It has been a tough day. Meet Josh. Today is his 28th birthday. He reports to federal prison the end of this month. And yes, he deserves to go.
A long time ago he used to be my nephew. His mother divorced my brother in law and I really haven't seen him in years but we are FB friends because he has two younger brothers. So somehow or other we got in touch again. Through the magic of media we "talk." I think he needs somebody older to talk to. We talk about the "big" questions and what he is searching for in life. He talks to me about God and women and his sons.
That is why we met at the park today. I took photos of him and his sons (4&6) so he has something to leave with them and to take with him. I'll share in another album. One is shy and the other a natural monkey. And both are hurting deeply because they know Daddy is leaving.
I'm not good at taking pictures of people. I sure hope I can find some good ones for them to treasure. My heart breaks for all of them.
he's lucky he has you to listen. I feel so sad for his boys that he will be leaving them behind for a while but at least they have your photos and their memories.
Well done, Cathy! You truly do sound like a light to him. How awesome that he came to you after all of these years and that you were able to talk about the big, important subjects with him. Great portrait! It looks like it was a happy day despite the circumstances.
Oh how awful... it's great that he has someone to share with and his boys can enjoy this lovely shot while he's 'inside'. I understand over here, once convicted you get taken away straight away - is it better that way I wonder.
@photos222@vickisfotos@anazad511@kdrinkie@swguevin@girlie@lwain@buttercup@ladyjane@amandalomonaco@jaboney@marlboromaam@grannysue@redrucksack@pawar_ramesh@filsie65@gerry@jenniferruge@timandelke
Thank you all. I spent a fair amount of time in tears last night over these three and hours already this morning trying to make something out of all the photos I shot. I have never known anyone in trouble like this before. My heart and my mind are all mixed up and so are my husbands. He went with me yesterday and greeted Josh with a handshake. By the time we left them Tom was playing with the kids and gave Josh a big hug to say Good Bye. I hope to make something of these and print some and for Josh and some for the boys and give them a disk of memories. I know this day will always stay with me as I figure out the roll I'll play going forward. Thank you all for your support.
@buttercup Mary thanks for the fav. Your tender heart was faving a story - not a shot. But I so appreciate the sentiment as I am all tied up in this one.
I hope that Josh learns how to change his life from the experience that awaits him, if I was taken away from my children it would destroy me. I hope he has strength. Well done to you for being there for him, when it seems not many others were.
Your picture and your words show such compassion and emotion. I'm sure your talks and your pictures mean so much to him. Hopefully he'll get a chance to turn his life around and be there to share in the lives of his boys.
@buttercup That's just it. He could be anyone's son. He just made terrible choices. @seanoneill Sean - he is talking all the right talk. I think he is so focused on how he is hurting his sons that he will not forget the consequences. @cindymc Cindy - I so pray that you are right. He has a lot of reasons to fix his world. @carolmw I hope so Carol. @kchuk Thank you Elyse. That is exactly the reason that i posted his photo. He needs all of the prayers possible.
Cathy, I was out of town over the weekend and am just getting caught up. Please know that there is a special place for you and the kindness and love you are offering up. Taking the bold move of sharing such a heart-wrenching story is one of the hardest things we as humans can ever do, but I feel it's the only way we can truly connect and make our world a better place. This young man and his boys are so incredibly blessed to have you and your husband caring for them. As an aside, having lived through serious family crises and come out on the other side, I want you to know that time is always the great healer - trite, but true always. It's this kind of experience that makes us all stronger and more ready to wear our collective hearts on our sleeves. Please don't ever hesitate to get in touch if you'd like (lynopiano@gmail.com).
Your candid photo really tells a lot about Josh. It is heartbreaking to see such a young man's life headed in the direction it is going. But from your post there is hope because he is looking for answers for the right questions. Hopefully Josh will find answers to his questions that will turn his life around. If you don't mind, I'd like to copy this photo of him and pray for him!
@lyno Thank you Lyn. We should get together. @maggiemae Maggie, thank you, but I am not being brave. I am just hurting and found that something I love is the only thing I can really do for them. @windridge Thank you Susan. @skipt07 Skip - Please do pray for him. That is exactly the response that I hoped folks would have to him and his situation. If he can bring himself to find God through this experience he will be blessed - and so will the boys.
@cdonohoue - I most certainly will. I want to introduce him to some of the other prayer warrior men in my church and commit Josh to prayer. Please keep in touch!- Skip
Isnt it just strange how you come across people in your life that you can relate to, all I will say on here is it'll do him good, and he will learn the true feelings he has for his sons. And hopefully that will mean that he will think of them first before getting into trouble again. Thank you for following me Cathy : )
@valley Thank you. I so appreciate that. @humphreyhippo I do too. He is at least searching for it. @joeymc Thank you Jo. You said it. There is such an innocence about him that is so at odds with his circumstances. I hope he hangs on to it and builds from that part of him.
Josh and his boys are so lucky to have you in their lives, and I'm sure they enhance your life as well. Like someone else already menitoned, you captured a tender and kind side of Josh through the tough guy exterior. Beautiful portrait.
May 30th, 2012
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Thank you all. I spent a fair amount of time in tears last night over these three and hours already this morning trying to make something out of all the photos I shot. I have never known anyone in trouble like this before. My heart and my mind are all mixed up and so are my husbands. He went with me yesterday and greeted Josh with a handshake. By the time we left them Tom was playing with the kids and gave Josh a big hug to say Good Bye. I hope to make something of these and print some and for Josh and some for the boys and give them a disk of memories. I know this day will always stay with me as I figure out the roll I'll play going forward. Thank you all for your support.
@seanoneill Sean - he is talking all the right talk. I think he is so focused on how he is hurting his sons that he will not forget the consequences.
@cindymc Cindy - I so pray that you are right. He has a lot of reasons to fix his world.
@carolmw I hope so Carol.
@kchuk Thank you Elyse. That is exactly the reason that i posted his photo. He needs all of the prayers possible.
@maggiemae Maggie, thank you, but I am not being brave. I am just hurting and found that something I love is the only thing I can really do for them.
@windridge Thank you Susan.
@skipt07 Skip - Please do pray for him. That is exactly the response that I hoped folks would have to him and his situation. If he can bring himself to find God through this experience he will be blessed - and so will the boys.
@humphreyhippo I do too. He is at least searching for it.
@joeymc Thank you Jo. You said it. There is such an innocence about him that is so at odds with his circumstances. I hope he hangs on to it and builds from that part of him.