|




This memorial website was created in the memory of my precious son, Joshua McLaughlin... who was born in Texas on January 26, 1999 and passed away on April 12, 2005 at the age of 6. We will remember him forever.
Joshua was a couple of weeks over due, and I told the doctor that he needed to deliver my baby cause I was very miserable and he knew that this would be my biggest baby ever. So I finally got him to say that he would induce me. Well, when I went into labor the doctor was no where to be found. They told me that I could not push until they found the doctor. Well they still couldn't find my doctor so they found his wife who was also a doctor and she came in and delivered my precious Joshua. Well when he came out he was stillborn and it took them about 4 minutes to resuscitate my precious Joshua. So they did and everything was alright. We go home and for about 2 weeks we think everything is just fine and nothing is wrong with him. But ,what I noticed is he wasn't acting like my other living children. So I called the doctor and he said to take him to Texas Children's Hospital, so I did immediately. He was failure to thrive and wasn't eating enough. When we got to the hospital our life started to unravel right there, cause they told me that they were going to have to admit him cause I had a starving baby on my hands. So they admitted my precious angel, and then they started running a bunch of tests on him. Well, because he was so dehydrated they couldn't get enough fluid for a spinal tap. So they kept on trying and trying. Finally they got enough to run tests and nothing showed up. Well, Joshua started to have seizures so they put him on some meds and put a feeding tube in for him to eat and a couple of weeks later we went home. Well then while I was home one day his PT person was there and he started to seize again so called the paramedics and back to the hospital and this time we ended up there for about a month. Well during our stay, they started running a bunch of test again, and still really found nothing. Of course, during all of this , I am there the whole time with him. Well , I went downstairs one day to get something to eat, and I come back up and there are lots of nurses and doctors around my son cause his stats had dropped so low, and transferring him up to ICU at that point. I was so upset, I didn't know what to do. Then during our stay towards the end ,I have a meeting with the doctors and they say they don't think my precious son will live to be 5 yrs old, well by the grace of God he lived to be 6 years old. So after that conversation with the docs the social worker had a talk with me and said you have a choice to make... either trache your son or let nature take its course, well I trached my son. Then about a week later, he was to leave the hospital for another acute facility and was there for about a month, and cause he needed 24 hours a day care and 7 days a week, I had to put him in a nursing home 3 hours away from me. I went to see him frequently almost every weekend. Well while he was up there, he was in and out of the hospital as well all knew that this was going to happen. He had been out of the hospital for awhile until he took a turn for the worse. I got a phone call the Thursday before he passed away, and said that I needed to come to Temple, TX, well the social worker wasn't going to be there, so I said OK I will just come out on Monday. Well Monday was the hardest thing I had to do. I had to make the choice to cut off all machines cause all he was on was life support at this point and they were just maintaining his little body. His tongue and lips were already discolored...So I had to make the choice to do what I didn't want to do. Well they didn't do it that day they waited till Tuesday and thank goodness he went very peacefully and earned his Angel wings... Then the plans of the funeral started unraveling. JOSHUA,YOU ARE FOREVER LOVED AND WILL ALWAYS HAVE A HOME IN MY HEART!
PLEASE LIGHT A CANDLE FOR MY PRECIOUS,JOSHUA TO ALLOW HIS MEMORY TO GO ON...WHICH ALLOWS ME TO GO ON.THANK YOU FOR VISITING AND GOD BLESS YOU...EACH & EVERYONE!



















DEAREST MOMMY, ALTHOUGH IT'S BEEN A YEAR TODAY SINCE JESUS CALLED ME HOME,I'M ALWAYS THERE BESIDE YOU... YOU NEVER WALK ALONE. I SEE HOW MUCH YOU MISS ME AND ALL THE TEARS YOU CRY, BUT MOMMY NOW I'M ALL BETTER SINCE JESUS TOOK ME TO THE SKY. I CAN WALK AND RUN AND PLAY NOW JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER ANGELS HERE,THERE ISN'T ANY DIFFERENCE SHOWN AND NEVER ANY TEARS. I'M SURE YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE OF GOD CALLING ME HOME SO SOON AND THE FACT THAT I WAS DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHERS,BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW... GOD CHOSE FOR ME THE BEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL MOTHER.IT WASN'T MEANT TO HURT YOU AND EACH TIME YOU THINK OF ME,KNOW JUST HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU AND I'M WAITING ON YOU TIL' ETERNITY. SO,ON THIS DAY THAT MAKES A YEAR SINCE JESUS CALLED ME HOME... REMEMBER, I'M RIGHT THERE INSIDE YOUR HEART TO HELP YOU CARRY ON. " WRITTEN BY DAWN ELMORE"...JOSHUA IS A BEAUTIFUL LIL' MAN AND IS SO LUCKY TO HAVE CHARITY AS HIS MOTHER... I'M ALSO LUCKY TO HAVE HER AS MY FRIEND!PLEASE LEAVE A TRIBUTE TODAY OR LIGHT A CANDLE IN JOSHUA'S PRECIOUS MEMORY ON HIS ANGEL DATE AND KEEP HIS LOVING FAMILY IN YOUR PRAYERS!ALL MY LOVE ,SWEET JOSHUA!!!!!






ALL OUR LOVE,PRECIOUS ANGEL!


























WHAT MAKES A MOTHER?
I thought of you and closed my eyes And prayed to God today I asked "What makes a Mother?" And I know I heard Him say.
"A Mother has a baby" This we know is true "But God can you be a Mother, When your baby's not with you?"
"Yes, you can, " He replied With confidence in His voice "I give many women babies, When they leave is not their choice.
Some I send for a lifetime, And others for the day. And some I send to feel your womb, But there's no need to stay."
"I just don't understand this God I want my baby to be here." He took a deep breath and cleared His throat, And then I saw the tear.
"I wish I could show you, What your child is doing today. If you could see your child's smile, With all the other children and say...
'We go to Earth to learn our lessons, Of love and life and fear. My Mommy loved me oh so much, I got to come straight here.
I feel so lucky to have a Mom, Who had so much love for me. I learned my lessons very quickly, My Mommy set me free.
I miss my Mommy oh so much, But I visit her every day. When she goes to sleep, On her pillow's where I lay
I stroke her hair and kiss her cheek, And whisper in her ear. Mommy don't be sad today, I'm your baby and I'm here.'
"So you see my dear sweet ones, your children are okay. Your babies are born here in My home, And this is where they'll stay.
They'll wait for you with Me, Until your lesson's through. And on the day that you come home they'll be at the gates for you.
So now you see what makes a Mother, It's the feeling in your heart it's the love you had so much of Right from the very start
Though some on earth may not realize, you are a Mother. Until their time is done. They'll be up here with Me one day and know that you are the best one!" AUTHOR UNKNOWN






THERE IS A SPECIAL ANGEL IN HEAVEN THAT IS A PART OF ME. IT IS NOT WHERE I WANTED HIM, BUT IT IS WHERE GOD WANTED HIM TO BE. HE WAS HERE BUTJUST A MOMENT LIKE A NIGHT TIME SHOOTING STAR. AND THOUGH HE IS IN HEAVEN HE ISN'T VERY FAR. HE TOUCHED THE HEARTS OF MANY LIKE ONLY AN ANGEL CAN DO I WOULD HAVE HELD HIM EVERY MINUTE IF THE END I ONLY KNEW. SO I SEND THIS SPECIAL MESSAGE TO THE HEAVENS UP ABOVE, PLEASE TAKE CARE OF MY ANGEL AND SEND HIM ALL MY LOVE! "AUTHOR UNKNOWN"

PEOPLE ASK ME HOW I'M DOING AND I SAY THAT I'M OK. THE FACT IS THAT I'M NOT...MY PAIN WORSENS EVERY DAY! I WONDER WHAT IF I HAD SAID,OR OF ALL THAT COULD'VE BEEN DONE. IF I HAD ONLY KNOWN YOU'D BE GONE,MY PRECIOUS,LOVING SON. SOME CAN'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND AND THINK I SHOULD GO ON. BUT HOW CAN I DO SUCH A THING WHEN A PART OF ME IS GONE. THEY SAY THAT IT GETS EASIER AND YOUR BURDEN IS LESS TO BARE. I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THAT'S TRUE WHEN ALL YOU LOVED'S NO LONGER THERE. I PRAY THAT GOD WILL EASE MY MIND AND SHOW ME HOW TO JUST GO ON. AND GIVE ME BACK THE HEART HE TOOK THE DAY HE CALLED YOU HOME. ALTHOUGH MY HEART IS BROKEN AND MY TEARS OVERFLOW, I TRY TO HIDE THE SADNESS SO NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW. PRETENDING'S JUST NOT EASY WHEN YOU KNOW NOT HOW TO SEE,THE REASON YOU ARE HURTING ...WHY'S THIS HAPPENING TO ME? I'LL NEVER SEE YOU GO TO SCHOOL OR HAVE CHILDREN OF YOUR OWN. THE LINK THAT MADE MY LIFE COMPLETE IS NOW FOREVER GONE. I'LL TRY TO BE MUCH STRONGER AND KNOW THAT YOU LIVE ON. ALTHOUGH I KNOW YOU'RE THERE WITH GOD, I FEEL SO ALL ALONE. FROM THIS DAY FORWARD I HAVE TO SEE THAT YOU REALLY NEVER DIED.FOR AS LONG AS YOU LIVE INSIDE MY HEART YOUR MEMORY'S STILL ALIVE!!!!!!"WRITTEN BY DAWN ELMORE"


DEAREST MAMA,
I SEE HOW MUCH YOU MISS ME AND WISH I WEREN'T GONE. I TOOK A PART OF YOU WITH ME THE DAY GOD CALLED ME HOME. PLEASE TRY TO UNDERSTAND DEAR MAMA,THAT WE'RE NOT THAT FAR APART,FOR I'LL BE FOREVER NEAR BECAUSE I HAVE YOUR HEART.I KNOW THERE'S TIMES YOU FEEL THERE'S NO REASON TO GO ON, YOU WISH YOU COULD BE WITH ME,AND YOU HAVE BEEN ALL ALONG.JUST BECAUSE I WENT HOME AND I'M IN THE MASTER'S HANDS DOESN'T MEAN I'M NOT STILL WITH YOU...BESIDE YOU'S WHERE I STAND.PLESE TRY TO UNDERSTAND DEAR MAMA, THAT I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU SO, I CAN'T STAND TO SEE YOU HURTING SO THERE'S SOMETHING YOU SHOULD KNOW. EACH TIME YOU FEEL THE SUNSHINE UPON YOUR LOVELY FACE, IT'S ME SMILING DOWN UPON YOU AND TOUCHING YOU WITH GOD'S SWEET EMBRACE.EACH NIGHT YOU'RE SAD AND LONELY AND THE TEARS YOU CAN'T CONTROL. I'M RIGHT THERE BESIDE YOU AND I NEVER WILL LET GO.GOD TOLD ME TO TELL YOU THAT HE KNOWS YOUR PAIN INSIDE. FOR HE LOST HIS SON TOO,UPON THAT CROSS HE DIED. HE WASN'T TRYING TO HURT YOU BY CALLING ME HOME SO SOON, THERE'S JUST PLANS THAT HE HAD FOR ME THAT NO ONE ELSE COULD DO. I WANT TO THANK YOU DEAREST MAMA,FOR ALL YOU GAVE TO ME, BUT MOST OF ALL, I THANK GOD BECAUSE YOU'RE THE BEST MOTHER ONE COULD BE. SO, EACH TIME YOU THINK OF ME AND TEARS FILL YOUR EYES,WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE GIVING UP, JUST LOOK UP TO THE SKIES.LIFE ON EARTH IS HARD, I KNOW,BUT YOU MUST BE SO STRONG.FOR I'LL BE FOREVER WITH YOU UNTIL GOD CALLS YOU HOME. I LOVED YOU FROM THE START AND I LOVE YOU STILL,PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP,MAMA,FOR IT'S JUST NOT IN GOD'S WILL. I NEVER WILL FORSAKE YOU ,I'LL BE THERE EVERYDAY,I'LL HOLD YOU IN MY ANGEL WINGS AND GUIDE YOU ON YOUR WAY. ALTHOUGH, I'M GONNA GO NOW, REMEMBER IT'S NOT FOR LONG. FOR I'LL STAND BESIDE YOU THROUGH IT ALL AND I'M NEVER RELLY GONE. I LOVE YOU MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY AND I HATE TO KNOW YOU FEEL SO LOST.JUST REMEMBER WE WILL MEET AGAIN CAUSE JESUS LEFT THAT CROSS. "WRITTEN BY DAWN ELMORE"

 HELLO MOMMY! I LOVE YOU!

I THANK YOU LORD FOR ALLOWING ME THE CHANCE TO SEE YOUR LOVE.FOR YOU SENT TO ME AN ANGEL WHO NOW DWELLS WITH YOU ABOVE. COULD YOU PLEASE JUST TAKE A MINUTE AND HOLD MY ANGEL TIGHT,TELL HIM THAT I LOVE HIM AND THINK OF HIM EACH NIGHT.I MISS HIM MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY AND ALTHOUGH MY HEART IS GONE.ASK HIM TO WATCH OVER ME ,TIL YOU ALSO CALL ME HOME.I'LL GO NOW LORD AND THANKS AGAIN FOR HEARING THIS PRAYER OF MINE.I NOW KNOW I WAS LUCKY,'CAUSE ANGELS ARE HARD TO FIND.JUST ONE MORE THING BEFORE I GO...I WANT TO THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN, YOU KNEW I WASN'T IN THIS ALONE AND SENT A GROUP OF FRIENDS.WE SHARE OUR THOUGHTS,AND DON'T HAVE TO FEAR IF WE NEED TO BREAK DOWN AND CRY,THEY UNDERSTAND THE WAY I FEEL BECAUSE THEY ALSO SAID GOOD-BYE.THEIR ANGELS ARE THERE WITH YOU TOO, AND I ASK YOU TO WATCH OVER THEM 'TIL THE END.I LOVE THEM ALL,AND THANK YOU LORD,FOR ALL OF MY ANGEL-FAMILY FRIENDS! "WRITTEN BY DAWN ELMORE"

AS I LIE IN BED TONIGHT,DEAR LORD, I HOPE YOU HEAR THESE PRAYERS OF MINE. FOR I'VE ASKED FOR YOUR HELP SO MUCH, AND FELT FORSAKEN EVERY TIME. I ASKED YOU FOR THE STRENGTH TO HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH EACH DAY... I ASKED YOU TO KINDLY GUIDE ME AS I TREAD UPON MY WAY. I ASKED YOU FOR YOUR MERCY FOR CALLING MY CHILD BACK HOME WITH YOU... NONE OF THESE THINGS I'VE ASKED FOR IS MORE THAN YOU CAN DO. FOR I KNOW THAT YOU CAN DO ANYTHING, YOU ONCE MADE THE BLIND TO SEE. SO WILL YOU, DEAR LORD, PLEASE DO THESE THINGS FOR ME? I NEVER MEANT TO EVER TAKE A SINGLE DAY YOU GAVE FOR GRANTED, THE SEED YOU SOWED INSIDE OF ME IS NOW FOREVER PLANTED. FOR YOU SENT TO ME AN ANGEL, PLANTED ON THIS EARTH TO BLOOM WITH YOU. I THANK YOU, LORD FOR ALLOWING ME TO SOMEHOW MAKE IT THROUGH. ALL THE TIMES I THOUGHT YOU HAD FORSAKEN ME, YOU WERE REALLY WITH ME ALL THE TIME... IT WAS ME WHO SLIPPED AWAY FROM YOU SEEKING PEACE OF MIND. NOW I KNOW THAT NOTHING HAS, OR NOR WILL IT EVER BE, POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU BY MY SIDE FOR I NEED YOU HEREWITH ME. I THANK YOU LORD ONCE AGAIN FOR A LOVE LIKE NO OTHER... YOU SENT TO ME AN ANGEL AND PROUDLY CALLED ME HIS MOTHER! "WRITTEN BY DAWN ELMORE"


 A LITTLE BOY IS A TASTE OF HEAVEN...ALL MY LOVE,PRECIOUS!


DEAREST MAMA, JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW HOW SPECIAL YOU ARE TO ME...GOD CHOSE FOR ME THE BEST TO TEACH ME HOW TO LOVE ETERNALLY.I WASN'T SENT INTO YOUR LIFE AND TAKEN AWAY TO CAUSE YOU PAIN,FOR GOD NEEDED ME TO LEARN SOME THINGS AND LOOK AT WHAT I GAINED.I COULDN'T ASK FOR MORE THAN ALL YOU ARE TO ME, NEVER WILL I FORGET YOU FOR, A PART OF YOU IS HERE ,YOU SEE.I SEE THE TEARS YOU CRY EACH DAY AND WISH I WERE STILL THERE,BUT MAMA CAN'T YOU FEEL ME AND ALL THE LOVE WE SHARE.I LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU MAY KNOW, FOR LIFE YOU GAVE TO ME,GOD CHOSE THE BEST MOTHER IN THIS WORLD... MY BEST FRIEND YOU'LL ALWAYS BE!SO WHEN YOU'RE FEELING THAT I'M GONE AND WISH THAT YOU COULD HOLD ME NEAR...REMEMBER,OUR HEARTS KEEP US TOGETHER AND WE HAVE A BOND THAT IS SO DEAR. FOR IF I COULD DO THINGS OVER AND LIVE MY LIFE ON EARTH AGAIN...THERE'S NOTHING I WOULD CHANGE... MY MOTHER,MY BEST FRIEND! "WRITTEN BY DAWN ELMORE"

    
HAVE YOU EVER LOVED SOMEONE SO MUCH, IT MADE YOU HURT INSIDE?TO THINK OF LIFE WITHOUT THEM BRINGS MANY TEARS TO YOUR EYES.YOU FIND SUCH JOY AND HAPPINESS , WITH JUST THE SLIGHEST THOUGHT YOU MELT. YOU KNOW THIS LOVE IS LIKE NO OTHER,FOR IT'S THE TRUEST YOU'VE EVER FELT.NOTHING COULD COME CLOSE ,TO ALL THE LOVE YOU HAVE INSIDE. YOU FEEL AS IF YOU'RE DREAMING ...JUST TO HAVE THEM BY YOUR SIDE.HAVE YOU EVER LOVED SOMEONE SO MUCH THAT YOU HAD TO LET THEM GO... FOR GOD CALLED THEM BACK TO LIVE WITH HIM AND YOU THINK PAIN'S ALL YOU'LL EVER KNOW.EACH DAY IS JUST A STRUGGLE TO MAKE IT THROUGH UNTIL THE NIGHT. SLEEP SOMETIMES NEVER COMES UNTIL THE MORNING LIGHT.THINGS YOU ONCED ENJOYED NO LONGER BRINGS HAPPINESS TO YOU AT ALL,FOR, HOW CAN YOU BE HAPPY WHEN IT SEEMS ALL YOU DO IS FALL.FAITH YOU HAVE, BUT WONDER HOW,SINCE ALL YOU LOVED IS GONE. "HOW COULD GOD BRING ME SUCH LOVE AND THEN TAKE IT BACK HOME?"MANY QUESTIONS CROSS YOUR MIND AND YOU CAN'T HELP BUT TO WONDER WHY ...ALL THAT YOU HAD LIVED FOR TOOK YOUR HEART UP TO THE SKY.YOU FEEL AS IF YOU'RE ALL ALONE AND NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE...WHY DID GOD CHOSE ME TO HURT,THIS PAIN I CANNOT BARE.YOU FACE THIS WORLD EVERYDAY FEELING AS IF YOU NEED NOT TO GO ON...FOR WHAT IS THE PURPOSE NOW ,WHY CAN'T I TOO GO HOME?YOU NEVER MEAN TO QUESTION THE MASTER OR HIS PLANS,BUT WHEN WE LOSE THE ONE WE LOVE THE MOST,WHO'S THERE TO TAKE OUR HAND?IT FEELS AS IF GOD JUST DOESN'T CARE AND THAT HE'S WALKED AWAY...THE FACT IS THAT HE LOVES US ALL AND IS BESIDE US COME EACH DAY. OF COURSE, HE UNDERSTANDS THE PAIN AND EXPECTS US TO QUESTION HIM,FOR WE ARE ONLY HUMAN... THAT'S WHY HE DIED FOR ALL OUR SIN.IT'S NOT THAT HE HAS WALKED AWAY OR THAT HE DOESN'T CARE,HE LENT TO US AN ANGEL FOR HIS LOVE WITH US TO SHARE.WE MAY FEEL IT WAS TOO SOON ... THAT THERE JUST WASN'T ENOUGH TIME.WE MUST REMEMBER WE ARE LUCKY 'CAUSE ANGELS ARE HARD TO FIND.SO WHEN YOU FEEL YOU CAN'T GO ON AND THAT YOUR HEART'S NO LONGER THERE...JUST LOOK UP INTO THE SKY AND YOU WILL FIND IT THERE! "WRITTEN BY DAWN ELMORE"

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING,OR THAT I DIDN'T CARE...
 WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING OR THOUGHT I DIDN'T CARE, I STOOD THERE RIGHT BESIDE YOU AND HEARD YOUR EVERY PRAYER. WHEN IT SEEMED TO YOU I WAS MILES AWAY... ALL YOUR TROUBLES WERE YOURS ALONE,NEVER WOULD I FORSAKE YOU,MY CHILD,FOR I WAS THERE ALL ALONG.ALL THE SLEEPNESS NIGHTS YOU LIE AWAKE AND WONDER IF I HEAR THE PRAYERS YOU SEND...TRUST ME DEAR,I HEAR THEM ALL ,FOR I'M YOUR DEAREST FRIEND.I NEVER MAKE MISTAKES, ALTHOUGH YOU MAY THINK MY INTENTIONS AREN'T GOOD. NEVER WOULD I HURT YOU,MY CHILD,I LOVE YOU LIKE A FATHER SHOULD.I LENT TO YOU AN ANGEL, ALTHOUGH IT WASN'T LONG,YOU WERE CHOSEN BECAUSE I PICK THE BEST... BEFORE I CALL THEM HOME.THERE WERE MANY LESSONS TO BE LEARNED BEFORE YOUR ANGEL RECEIVED THEIR WINGS, ALTHOUGH THE TIME THEY SPENT WITH YOU WAS SHORT, YOU TAUGHT THEM MANY THINGS.A MOTHER'S LOVE IS LIKE NO OTHER AND THAT'S WHY I CHOSE YOU,MY SWEET,DEAR CHILD. REMEMBER, MY MOTHER LOST HER SON TOO, BUT IT WAS WORTH IT ALL THE WHILE.FOR ALTHOUGH THIS BROUGHT YOU HEARTACHE YOU SHALL UNITE AGAIN...YOU'LL SOMEDAY COME HOME WITH ME TOO AND LIFE FOR YOU WILL JUST BEGIN.FOR I NEVER MEANT TO HURT YOU OR CAUSE YOU ANY PAIN,JUST REMEMBER, CHILD OF MINE...YOU CAN'T SEE A RAINBOW WITHOUT THE RAIN! SO, KNOW THAT I AM WITH YOU AND NEVER WILL I LEAVE YOUR SIDE, I SEE THE TEARS AND HOLD YOU CLOSE...I'M YOUR SAFE PLACE YOU CAN HIDE. PLEASE DON'T THINK I'M MAD AT YOU OR THAT I'VE FORSAKEN YOU AT ALL...FOR I CHOSE YOU TO BE THE MOTHER TO ANSWER YOUR ANGEL'S CALL.THEY'LL ALWAYS BE BESIDE YOU FOREVER IN YOUR HEART,AS LONG YOU KEEP THEIR MEMORY ALIVE YOU'LL NEVER BE APART.WE'LL BE WAITING AT THE GATE FOR YOU WHEN I DECIDE TO CALL YOU HOME...YOUR ANGEL WILL BE WAITING, SAYING"MOMMY I'VE BEEN WITH YOU ALL ALONG!" "WRITTEN BY DAWN ELMORE"...FOR ALL ANGEL MOMMY'S I LOVE YOU!


|
His legacy |
|
|
 |
 |
Death of a child Sorry I didn't get to stay. To laugh and run and play. To be there by your side. I'm sorry that I had to die.
God sent me down to be with you, to make your loving heart anew. To help you look up and see Both God and little me.
Mommy, I wish I could stay. Just like I heard you pray. But, all the angels did cry when they told little me goodbye.
God didn't take me cause He's mad. He didn't send me to make you sad. But to give us both a chance to be a love so precious .. don't you see?
Up here no trouble do I see and the pretty angels sing to me. The streets of gold is where I play you'll come here too, mommy, someday.
Until the day you join me here, I'll love you mommy, dear. Each breeze you feel and see, brings love and a kiss from me. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Eulogy Joshua Aaron McLaughlin Born: January 26, 1999 Returned Home to The Father: April 12, 2005
Joshua Aaron, a precious angel loaned to us from our Heavenly Father on January 26, 1999 at 1:19 p.m., and one who returned home to his Heavenly Father on April 12, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. Joshua blessed us more in his six years of life than we can ever express in words. At the time of his birth, we knew there was divine purpose for his precious little life. About 4 months after his birth, we knew Joshua's time with us would be short, but we determined it would be a cherished time. We held fast to our faith, knowing that God had pre-ordained his destiny and determined we would show him genuine love and adoration as long as we had him.
Joshua affected many lives during his earthly journey. His smile will forever remain etched on our hearts. And for those of us who were very close to Joshua, his laughter will forever echo through our souls. He was full of much life and character even though he was overwhelmed by life's challenges.
When Joshua was a baby, I often sat and sang songs to him such as Jesus Loves You, Kumbaya and several other Christian songs which gave him much comfort. As I sang the words to him, his face became radiant. We read him books, listened to Christian tapes with him and clapped his little hands in accompaniment to the songs. His great-grandmother, and my mother, Elizabeth Parker, found joy in playing itsy-bitsy spider with him and watching his little hands move in spider-like fashion as she sang. Each time his mother entered his room and she spoke to him, he smiled wide and his face beamed with the assurance of her love.
At 10 1/2 months of age, Joshua was placed into a Christian nursing home in Temple, Texas where he became know as "Baby Josh." It was there where he had many loving arms wrapped around him at all times. The nursing staff sat and lovingly cradled him in their arms for many hours on their own time. God was exceedingly good to him and kept many ministering angels encamped about him at all times.
We will never fully understand why Joshua's earthly stay was so brief. The Word of God says there are many things which are hidden from us, but God knows all and sees all. As you hear these words, which King David penned in Psalm 139, consider them as Joshua rejoicing in his hear;"O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You place your hand of blessing on my head. I can never escape from your spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I ride the winds of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there yoru hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous--and how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up in the morning, you are still with me!"
Joshua would not desire that any of us grieve over his going home to be with The Father. He would rather we rejoice in knowing he is completely healed; he is walking, laughing, giggling, playing, and eating for the first time in The Father's House. And more than anything else, he would desire that we would all come to the salvation knowledge of His Son, Jesus, so we can one day be joined with him again in Heaven for eternity.
Joshua, my precious grandson, you are gone from us, but only temporarily. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Soon we all hope to be home with you rejoicing, but until then, we will constantly thank our Heavenly Father for His precious gift in you and for your total healing.
We shall see you soon. We thank The Father for His continued mercies and that He will never let you forget just HOW MUCH you were loved and how you blessed many lives here on this earth. I miss you my precious angel baby!
To my precious daughter, my special blessing from God, I would say, "Your grief is real as was your love of your baby boy. Be comforted in knowing he is gone from you for only a short time, but as soon as Jesus returns, you will again see him and love him. Be comforted in knowledge that your family and friends are here for you and love you. And always know we are just a phone call away."
To us, his family and to the family friends...be comforted in knowing that Joshua is being cradled in the arms of our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I ask that you would stay close to my daughter, Charity, to his older sister and brother, Michaela and Ryan, and to Joshua's father, Patrick, during this time of mouring. I ask that there would be no malice toward any of them, but only genuine expression of love. Today is only one of many days they will grieve over the loss of such a precious angel from heaven. I also ask that you keep them in your prayers for God's total love to envelop them. |
 |
 |
 |
|