It has now been eight months since the disappearance of two missing children from Rexburg, Idaho.
Tylee Ryan and Joshua "JJ" Vallow were last seen in September.
Their mother Lori Daybell (Lori Vallow) is now in jail, facing charges related to the kids' disappearance. She is now married to her fourth husband and has declined to state where the children are.
JJ turns eight years old on Monday. Tylee is 17 years old.
Instead of focusing on the criminal case against the kids' mother, loved ones said they wanted to spend the day celebrating JJ's birthday, leaving him messages that they hope and pray he will be able to see.
"Happy birthday JJ!" said his cousin, Zac Cox. "I love and miss you so much. I am so grateful for you, that you got to show me what it's like to have a sibling and a little brother! I just think about all the fun things that we got to do when I was living there, and just how funny you are all the time, and just how sweet you are, and just how much everyone wants to be around you."
"I just wanted to say that I hope you get some type of special treatment for your birthday, because you deserve it more than anyone else, and you deserve a lot more than that too," he continued. "I just miss you, and I love you buddy. Happy birthday J."
"We’re always thinking of JJ. It never goes away," said grandmother Kay Woodcock. "We're asking everyone to post him as their Facebook profile picture."
"JJ, we look forward to kiss your sweet beautiful face and hug you tightly," she continued. "Happy birthday Joshua Jaxson Vallow. Mama and papa love you."
Melani Pawlowski, who is JJ's cousin and Lori Daybell's niece, released a statement to FOX 13 through her attorneys.
"On this special day, we miss JJ and pray that JJ and Tylee are both safe and well."
Pawlowski has denied all accusations that she knows where the kids are. She has also defended Lori Daybell's character.
Her ex-husband, Brandon Boudreaux, wrote a poem for JJ, pledging to continue searching for JJ and to continue demanding justice.
He said he believes JJ is now missing because of the same "cult-like" religious views that broke up his marriage.
FOX 13 reached out to Mark Means, the attorney representing Lori Daybell and her new husband Chad Daybell, on Sunday afternoon.
Means said FOX 13 did not give him or his client enough time to respond to our request for a comment on JJ's birthday.
