William Penn once said, "For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to enternity." Joshua was a beautiful person with a heart of gold. As a small child, his bright red hair gave him so much attention even though he was very shy. His smile was one that left you wondering what he'd been up to or if he'd just had a great day.

Joshua went through a really rough time when his father and I divorced. He had trouble in school and just couldn't find himself. He was not a reckless soul but more someone who just needed loving care. He was always giving up things for his friends and siblings. He'd give the shirt off his back to make someone else happy.

When Josh finally got his Driver's License, he found a new sense of himself...a new sense of life. He was suddenly in control of his destiny. He loved his little black Honda Civic. He washed it as often as possible. He even tried to sleep in it the first day he had it.

Life was suddenly very good for Josh. He knew what he wanted and he was going out to get it. His girlfriend, Liza, was his saving grace. She believed in him and gave him confidence to believe in himself.

On Sunday, August 4, 2002, God had a different plan for Josh. God seemed ready to turn Joshua's time on earth to eternity in heaven. Having spent a beautiful day with Liza and doing everything possible to avoid his chores at home, Josh finally decided it was time to come home. Driving the speed limit, windows rolled down to enjoy the cooling afternoon, radio playing very softly, and basking in the happiness of having his girlfriend by his side, Josh didn't have time to react to the other teenage driver who hadn't been paying attention and veered into Joshua's lane. The other vehicle struck Joshua's Honda head-on and came up over the top of his car and then back down, pinning him under the car and the engine that was pushed inward.

It took rescue teams over three hours to cut him out of the vehicle. His heart stopped and was started again four times during the rescue. We wonder if each time represented someone in his family. He was life flighted to the hospital for emergency surgery. Josh had always wanted to fly in a helicopter before the accident. He died in surgery only a few minutes after arriving at the hospital.

In the last seconds of life as the accident was happening, I am sure that Josh made the decision to give his life for Liza's. I know that God came to him and gave him peace that Liza would live. I know that would have been Joshua's choice to give of himself to take car of another.

I didn't think it would happen to me...to Josh...to our family. His memory is my every breath. It is in his death that we have learned how precious life really is.

"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." - Thomas Campbell