John Patrick Smith

Hello, Johnny P. Smith. :-)

One year ago, God took you home. I am still so much in denial that you are really gone. It is hard to realize that I cannot hold your hand, go hiking with you, or just sit around and play cards with you. It is still hard to realize that you will not be walking through the door, that you are not here to tease me when I complain about little things, lift my spirits when I am down with that wonderful contagious smile of yours, or that you aren't here to...

Hello, Hon.

You have been gone now nine months, but it seems like just yesterday. The time has gone by both quickly and slowly at the same time. I still feel the presence of your spirit, and pray that your comforting presence will never leave me.

I have something really sweet to share with you. Remember how Loki would always run off whenever we would mention the "b" word? ("B" for bath.) Well this weekend when I mentioned it, he just went and crawled in the bathtub. He did...

Hello, Sweetie.

It's just me again. Nathan and I drove up to Ft. Logan Sunday and met up with your mom and your sister Cass. "Mom" sprinkled holy water around your final resting place and we sat around your marker and talked, tearfully at times, to you and about you. “Mom” expressed her hopes that you, your brother Jim, and your dad have all been able to meet each other again up there. The sun was shining, there was freshly planted green grass in place (Nathan and I walked through...

Hi, John.

Today is Memorial Day. I did not get up to the cemetery and bring you flowers, but I will make it up to you as soon as I can travel long distances again. When recently giving the dogs a bath, Loki jumped out of the tub. When I picked him up to put him back, I twisted my back. So now I am in rehab for a couple of months. Now if you were here, Sweetie, this would not have happened. You were the one who always gave Loki and Gunner their baths, took them to the vet, etc. ...

John,

Yesterday was your birthday. No, Hon, I did not forget. I sat down to type you a note, and the right words just would not come. I started with some light stuff like how you must be enjoying your first birthday in Heaven -- similar to what I wrote about you enjoying your first Christmas in heaven. What can I say to you, Hon, that you already do not know. I miss you more than words can express. Still all in all, the Lord knew that you would be spending this Birthday of yours...

John,

Happy Easter, Darling!

I thank the Lord for what He did for us so that we might live with Him forever. I thank the Lord, Honey, that because of what He did for us, you can now see Him and be there with Him in His magnificent kingdom. Even so, my heart is filled with such immense sorrow. You filled a void in my heart that I did not even know existed. I miss your sweet smile -- your quick grin -- your laughter -- your gentle nature. I miss the smell of the...

Hi, Sweetie.

Nathan and I drove up to Ft. Logan yesterday and draped your resting place with flowers that I got for you for Valentine's Day. Every event brings back so many memories of our life together. On Valentine's Day, I reminisced about the time you showed up at my work with three dozen red roses, boxes of chocolates, and all those balloons with heart images and "I Love You" and "Happy Valentine's Day" messages. Those balloons towered over the top of my cubicle and were seen...

Sweetie,

I posted on Christmas Day in remembrance of you, but for some reason the post did not go through. I was so reminded of Christmas last year -- our first Christmas in this house. You, Nathan, Gina, and I spent Christmas Day together, enjoying Christmas Dinner, reminiscing about past Christmases, and opening gifts. You were so missed this Christmas, John; yet I sensed your presence in everything around us.

I had a wonderful surprise just before Christmas. Loki and...

I was one of John's many friends he had during the age of 19 to 24. At this time John worked for Coors. He enjoyed drag racing and car rallys with his 1970 Buick GSX (only 600 were made)cruising 16th st. downtown Denver and meeting all his racing buddies at the White Spot restarant there. He joined the Marines at 20 And loved be one, even to the point him and his fellow marines would sing at the top of their lungs, Halls of Montezuma, at the local Shakey's Pizza palor. John's glowing and...