January 25, 1998 seems like it happened yesterday, January 19, 2000 seems like it happened yesterday as well... these days have thought me many things and showed me that faith in God can get you through anything. I agree that the deaths of Gary, John, Frank, and Aaron were untimely, at least in our time they were. God places bumps in the road both big and small, some like these are extremely huge. But God also provides you with something to get through this and realize what had happened. While Gary's death sent me for a loop, had me angry at God, wondering" why G?, why now, why not later when we're old?", seemed to have me losing my faith. Did I lose my faith, somewhat, but I was able to get "over" it with the help of some awesome people, who know who they are. Yes, Gary's death changed my life forever... I know that God calls His children whenever He wants too, seeing as He is the author of life. But God also works in the strangest of ways. If it wasn't for Gary's death I would never have the love for the Catholic Church that I do. G- I know you are in a better place, and hopefully when it is my time to go home to God, I'll be there with you, but for now just keep watching over us... we sure need it. :) and thanks God and G for St. Mary Major, I needed that.
A picture is worth a thousand words is how the saying does. A piece of paper, yeah that is what a picture is, but it also shows you happy times. Of times when you ran around and made fun of each other. You might even have beaten one another up. But it's not until one of you is gone that you see that a piece of paper, a picture, is worth more than a thousand words. This piece of paper is truly worth a lifetime.
Four years worth of memories held in remembrance by little pieces of paper. In the four years that I had known Gary I showed how much I had to learn. Gary showed me that you can be quiet and loud at the same time. Who would have thought that I would only have realized this in his death?
A young man nineteen years old killed by a driver who more than likely doesn't know what he has done. For three years a founding member of TASC and two years of LINC without him these groups would never have come about. Gary's body may be gone but his spirit lives on in everyone that he touched whether it was big or small.
1-27-1998
Mary Christine Anne Woolley
When I first heard this song I could only thing of that Sunday morning when I recived the phone call telling me that Gary had died. A day and event I will never forget. It seems like only yesterday that we were in high school together. I spent many an hour in LisaRose's and Fr. Bill's offices trying to figure my life out in the process LisaRose let me listen to some of her songs, and this one had me crying my eyes out. (although I didn't let her see that!) Memories live on forever!
In silent moments, I wonder and pray
Asking God why did he take you away
Don't know the reason your time was at hand
After tonight, I think I understand
I heard the voices of angels tonight
Their laughter was all 'cause of you
It made me remember when you were here
And the funny things you would do
And I know that one day we'll meet again
In heaven's most glorious light
I know because the angels were laughing tonight
Feelings and questions, I had so many
Looking for answers, I never found any
Why do the people we love have to go?
I'm still not sure, but there's one thing I know
I heard the voices of angles tonight
Their laughter was all 'cause of you
It made me remember when you were here
And the funny things you would do
For now I believe I'll see you again
In heaven's most glorious light
I know because the angels were laughing tonight
From moment to moment, I still miss you here
But part of you my heart will always hold dear
The jokes you would make and the stories you'd tell
Whenever I listen, I still hear them well
I heard the voices of angels tonight
Their laughter was all 'cause of you
It made me remember when you were here
And the funny things you would do
And I know that one day, we'll meet again
In heaven's most glorious light
I know because the angels were laughing tonight
I know because the angels were laughing tonight
copyrite 1998, 1999 LisaRose Ronneburger (All rights reserved)
Here's the music to Angels Where Laughing... (LisaRose gave it to me to put on the page!)
This is the reason I got Steven Curtis Chapman's Speechless CD... I had read it on a memorial page. How true the words are? January 25, 1998, will live on in my heart forever.
