Just Some Random Thoughts and Photos

Such good buddies.  Brothers.  Friends.  Playmates.  Wrestling partners. I don't know how much Liam realizes what he lost. 

 Grandpa loves you so much Nolan.  I can still hear his voice when I told him the horrific news.  He loved talking nature, scouts, coins, piano, movies, sports, and more with you. 

 Look at you, so proud of your gingerbread house.  You were my creative boy.  Always, always wanted to create.  And you always did beautifully.

 You would always ask for the most unique gifts.  This is a coyote skin.  You loved nature and animals.  So anyone who thinks you having an animal skin is cruel doesn't know you. 

 You loved thanksgiving:  the turkey, the potatoes, the pumpkin pie, and family.

Halloween with Nolan

With his creative talent and his flair for the dramatic, Halloween was right up Nolan's alley.  Between the pumpkins that he loved to give his artistic touch to his ideas for costumes, he always made the month of October a treat.  (no, not a trick)

Halloween 2012 our family did a Lord of the Rings theme.  Nolan was Gollum.  We ordered a cool Gollum mask for $40 from Amazon.  Gollum usually lives in nothing but a tiny rag that barely covers his private parts.  So determining the rest of the costume was interesting.  We decided either a tan or a greenish color shirt and pants would work well.  That Halloween ended up being especially warm.  Nolan wore a green shirt that he ripped to shreds with shorts and bare feet!  With his nimble movements, he seemed like Gollum. 

Here are just a couple other photos from Halloweens past:  2005, the kids were dressed as superheroes.  2007, we had a Harry Potter theme going.  He was sort of Ron, but also oh shoot, I forget the name.  a kid with a camera.  I'll think of it. 

A Husband or a Priest?

Nolan had this helpful, cheerful disposition.  He loved to do what was right.  When he was little, he would bring me flowers (I think all little children do that.)  But I remember my friends noting what an extra special gentleman he was.  They would say, "he's going to make a great husband someday." 

yes.  I thought so too.

then as he grew older, he was so strong in his faith.  He often talked of becoming a priest.  I truly thought he might be called to that.  I think a good priest is called to do that.  I think he could have been a good father in church.  I think he could have led people to Christ. 

He also talked of being a soldier and a barber. 

He was creative.  He drew, he wrote, he played music. 

Nolan's Story

I decided that I should devote some of my writing to the story of my precious son.  My blog The Sorrowful is, of course, about losing Nolan.  Sometimes I touch on his life.  However, I was thinking how much he deserves a space that is dedicated to his life, not his death.  Yes, his death will be discussed.  That's now part of his story. 

I want to share as much of him as I am able.  The world lost such a gift when we lost Nolan.