Hi Tom! I know it's been awhile since I visited you here. The last time I wrote you a nice long note on your Anniversay it somehow got lost. You know me & computers. & remember how you used to always help me with my homework or let me copy yours. Just another perk of being a twin. You were the best of the best. I miss you so much every day, I'm still crying those big huge tears from time to time. I hope they are taking good care of you in heaven & everything is peaceful. I have been having such a good time at our classmates get togethers, all your friends are such great guys. I'm also thinking about our 60th Birthday coming up. Wish we could celebrate it together.My thoughts & prayers will be with you every moment of that day & I'll be celebrating life in your honor, I know you would want me to & your Dear family will also be celebrating life on our special day. I"ll love you& miss you forever! Ginger

Hey Dad, Can you believe its been a year since you left our lives? It feels like just yesterday and the pain still lingers, but things are getting easier. Mom is doing a lot better now that we've done everything at least once. One Fathers day, one Christmas, etc. It'll make the holidays a lot easier knowing it is possible. I wish you could see Michelle right now. She's getting pretty dang big and her belly button is about to pop like a turkey timer. We're thinking of Alana or Ava Katherine for our daughter’s name. Katherine for Michelle's sister of course. We're going to wait to meet her before we decide though. Meghan agreed to be her god mother and mom already bought a pattern and fabric for her christening gown. Meg's going to be a great god mother. We're all doing well and miss you so much. It helps that its sunny out right now, but its supposed to rain later. We need the rain and I'm sure you've heard mom's prayers for it. Say hi to Phil and Vern up there and give Harry Carey my best. Love you Dad! -The Boy

Hi Dad, I had my first humming bird today on my deck. I thought you'd get a kick out of that. I have a seed feeder up too. Seems to be attracting some birds so far. I wish you were here to give me some advise on all this bird stuff! I miss you every day Dad... I love you! Love, Meg

Hi Dad, 1 year ago today we found out about your tumor . I still cant believe its only been a year. I ate my lunch outside in my car today so I could listen to the Twins game :) I thought you would like that. It was a beautiful day today, nice and sunny. Doesn't seem fair that you couldnt be here to enjoy it too. I had a dream the other night that you called me from heavan. It made me feel really good. You told me that you were sorry but you couldnt remember my name because they dont have names in heavan but that you know I am your daughter and that you love me. Then everything burst into a thousand stars and you told me that they were all my family and that they loved me too... I love you dad. meg

Hey Dad! I just wanted to wish you and Ginger a happy B-Day. I know you weren't a big fan of your birthday, but I feel its important that you would have been 58 years old today. Mom sent Ginger some flowers and she sent us a nice email. You've got a great twin there dad. Speaking of twins, you missed a great game last night. You would have been yelling Yab-a-daba-dooo! We sure miss you dad. Today and everyday. We'll be listening to you from heaven as we make it through today. Thanks for a nice sunny day dad! Love you! -Dylan

HI Dad! I see Dylan beat me to the punch to talk about our new little baby girl :) Its only right I guess since he's the daddy! haha We are all so excited to meet baby, but we all miss you dad and wish you could be here too! Please watch over her as she grows .. I am sure you will! PS I am hoping her birthday is August 2nd so I dont ever have to have a birthday again :) Cosgrove's dont particularily like their birthdays... do they? haha Love your daughter, Meg

Hey Dad! I'm sure you already know this, being in heaven and all, but I uploaded a bunch of pictures of your new Granddaughter! At least we're 90% sure she's a girl. Her birthday will tentatively be August 7th, so another Leo girl to add to the mix. I promise that I'll try to be as good a father as you were and that I will teach her how to juggle. I hope you're doing well in heaven with Grandpa Phil and Grandpa Vern. I'm sure you're all very proud of us. I'll also make sure she knows you as Grandpa Grover! We miss you so much! Love you! -Dylan

It's been a little over 6 months since you went to be with our Lord in heaven.I still can't beieve that you are gone. I know that you wnt us all to be ok & just when I think I am, the pain of losing you takes over. My only cosolation is that you didn't have to go on & suffer for a long time. I was so Blessed that God chose you to me my twin. I will be ok & I pray for Rhonda, Me Dylan & Sarah Helen watermelon that they will be ok too. I know how much they love you & how much you loved them. Please ask God to watch over them. Wow & now you're going to be a Grandpa, Grandpa Grover. Grandma Rhonda & the kids are all in their glory! I'll always be thinking of you, especially when I watching Leave it to Beaver & Andy Griffith! I love you Tom! Always, Your Twin, Ginger

Well, Dad, it's Halloween. It felt weird all day knowing that you wouldn't be dressing up like Egor tonight to scare the neighborhood kids. One of them asked mom if Egor was out looking for his hand tonight...haha.. you were always so good at that. But then mom told them you were in heavan and wouldn't be able to be here tonight. Gosh, that's sad. I miss you tonight dad. I miss you a lot tonight. I started my new job this week. It's a lot all at once, but I am going to love it, I can tell. One of my new friends at work and I were talking today and her dad died of lung cancer too, but she was only 7 when her dad died. I was lucky to have you around as long as I did. I miss you dad. Happy Halloween! Love, Meg

Thank you, Grandma, for leaving such a nice message. I know this has to be so incredibly hard for you! I love you Grandma! I miss my dad so much but I know that he is living on in Dylan, Sarah and I.... and in that special part of your heart too! The leaves are really starting to get pretty here in Brainerd. My dad loved fall. I miss him alot as the seasons change from summer to fall. Its just not the same without my dad here. Sunday afternoon football just isnt the same without dad here to cheer on the Vikes. Its hard expiriencing all these little things, but I am finding many things to be happy about too... trying really hard for my mom :) Thanks everyone who visits this page. I love seeing new messages, so please leave one if you can. Thanks. Love to you all Meghan

Tommy, You were always such a nice dear son. I just cant believe that you are gone. I will always love you and miss you! Forever, Mom (Mamacita)

It's been 21 days since you had to leave us to be with God. I miss you so much Dad that sometimes it feels like my heart is going to explode! I just wish I had one more day to walk into the house for dinner and see you sitting at the table saying "Hey Meg, how was work"? I wish I could have one more dilley bar with you and laugh while hanging out after supper. Gosh, Dad, I just miss you and I wish you were here. I had so much more to tell you! I hope you can hear me talking to you now in my prayers at night. I really hope you can. Tonight I was watching the sunset on my deck and thought "Wow Dad knows all these cool secrets and he got to meet Jesus! " It must be amazing up there. The Cubs are kicking butt this year! I hope you and Grandpa Phil are chearing them on from up there! There have been rumors of Favre becoming a viking! Can you believe it? I think the fans in minnesota would boo him right off the field, dont you? ha! Me and mom have been watching the twins games. And we have been taking Gracie for rides in the truck every night. She's been barking her head off and missing you too.. I can tell! I love you Daddy! I want you to know that I am taking good care of Mom.. and her of me :) I miss you! Meg

On April 8th, 1951, God Blessed me with being born into this world with my twin brother, Tommy. Mom said that Tom was punching her big belly, the Nun at the hospital took one look at her & said, " Get this lady upstairs right now! " Then Mom said Tom came flying out like a bird, just couldn't wait to start living! Then Mom always tells the story of how the Dr. went to the next room to deliver another baby & then came back to use forceps to deliver me. I think I finally figured out why I'm always running late, I was born that way! When Mom & Dad brought home 2 babies, big brother, Paul, asked them why they had to bring home 2 babies instead of 1. Anyway that's when our live began. We had so much fun growing up together, all 3 of us, I remember going to the Drive In in our 1957 Chevy station wagon & when we saw the Drive In we'd all start screaming, "I see the Drive In!" over & over again. I rembering playing cowboys & we'd pretend that the bar stools were our horses. We all had cowboy & I had the cowgirl outfits. When Tom & I started kindergarten, we went in the afternoon class, so we walked to school together. Big brother Paul was in 2nd grade then. Mom said that Tom would go out the back door & I went out the front door of our house & we both came back around the house missing each other & crying because we couldn't find each other. It was so much fun growing up with a twin, we got to share our First Holy Communion together & our grade school & high school graduations, not to mention being in the same class everyday for 8 years at St. Catherine's I think the best part was sharing the homework. Tom was always so nice to me & he always made me laugh until my stomach hurt. I won't forget the time when he was home on leave from the Navy, we went out to a few bars together. We left a place called the Nordic Pub & he drove my little white volkswagen backwards down to the Village Squire, about 6 blocks away. Another time I was in the car with him & someone pulled on to Rt. 31 in front of us. They had plenty of time, but Tom sped up to make the guy think that he pulled out in front of us. He was just so crazy, he always made me laugh, he was a real goofball sometimes. Yes, Paul I remember playing all those games outside in the summer, including kick the can. I also rember playing horse with you & Tom over at the Bethke's basketball hoop. There's one more thing I have etched in my memory about our childhood. I remember one time when we were in the 7th grade & we all had the stomach flu & kept passing back & forth. Well I remember Tom standing at the kitchen sink washing all the silverware in bleach. I just thought that was so nice of him. There were some tough times growing up, but we all survived it & we all made our homes with our wonderful spouses & we're all Blessed with our beautiful children. Tom always, always said how Blessed he was, he never complained about anything right up until the end of his life. He was so brave. My prayers & thoughts are with everyone who knew Tom,especially his beautiful wife Rhonda & his three angel children& the new angel addition to the family, Michelle, Dylan' wife. It hasn't been that long since Tom left here to be with our Lord & we are still all so devastated by his leaving so soon, just doesn't seem fair. But I know Tom would want us to go on & be strong for him. I will always miss you,Tom, & my live will never be the same, knowing that you're not with us anymore, especially on April 8th. I love you, Tommy! Ginger

it's your nephew Mikey, I just wanted to tell you how much I love you and will miss you dearly. We didn't get to see each other much in our later years except for Dylan and Michelle's wedding, but I'll always remember the times we spent together when I was a youngster especially our fishing trips with Grandpa Phil my Dad and of course you, those were the times that will always remain in memory because they were the things that formed my sense of humor, respect for nature and of my elders, I learned how to bait a hook, cast a line and when the fish weren't biting you taught me how to cup my hands together and mimick the sound a loon makes! Those trips to Brainerd were so special I always loved the peace and quiet that the woods and hidden lakes revealed to me and I could see even at a young age that you knew your place in life was to live there and raise a beautiful family with Aunt Rhonda. Uncle Tom I know right now you're at peace and you no longer have to cope with cancer, give Grandpa Phil a hug for me and know that we all miss you dearly. God Bless our entire family and our dearly departed, Mikey

When I think back to the family vacations that we spent with Uncle Tom and his family as I child I always smile! Uncle Tom was always so funny and always showed us a good time. I will miss him and remember him forever. Your love and kindness and acceptance have always meant the world to me. I will never forget the day you called my dad's phone and he had left it at home. The first time I let it ring to voice mail and then it rang again and it was you again. I answered it and we had a short but sweet conversation. You asked about Elyjah and didn't let on that anything was wrong. I passed the message on to my dad thinking that you wanted to give him a hard time about the Colorado/Minnesota hockey game that was taking place that night. When my dad told me that you had called to tell him that you had been diagnosed with cancer I could not let myself believe it. I didn't believe it until I saw you in person at Dylan's wedding and even then I would not let myself believe that you wouldn't get better. I am so glad that we got to spend that time together one last time. It had been so long yet it was like no time had passed at all and I will forever be gratefull that we got to spend those days together. From you came love not only for me but for my son whom you got to meet for the first time. I will always remind Elyjah about the time he got to meet his Uncle Tom and how special you are. On July 9th 2008 I had a moment during that day that I thought of nothing but you and I felt warm and loved. When I learned that you had passed that day, I have never been so devastated in my life, I cried for you and the family that you had to leave behind. I cried for Aunt Rhonda, who I always saw as strong and beautiful. I cried for my cousins who lost thier father and the fear that I don't know how I would face. I cried for my dad and Aunt Ginger for losing thier precious brother. And I cried for Grandma who lost her baby boy, a mother should never have to experience that pain. But as I think about it more and more I am comforted knowing that you are in heaven watching over each and everyone of us. I love you and I know that you will take care of us for the rest of our lives and that one day we will all be joined together to live in eternity and I know that you will have a place ready for each of us. I love you and will miss you for the rest of my life.

Over the last three months of this ordeal I have looked back in my mind at all the little things that we shared together tring to grow up. The times playing baseball or delivering newspapers or playing tag and find and seek on the block til it was dark. I remember the family pinics and dinners at Grandma Cosgrove's, the cousins from Tennesse that came up each summer. I remember the times we had in Virginia and California before we started our families and when not having the time to get together more. If only we had payed more attention to the little things. Tom I miss you alot and wish we had more time to live the little things. Love Paulie