Author: Matt Keough

Joyce,

Happy 40^th!! You are such an awesome person, and now you also have the wisdom that age brings. One of the things that make me so proud of you is your up-beat personality. The joy that you spread as you interact with people, and your family, is infectious. People like to be around you, because you are spirit filled.

It does my heart good to see the way you and Matt are raising the boys. You are a boys Mom. (A Mom that knows how to let your sons, be boys) You allow them to explore different interests, and take risks that will help them develop into strong men. It will give them the confidence they need to succeed, and challenge themselves to be leaders.

Your volunteer work in the Church and School is something else that makes you awesome. You don’t check your Faith at the school doors, because it is part of your DNA. This example will also pay dividends for your family, and community. You know how to multi-task, and keep on keeping on.

The thing I love about most is you’re baking skills. James said it best; “yummy yummy hippo”

To my dear sweet Joyce…

The day you were born was one of the happiest days of my life.  Your dad & I had not picked out a girl’s name but as soon as I held you I knew you had to be my ‘Joyce’.  What a perfect name.  You brought such joy to our family. 

You were always a content and well behaved child (for the most part—I won’t mention your incident with the neighbors ‘big wheels or the time you & Danny helped each other out in a 5^th grade Science test).  You always were eager to help both dad & me with household chores.  When you were four years old you would tell me “When I grow up I want to be your maid.”  I’m very happy that you developed higher aspirations.

Your childhood went way too fast—grade school, high school & college.  How proud I was of you and all of your accomplishments (which were many).  I also shared in your disappointments and sorrows. A life of leaning always has the good times and the bad times.  Again, how proud I am of you on how you grew and developed by being positive and not letting the heart aches get you down. Those experiences made you the generous & compassionate woman that you are.

In your wisdom, you chose a good man as your husband.  The two of you are raising four gentlemen.  Have I told you what a fantastic mother you are?  Your sons also bring a lot of joy into our lives.  They have their daddy’s good looks and their mother’s sense of adventure. They sure are blessed with good parents.

I wish you a very happy 40^th birthday, my awesome girl, and God’s blessings on you all the days of your life.  Thank you for being my sweet Joyce. 

Love,

Mom

P.S.  Don’t want to depress you but when I was 40 my youngest child was 18!

Joyce is awesome because she is a good, caring, loving person. Not too many people would take such wonderful care of grandpa k like you two do!

And especially thank you Joyce for helping Danny on all those hard test at St. Mary Magdalene!

I have known Joyce all my life which is 38 years to be exact!! She has been my oldest and best confidant and friend thru almost 4 decades! She truly is one Of the most amazing people I have ever met and now she has become more than just my friend she is my family.
Growing up our families used to hang around together all the time and most summers you could find Joyce, Dan, Lori and I swimming at the pool. I look back fondly on the times we would play together and remember all of our summer adventures like it was yesterday. As we grew up and went our separate ways to different high schools we still made time to see each other and catch up in the driveway unless Joyce had to go wash her hair of course!!!
When I went off to Xavier for College Joyce and I still kept in touch and it was always a big deal to make sure we saw each other when I came home for summer and winter breaks. She was there to help me celebrate my graduation day and always cheered me on from the sidelines for whatever I wanted to achieve.
Since college Joyce and I had a chance to really get to know each other as adults and Now I really can not imagine my world without her in it. Throughout our friendship Joyce had been there for me thru the good and bad never leaving my side. She celebrated the good times, gave me a shoulder to cry on thru the bad and when all else failed she handed me a miller lite and told me silly jokes and turned on country music to get us thru the rest!

Joyce is one of the most loving, loyal, selfless and trustworthy people I know. I hope that one day I can be half the mother, wife and cook she is today! She will help anyone that needs it and is always willing to offer a kind word, hug or silly joke to make life a little easier. She helps out my grandpa without expecting anything in return. She also makes sure I am up every morning for my workouts by texting me! I could not ask for a better friend to walk thru life with! Happy 40th birthday Joyce!!!!!!

From your friend and favorite travel baseball coach,