Another New Year... It is 2008.... 2 1/2 years without our Matt... / Diane Rodgers (Mom)
My Matt, As always it is very hard to face the fact you are not with us here as we all wish. We are still trying each day to go forward, to go on the best we can. Some days are ok, others.... not so ok. Still wishing this was not real, but it is. So honey, from all of us to you... Happy 2008 in Heaven. We do know you are happy, we are the sad ones left behind. Tell Pap, Elaine, June, Grandpap Gallo, Grandma Hepler & Grandpap, oh Matt.......so many..... tell them all we love them and miss them & that they best be taking good care of you! Stay close honey, to all of us... Forever our love, Mom xox
For the Rodgers family. Christmas 2007 / Sue Smith
Dearest Diane, Tim and family. Wishing all a wonderful and gentle Christmas.
With much love from Sue XOXOX
MERRY CHRISTMAS / Nancy Davis
A Christmas card sent by the Ehrmans, '07 / Diane Rodgers (Mom)
My Matt, Dad and I recieved this beautiful, thoughtful card today from your buddy ... Craig's parents ... the Ehrmans. They have been so kind these past 2 and 1/2 years since you left us. This was the best gift we have recieved, just reading this and having them tell us the boys, all your buddies, remember you and still talk of you, and include you still as one of the guys! Thank you, Marilee and Bob, for your love and care to us, and please thank all of Matt's friends for us ... for remembering our Matthew. Merry Christmas and God's blessings to all of you ...
PRECIOUS ANGEL MATTHEW AND FAMILY / ROSE GRMA TO ANGEL BRITTANY SYFERT
Christmas 2007 / Sue-Matthew Sturzaker's Mum
Thanksgiving of 2007 / Diane Rodgers (Mom)
Matt,
At Thanksgiving,we are so very thankful we had you for almost 23 years, and that you are in Heaven, where there are no more tears...
"If Tomorrow Starts Without Me" I've dreamed many dreams that never came true, If 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, And 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 left yet to do, It seemed almost impossible, That I was leaving you. I thought of all the yesterdays, The good ones and the bad, The thought of all the love we shared, And all the fun we had. If I could relive yesterday, Just even for a while, I'd say good-bye 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 life starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow, But today will always last, And since each day's the same way There's no longing for the past. You have been so faithful, So trusting and so true. Though there were times You did some things You knew you shouldn't do. But you have been forgiven And now at last you're free.
So won't you come and 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. Author "David M Romano
Halloween 2007 / Sue Smith (friend)
Oct. 10th, Night of Collin Timothys Birth. / Diane Rodgers (Mom)
HI MY MATT,
WHAT A GREAT, WONDERFUL, BLESSED DAY!!! YOU HAD YOUR 6TH NEPHEW BORN TODAY HONEY!
TODD AND JENN HAD THEIR 3RD LITTLE BOY AT 1:11 P.M. HE WEIGHED 7LBS.11OZ, AND 22 INCHES LONG! THE DATE IS OCT. 10th, 2007.
HIS NAME IS COLLIN TIMOTHY RODGERS! WOW! DAD HAD A HUGE SMILE WHEN WE WERE TOLD HIS NAME! IT WAS A TOTAL SURPRISE TO HIM, BUT NOT KERRI AND I. WE KNEW FOR MONTHS HE WOULD BE NAMED AFTER DAD! WE ARE GOOD SECRET KEEPERS! HAHAHA ...WE ARE SURE THAT YOU ALSO KNEW!
COLLIN IS PERFECT, HANDSOME, AND A BUNDLE OF JOY! HE HAS BLACK HAIR ALL OVER HIS LITTLE ROUND HEAD! NO CONE HEAD... HAHAHA....JENN POPPED HIM OUT IN JUST 5 MIN. OF PUSHING SO HE HAD NO TRAUMA! HIS SKIN IS THE PINKEST FROM HEAD TO TOE! HE IS A DOLL BABY AND WE ALL HELD HIM, EVEN THE BOYS ... ALL 5 OF YOUR NEPHEWS!!! WHAT A HOOT WATCHING THEM ALL IN AWE OF THEIR NEW LITTLE GUY!
WE TOOK LOTS OF PHOTOS TONIGHT AND WE EVEN GOT ONE WITH ALL 6 OF THE BOYS AND DAD AND I! IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE WE HAVE 6 HANDSOME, HEALTHY, WONDERFUL GRANDSONS NOW!
AS WE LEFT TO GO HOME AND WERE LOADING KERRI'S BOYS INTO THE CAR I LOOKED DOWN IN THE PARKING LOT RIGHT BEHIND KERRI'S CAR AND SAW SOMETHING SHINY. IT WAS DARK, AND RAINING. I BENT OVER TO SEE WHAT IT WAS AND IT WAS A SHINY METALLIC BUTTERFLY! A THICK STICKER I PULLED OFF OF THE CEMENT. I BEGAN TO CRY!
MY MATT ... MY MATTHEW ... YOU WERE THERE HONEY, LEAVING YOUR SIGN FOR US...... HERE IT IS......
I HAD TO CALL TODD'S CELL AND TELL HIM IN THE HOSPITAL WHAT I JUST FOUND. HE COULDN'T EVEN ANSWER ME WHEN I TOLD HIM...JUST SILENCE FOR SO LONG...THEN HE CHOKED UP AND SAID... "THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE MOM!"
AS I WRITE THIS I AM ELATED, FEELING HIGH ON LOVE FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS WE HAVE... AND YET SO SAD AND LOST INSIDE AT THE SAME TIME. LIFE IS JUST SO HARD NOW HONEY, WITHOUT YOU HERE WITH US. WE ARE TRYING TO EMBRACE THE GOOD AND THE WONDERFUL... LEARNING TO LIVE A NEW LIFE.
SOMEHOW WE HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR HONEY, ALL THE DAYS ALONG THIS GRIEF JOURNEY........ YOU HAVE BEEN THERE, LEAVING US YOUR SIGNS...
EVERYWHERE
PLEASE KEEP IT UP MATT.
IT GETS US THROUGH EACH DAY.
IT HELPS SO MUCH.
TELL GOD THANK YOU FOR THIS NEW BIRTH, THIS NEW LIFE, AND THAT WE INTEND TO LOVE ALL OF THEM... FOR AS LONG AS WE ARE GIVEN TIME ON THIS EARTH... AND BEYOND.....
SOMEDAY WE WILL ALL BE TOGETHER AGAIN HONEY, IN THE WAY GOD INTENDED WHEN HE CREATED US. WHAT A GLORIOUS DAY THAT WILL BE! UNTIL THEN, ALL OF OUR LOVE TO YOU FROM THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN.
LOVE ALWAYS AND FOREVER,
MOM & DAD XOX
Matthew X / Sue Smith (friend)
Lots of love to you mom / Angie Mom Of Christopher
Hears for you / Angie Trevizo Christophers Mom
I Wish I Was One Of The Lucky Ones / Diane/Mom To Angel Jimmy Brozzetti Were you one of the Lucky Ones?
Did you get to meet the one that lived every day as if it were his last?
Did you see that smiling face, did you hear his infectious laugh?
Did you know the one that had a hug for even the ones that fussed at him?
Did you ever go somewhere and know when the life of the party arrived?
Did you know the one that could make the best of the worst situation?
Did you feel like you were a special person around him?
Did you ever feel so loved?
Were you one of the lucky ones... that got to meet my son?
For you with love in Memory of Matthew ^i^ / Judie Smart
Happy 25th birthday Matt! We wish you were with us still, we miss you so much, more & more with each passing day. I think God decided to give you a very special present there this year. He sent you Buddy (Chuck) this past week when we were away at the beach. Now you have both of your puppies to love, to hold, to care for. It is hard for me honey, I miss you so and now my little Buddy too who kept me company. Give him a kiss for me & tell him and Beau we will all meet again...one day. Happy Birthday sweetheart. Stay near to us. You are loved forever and always. xoxoxox
My Matt, Every time I come to this site I am still in shock that this all has happened and feel as if I am living in some kind of twilight zone. It is still so hard to believe you were here, our baby son, and somehow now, you are gone. Wishing you a happy birthday is so damn hard to do, it is all way too hard to live without you. Life shouldn't be this way, but it is. Some day...I hope....it will all make sense. Some day...this life we live now will stop hurting so much...we will unite again. Love to you honey...
Matthew remembered by his friends, on his 25th birthday in Heaven. / Diane Rodgers (Mom)
A tribute left in our newspaper, for Matt ..... July 15th, 2007.....
Our family wants to say, "Thank you".....so very much for remembering our Matt, once again, this year on his 25th birthday.
Every day is hard to get through, but on these special days, it is even harder. He loved all of you so much, and we all know how much you loved him.... We found the white roses at his gravesite last month on his 2nd angel date, left by his friends. This all means more to us than we can express.
Thank you all so much, which ever ones of you have done all of these kind and loving acts. Matthew still loves and misses you all too.
Look for the butterflies....he is still around... all of us whom he loves.
Thinking of you / Jo-Ann Pacenta Lauren's Mom (Angel Mom ) Thinking of you on your birthday dear Matthew and sending lots of love and hugs your way today. Jo-Ann Pacenta~Lauren's mom
PRECIOUS MATTHEW, / ROSE GRMA TO ANGEL BRITTANY SYFERT
WISHING YOU A VERY HAPPY 25TH BIRTHDAY. HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY, WITH ALL YOUR ANGEL FRIENDS. EAT LOTS OF CAKE & ICE CREAM, YOU ARE SO MISSED AND LOVED.
With love to Matthew on his 25th Birthday.XOXOXOX / Sue Smith (friend of Diane )
Happy Birthday Matthew / Denise Kneale (connected by angels )
Happy Birthday Matthew, have a great time with all the other angels. Go find James and his friends, who will party with you until the wee hours. Wrap your wings around your dear family, so they may feel the peace you now feel. Love and Blessings Denise mum to James. http://james-kneale.memory-of.com
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