccable taste in cars. This man purchased my dream car, and I believe he had a huge influence on it being to this day my dream car,  and of someday owning a 1970 (id take any year honestly) *Chevelle* what a beauty in that blue 💙 Id never heard such an engine roar before so up close. We'd walk his beautiful property and talk about his beloved Chevelle, birds, trees, animals, the work he did, and I'd Just try and keep up helping with fire wood or fixing a fence or whatever we were doing probably driving him nuts asking 1,000 9yr old questions. Those special memories that are all mine and l I get to keep will always hold a huge place in my heart❤️ It's my honor to share blips here. I will never forget that summer and all the interesting conversations we have had over the years, the hugs, and the slow draw in your voice was so calming & safe.  You are so missed. I wish we had more time. More time to fire up that Chevelle up and take a drive up & down those beautiful roads in front of your home. Even the Suburban was super cool!! You always will be one cool uncle, with again the best taste in vehicles ever, that I wish we spent more time and had more time to spend. I love you ❤️ I am praying for those that had the pleasure of being in his immediate circle. I love you all and Im sending you all my love and peace. I love you uncle Mike. 

In his younger years, he loved drag racing. He became involved in competitive bass fishing tournaments for several years. He enjoyed our family camping trips over the years. He also took up flying lessons, and got his pilots license. He and my mom enjoyed flying together to places.

One of my most fond memories was one of our camping trips, Dad and I went fishing in his little aluminum boat, and we caught a bunch of rainbow trout! We had a great time.

Daddy, I miss you so much already.  I now have a big hole in my heart that will never be refilled.  You were and ALWAYS will be my HERO.  I ❤️ you. Until we see each other in Heaven,  MAY YOU REST IN PEACE, no longer in pain! 

Christmas at the Smarts Fernandina