Denny Hart

It has now been over three years since my precious son went to be with Jesus. I think about him every day and wonder what he would be like now. He was always a very compassionate and considerate man.

I had Trevor for the past two weekends and I can see so much of Denny in him. Those looks he gives you when he doesn't want to listen. The stubborness is just like his Uncle Denny. He even walks like his Uncle Denny. He looks so much like Denny that it is very bittersweet when I have him. I love Trevor with my whole life but I so wish that his Uncle Denny could be here to watch him grow up and teach him how to throw a baseball and give him tips on life in general.

Son, I love you and I miss you. It may have been three years but it still seems like it just happened. When I think about it, the pain just about kills me. I will be so glad when I can see you again.

It has been a little over two years since Denny was taken from us. I spent a day with his nephew, my grandson, Trevor, a couple of weeks ago and Trevor is so much like Denny was at that age that it is bittersweet. Trevor has the same stubborness that Denny had at that age. Trevor has the same beautiful eyes that Denny had. Trevor even makes some faces that look like Denny. There is so much about Trevor that reminds me of Denny. I so wish that Denny could be here to watch Trevor grow up. We will just have to tell Trevor stories of him so Trevor will grow up knowing him through our hearts and eyes.

I remember when Denny was little and you told him no, he would watch to see if you were watching him, and when he thought that you weren't, he would do whatever again. Such as touching buttons on the TV. Trevor is the same exact way.

I also wish that Denny could be here to see his beautiful neice, Llydia. He would be so proud of her. He would be wanting to protect her when she got older and wanted to start dating. He would have been hard on her dates because he would be able to remember what he did on dates.

I found some letters that Denny wrote to me when he was in the Army. I was so proud of him. I am still proud of him. He accomplished alot in his 24 years of life. He touched alot of people's hearts and lives.

I know that I will miss him until the day that I die and can visit with him in Heaven. I will always miss that smile he always had on his face and I miss looking into his beautiful eyes and seeing the love that he had for his family and friends. I love you Son.

I KEEP REMEMBERING ALL THE MEMORIES THAT DENNY AND I SHARED, AND YOU COULD NEVER IMAGINE THAT THINGS THEN THAT DIDNT SEEM SO MEMORABLE ARE THE ONLY THINGS THAT ARE LEFT TO HOLD ON TO.  WHEN I WAS PREGNANT WITH DALTON HE MADE SO MUCH FUN OF ME(MY TUMMY) BUT WHEN DALTON CAME THEY BONDED AND ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE THINGS OK MOST OF THINGS THAT DENNY WOULD TEACH HIM I DIDNT LIKE BUT HE WAS ALWAYS THERE WETHER IT WAS TO TAKE HIM TO THE BASEBALL FIELD  TO WATCH PHILLIP OR JUST TO GO OUTSIDE TO PLAY WITH HIM. I HOPE THAT DALTON HOLDS ON TO THOSE MEMORIES SO THAT WHEN TREVOR IS OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW HIS UNCLE DENNY THAT DALTON CAN TELL HIM OF SOME OF THE GOOD TIMES THEY HAD TOGETHER. I KNOW DENNY AND I SHARED ALOT OF MEMORIES AND WHEN I FIND MY SELF SAD OR ANGRY CAUSE HE IS NOT HERE I THINK OF A FUNNY TIME CAUSE NO MATTER WHAT MOOD YOU WERE IN DENNY ALWAYS HAD TO CHEER YOU UP AND IT WOULD MAKE ME SO MAD CAUSE HE COULD DO IT EVERYTIME.  BUT THAT WAS JUST DENNY. AND I CAN JUST HEAR THAT LAUGH AND SEE THAT SMILE AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WILL NEVER FORGET AND CAN NEVER BE TAKEN AWAY...MEMORIES...

I could write page after page of memories shared with Denny... everything from hysterical to heart wrenching - even some pretty embarrassing ones (don't worry little brother - your secrets are safe with me!) I guess the memory that I hold dearest right now is my wedding. I watch the video regularly just so I can see his smile.

The day before my wedding Denny called to say he couldn't leave Augusta until he picked up his check on Friday morning. Realizing this meant he would miss the ceremony I became hysterical. Plans were made and things were arranged... and Denny was able to leave on Thursday. He stayed in Live Oak with Phillip, and they left Friday to come down. Apparently, as they got closer to the beach they ran into some traffic. Denny got off the highway claiming he knew where he was going. After a few strange turns Denny confessed to Phillip that he had no clue where they were, but that he COULDN'T be late for my wedding. In the meantime, guests were being seated and I started to panic because Denny had not arrived. Just when I thought I couldn't stall any longer, Denny came running through the door! He hugged me and ran down to his seat. Joey said he was watching for him as well, and was getting worried. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Denny and Phillip running! The wedding reception only added to the memories... everything from dancing to singing to finally realizing we had an open bar!

This was my brother though... my brother could take everything "up a notch". He made everything so much more special. I look back and laugh at the times we were kids and wanted to beat each other over who rode in the front seat, who got the biggest pancakes or who got to choose a radio station. Funny how realtionships change... as we grew older we went from fighting with each other to fighting anyone that messed with the other one! I always thought that I was his protector - then one day I woke up and realized that he was mine! 24 years doesn't seem like a long time in the grand scheme of things, but it was long enough for us to form an extraordinary bond. One that can never be broken, nor replaced.

I will always remember when Denny first made his entrance into this world. He was a gift from GOD to us all for almost 25 years. I have always been so proud of him!! I always knew he had a good heart and my heart has been warmed by all the kind words and condolences from his many friends & family. Denny loved sports, particularly baseball and football. He was a fierce competitor on the field and always gave his best. Denny had many accomplishments in sports....an 82 yard go ahead touchdown run late in the game against arch rival Branford, a no-hitter against Dixie County (one strike from being a perfect game), and pitching & winning his conference championship game for Lafayette High School. One moment that i will always remember was when Denny was 15-16 years old and playing Babe Ruth  league baseball in Winter Haven. Denny's team had a chance to make the playoffs if they could win this game. His team was down 3 runs i believe, and had runners on 1st & 2nd base. The assist. coach wanted Denny to bunt and advance the runners. Denny being a pitcher, was not hitting all that well at the time. He did not feel he could bunt well so he asked the coach to let him go ahead and try to hit, promising the coach he would bring the bring the runners in.  The assist. coach still wanted Denny to bunt and Denny was still asking him to let him hit and promising he would bring the runners in. The head coach finally said to go ahead and let Denny hit. Denny crushed a 3-run homer into the tree behind the left field fence. Denny said he would bring the runners in and he did!! In his next at bat he hit the ball to the fence for a double. I have many,many more special memories of my precious son.....they are what sustain me during this time. He and his sister Jackie are my pride and joy.  I know i will see Denny again one day in Heaven. I love you son and always will!!