Saturday, August 15, 2009

Remembering Jake.

As I told you, I have been checking out old pictures since having them all loaded onto my Mac.  I was just looking through them, remembering so many of those times very, very vividly!  I found these... this was Jake's 3rd birthday!  It was at the Ronald McDonald House.  

2005!  My how time flies!  Jake was all about SpongeBob.  Mo was all about facepainting!  Staci was all about making Jake laugh!
That boy was so precious!  I have really been thinking about him a ton!  Also like I said earlier this week, I have been seeing the 11's all over the place this week!  In fact, at my office today, my staff surprised me with a little party at the end of the day. 
As they were singing Happy Birthday to me, I looked up at the clock, and sure enough... it was 4:11.  Jake just wanted to be there with us too!  I believe that.  And as a matter of fact, I got in my car, and within minutes, I looked at my odometer, and it was 111.  I'm just sayin'! 
I miss Jake being a part of our family!  He was so integral!   Such a big, bold spirit!  So courageous.  So inspiring.  So loved!
Our whole world was wrapped around getting him better.  I mean, our whole entire world! 
Nothing else mattered back then in 2005.  I miss that boy.  He was a precious kid! 
MO

32 comments:

Steph said...

That little boy did a whole lot of good and changed the world in a few years.

Steph

Jeni said...

I am speechless. Wow what an amazing little boy! Juat wanted to let you know that I am thinking about you.

Renee said...

Sending a cyber hug your way!

Mary said...

Sweet, Sweet Jake :) I felt like I knew him just by reading the blogs, I felt the love for him by reading your blogs and I cried with you all the day God needed another Angel Boy... Cherish the memories

Michele said...

Such a precious angel!

Hey...happy birthday Mo! Thanks for making us a part of your family!

Dawn said...

Oh how I miss the Jakester too. He was always so funny and loved life.

Mo-thanks for sharing these pics of Jake. You made my heart smile.

Have a great Birthday Weekend.

Love ya - Dawn

Melissa said...

I started following Jake's story when I heard a plea on the radio about needing blood donations. They gave a number to call for information and I did. The number was Don's and I talked to him for a little bit and he told me that the next day was Jake's birthday. We talked for a little while and I will never forget him telling me about Jake wanting nothing but Johnny's pizza. I followed his site daily after that (and after giving blood of course! :) )
Honestly, checking the site every day and seeing the struggles that Jake faced made me more appreciative of and patient with my own son when he was pushing every button I had.
Anyway, Happy Birthday weekend dear. And PLEASE let me know how to pay you for this adorable canvas.

Audrea said...

I feel like I knew Jake just from reading your blog. What an amazing little boy who brought such joy to this world and your family. I am thinking of you and sending a hug your way!

Rhonda said...

I truly enjoyed the walk down memory lane with Jake! Yes, he was a precious kid! No doubt about that! Thank you for sharing your family and your memories with us.

I know I have said this before, but I SWEAR, Ellie and Jake look alike! They could be brother and sister!

MaryH said...

I will always remember Jake and the Believer's Express - get onboard!!!! And without a doubt, he is all around his precious Mo.

When is the birthday, Mo? I'm sorry I forgot the date you posted earlier becaue you, of all people, need a big Happy Birthday from Blog world. Don't be shy - we all want to wish you the happiest of birthdays.

Meredith Owens from Arkansas said...

Melanie, It was so nice to meet you and your girls on our way home from vacation. I absolutely LOVE my canvas and can't wait to use it at Christmas although it is so beautiful I may just have to leave it up all year and BELIEVE! I didn't think about it until we left the parking lot and we were on our way home but JOhnny is a 11-11 baby. His birthday is the eleventh month and the eleventh day. Small Jakeism from Arkansas! Once again we loved meeting each of you even Mary Allison and want to thank you for taking time out of your day to deliver our canvas. Meredith Owens

~Mrs.Hodge~ said...

Thanks for the pics of sweet Jake today!!! I always love seeing that sweet little smiling face of his. Happy Birthday to you too Mo.....and I just noticed that this is comment number ELEVEN! Thanks Jake!

c.holley said...

What a special boy!

Kenzie Holley said...

Wow. How amazing.

Vicki said...

I started reading Jake's page months before he became an angel. The love he lived with was so apparent. You all must miss him so much. Peace to you.

MLP said...

You can take us down a Jake Memory Lane anytime, anyday. I love that I now know "Mo"! I only wish I could have really known Jake...although I feel that I did. He made such an impact on so many lives, including mine. What an AMAZING little boy. He is smiling down on YOU and your precious girls and giving YOU a BIG, HUGE Jake Birthday HUG!!!

I hope your birthday weekend is super fabulous!!!

Pepper said...

What a sweet post. I want you to know that I also pay attention to when I see 11's. I think of Jake and I feel like he is telling me that him and Hanna are up in Heaven playing and having a great time. She is probably making him play Candyland and being bossy but they are playing.

Beth E. said...

Jake was definitely an inspiration to me, Mo...as I have shared before, he holds a special place in my heart...he always will!

BTW...hope you had a great birthday!

tricia said...

you made him "real" to all of us thru your devoted words. we miss him too

Kathryn said...

My absolute favorite picture of that boy is the one taken when he was just a little feller sitting on a dune (or sand) somewhere in a onesie.

Look in your heart, and there he'll be, elevening up a storm!

Belinda said...

He impacted my life and I dont even know you all.. My co-workers and I checked his site everyday for news of Jake....When he died we all cried... But I think Ellie looks just like Jake...So Sweet

Proud Grandma said...

What a sweet boy - thank you for sharing your memories with us. Hope you have a great birthday weekend.

Amy said...

Missing Jake in St.Pete.

Anonymous said...

First things first!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MO! I hope your day is as special as you are to so many of us.
Thank you so much for sharing those pics of Jake with us,it sure brought back the memories from caringbridge days. I was a follower and prayer warrior for sweet Jake. Remember "too brighten" oh how that makes me laugh today when one of my kids will say something about something bright...I think of the Jakeism's...
The number 11 was never a big thing in my life UNTIL Jake became an angel. Every blue moon I have an 11 moment. Once there was a time when I got in my car to leave. When I started it, I looked at the radio and it was 11:11 am...it stopped me and sent chills down my spine. Why? Because that morning I had just read your blog and in it you had mentioned something about Jake and I got to thinking about that sweet boy. I was a follower of Stacy & Don's caringbridge (well jakes really but you know what i mean. I remember thinking back when the
11's first started to appear. At first I thought, "Okay that is wild," at the same time I really thought 11's were purely coincidental if that makes sense. Then when the serial number on the slot machine added up to the number 11 I remember reading about that exact moment today. I got an instant chill over my entire body. Then of course you have the Colorado trip and plane number and a kid, teen, adult (I forget) who's name was Jake that sat right by you...I now know that there is nothing coincidental about 11's, that they are Jakes ways of letting everyone know he is with us, around us, part of us each and every day. I can honestly say that EVERY single time I encounter the number 11 and it happens often I stop, smile and remember that precious boy. Thanks for sharing the pics, the memories of that sweet little nephew of yours.
Man did I write a book, sorry lol

Holly said...

Did not realize how long it had been since we have seen so many great pictures of that sweet boy!! He was such an incredible little guy, he changed the world. I have no doubt that he is with you guys every moment. He sure sent three sweet little girlies to you!

Thanks for taking us down memory lane. My JakeDog still has his St. Patrick's Day shirt and hat that Jake sent him! We will never forget Jake and always remember to pay it forward in his honor!

Love you guys,
Holly & JakeDog

Christy said...

We all remember Jake and will never, ever forget him. Such a precious little boy!
Hope you are having a great birthday weekend! Can't wait to hear all about it. :)

Carrie said...

Oh, the pictures of that little boy just melt my heart. I really wish I would have gotten to know him but although I never had the opportunity he continues to hold a very special place in my heart.
Thanks you so much for sharing those special pictures and lovely memories!

snekcip said...

Remembering Sweet Jake ALWAYS!! I still visit his site to get my dose of JAKE'S sweet adorable face! Oh how I missed that sweet smile!!!

Katie said...

I only met him and Stacy once and I've followed his caringbridge page and now your blog, I feel like I know your whole family. I see 11's all over the place and I always say HI! Thanks for being you, you're an inspiration to a lot of people in a lot of ways!!

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing the pictures of Jake. I feel in love with Jake, as did so many, through his caringbridge site. Oh, how I wish I could have met him. What a blessing Jake and his family has been to me. Can you even begin to imagine how many people's lives he touched through your words?

Mbeaty19 said...

Oh the picture of Jake with that big mouth open expression on his face brought back so many memories. From the moment I met 'Jake' and your family I prayed for a cure. While his cure was not the desired one I know in God's great knowledge it was the only one possible. Jake had quite the job position of watching over your family and it was just more than his earthly body could handle. Yet he continues to touch lives, yours and ours. We see the 11s, your family was blessed with three of the most amazing little girls, and Jake's journey touches and encourages us all. Thank you for sharing that little boy with us and thank you for letting the love he shared with you be spread through all of us in the blogging world.

Sandy said...

Mo
Thanks for the post of Jake. That baby did more in his few lil years than some of us in our entire life. For one he touched my life in ways no one will ever could imagine. I truly think he blessed your wonderful family with an Angel forever. Thanks again. As always Remembering Jake
Sandy