In Memory of Joshua Baez: His Life Story

12/15/2025

First night of Hanukkah also falls on his birthday this year. Had cake and watched Wall-E one his favorite classics.

Happy Birthday son. We'll always celebrate 🥳 the day you was born and look forward to celebrating with all of heaven one day.
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12/14/2025

Baked an Oreo Chocolate Cake for Jøsh Baez ... now planning to watch a favorite classic of his, Walle.

12/14/2025

On That Day — December 14 🤍

The world had its headlines.
The news carried its stories.
But on that day, Josh was born — and our lives changed forever.

I wrote a reflection honoring December 14, 1998 — weaving together what was happening in the world and what truly mattered to us: the day Joshua entered it.

If you’d like to read this piece and remember Josh with us, I invite you to visit the blog.

🔗 Read On That Day — December 14:
https://marcybaezlopez.wixsite.com/in-memory-of-joshua/post/on-that-day-in-history-december-14-1998

On December 14, 1998, while the world moved forward with its headlines and history, Josh entered it — and changed our lives forever. This reflection honors the day he was born and the love he left behind.

12/14/2025

This weekend marks Josh’s birthday 🤍

When a loved one is no longer here, birthdays carry a different weight.

They remind us of what we miss — and of the love that never leaves.

As Josh’s day approaches, I’m re-sharing eight ways I’ve learned to honor and remember him, written for his first birthday remembrance in 2023, from a mother’s heart, in hopes they may help others walking this path too.

If you’re facing a birthday after loss — or simply holding someone close in remembrance — I invite you to read and share.

🔗 Read here:
https://marcybaezlopez.wixsite.com/in-memory-of-joshua/post/celebrating-birthdays-after-loss

How do we celebrate a loved one’s birthday after they are no longer here? Read on to learn of 8 ways that help us honor and remember them.

11/16/2025

The 3rd Annual Walk for Josh was a success!
It was more than I had prepared for, planned for, or even hoped for.

We began in prayer together, encircled in the parking lot. We shared stories, created new memories, forged deeper bonds, and honored Joshua in every step. About a third of the way in, we had an unexpected moment of grace. We reached an intersection—one that Josh, Gabe, and I had explored during our winter adventure in December 2020, following a hidden trail off the Fox River near the Woodlawn House in Valley View.

We had crossed the bridge then, when we stopped at a sign pointing in three different directions. Yesterday we stopped at that same spot. What we didn’t realize back then was that just a few months later we’d move to the very town that one of those arrows pointed toward—the town where Josh would live for the last time. Standing there again, it felt as if past, present, and future met in a single, sacred point. One of those moments that is deeply significant yet almost impossible to fully grasp.

I can only hope God allowed Josh a glimpse of this walk today—and imagine him smiling.

Thank you to everyone who joined. We finally made it to Joshua’s Waterfall this year: a journey he never had the chance to complete. Two and a half miles. Nine of us. Steady and smooth. An unforgettable experience and a blessing.

11/15/2025

The day has arrived for the "3rd Annual Walk for Josh."

It also marks the beginning of the most difficult season of the year for me — the stretch from today through February 5, the anniversary of Joshua’s transition. It’s 3–4 months of navigating memories, emotions, and a grief that evolves but never disappears.

During this season, I will cry, laugh, grieve, and remember.

I will long deeply… and still, I will courageously hope.

Each passing year brings me one step closer to our reunion 🫂

And each year adds another layer of healing and another level of strength.

Today, I walk to honor my son, Joshua Baez 💙 To remember — with intention and with love — the life I brought into this world and the one I eventually had to lay to rest. The experience of being not only his mother, but as he often expressed without shame, his best friend.

With all my love, I will walk.
I will cry.
I will reflect.

And I will heal some more.

In Memory of Joshua Baez: His Life Story

11/14/2025

UPDATE: 🌿 Walking Joshua’s Path — Honoring His Memory

One more day until Joshua’s Annual Walk 💛

Please join us tomorrow, Saturday, November 15 at 2 PM in South Elgin at
10 N Water St, South Elgin, IL 60177 (downtown parking area).

We’ll walk together along the path that holds such deep meaning for me — the same path Joshua and I last shared on November 13, 2021 (four years ago yesterday).

That day is one I will always treasure. I had just begun recovering from an autoimmune flare-up that kept me from walking for over a month, and Joshua — spontaneous, encouraging, and caring as always — asked me to join him for a simple walk. No plans, no destination… just time together. That choice became one of the most meaningful moments of our life as mother and son. 🌾

Since his transition to heaven, we honor him each year by returning to this path — a walk of love, remembrance, and healing.
This year, our goal carries special significance:
to finally reach Blackhawk’s Waterfall — lovingly known as Joshua’s Waterfall.

Joshua and I had planned to make it there together on our next adventure, but he passed before we could take that walk. So tomorrow, we’ll complete that journey — for him, and with him in spirit. 💙

We are also raising funds for the Chesapeake Feline Association in North East, Maryland — the place where Joshua volunteered, poured his heart into helping animals, and fell in love with his first and only cat, our Junebug. (See images.)

If you’d like to donate in his honor, please visit:
🔗 https://www.chesapeakefelineassociation.org/donate
If you contribute, you’re welcome to comment or message me with:
🕊️ “In memory of Joshua” or “Donated – [amount].”

And if you can’t be with us in person, I invite you to join us in spirit — wherever you are, take a few steps for Joshua, breathe deeply, and give thanks for those who have touched your heart forever. 💛

Images: Junebug 💕 and Joshua with June.

11/11/2025

UPDATE: 🌿 Walking Joshua’s Path — Honoring His Memory

It’s that time of year again — Joshua’s Annual Walk 💛
Join us on Saturday, November 15 at 2 PM as we gather in South Elgin at 10 N Water St, South Elgin, IL 60177 (downtown parking area).

We’ll walk together along the same path that has come to hold deep meaning for me — the one Joshua and I last shared on November 13, 2021.

That day will always stay with me. I had just begun recovering from an autoimmune flare-up that had kept me from walking, and Joshua — in his spontaneous, encouraging way — asked me to join him for “just a walk.” No plans, no destination, just time together. That simple moment became one of the most meaningful of my life. 🌾

Since Joshua’s transition to heaven, we honor him every year by walking this same path — a walk of love, remembrance, and healing.

This year, our goal is especially meaningful: to make it all the way to Blackhawk’s Waterfall — lovingly known as Joshua’s Waterfall.

Joshua and I had planned to reach it together on our next adventure, but he passed before we could take that walk. So this year, we’ll complete that journey — for him, and with him in spirit. 💙

We’re also raising funds for the Chesapeake Feline Association in North East, Maryland, where Joshua volunteered and poured his heart into helping animals.
If you’d like to give in his honor, please visit:
🔗 https://www.chesapeakefelineassociation.org/donate

If you contribute, feel free to comment or message me with:
🕊️ “In memory of Joshua” or “Donated – [amount].”

And if you can’t be with us in person, I invite you to walk with us in spirit — wherever you are, take a few steps for Joshua, breathe deeply, and give thanks for the people who have touched your life forever. 💛

Images: Of Joshua’s Path on my first walk November 2023. 💕

11/05/2025

🌿 Walking Joshua’s Path — Honoring His Memory
It’s that time of year again — Joshua’s Annual Walk 💛

Next Saturday, November 15 at 3 PM, we’ll gather in South Elgin (downtown parking area) and walk the path that has come to mean so much to me — the same path Joshua and I last shared together on November 13, 2021.

That day is forever in my heart. I had just started to recover from an autoimmune flare-up that kept me from walking, and Joshua — in his spontaneous, encouraging way — asked me to join him for “just a walk.” No plans, no destination… just time together. That simple walk became one of the most meaningful moments of my life. 🌾

Since his transition to heaven, we walk this path every year — a walk of love, remembrance, and healing. This year, our goal is to make it all the way to Joshua’s Waterfall.

We’re also raising funds for the Chesapeake Feline Association in North East, Maryland, where Joshua volunteered and poured his heart into helping animals.
If you’d like to donate, please visit their website here: https://www.chesapeakefelineassociation.org/donate

If you contribute, comment or message me with “In memory of Joshua” and your donation amount — or simply “Donated – [amount].”

And if you can’t be here in person, I invite you to walk with us in spirit — wherever you are, take a moment to walk for Joshua, to breathe, to remember, and to give thanks for the people we love who have touched our hearts forever. 💙

Image: Last year's group! Neil Vonasch, Ernie Miguel Baez, Jeff and wife Cathy, and myself 💕

10/09/2025

9 years ago today 💭