Yesterday, June 25th my family traveled to Stedman, NC (right outside of Fayetteville NC) to celebrate the life of Jonah King. On Tuesday June 28th Jonah would have been 21 years old.
Every year for the past 4 years the King family puts on a Helmet Drive to collect helmets to give to charities in their areas to give away helmets to those who receive bikes, scooters, skateboards, etc.... Ken (Jonah's Dad) donates to a local charity in the area "The Bike Lady" that gives bikes to kids who may not otherwise receive one and Jackie (Jonah's mom) donates to Toys for Tots to show support for the Marine Corp and to get helmets to go with gifts that are collected for distribution.
This year as we loaded the car we were pleased to be taking 30 helmets with us, last year we took 19 helmets....11 more this year! Our family goal is to raise more money or bring more helmets each year that we go.
Every year that we go it is certainly a blessing to meet more extended family than we have in the 3 years past that we have been attending. This was my first time meeting Jonah's Aunt and Uncle, two cousins and Grandmother. It is always a special moment to get to hug these people for the first time. Ken and Tina hosted this event at their house yesterday and did a wonderful job.
They had games for the kids (with prizes which they thought was wonderful!), fed us all and of course collected helmets. Ken had donate life bracelets for everyone and donate life lapel pins (which of course if very near and dear my mine and Rays hearts!) he even had gotten a donate life flag for Ray and John (the gentleman who received Jonah's lungs).
Honestly one of the highlights of the evening was Noah. Noah is the "middle brother"! For the past year Noah (who has the most carefree, loving, easy going free spirit) rode cross country and lived in California for the past year- leaving not long after the helmet event last year at this time. During his time away Noah wrote a song (well I am sure many but one in particular) called "John, John and Ray". There are two Johns who received organs from Jonah- John from Maine received his lungs and John from NJ received Jonah's heart.
As I listened to this song of course my eyes filled with tears- the line about Ray was telling Jonah you would be proud to know to know this volunteer firefighter from the Red Oak FD who has your liver. As Noah sang this song I also watched his Dad Ken who's eyes were just filled with tears during the song. Tears of pride and joy I am sure as he watched his son write and preform this song and tears of sadness as this family still daily thinks of and misses a missing piece of their family. As I listened to Noah sing I thought this is how Noah heals from losing his baby brother, by picking up a guitar, singing and writing. Part of how I think I coped with all this was through writing and blogging- telling others about our story/stories.
It is a bittersweet moment seeing this family each year. You are happy and excited to see them but also feel a sense of sadness as you know someone for them is missing. I can't explain how this family has embraced my family, Ray, John and his wife Lee from Maine and Johnnie D from NJ. As we were leaving last night and I hug them all goodbye I hear things like "I love you and I love you very much" and I fight back the tears trying to be strong. I hug Malachi and Noah goodbye- who are like brothers to Ray and I now- especially Ray- the brothers he never had. I squeeze them both so tight saying "I love you very much"...hoping in some small way they know how grateful I am to Jonah, the brother they miss everyday but also knowing that Jonah too loves them very much and is sending them a hug through Ray and I.
This family has forever changed my families life. We love them very much-Ken, Jackie, Malachi and Noah (and ALL the extended family we have met-Tina, Bernice, Gene and Barb King, Nichole and Steve, Jess and Ashley, etc...etc...etc...) they are extended family that we became forever bonded with 4 years ago when tragedy struck for them but life began again for the Brooks'.
So as the night ended last night each couple or pair lite a Chinese lantern to send up for Jonah- there were 21 this year because Jonah would have been 21 this year. It is a serene feeling seeing all 21 in the air.
I love that through all of this, this family is STRONG. This tragedy didn't break them, it's built them up and made them stronger than before. They educate others about the importance of helmet safety, raise awareness, collect and distribute helmets and educate others about the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation.
So as Noah sang last night that as he misses his brother he thinks about "John, John and Ray"....well Noah there isn't a day that goes by that the Brooks' don't think about Jonah (and Jackie, Ken, Malachi and Noah!) and our eternal gratefulness to him and the plan that God had in place for our two families four years ago.
God is good, all the time
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