Love That Never Fades: My Son’s Birthday, Remembered and Cherished
My Favorite Cowboy!!
Hello There!
As I sit in my kitchen this morning planning my day, I struggle with various emotions spinning in my heart and my head. Today is November 11th. Veterans Day. I know for many of you your first thoughts are for our heroes. The men and women (and their families) that have served and continue to serve our country. I cannot express my gratitude enough. My husband is a retired Army National Guard Veteran. He was in the military for 21 years, so again, I do not have words to express my thankfulness. I am so proud of him and all the others who have given of themselves to keep our America free and safe. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Now, here is the part where I am open and honest with you when I say my first thoughts were not for the veterans but for my son who would have been celebrating his 35th birthday today. I can't believe he would be 35! Surely I can't be that old!
Sometimes, even now, I can almost feel him with me—those small moments come in a whisper of laughter, a shared joke, or even the scent of his favorite foods. Losing him left a void that time doesn’t quite fill, but in that emptiness, I also find the warmth of all the happy memories we shared, and more importantly, the overwhelming peace and comfort that Jesus fills my soul with!
All days are hard but some days are harder than others. Birthdays are hard. We LOVE celebrating birthdays. I got that trait from my mom! She always made us feel so special on our birthdays. It was no different in our little family. This morning I would be gathering everything together to prepare one of his favorite meals for supper tonight. It would be Pepperoncini roast, mashed potatoes, green peas, and either monkey bread or yellow cake with NO frosting. The table would be decked out with charming cowboy and horse-themed decor and we can't forget the most important thing...confetti. Lots of confetti!
My brother and his family would be coming and it would be a night of laughing, joking, wrestling, eating, and more laughing! Jayd was such a good storyteller and boy did he have some stories to tell!! I can actually see him with his head thrown back and hear his beautiful hardy laugh!
This is an old picture. The kids are all grown up now!
Instead, it will just be Kyle and me (and Mosley of course) having a quiet dinner at home.
In his absence, I have learned to hold these moments close to my heart and let them light up the dark days. They remind me that love doesn’t fade—it carries on, even through the pain.
If there’s one thing I’d encourage anyone to do, it’s this: cherish the moments with those you love. Our time with each other is never as long as we hope, and in the end, it’s those simple, beautiful moments that stay with us. Whether it’s a lingering hug, a quiet cup of coffee together, or just sitting side by side in comfortable silence, soak it all in. Hold on to it. Let your loved ones know how much they mean to you. Do the thing! Go the extra mile! Make the sacrifices if you have to. I promise you you will not regret it!
In all that I do now, I carry his memory with me, living a life that I know he’d be proud of—one that finds joy, shares kindness, and honors The Lord each day. Even if our time together was shorter than I’d hoped, it was full and real. And for that, I am forever grateful.
Happy Birthday, Jayd! Until we meet again!
Michelle Morris is a food enthusiast, passionate cook, and devoted wife who finds joy in creating delicious meals. As a firm believer in Jesus, she strives to infuse her cooking with love, kindness, and gratitude for the blessings in her life.
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