There are some souls who walk this earth with a bright light, you feel it just by being near them. My son Matthew was one of those people.
He had a heart full of love, a spirit full of joy, and a life filled with dreams, not just for himself, but for the people around him. He changed lives without even realizing it.
Matthew was more than a son, he was a brother, a friend, a dreamer, and a quiet helper in ways most people never saw. Family meant everything to him. Whether it was picking up his younger siblings from school, watching them while I attended my own classes, or making plans with his little sister. He showed up with love, consistently and without question.
He had big dreams of going into construction, he wanted to build houses, to create spaces where families could grow and love each other like we did. I always believed he would have made an incredible father one day, and I still believe that deeply. His ability to care, to guide, especially with his autistic brother, whom he connected with so naturally, showed a maturity and kindness far beyond his years. Matthew was always sharing Bible verses with his sister. His older brother was his other half, they were inseparable and the bond they shared was something I always admired.
We had dreams together. Big ones. We talked about moving into the woods, starting a homestead, and building a new kind of life, for our family. I will continue to work towards those goals in his honor.
Posted September 2026