December 2000

The July 4th weekend of 1999 brought all 6 of us together. Matt had traveled from Missouri and Josh had stopped by in time to enjoy Bar-B-Q chicken and potato salad. He also gave Dave and Jake a hand in building a playhouse for Rachel, offering suggestions along the way.

As I looked at my family, I decided that we really needed family pictures taken, as it had been many years since we'd had that done. Our family was growing up and slowly leaving the nest. I was thinking that Christmas would be a good time, as we'd all be together again.

Little did I know that Josh would be dead within 6 weeks!!

Someone mentioned to me that maybe a photographer could somehow superimpose Josh into a portrait for us. I talked with Greg and Joyce Garrett of Al Joseph's photography, who had taken Joshua's senior pictures 2 years earlier. Their 17-year-old son, Wayne, had died in an accident in the fall of 1997, so they understood our sorrow and pain. Greg was willing to undertake the project, something he had never done before.

In March of 2000 we all met at the photographers studio. We had mixed emotions. We knew Josh wasn't there in person, but he was there in spirit. We all had an empty feeling that day.

Using a 2-year-old picture of Josh, and waiting 8 long months, you are holding the result of hours upon hours of computer work! Greg, not knowing how Joshua's size compared to the rest of us, spent many hours on the computer, getting things just so. We are so thrilled and so thankful to him for all of his hard work. We are proud of the results and hope you enjoy the picture for many years.

With lots of love,
Laura