Happy Birthday Rich!

March 17, 1970 - Rich's birthday. Darrel Richard Hovde. He would have been 39 this year.......we miss him!! Here's a picture of Rich & my Mom that was taken at Jason & Jenelle's wedding about 8 years ago.

This is a picture that Rich drew. When he was little, he used to tell my sister Connie that when he grew up, he was going to have a purple pickup. Notice his detail in the grass and the shading of the pickup, sidewalk, tree, and part of a mailbox. He had a keen eye for detail - the pickup even has a shadow!!

I often hear his voice saying "It's all right Mom!"

Life will never, ever be the same after the grievous loss of my first son.