Matthew Daniel Hughes--December 14, 1990 - February 01, 2008

At the finest level of my being,
You're still with me.
We still look at each other at
That level beyond sight.
We talk and laugh with each other on
Level beyond touch.
We share time together in a
Place where time stands still.
We are still together on a
Level called love.
But I cry alone for you
In a place called reality.

----Richard Lepins

This is the birthday memorial I put in our local newspaper for Matt's Birthday....... 

In Loving Memory of Matthew Hughes
December 14, 1990  – February 1, 2008

I was barley 18 on the day you were born. I remember being so scared because my life had changed so much. Time went by and we figured life out together. Now, 18 years later I have no idea how to live my life without you. Love you, buddy.
We all love you and miss you, Happy Birthday Matt…

Please Light a Candle while you are here, it truly helps to know that Matt is not forgotten.

God's Lent Child
I’ll lend you for a little while, a child of mine, God said
For you to love the while he lives and mourn for when he’s dead.
It may be six or seven years, or forty-two or three
But will you, till I call him back, take care of him for me?
He’ll bring his charms to gladden you and should his stay be brief
You’ll always have his memories as a solace in your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return,
But there are lessons taught below I want this child to learn.
I’ve looked this whole world over in my search for teachers true
And from the folk that crowd Life’s lane I have chosen you.
Now will you give him all your love and not think the labour vain,
Nor hate me when I come to take this lent child back again?
I fancy that I heard them say “Dear God, thy will be done.
For all the joys this child will bring the risk of grief we’ll run.
We will shelter him with tenderness, we’ll love him while we may
And for all the happiness we’ve ever known, we’ll ever grateful stay.
But should the angels call him much sooner than we’d planned
We will brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand."
~ Author Unknown

Matt lived his life for only 17 years, 1 month, 18 days but left a lifetime of happy memories for his family and friends.  We are Matt's family: Dennis and Amber Berberich,  his siblings: Courtney, Stacey and Bradley Berberich, his nephew-Tucker,  his grandparents, aunts, uncle, cousins, his girlfriend, Jess and his many friends. 

A Hero Poem--1/15/2008

My Mom is my Hero

She is very good to me

She doesn't let me run with scissors

Because she's concerned about my well being

I respect her alot

Even if it doesn't seem like it sometimes.

Still I really do try

Even when I'm wrong

We can still compromise

On rational things

I really do wanna spread my wings and fly..

But at the same time I don't wanna leave her side.

I want to thank Cindy Small, Matt's Success Teacher brought this poem to me today.  I had never seen it before today, Cindy wanted to save it for me for Mother's Day.  Thanks so much Cindy!! What a wonderful gift.

Life will never be the same without him. Our family is forever changed. My heart will never be whole again. To bury a child is the worst tragedy anyone could have to survive and still we do. Dying is easy, Living is the hardest.

To know Matt  was to love him.  I remember when I was pregnant with Matt and I was trying to decide on the perfect name for my child, I always loved the name Matthew, I looked in the baby name book and it said the name Matthew meant "gift from God", I knew from that moment that was the name I would give my child.  He truly was a gift from God to me.  I reminded him of that fact alot as the years went by and as he grew into a teenager he kept reminding me of the fact that he was "God's Gift".  Another way his humor always amazes me.  He always had a gift for changing my words to suit his mood.

Anyone who knew Matt would agree with me that the one thing that defined him was his QUIRKY sense of humor.  Matt had ways of making people laugh.  Matt and I laughed alot.  No matter how mad I was at him for whatever reason he could always smooth it over with some random act of comedy.

 I chose to remember the love and memory of his life not the tragic car accident that led to his death.

My love for Matt never fades, never ceases, he never leaves my thoughts or my side, Matt lives in my heart forever.   

I love and miss you so much, Matt.  17 years was not enough. 

I hope all of you enjoy the memories of Matt as much as I do, this is a work in progress so check back.  I will add more as the days go by.  Also my myspace page also has lots more pictures. MySpace URL:

http://www.myspace.com/inlovingmemoryofmatt

Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers..we could all use more. 

InLovingMemoryofMatt,

Amber