5 Years

It is September 20, 2016.

My Rob died 5 years ago today.

At 4:13 a.m.

Each year, I struggle to decide what to write for my blog on this day.

There really are no words to describe how I felt then

(or now, for that matter).

Any words that I could write would be too confining and nondescript.

The very first year after my Rob died; 

I posted a blank, black photo.

It was the closest representation I could think of 

to describe how I felt on that day.

Empty and beyond darkness.

However, every year since then,

I’ve always decided that,

on this day -

the anniversary of Rob’s first day in heaven -

to celebrate his life through joyful photos of him

with no words attached.

Photos have always comforted me.

And have comforted some of those around me.

So, this year, I will repost those photos

(because I know some will want/need to see them).

But I will start with some new ones.

Ones that remind me of the joy he exuded with one smile.

Ones that I look at every now and then

and notice how much,

as my children have grown older,

they take on more of his characteristics.

These photos came from his yearbook.

He was a senior in high school...
...on the cusp of his adult life.

I didn’t even know him then.

I wouldn’t meet him until 16 years later.

But I still recognize my Rob in these photos.

I bet you will too!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

REVEREND ROBERT EDWARD SHELTON

January 18, 1959 

(born at 1:01 a.m. according to his birth certificate)

- September 20, 2011

(passed away at 4:13 a.m.)