Happy heavenly 46th birthday Jacob! Thinking of you and your precious family all day, lighting a candle, making chocolate chip cookies (with browned butter, yum) and keeping my front porch light on.
As a child, the anticipation of birthdays was always more exciting than the birthday celebration itself. I'm sure there must have been special birthdays although I can't recall anything particularly memorable. I did, however, love to see my grandparents pull into the driveway on my birthdays. They always made a commitment to be there which meant more than any gift or cake.
I remember my ninth birthday. My twin brother and I got a Nintendo game system (1987). They were expensive (back in those days) and I felt so Loved and important to have gotten one from my parents.
Happy Birthday, Jacob! You’ve never been and never will be forgotten!
Thanks for the post. It's heartbreaking to read the letters. I remember when Jacob was taken. I was so concerned for his parents. You needed to make sure he ate his dinner, brushed his teeth, got his schoolwork done, etc. But you couldn't do it. There was just an uneasy feeling that your work was unfinished and you could not take care of him again until he was found. How do you concentrate on the daily duties and the care of your other children when Jacob was not there to take care of too, but you did it. I will always remember feeling that way for you.
I read Dear Jacob. It was beautiful. I'm sure Jacob is looking down on all of you and feeling so proud of how much you have done for his memory! Blessings to you all and be kind!
Oh gosh. My best birthday? I had many. My mom always said that you're birthday is special because it's the one day that's yours and no one else's. So happy birthday, Jacob. You will always be handsome, you'll always be young, and your life and name will never be forgotten. How many 11-year-olds can say that?
My mom made memorable birthdays. Mine was in October. She invited all the neighborhood kids over. Each plate had loose candy wrapped up in a napkin, with candy corn predominantly in there as it was close to Halloween. Musical chairs was my favorite game to play. You never forget these times, and this was over 50 years ago! I’m sure you created the same memories for your kids!
I remember celebrating Jacob's 1st Birthday after he was abducted at Lake Harriet by the Bandshell. I was holding my 18 month old daughter and the balloons that we sent off were special!
Happy birthday, friend! I was just 14 months younger than Jacob in a town not so far away (Fargo, ND). Our resemblance was striking. It was a heartbreaking and frightening story to hear at age 10. I plan on giving Jacob a big hug and high five in heaven someday. Love you guys ❤️🙌🥰
My porch light never went off. Now, 48 years old, I still keep a porch light on and still hold Jacob in my heart. I am almost finished reading your Dear Jacob book. Chapter 24 was a wonderful read. It is bookmarked so I can easily reread it when I need to recharge my heart with love and joy.
Your caring and compassion is simply contagious.
My birthdays were all special. Being with my mom at my favorite childhood restaurant, Pizza Hut. If selected to receive the audio book, I will be sharing it with my favorite birthday buddy, my Mom! She can’t read books anymore, so I’m sharing highlights from the book with her. She just put in a request at our local library in Florida for the audiobook. Hoping they accept so others can feel the hope
My favorite memory as a child.... I have very few. My dad passed away when I was 5, my mother when I was 7. At these ages, the magnitude of the loss could not be felt or comprehended. All I had were my friends and my younger brother, Donny. My friends who I played ball with in the street, skated with at Edgecombe, were with me as a Cub and Boy Scout... I look back at pictures of myself at these younger ages, and notice, for most, I'm not smiling. Except when I was with my friends. You were all I had to relate to. You were all I had to feel welcomed with. You were who I looked forward to being with every day. My dear classmates at Randolph Heights, Rusty, Stevie, Mike, Bruce, Frankie, Diane F. and Diane O., Karen, and Patty. My favorite memories are when I was surrounded by those whom I cherished then, and still do now. Our class pictures evolved with time and when looking at our 8th grade picture, I'm smiling for two reasons - I'm appreciating how much they all meant to me, and I'm standing next to Patty, I wish I could have gotten to know Jacob, the way I remember little Russell and I crossing St. Clair together on the way to school. My porch light was on back then, and my candle is lit today. xoxo Larry
Hi Larry! Thank you for your amazing comment. Randolph Heights was the best and I have so many happy memories there. I had forgotten the trauma that you went through and I understand how meaningful the friend support was to all of us. Thank you for the smiles way back then and today as I re-read this.
I have a hard time keeping up with correspondence but I do read the comments and am so grateful. Thank you.
Happy heavenly 46th birthday Jacob! Thinking of you and your precious family all day, lighting a candle, making chocolate chip cookies (with browned butter, yum) and keeping my front porch light on.
Love and best wishes from Florida,
Stacy
As a child, the anticipation of birthdays was always more exciting than the birthday celebration itself. I'm sure there must have been special birthdays although I can't recall anything particularly memorable. I did, however, love to see my grandparents pull into the driveway on my birthdays. They always made a commitment to be there which meant more than any gift or cake.
I remember my ninth birthday. My twin brother and I got a Nintendo game system (1987). They were expensive (back in those days) and I felt so Loved and important to have gotten one from my parents.
Happy Birthday, Jacob! You’ve never been and never will be forgotten!
Thanks for the post. It's heartbreaking to read the letters. I remember when Jacob was taken. I was so concerned for his parents. You needed to make sure he ate his dinner, brushed his teeth, got his schoolwork done, etc. But you couldn't do it. There was just an uneasy feeling that your work was unfinished and you could not take care of him again until he was found. How do you concentrate on the daily duties and the care of your other children when Jacob was not there to take care of too, but you did it. I will always remember feeling that way for you.
Patty and wetterling family,
I read Dear Jacob. It was beautiful. I'm sure Jacob is looking down on all of you and feeling so proud of how much you have done for his memory! Blessings to you all and be kind!
I thank you , Patty, for spreading hope in a stressful world. With gratitude, Pauline Boss
Oh gosh. My best birthday? I had many. My mom always said that you're birthday is special because it's the one day that's yours and no one else's. So happy birthday, Jacob. You will always be handsome, you'll always be young, and your life and name will never be forgotten. How many 11-year-olds can say that?
My mom made memorable birthdays. Mine was in October. She invited all the neighborhood kids over. Each plate had loose candy wrapped up in a napkin, with candy corn predominantly in there as it was close to Halloween. Musical chairs was my favorite game to play. You never forget these times, and this was over 50 years ago! I’m sure you created the same memories for your kids!
I remember celebrating Jacob's 1st Birthday after he was abducted at Lake Harriet by the Bandshell. I was holding my 18 month old daughter and the balloons that we sent off were special!
Happy birthday, friend! I was just 14 months younger than Jacob in a town not so far away (Fargo, ND). Our resemblance was striking. It was a heartbreaking and frightening story to hear at age 10. I plan on giving Jacob a big hug and high five in heaven someday. Love you guys ❤️🙌🥰
My porch light never went off. Now, 48 years old, I still keep a porch light on and still hold Jacob in my heart. I am almost finished reading your Dear Jacob book. Chapter 24 was a wonderful read. It is bookmarked so I can easily reread it when I need to recharge my heart with love and joy.
Your caring and compassion is simply contagious.
My birthdays were all special. Being with my mom at my favorite childhood restaurant, Pizza Hut. If selected to receive the audio book, I will be sharing it with my favorite birthday buddy, my Mom! She can’t read books anymore, so I’m sharing highlights from the book with her. She just put in a request at our local library in Florida for the audiobook. Hoping they accept so others can feel the hope
Thank you kindly for your generosity!
My favorite memory as a child.... I have very few. My dad passed away when I was 5, my mother when I was 7. At these ages, the magnitude of the loss could not be felt or comprehended. All I had were my friends and my younger brother, Donny. My friends who I played ball with in the street, skated with at Edgecombe, were with me as a Cub and Boy Scout... I look back at pictures of myself at these younger ages, and notice, for most, I'm not smiling. Except when I was with my friends. You were all I had to relate to. You were all I had to feel welcomed with. You were who I looked forward to being with every day. My dear classmates at Randolph Heights, Rusty, Stevie, Mike, Bruce, Frankie, Diane F. and Diane O., Karen, and Patty. My favorite memories are when I was surrounded by those whom I cherished then, and still do now. Our class pictures evolved with time and when looking at our 8th grade picture, I'm smiling for two reasons - I'm appreciating how much they all meant to me, and I'm standing next to Patty, I wish I could have gotten to know Jacob, the way I remember little Russell and I crossing St. Clair together on the way to school. My porch light was on back then, and my candle is lit today. xoxo Larry
Hi Larry! Thank you for your amazing comment. Randolph Heights was the best and I have so many happy memories there. I had forgotten the trauma that you went through and I understand how meaningful the friend support was to all of us. Thank you for the smiles way back then and today as I re-read this.
I have a hard time keeping up with correspondence but I do read the comments and am so grateful. Thank you.
I hope you are well! We need another reunion!
Patty