Nine years ago, probably right about now, the group photo of the six children was taken at Aunt Carol and Uncle Pete's house. Aaron, Melanie, Amanda, Patrick, Jaclyn, Kristopher.
We pulled the cousins together from their activities to take some family photos. I recall Aaron was watching Kristohper play a video game and Patrick was hanging with them. The girls were likely in and out of the game room mixing time with adults.
Aaron remembered how Kristopher let him play the game too. Aaron was a novice to the video games at the time. Patrick was a non-player I'm sure.
For each Christmas from 1997 it was difficult to imagine Kristopher was no longer with us. Eleven months after this photo was taken, Kristopher went to heaven, an innocent victim in a senseless car crash. The loss of Kristopher has been felt deeply by each of the children in this photo. Alexa was born shortly after this photo and she never got to know her biggest boy cousin, although there are photos of him with her. Noah and Alex can hear stories of Kristopher but they never had the chance to play with him. That's a big loss because, today he'd be 24 and, I'm sure, still very interested in playing with the boys.
I know that to be true because Aaron and Kristopher shared a common interest in using their imaginations. They both played with their favorite childhood toys into their mid-teens. Or, as Aaron would say when found setting up his figures "I'm just looking at them!" Christmas would be really something with 18 year old Aaron, and 24 year old Kristopher sneaking the boy's toys today. It would be a wild time. Who would be having the most fun with Noah and Alex's toys. Oh, I almost forgot, Melanie and Jaclyn have children themselves. The big boys would surely be fawning over those babies.
Patrick, Aaron and Kristopher would definitely have some sort of video game extravaganza under way. Patrick is now a full fledged video player...no sideline player any longer. (The photo of Patrick and Aaron playing video games is from Christmas Day 2004.)
If heaven's gate swung out for a day, Aaron and Kristopher would be home for Christmas Day. Tidings of comfort and joy are our gifts from heaven instead.
Kristopher John Greening and Aaron John Meyer-- Peace and all our love to you in Heaven.
Peace and Goodwill on Earth,
Tom, Cathy and Patrick Meyer along with Dave, Kathy and Amanda Greening
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