Joshua 12-08-85
This is Joshua James Grys. My baby from the first group of our children. This is how I will hold Josh in my heart forever.Josh is my always smiling little angel who was so very smart. Perfectly behaved in front of adults, and little Eddie Haskel behind our backs. He never did anything really 'bad' or dangerous, just ornery! Josh was and still is in perpetual motion. He always has two or three projects going. He was always the little man with the plan. I admit by the time Josh came along, I was parenting a litter of children and he got swept up on the group. He never ever wanted one on one hugs and kisses, rocking chairs and stories. He was too busy for that stuff.
Josh was the Jock from grade school all the way through college. He ran track and cross country. He played soccer on the varsity team for 4 years and was the captain. He loved being on stage and performing, thus the nitch of pole vaulting. I mean when you are on top of that pole, EVERYONE is looking at you. Josh would have done well on the stage, in the Theater. But alas, he too fell into teaching. He is really really good at it too! Especially the inner city kids. He reaches children that no one else can or cares to. 
Josh is still a physical guy, he teaches, but he also coaches. He works construction in the summer and I have heard him wistfully say, maybe, just maybe someday he will again have time to put in some training and get back on the pole. Possibly to coach, possibly to show himself that he can still do it, possibly just for the joy of flying again. Josh loves to fly.
He loves to be free. The other side of Josh is a perfectionist who loves hard work. He is working toward his masters degree in education administration so someday he can be a principal.
This is now the focus of Josh's life. In fact this is Josh's whole life. His beautiful wife, Laura who is also a teacher. His precious son Cash Payne who is the light in Josh's life. They are the air he breathes. Such love lives in their house! They are a tight couple who work together towards a common goal, which I am pretty sure includes more children very soon! Josh is a full grown man, which he often loves to remind me of. He is a man to be proud of, but he will always be my little guy who has the tough exterior and the soft heart.
