A few days after my mom passed, I had a dream. I suffered a lot, but I always trusted in God.

In my dream, my mom looked younger, like when she was 35 with her burgundy hair (this age I always think of my mom, even when she was alive.) She was wearing a suit that she liked very much (black & white lined plaid and red flowers pattern). I didn’t see it, but in my conscience, I had this intuitive conviction she was in a roller coaster. Two people (a man and a woman) were sitting on the back seat (they looked young too.) All of them were looking at the sky and they were smiling. There was peace in their expressions and then I saw something blurry. It was a paragraph (about 3-4 lines), but I couldn’t read the message and then one short phrase appeared clearly in Spanish and it read: “yo estoy bien.” The text was bright as gold.

Those words felt so real and they gave me hope and peace of mind that my mom is okay and that I don’t need to worry because God is taking care of her. “Yo estoy bien” means “I’m okay.” This isn’t the only experience that has happened to me since mom left. I could tell you many stories. I have learned that God is merciful and sometimes he allows us to see things to let us know that he has never abandoned us and that his promises are real.

Camping, drag races, watching NASCAR, going to bump n runs — these are not the same without him! He was a car guy, a Chevy guy for sure! Loved going to the races, loved camping, loved his girls, loved his granddaughters, loved life!

Joe Joe had such a joyful, infectious laugh that could be heard from miles away. It came about like that of a strong wind, evolving into a heavy storm that rained with childish glee. Even through a sea of people, he easily stood out as his laugh could carry across the vastness of space. It was addicting, so contagious that you would soon laugh along; even if you didn’t know what for. His laugh could brighten any room; though its lovely radiance could never truly match the beauty of his smile. And yet, both his laugh and his smile were only windows to his heart, where everyone could see the love and kindness he had held inside.

Halloween was my favorite holiday — as a kid, teenager, young adult, my whole life. It was about all things spooky. Absolutely loved it. THEN, Donovan was born — ON HALLOWEEN. Such fun we had.

Three years later — Stephani was born ON HALLOWEEN. I always thought it was so special — my kids were born not only on the same day but on Halloween. It will forever be my favorite holiday, my favorite day, but not for all things spooky. For that is the day both my children came into this world.

I love you both so very much, my pumpkins —
— Mom xoxo

The journey didn’t end when you died, for you’re like the Titanic — with 1 million wonders under the sea …