Kristen, Our Angel

Another year without our Angel..

  Merry Christmas My Little Angel:                       

Tonight is the night that we would pack up our blankets, your stuffed friends and would travel through the streets trying to find the most beautiful lights. The cookies you would place so perfect on the plate along with the glass of milk for Santa, and would know that Santa wouldn't let you down by finishing up all the goodies that you left him. We look out at the night with tears remembering that this is the special night we would spend together, sitting alone, only memories left to hold on to. Our families and friends all wrapped up within the holiday season, do they still remember that we use to share the happiness of our Angel?  Do they still remember that we are alone sitting in sadness? We will always treasure every second that we spent with you, and will hold our memories in our hearts, those are memories that will never be taken from us. How I wish that it was me looking down from the heavens watching the lights instead of you my angel, as you were taken from us to early. Never a moment goes by that I don't think of you and wish that you were here in my arms.. Oh how I love you and miss you so very much.  I love you my little Christmas Angel, and will forever.  Hopefully soon we will be together again.  Merry Christmas, Love, hugs and many kisses, Mom

I remember when we would sing this song and laugh when we would forget the words.

                                              My Angel KD

Amidst the laughter and celebration
I will turn my head away
and cry tears of sadness
For I remember the missing little angel
That cannot be replaced
With gifts and festivities
I remember You with love
even when the others don't.

I love you Angel, Love, Mom

  CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

     Christmas 1988 we had the anticipated arrival of Santa "Dan". KD asked for very little but really wanted a cabbage patch dolly, and Santa brought it to her.  He even surprised her with toys being pulled out of her ears.  This was such a joyous time for all of us.  Ma, KD's Great Grandma thought that Santa really came from the North Pole to visit all of us. We will treasure the memories that Santa brought to us that year with our little angel.  I have added an email from Santa "Dan" and his memories of our little angel below.. Thank you Santa for all you have given to us!

I remember a time back in 1988 which seems like a lifetime ago as I was a
much younger man then. I had some new friends that I met through work that I
had become pretty close with. I haven't talked to them in a while and I kind
of lost touch with them since they moved away. Anyway it was coming up on
Christmas 1988 and I remember my new friends asking me if I minded dressing
up as Santa for his little girl. Now I was a single man at the time and not
real "kid friendly", Anyway I thought we could give it a try so "what the
hell". I remember his wife bustin her butt a week or two before Christmas to
do some sewing on the Santa suit so it fit me (who would have figured a
santa suit needed to be made bigger!). Day of the show, Twas the night
before Christmas and armed with the gifts from mom and dad I remember
Kristen, half asleep come into the room. I will never forget the look on her
face when she realized Santa Claus was there for her and her only. I
remember pulling something out of her ear, I thought it was a silver dollar
or something, suppose it could have been a little trinket gift that dad gave
me but I can't remember. That little girl just looked at Santa like it was
true magic, then she just lit up and looked at mom & dad like it was the
time of her life. Never forget that moment the rest of my life, usually runs
through my head about once a month and daily from Halloween to New Year. I
miss Kristen and I miss my friends.

Santa Claus

  What a Beautiful Angel! 

Our last Christmas tree with our Angel

A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER 

Our family Christmas’s each year had a special meaning. KD was never the child of want, or need, but the child that loved to give. Our first Christmas together when KD was born was one with lots of gifts, stacked around the tree, but as she grew, she did not want for anything.  One year she only wanted a lump of coal, and we found a sack with coal gum in it.. she loved it. The memory of Christmas that I will always hold dear in my heart is one almost 8 years ago, in Toledo, Ohio.

There was a family in need that we adopted for Thanksgiving, a young Mother of 5, that had recently gotten three of her children back, that were taken from her. She lived in a small apartment, with very little.  We delivered the Thanksgiving dinner to her and saw that she was a struggling Mother, with very little to give to her family.  We made a “family” decision, that we would give to this mother and children for Christmas, and enjoy our holiday the way it was meant to be. We got our families and co-workers involved in this Christmas of giving, and made such a special delivery to this family.  Kristen, Darrek and Erika decided to add in the enjoyment and purchased special gifts to give this family from their own money.  When delivering the food & gifts, this young mother was so excited that we would do this for her and her family, we received hugs and tears, but much more, it warmed all of our hearts with the gift of giving and love.

This year was such a special year.  With a few gifts under our tree, we not only gave another family a special Christmas, but also gave our own family the understanding of how precious Christmas really is. We still shared our Christmas stories around the tree with hot chocolate, and the ride around the town to look at the beautiful lights as always… but this was a very special Christmas, a Christmas that we all remember the special little family that we touched lives, gave joy, and love.

Christmas 2006, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center Christmas Tree stands in the lobby with our angels names for all to remember.  We will never forget, always holding our angels within our hearts.  Kristen's Papaw and her are among the many angel's names that fill the tree.

 Merry Heavenly Christmas Angel

Our Angel's name again hangs on the St. Joseph Medical Center tree of lights.  

The brightest shinning star, shines from the heavens!

This Christmas tree sits in the lobby at the hospital of St. Joseph's Medical Center, Bloomington, IL. For the second year, Kristen's name hangs on a little gold tag, in her memory. Adam Bickers, a very close friend of Kristen's has placed her name on the tree, for all to remember her life, her kind smile, her love.

 The lights are shinning bright for you to see our angel!