I thought about what to say, how to say it and just where do I begin.... the hardest part is just beginning ....so here i go:
52 years ago today, (and some days now , i started this on his birthday, just not able to finish until now) the world was blessed with JEFFERY SCOTT REYNOLDS....
my brother....not a day goes by that i dont think about, smile or sometimes even cry due to a huge void that i have been left with. Yes, i have a void and at times just go through the motions, but i love to smile and even laugh remembering life as Jeff's little sister.
Tonight,( august 20th) on my way to school, i had the most amazing funny conversation with my mom and dad.... oh please, so my dad says, "remember when you shut the car door on Jeff's hand?" ha...my dad had it backwards, jeff slammed the car door on my hand! and 'what about the time you spit on him?" of course, thats all they saw...i got my one and only spankin because of that. So, i once again had to set my dad straight... jeff had me pinned down and i couldnt move, with a loogy of spit hanging over me.... he would suck it in and out and it would be just inches away from my face, when i got loose, i spit on him... and of coarse thats all that was seen and i got in trouble! typical big brothers are good at getting little sisters in trouble! Then my dad precedes to tell me that i was responsible for Jeff having to eat some soap! ok, lets hear it dad, what did i do this time?... he says " you had a poo-poo diaper and it smelled bad and Jeff says , mom, Sherri shit her diaper! soaptime!
Jeff was the best Uncle ever.... he took Mike to his first concert...Tom Petty. He drove mike and nae to missouri several times. He chauffered them around, played games and passed on his love for music to both kids.
Jeff loved Memphis... Graceland, blues music, and cajun cooking. In Memphis, he would always eat at the Interstate Bar-B-Q and the Ron da vue rib house. and yes, i had the opportunity to go try his favorite places too!
I love this picture.... August 7th, 1998..... Jeff married the love of his life, kris. Jeff was not only a husband now, he was a Dad, and a great one at that! Kris and Jeff and Nick adjusted very well to their new life. Wasn't long until their family grew, with their daughter cynthia. Both working, cooking, cleaning, and rasing Nick and cynthia. Their life got really busy, at times not knowing if they were coming or going! Nick played football and 4 years of basketball at Downey Highschool ( a full circle for nick, this is his 2nd year of being head coach of the freshman basketball team at Downey) . Neither Jeff or Kris missed a game, both loud and cheering, telling the umps what's up, open your eyes, your blind! Jeff videoed all the games. Nick was the apple of their eye. Webster Dictionary defines the word FATHER as "a male parent", but according to Nick, he was his hero and mentor. Jeff wasnt Jeff to Nick, he was his "dad", his lifeline and support.
What a priceless possesion that i will always cherish.... makes me think of that song "Have A Little Faith In Me"...and when your back's against the wall, Just turn around and you will see...I will CATCH your fall, have alittle faith in me. 
Jeff had many passions in life, from nick playing basketball, his gardening, his tomatoes, peppers, and flowers. One of his biggest passions in life was music.... one of them at the top of his list was music from blues, to R & B, alternative, country, jazz, it didnt matter...music... just bring on the music. I had recieved an e-mail from one of his best friends, and it said " i will say the artist who topped your brothers list was Bruce Springfield" Jeff loved many types of music, but no one came close to "THE BOSS", Born in the USA. 
omgoodness.... jeff was the biggest Bruce Springsteen fan.... he went to many of his concerts....2 of his favoirte Bruce songs: "walking in Memphis " and "Meeting acrose the river." 
Christmas 2007.... christmas eve was always a good time.... lots of family and friends, good food and gift exchange, and we all remember the true reason for the season. 
let's see.... not just our love for music, but our love for starbucks! i collect starbucks cards, but i never had the opportunity to get a Ray Charles Starbucks card..... until i got Jeff's..... another priceless part of Jeff. 
as i close with this last poem that i share with you, i'd like to say "thank you for all your thoughts, prayers and for sharing our memories of Jeff with us, its been the hardest journey of my life, of our lifes.Yet i love to smile and reminice of so many good times. Jeff.... happy birthday , i love you, i miss you and thank you for being my angel and giving me the strength and courage to do what im doing...
52 years ago today, (and some days now , i started this on his birthday, just not able to finish until now) the world was blessed with JEFFERY SCOTT REYNOLDS....
my brother....not a day goes by that i dont think about, smile or sometimes even cry due to a huge void that i have been left with. Yes, i have a void and at times just go through the motions, but i love to smile and even laugh remembering life as Jeff's little sister.
Tonight,( august 20th) on my way to school, i had the most amazing funny conversation with my mom and dad.... oh please, so my dad says, "remember when you shut the car door on Jeff's hand?" ha...my dad had it backwards, jeff slammed the car door on my hand! and 'what about the time you spit on him?" of course, thats all they saw...i got my one and only spankin because of that. So, i once again had to set my dad straight... jeff had me pinned down and i couldnt move, with a loogy of spit hanging over me.... he would suck it in and out and it would be just inches away from my face, when i got loose, i spit on him... and of coarse thats all that was seen and i got in trouble! typical big brothers are good at getting little sisters in trouble! Then my dad precedes to tell me that i was responsible for Jeff having to eat some soap! ok, lets hear it dad, what did i do this time?... he says " you had a poo-poo diaper and it smelled bad and Jeff says , mom, Sherri shit her diaper! soaptime!
Jeff was the best Uncle ever.... he took Mike to his first concert...Tom Petty. He drove mike and nae to missouri several times. He chauffered them around, played games and passed on his love for music to both kids.
Jeff loved Memphis... Graceland, blues music, and cajun cooking. In Memphis, he would always eat at the Interstate Bar-B-Q and the Ron da vue rib house. and yes, i had the opportunity to go try his favorite places too!
I love this picture.... August 7th, 1998..... Jeff married the love of his life, kris. Jeff was not only a husband now, he was a Dad, and a great one at that! Kris and Jeff and Nick adjusted very well to their new life. Wasn't long until their family grew, with their daughter cynthia. Both working, cooking, cleaning, and rasing Nick and cynthia. Their life got really busy, at times not knowing if they were coming or going! Nick played football and 4 years of basketball at Downey Highschool ( a full circle for nick, this is his 2nd year of being head coach of the freshman basketball team at Downey) . Neither Jeff or Kris missed a game, both loud and cheering, telling the umps what's up, open your eyes, your blind! Jeff videoed all the games. Nick was the apple of their eye. Webster Dictionary defines the word FATHER as "a male parent", but according to Nick, he was his hero and mentor. Jeff wasnt Jeff to Nick, he was his "dad", his lifeline and support.
One of my favorite songs.... "He ain't heavy, he's my brother." The road is long with many a winding turn, that leads us to who knows where, who knows when, But I'm strong- strong enough to carry him. He ain't heavy, he's my brother....Jeff i love you and miss you....
What a priceless possesion that i will always cherish.... makes me think of that song "Have A Little Faith In Me"...and when your back's against the wall, Just turn around and you will see...I will CATCH your fall, have alittle faith in me.
Jeff had many passions in life, from nick playing basketball, his gardening, his tomatoes, peppers, and flowers. One of his biggest passions in life was music.... one of them at the top of his list was music from blues, to R & B, alternative, country, jazz, it didnt matter...music... just bring on the music. I had recieved an e-mail from one of his best friends, and it said " i will say the artist who topped your brothers list was Bruce Springfield" Jeff loved many types of music, but no one came close to "THE BOSS", Born in the USA.
omgoodness.... jeff was the biggest Bruce Springsteen fan.... he went to many of his concerts....2 of his favoirte Bruce songs: "walking in Memphis " and "Meeting acrose the river."
Christmas 2007.... christmas eve was always a good time.... lots of family and friends, good food and gift exchange, and we all remember the true reason for the season.Our years together at East Union, he drug me into yearbook, it was Jeff's passion, and i was so lucky to share his passion. He was a natural photographer, a natural journalist, he passed a bit of his writing flare onto me, yet how i wish he could of helped me through English and Theory class at UOP! Jeff furthered his career , attended and graduated from fresno state. He worked at fresno bee and then transfered to the Modesto Bee. we loved reading his articles
let's see.... not just our love for music, but our love for starbucks! i collect starbucks cards, but i never had the opportunity to get a Ray Charles Starbucks card..... until i got Jeff's..... another priceless part of Jeff.there are soooo many memories, its so hard to stop. i do know with all the memories we have, it does make my heart smile,even though there is a huge hole/void and i will never forget. Afew words that get me by..."death leaves a heartache that no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal"
A day that no one is ever prepared for.... that day was October 16th 2008... i couldn't breath.. i tried to breath, but i couldnt, it was instant, this couldn't be true, please dont let it be true....by heart was broke literally, emotionally and physically. yes, life has changed, its not the same for kris, nick or cynthia, not for mom and dad, for me and my family or to me-ma... no more dad, hunny, son, grandson,brother, or uncle jeff. all we have is 48 short years of memories, so i have encouraged everyone that knew him to grab onto those memories and hang onto them, it's all we have of my brother Jeff. I've was told that my heart damage from the heart attack i had the very minute they gave me the news of jeff, would heal in a year or so... but my heart will always be broken, yet with all the memories of jeff, my heart does smile. And like the song Bruce Springsteen sings "this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, won't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine" i know it's what Jeff would want and expect, so I'm gonna let my light shine because of him and for him!
Jeff loved the Lord, knew his maker....no doubt, he is walking the streets of gold. He knew where he was going. Brad Paisley and Dolly Pardon share a song that is so fitting..." when i get where i am going, on the far side of the sky. the first thing that I'm gonna do, is spread my wings and fly like a bird. I'm gonna land beside a lion, and run my fingers through his mane, or I might find out what it's like to ride a drop of rain. Yeah when I get to where I'm going, there'll be only happy tears, I will shed the sins and struggles I have carried all these years, and I'll leave my heart wide open. I will love and have no fear, yeah when i get to where I'm going, dont cry for me down here. I'm going to walk with my grand daddy, and he'll match me step for step, and i'll tell him how i missed him every minute since he left, then i'll hug his neck. so much pain and so much darkness in this world we stumble through. all these questions i cant answer, so much work to do. but when i get where i'm going and i see my maker's face, I'll stand forever in the light of His amazing grace, yeah when i get where i'm going there'll be only happy tears. i will love and have no fear when i get to where i'm going, dont cry for me down here. this song gives me strenght..... and i know for sure, if heaven wasnt so far away, i'd go visit for the day....
as i close with this last poem that i share with you, i'd like to say "thank you for all your thoughts, prayers and for sharing our memories of Jeff with us, its been the hardest journey of my life, of our lifes.Yet i love to smile and reminice of so many good times. Jeff.... happy birthday , i love you, i miss you and thank you for being my angel and giving me the strength and courage to do what im doing...Jeff.... you showed me alot of things. i learned alot that i never knew. but you forgot to teach me one last thing, how to let you go. i know you didnt mean to leave me. sometimes we have no choices. i miss being your little sister, hearing my name being called by your voice. I wish I got to say "I love you", before you were given to the sky. If God could grant me one last wish, I'd ask to say good-bye (actually not good-bye, but until we meet again). You always meant alot to me, i could never love you less. I know its true when they say HE ONLY TAKES THE BEST"
so, with His AMAZING GRACE.....
.
No comments:
Post a Comment