On a lighter note...

I think that Joe knew I really needed to feel his presence today. As I was driving to meet with some friends this evening, Aerosmith's 'I don't want to miss a thing' came on the radio. After the song was over, I switched stations, and the song came on again...from the beginning. I used to sing this song to Joe all the time. Then he would sing it to me. It was kind of a joke between us, because on a good day, Joe was one of those people who would fall asleep as soon as his head hit his pillow. He couldn't stay awake "just to hear me breathing" if he tried. :)

On the way home, I was listening to Delilah. She is this sappy squishy radio personality who plays sappy squishy songs for people with sappy squishy stories. Sometimes the stories are really moving. Sometimes they aren't. :) It was kind of a guilty pleasure for Joe and I to listen to Delilah in the car when we were headed somewhere in the evenings. We would either say, "awwwww, that's so sweet." Or we would laugh because of the over-the-top sappy squishy-ness. Sometimes we would laugh because the caller would share something really personal and then say, "I would like you to choose a song." Then Delilah would proceed to play a song that seemed weird or inappropriate.

So...I'm listening to Delilah, and I thought, "If I were to call and dedicate a song to Joe, I would ask Delilah to play, 'I can only imagine' by Mercy Me." It is a song that we often sang together. It was one of the songs used in our wedding videos. It was sung at Joe's funeral. Wouldn't you know, with no introduction or story, the very next song that played on the radio was 'I can only Imagine.'



Thank you Joe.

I Don't Want to Miss a Thing
I could stay awake just to hear you breathing
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
While you're far away dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever
Every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure

Don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
Cause I''d miss you baby
And I dont want to miss a thing
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing

Lying close to you feeling your heart beating
And I'm wondering what you're dreaming
Wondering if its me you're seeing
Then I kiss your eyes
And thank God were together
I just want to stay with you in this moment forever
Forever and ever

Don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
Cause Id miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing

I don't want to miss one smile
I don't want to miss one kiss
I just want to be with you
Right here with you, just like this
I just want to hold you close
Feel your heart so close to mine
And just stay here in this moment
For all the rest of time

Don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
Cause Id miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing

Don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
I don't want to miss a thing

I Can Only Imagine
I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side

I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine

I can only imagine

[Chorus:]
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine

I can only imagine

[Chorus]

I can only imagine [x2]

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you

I can only imagine