Today, you would have turned 33. Because birthdays are a time of celebration, I want to celebrate the life you had. As hard as it is, I will not make today a time of sorrow. Instead, I will make today and this post full of celebration because I know that is how you would want it.
To start the celebration, I have a couple of pictures that I think really show your true personality:
I love these pictures. When I look at them they help me remember what a funny and easy going guy you were. You always made me laugh. Sometimes just hearing your laugh would make me laugh. Your laugh was infectious that way. I don't think I will ever forget your laugh.
And let's not forget this picture:
Not only does it remind me of your fun-loving personality and creativity, but also of your love for Halloween costumes. Speaking of Halloween, your four legged man costume was one for the record books. Only you could create and pull off such a awesome creation. I think those 2 legs you made are still out in the garage somewhere. And you know you what those 2 legs remind me of? Your split machine. You were dead set on perfecting your karate skills (with Lauren and I often being your punching bag) and you thought the split machine would help with those karate kicks. But I think the best laugh we got out of the split machine was when Grandmama thought it was Lauren's headgear for her braces.
And these pictures will always be the most special to me:
They remind me of the fun times the three of us had together.
The photographer told us this was a candid shot. This picture reminds me of the phone call mom received a couple of weeks ago from a lady that had attended CVCC. She said she went with her daughter, who was enrolling at CVCC at the time, to meet with you to go over several things. While she was there, you asked her if she would like to enroll as a student and earn a degree like her daughter was doing. She had never really thought about that before, but you encouraged her and she enrolled. She graduated from CVCC and then went to Troy where she maintained a 4.0. She did all of that because of you...because you were an encourager. And this is just one story. Throughout your career you touched the lives of many, many students and a little part of you lives on in each of their life stories.
Chris, on your birthday, I'm reminded that you lived a life worth celebrating.
