Happy Birthday Jacob!  / Tara Teachout (close friend )
Dear Jacob,

 I am so happy to hear about your birthday! It seems like we are all growing up really fast! Well I'm still here as you know and i still think about you everyday. I also pray for your family because I know that you are smiling down at them. I love you Jacob!!!!!!!
                                                                 Tara Close

Thank You, God, for Jacob's Life  / Leia Darett
Hi, Terry, Manny & Jacob---Today, as we remember Jacob, I wanted to let you know you're in my prayers as always.  I am so thankful that God gave us the time that He did to get to know this charming, funny, creative and intelligent boy!  Yes, we do miss him.  I thank God for your family that you are in our lives today and that we are closer because of the circumstances God brought about.  HE is always in control and we trust in what plans He has for us tomorrow.  With faith in God alone, you will persevere!  We love you!

Love,

Leia Close

Happy 15th Birthday Jake!!!!  / Sara Bruno (Friend)
JaKE!!!! its your birthday today!!!! Happy 15 birthday!!!!! were having a party for you down here and theres gonna be lots of people. we miss you sooo much!!!!! happy birthday!! i love you sooo much and im thinking about you!!!!
love
sara Close

Happy Birthay to Jacob  / Debbie VanLandingham
Terry,
You will always have a special place in my heart.  You're a very kind person with a very big heart.  I know Jacob watches over you with a big smile.  He is so very proud of you.  I know how much you miss him, one day we will get to be with our children.  May God Bless you in all that you do. 
Love Debbie ~ Brian's mom Close

happy birthday *  / Becky
JACOB! happy birthday!! i think this will be your best birthday yet because you get TWO big parties..one down here and one in heaven =)  thats pretty cool. well i miss you and your randomnesss and well i just thot id tell you, but be with everyone tomorrow, im sure its going to be hard... i love you buddy Close

Friends & Jesus  / Laurie Johnson (friends mom )

Dear Terry & Manny,
Just a note to let you and your daughter know I am thinking of you all...
Charise enjoys the time she spends with you guys. Thank you for inviting her and I thank Jacob for bringing her closer to Jesus!
Laurie

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Miss You Still  / Rebecca Hernandez (Friend)
Jacob, I Thought As Time went On Then Missing You Got Easyer??? It Seams Like Its Gotten Harder I Miss You So Much Now And Christmas Is Comming Soon... I Rember When We Went to Lunch The day Of The Christmas Concert That Was So Much Fun I Would Never Trade That Day For Anything Except To Have You Here Again.....I Really Need You To Help Me Go back To Church I Quit Going But No One Knows Why Except My Mom I just Miss you So Much Jacob Well I Love You I cant Wate to See You Again!

Love Always 
Rebecca    Close

happy b-day!  / Tara Teachout (close friend )
hey jacob, just wanted to say happy early b-day. i miss you and i think about you all the time. I hope you are smiling at us up in heaven right now. everyone still remembers that smile that lighted up the world. love you jacob...

love tara Close

hey jacob wutz up  / Donovan Alvis (friend)
hey ur bdays coming up and i just wanted to wish u a happy early bday i guess.well its weird not being able to see u and hang out and do something to get in trouble, well we had our times.....i miss you jacob. i hope ur keeping up the long hair trend we started but then i broke it by cutting my hair sorry bout that well my hairs pretty long now its down to my nose and its black im growing it out and i havent cut it at all yet, alright well keep it real up there alright ? love u bro........ donovan Close

Wow! What a beautiful tribute!  / Pamela McBroom (another Mom )
Terry and family, Jacob's website is fantastic! The tribute video and all your pictures are great! Jacob seems like he was a very likable guy! His pictures show he was fun and friendly. The pictures of Jacob and his sister, Jordan, are really sweet! They look like they got along well and were fond of each other. My son, Michael, age 11, died just 16 days before Jacob. I know Michael would have liked Jacob. Michael was interested in all kinds of sports and always had time for a new one. He was, also, friendly and easy to get along with. Michael gave his heart to Jesus when he was younger. I hope him and Jacob are having fun in Heaven! We know they are! Love, Pamela (fellow griefnet Mom) Close

My Son Lives in Paradise  / Mommy (Mommy)

I had a little boy
God gave him to me
I held him so close
Forever to see

For how blessed I am that Jesus chose me
To bear Him a child, His heaven to see
Nor more shall he suffer, no years shall he grieve
Jesus took him to live where he truly should be

My son is of heaven, no more to fit here
There’s nothing of earth that he could hold dear
Except those he loves and soon we’ll be there
To be with him always that new life to share

My son is in paradise, and aren’t I so blessed
To know he is safe, my heart is at rest
He is not left behind, to suffer so deep
To watch us all die, in heartbreak to weep

I love him so much, I’m glad he was swept
Up into glory, forevermore kept
Jesus will hold me, His love is so sure
My son is set free, from being my all

I hold precious memory to keep in my heart
My son lives in me, we never can part
For I know all we shared, was such perfect love
Though now out of sight, we’ll always be one

I have a secret smile
My son’s joy guaranteed
And my God gave him to me
Forever to keep

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just dropping by to say hi  / Sara Bruno (Friend)
hey jake,
just thinking about u again. i miss u a lot a lot a lot a lot! and i want to see u soooooon!!!!!!!!!!!! ur almost 15!! well in heaven theres no age i dont think but were celebrating ur birthday down here!!! and im REALLY excited!! well im going to go to bed now so watch over me! but i just wanted to come here first to say hi and i miss u alot. gOoDnIgHt!!
xoXO
Sara Close

just missing you  / Sara Bruno (Friend)

Jacob,
It's been about 6 months now without you. It's been extremely hard for everyone and you should know that so you know how much you mean to everyone. I miss you so much and when I think about facts like, "it's been 6 months" it makes it harder to hold back the tears. But I don't want to be sad because like everyone says you wouldn't want us to feel that way because you're in a better place. I really hope to see you soon because it sucks that the only way to see you is the pictures of you I have sitting on my dresser. I put them there because I can see them when I wake up and go to sleep. But I hate when people that didn't know you come in and I have to constantly explain the story. I'd rather just say, that's my freind Jacob. But then they get to questioning why I have so many pictures of you or if you're my boyfreind. Well I Love You and Miss You!! xoXO
Love Always,
Sara 

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I can't believe it's been 6 months  / Mommy (Mommy)
Oh, Jacob, sweet baby boy of mine. I cannot believe it has been 6 months since I have held you, kissed you, cuddled with you, smelled you, talked to you, loved you. I miss you so, so much. I cry for you everyday. I love you, my sweet angel. I know you are the best angel God could ever want, you are even better then the angels. It feels like yesterday that I lost you, and then it feels like a really long time ago, like forever, and it hurts so very bad all the time. You were my lively little critter, so witty and fun, and I miss you jumping across my lap, and wrestling on the floor with you till I was ticklling you and then you'd give! I miss driving you to guitar lessons, and buying you In n Out, and taking you to Active, or shopping. I loved running my fingers through your hair when you were playing video games. I love going camping and watching you ride your dirtbike. I miss hearing you play your guitar in your room, or sit here with your Martin in front of the computer in my room, looking at the guitar tab site, and calling the guitar your "baby". I miss you chasing your sister all around, and calling her "Yorpi" and wrestling with her, and you played so much with her. She is so lonely without you, you were her best friend, and now there's no one to play with like that. She talks about the cruise last year, and how you two would take off and explore the whole boat, and steal mints off the housekeeping cart. Oh Jacob, so many things are gone, I am so sad. I can't wait to see you again. I hope you are having the time of your life in heaven. Please send some love, some comfort, some signs. Ask Jesus to help me, I have such a hard time without you here. Please, I love you! Close

Our Shared Grief, Jacob Castro and Tyler Dickerson  / Carol Dickerson (none)
Terry Castro,
You were kind enough to send me a card when my son Tyler passed away in May.  It is only now that I am getting around to saying thank you because this has all just been too hard.  I remembered your card though, and knew that I would contact you at some point.  You gave me your cell phone number too, but I was hesitant to call because we have never met. Tyler's 13th birthday was August 14 and, well, I guess I don't have to tell you what kind of day it way.  This is so unfair!  He was cheated out of so much (and so was I).  He was my only child.

I would like to talk with you sometime.  I have been looking for a support group for parents who have lost children but I haven't found anything.

Please reply privately to my email address and I will give you my phone number.  I'm hoping we can help each other somehow.

Here's a poem (yes, another one) that my mother sent me.  I set up a memorial for Tyler on the corner where the accident happened on his birthday and this was part of it.

At the finest level of my being,
You are still with me.
We still look at each other
At that level beyond sight.
We talk and laugh with each other
On a level beyond touch.
We share time together
In a place where time stands still.
We are still together
On a level called love.
But I cry for you
In a place called reality.

I hope to talk with you soon.
In sincere sympathy for both our beautiful boys,
Best Regards,
Carol Dickerson
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I dont know if Jacob would remember me but...  / Ritz W. (A friend from way back )
I'm his classmate from 6th and beginning of 7th grade. My name is Ritz. I think my mom met his mom before. Anyways, thinking back on 6th grade, I cannot think of another person who made me laugh more. Jacob made school a hell of a lot more fun. I think he's seriously made a mark on me because I'm not half as serious now than when i was before 6th grade. He was really nice too, when he wanted to be. When we were all secretly rebelling against the teachers, Jacob was the one who actually did it for us. I cannot think of anyone more alive than he was. To think that his life was ended by some reckless driver is pretty infuriating. Some irresponsible person just... ended the life of someone who brought many other people lots of happiness. I cant even begin to describe how horrible that is. I have never lost a friend before, so this kind of feeling is an extreme awakening of sorts. Although I havent thought of Jacob in, maybe, years, his death still haunts me almost everyday. Because of him I have now joined my school's Anti Drunk Driving club. Because of him, I am grateful for every class clown that I meet. I heard that he liked to play guitar. So do I. And judging by the playlist, we also had very similar tastes in music. I wish I got to know him more before I moved away. Keep on truckin', Jacob -Ritz Close

Thoughts / Sara Bruno (Freind)

hEy,
Your mom and sister left today for a week trip. I'm sure you know but help God keep an eye on them Jake, and help your mom know that your always with her near or far. I love you Jacob!!!!! Have a good rest of the day!!! It's like 3:30 here so there's not too much longer but I don' think there's time there!! So, enjoy yourself!! I know you are! I miss you!!!!! & I love you so0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0 much!!!! And I always will and I can't wait to see you!!!!!!!!!!!!!xoxoxox Hugs & Kisses xoxoxox
Love,
Sara

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JuSt ThInKiNg AbOuT YoU!!  / Sara Bruno (Freind)
HeY JaKe!!
Just thinking about you. I always wonder what you're doing right when I'm thinking about you. I'm guessing  you're surfing or snowboarding or dirtbike riding or something like that because that's what you loved!! Well, again, I miss you so much. I was at your house yesterday and part of today!! I love going over there!! Your sister is so much fun to hang out with. I love when she tells me stories about you and her. You were such a good brother. I know of course you two fought because thats what brothers and sisters do but she tells me so many stories about how you would pay her to do stuff and stuff like that. It's so cute!!  I wish i could've went over to your house while you were there. That would've been so cool!!!! Words can't even explain how much I miss your cute smile, the lazy way you walked around dragging your feet, your beauiful hair and how much you told everyone it was better than theirs, holding your hand, talking to you on the phone for hours just so that I could hear your voice before I went to bed, getting candy for free in spanish, and even just seeing you at Glendora High School getting a glance and sometimes a hello. I wish we talked more once we got to High school but we didn't but I'm glad I got all the memories at Foothill because no matter how much you didn't like the teachers I know you loved all the attention you got there!! But at Glendora you liked the independence I think. The fact that the teachers weren't always bugging you about talking in class. (or at least not as much) Well i miss you lots!!! And of course I love you lots and I'm getting more and more anxious everyday to see you!!!
xoxo
Goodnight Close