Where there is deep grief, there was great love"    

                                                                                   author unknown

My grief is not black or white, It is every shade of gray all at once.💗

              hello to heaven💕

Happy Birthday Steven

Today we celebrate you and the incredible person you were.  Though you’re no longer with us, your spirt and the memories we shared continue to light up our lives.  

On this special day, we remember all the joy you brought into our lives and the love you gave so freely.  We hope you’re celebrating in a place filled with peace and happiness, surrounded by all the beauty you deserve. 

Forever in our hearts.  Jennifer & John 

We send a heartfelt thank you to everyone who acknowledged Steven with your fond messages and emails, with cards and letters, and by personally attending his memorial celebration. Your personal touch has helped us work through this challenging time, and we are especially proud of him for the positive impact he had on so many people. Someone summed it up well on Saturday; "he was a genuinely good person".  

We share this poem with you as we take comfort in knowing that Steven will always be with us. (Attributed to David Romano, 1993)

When tomorrow starts without me

And I'm not there to see;

If the sun should rise and find your eyes

All filled with tears for me.

I wish so much you wouldn't cry

The way you did today;

While thinking of the many things

We didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me

As much as I love you;

And each time that you think of me,

I know you'll miss me too.

But when tomorrow starts without me

Please try to understand,

That an angel came and called my name

And took me by the hand.

She said my place was ready

In heaven far above;

And that I'd have to leave behind,

All those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away,

A tear fell from my eye;

For all my life, I'd always thought

I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for,

So much yet to do;

It seemed almost impossible,

That I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays,

The good ones and the bad;

I thought of all the love we shared,

And all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday

Just even for awhile,

I'd say goodbye and kiss you

And maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized

That this could never be;

For emptiness and memories

Would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things

I might miss come tomorrow;

I thought of you, and when I did,

My heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through heaven's gates

I felt so much at home;

When God looked down and smiled at me

From His great golden throne.

He said, "This is eternity

And all I've promised you;

Today your life on earth is past,

But here it all starts anew."

"I promise no tomorrow,

But today will always last;

And since each day's the same day,

There's no longing for the past."

"But you have been so faithful,

So trusting and so true;

Though at times you did do things,

You knew you shouldn't do."

"But you have been forgiven

And now at last you're free;

So won't you take my hand

And share my life with me?"

So when tomorrow starts without me,

Don't think we're far apart

For every time you think of me,

I'm right here in your heart.

John & Family,

Sorry for your loss, you’re in our thoughts & prayers. 

Penny & Bill Stroud