KKSmith.net

You know you’re getting old when you have to subtract the year you were born from the current year to find out how old you are… I had to do that for Kristin as well as for myself this year…(hey, no Grandma jokes here!)

KK, I think of you this special day, your 19th birthday, as I do throughout the year. I ache at the separation that we have to endure, and I long for the time that we can all be together again. I have to keep telling myself — this earth is not our home. Our real home is a beautiful place with no sickness, no sadness, a place where peace, joy and celebration goes on forever.

Love you!

My thoughts have been on Kristin a lot this week and I wanted to share why. This week our church has us studying the following passage from Luke 15 verses 1-10.

1 Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. 2 This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such despicable people even eating with them! 3 So Jesus used this illustration: 4 “If you had one hundred sheep, and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine others to go and search for the lost one until you found it? 5 And then you would joyfully carry it home on your shoulders. 6 When you arrived, you would call together your friends and neighbors to rejoice with you because your lost sheep was found. 7 In the same way, heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away! 8 “Or suppose a woman has ten valuable silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and look in every corner of the house and sweep every nook and cranny until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors to rejoice with her because she has found her lost coin. 10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”

As I was studying this passage with our kids, they were drawing pictures and acting out what the “heavenly rejoicing” might look like. It occurred to me that all those who are in heaven with Jesus and His angels are probably participating in these great parties…including our dear Kristin! What a wonderful priviledge to join all of heaven rejoicing because one of God’s lost has returned to Him. Some day we will join the rejoicing and what a wonderful day that will be!

Aunt Amy

Happy Birthday Kristin,

I know it has been several months since I wrote on your site, but this has been a very difficult and busy year for our family. Abby has been fighting brain cancer for more than a year. This has been very hard and all of us have to stay close to the Lord for help and strength every day. Abby’s birthday is October 23rd and we hope to make it a very special day for her. Aunt Amy told me today that Abby has asked that presents she gets this year go to the hospital because she has lots of things and some of the children there don’t have very much.

Shelly wrote that Uncle Rich and Aunt Laura had a beautiful, healthy baby girl on September 13th and named her Sienna. She is very sweet and I know for sure that you would have held her at every opportunity and been very gentle with her. On our refrigerator I still have the picture of you, smiling happily and holding baby Abby.

When Haley has her baby soon, you will become a second cousin and grandpa and I will be great-grandparents.

We miss you and all our loved ones who have gone on before us so very much.

Taryn, Amber and Cheyenne we keep you in our prayers.

Lovingly,

Grandpa and Grandma

Marcus and Kristina were watching old family videos when I got home from work today. It was Christmas and Haley and Kristin had their hair styled wavey, like when you pull braids out after they’ve had a chance to dry. Uncle Rich was throwing Marcus up in the air and after a few times Marcus said “put me down over by my mommy.” John told Rich that he couldn’t wait till Rich had kids of his own – Ha, never thought we’d see that day! 🙂

We welcome beautiful Sienna to the family.

A friend called this morning excited that she had just seen the Kidline commercial that Kristin and friends were in many years ago! She thinks it was on TVLand or Nickolodean. I can’t believe its still airing!

We went to the KU Cabaret 2005 show last Saturday and enjoyed it so much. The performances, set design, costumes and choreograph were in your words Kristin “awesome.” I knew exactly which numbers you would have loved to be in.

Carol and Vince have developed a wonderful program for young people and I hope it continues and grows every year. Amber and Cheyenne, you both did a terrific job and looked as though you were enjoying yourselves.

On another note, our dear friend Stephanie Copperman and your classmates at OGMS will be graduating from high school this year. I know you will be present in their hearts and minds.

Grandma

Happy Mothers Day to all the moms who faithfully visit Kristin’s site! This world is a more beautiful place because of you. May God bless you as you continue to love, nurture, and support those around you. A special blessing to those of you who have loved and lost – you are in my prayers today.

P.S. I’m excited about the new, re-designed site. Can’t wait to see more. 🙂

I thought this was a neat little story…

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm.
He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma’s pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved. In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing. After lunch the next day Grandma said, Sally, let’s wash the dishes.” But Sally said, “Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.” Then she whispered to him, “Remember the duck?” So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, “I’m sorry but I need Sally to help make supper.” Sally just smiled and said,” Well that’s all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help.” She whispered again, “Remember the duck?” So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help. After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally’s … he finally couldn’t stand it any longer.

He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, “Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing. But because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.”

Thought for the day and every day thereafter, Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done…and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, debt, fear, hatred, anger, unforgiveness, bitterness, etc.)… whatever it is…. You need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing….. He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and
that you are forgiven. He’s just wondering how long you will let the
devil make a slave of you. The great thing about God is that when you
ask for forgiveness, He not only forgives you, but He forgets…..It is by God’s grace and mercy that we are saved.

Go ahead and make the difference in someone’s life today. Share this
with a friend (I just did) and always remember: God is at the window!

I received the above text in an email and wanted to share it. Kristin made a difference in my life, and I hope that her website continues to make a difference in the lives of her friends and those who didn’t know her but will someday meet her in eternity. God bless each one of you.

Dearest (((Taryn)))

This is one of the most beautiful tributes to a much beloved daughter I have ever seen. I am so glad God is providing His perfect peace to you and your daughters as you travel down this road called life. And, one fine day, what a glorious day that will be, when we meet our Savior face to face with our loved ones right behind Him! Praise God. Much love to you all, BeckyS

As I sit here trying to think about what to write, all I can do is inhale… and then exhale. There just aren’t words to describe how I feel four years after our loss of Kristin. At times I can feel all the emotions of those first few days like it was yesterday, but other times it seems like forever ago.

Just know that I’m thinking about all of you today.

Love,
Shelly