I'll never forget how invincible I felt the day you were born. Grandma picked me up from pre-school and told me I was an uncle, I thought it was so cool cause I was the only kid in school that was an uncle. I remember going behind my garage and punching pieces of drywall in half, they were old and soggy and weakened by the weather but I felt so strong cause I was a 5 year old uncle.

Also every time I watch those Problem Child movies I think of you cause the first one came out when you were in grade-school and you were quite the handful, and you had red hair like he did.

Eric you were my first thought when I woke up this morning - another Christmas without you. I think of you everyday and Grandpa and I so often talk about our memories of you, just wish we had more. We miss you every day.

Everyday in some small way,

Memories of you come our way,

Though absent, you are always near,

Still missed, loved always dear.

Love you and miss you so much Eric.

Eric, here we are again just before Christmas , and knowing the only thing i want and wish for I can not have, I miss you so much , How I wish you could be here with us, I miss and love you so much, sending you big Christmas hugs and always missing you so much

Happy Thanksgiving son, another holiday without you, know that you are loved and missed so very much

Mom

Hi Buddy just feeling sad thinking about you, I guess you know by now that Gail has arrived in Heaven with you, She lost her long hard fight with cancer, i am sure you will be there to welcome her home and she will have a big hug for you from me...... also uncle Harold has also joined you there, just know I Love and miss you so so much my son..... Love you nothing X infinity big hugs

Mom

Hey Buddy , i had a bad night last night full of nightmares , and I am missing you so very much!!! wishing so much this was not real , sure could use one of your big hugs today, Love and miss you beyond words my son </3

Mom

I just can not seem to control the tears today, they flow with a mind of their own, My alarm clock this morning was spinning very strange I tried pushing buttons and it kept going around like a minute every second I unplugged it waiting to try it again in a bit, Not sure if it was a sign from you, I know you know how very much I love and miss you son........ How I wish you were here .........

Happy 29th Birthday Eric, Sure wish you were here to celebrate with us, I can not begin to describe how much my heart aches to just wrap my arms around you. These days are a struggle to get through, Never quite sure what to do with myself, I should be cooking your favorite foods, buying and wrapping your gifts, I am sure you know how much you are missed , at times I feel you right here close to me, Yet it feels so far away, I get up every morning knowing I have to face the day without you, And go to bed at night knowing I have to do it again tomorrow, I send you great big Birthday hugs and kisses and tons of love,

I love you nothing X infinity divided by 0

Mom

5 Years, Eric how can it be possible that it's been that long? Yet some days it seems like you were with us yesterday, other days it feels like more than 5 years. Yesterday I kept thinking that 5 years ago you were still with us that we had no idea of the heartache we would be facing the next day. If only we could go back to that day and change it, to still have you with us, instead of the empty spot on our hearts and in our lives. Oh how we miss you! Grandpa was saying the other day about how much he misses you. Still, not a day goes by when I think of you and miss you, the heart ache just doesn't end. I often wonder, did I hug him enough, did I tell him enough times how much I love him and how proud of him we are? If only we could hug you once more (no, more than once, once wouldn't be enough, would never be enough).

Those we love don't go away, They walk beside us every day.

Unseen, unheard, but always near, Still loved, still missed and very dear.

Love and miss you so very much Eric.

words of this song so true

Sunny days seem to hurt the most.

I wear the pain like a heavy coat.

I feel you everywhere I go.

I see your smile, I see your face,

I hear you laughin' in the rain.

I still can't believe you're gone.

It ain't fair: you died too young,

Like the story that had just begun,

But death tore the pages all away.

God knows how I miss you,

All the torture that I've been through,

Just knowin' no-one could take your place.

An' sometimes I wonder,

Who'd you be today?

Would you see the world? Would you chase your dreams?

Settle down with a family,

I wonder what would you name your babies?

Some days the sky's so blue,

I feel like I can talk to you,

An' I know it might sound crazy.

It ain't fair: you died too young,

Like the story that had just begun,

But death tore the pages all away.

God knows how I miss you,

All the torture that I've been through,

Just knowin' no-one could take your place.

An' sometimes I wonder,

Who you'd be today?

Hey Eric,

I have been thinking about you a lot lately. I miss you like crazy. I wish I could see you again. You missed my wedding day just over three months ago. I wished that you could have been there. That is the only thing that could have made that day even more perfect. A big part of me still feels like its missing and has ever since the day you passed away. It has gotten easier to be able to talk about you with out having a melt down. But losing you has been extremely hard on me. I know you would be proud of me how far I have come in my life. I wish you could be hear to see me and how successful I have become. You always told me how smart I was but I didn't always believe you with how hard I always struggled in school. But with the things I have now accomplished I know you are smiling down on me. I can just hear you say see I knew you could do it. I am so proud to be able to call you my brother. I just wish so badly you could be hear with me. It really bothers me that you are not here. When mom and dad passes away someday I will be alone with out you. I do not look forward to that day. I love you with all my heart Eric. You will always have a very special place in my heart. There is not one day that will ever pass that you won't be in my heart and on my mind. I love you forever and ever no matter how far away you are from me. You will always be my best friend even if you are not here with me. Not even death can change how much I love you and what you mean to me. You are the best big brother I could ever ask for. I love you Eric!!! I know that you are smiling down on me and looking out for me. You are my angel.

Dearest Eric, You would've loved the happenings of this past year. Remember how Heather always followed you around when she was little? How much she adored you? Well now she has a little one of her own and Lisa brought them from GA to MI last month to visit. You would've loved to meet your newest cousin and I know she would've taken right to you, little ones always have been attracted to you. And Marie (as I'm sure you know since we felt your presence with us) and Dan got married. You would be proud of her, she was so beautiful. A small wedding but she looked every inch the bride in her dress and veil, and of course the glow all brides have. We toasted a drink to your memory and knew you were there with us, with your arm around her.

People say that life goes on, and I guess it does, people marry, have babies, celebrate Holidays and birthdays but when a loved one is gone, one who should be with you, it is never, ever the same. There is a hole in our lives and hearts and nothing and no one can ever fill that hole, no matter how many Holidays, births, marriages etc there are, because we miss you so much, more than words can say and our thoughts are always that "Eric should be here to enjot this also". I hope you know just how much you are loved and we keep the memories of you with us always.

Everyday I look at your picture, I keep one right by my computer. I'm so glad we had that last Christmas dinner with you, just wish I had taken pictures. I often think of how I teased you about your beard and how you hugged me and said, "love you grandma". I hear your voice in my heart/mind and keep it there. Grandpa has said how glad he was that he walked out to your car with you and stood and chatted with you. We can't make any more memories with you so we keep alive the ones we have.

Yesterday Grandpa, Joe and I went to a Christmas special at church. We had a candle light vigil and when I lit my candle I thought of you and that I was lighting the candle in your memory, of course I started to cry. Oh Eric we miss you and love you so much, our sadness and loss have never dimmed. We should have so many more memories an pictures and laughter with you instead of past memories and tears. Your mom mentioned she wonders what you would've looked like as you aged, but to us you'll always be 23.

love you so much Eric.