[Kenna]

Dustin Thomas, born July 31, 1994...laid to rest August 3, 1994

If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together.. there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart.. I’ll always be with you.

If there ever comes a day when we can't be together keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever.

If you live to be 100, I hope I live to be 100 minus 1 day, so I never have to live without you.

Promise me you'll never forget me because if I thought you would I'd never leave.

Some people care too much, I think it's called love.

Wherever they go, and whatever happens to them on the way, in that enchanted place on the top of the forest,
a little boy and his Bear will always be playing.

You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.

-- Winnie the Pooh

My dearest Dustin,

Your big brother and I had waited so long for you and I still chuckle at the time you kicked the dinner plate off my huge pregnant belly or made me crave watermelon and baked potatoes. And fondly recall the July 4th party as I removed the watermelon from the ice bucket, placed it on my lap and soaked my swollen feet in the ice...as family members teased me "ain't it time for you to have that baby, you look like you're about to pop!" (it didn't help that it looked like I was saving the watermelon all for myself!)

The day you were born, I held you in my arms and said hello, tousled your thick, dark hair and kissed your sweet tiny hands, rocked you gently and told you how much you were loved..spent only a few hours with you that now seem like only seconds...snuggled you in your warm, soft blue blanket while gently rocking and soothing you and pressed my lips to your forehead then had to say good bye too quickly. When they took you from my arms, your gramma held me as I cried and said "I will never know the color of his eyes". The next day, the nurse visited me and asked "are you ready to nurse your baby?"...I couldn't fault her, she didn't know..."no" I said very quietly as I was startled out of my daze "I already said good bye" I responded, as I watched a sweet bluebird land on my windowsill, fluffing himself in the morning sun which made me smile. I took it as a sign you were still with me (as bluebirds rarely come too near a busy building) and instantly forgave that poor nurse that left my room crying.

I laid you to rest on a hill in a beautiful, quiet summer field full of brown-eyed-susans (your lil' gramma's favorite) flowing gently in a breeze that smelled of honeysuckle.

As I was surrounded by many people, it was only you and I on that hilltop...as the sun warmed my face, I tilted my head up with eyes closed and thought of the many things I would miss...yet, knowing you were in your great great gramma's arms on another beautiful, peaceful hilltop and asked her to give you a kiss for me.

I will never know the color of your beautiful eyes, won't dust off your knees when you fall over your tonka truck, didn't get to tease you when you wrinkle your nose, stick out your tongue and say "girls, ick", see you at your first baseball game or teach you how to go fishing at our favorite deep cold mountain river or to swim at "blue hole", or watch you and your brother fuss over your first cars...many things we missed out on... but I have always known you were with me every day... I had given you a guardian angel that day on the hill, but you and your great great gramma are my angels.

To that little boy with his bear and his gramma playing in that enchanted place... Momma and Connor miss you both. One day, I will join you in the 100 acre wood and you can tell me about all the stories lil' gramma has shared with you while we enjoy our honey-sticks and ice cream... till then, give lil' gramma a kiss for me.

With Tender Loving Care and a broken heart,
Momma