HAPPY 31st BIRTHDAY KELSEY!!

October 8th....Remembering this day 31 years ago when we were blessed with the most precious gift.....the gift of our beautiful daughter, Kelsey Lynn.....  You are absolutely every beautiful wonder we could have ever wished for and we are grateful beyond words to be your parents.        

                                                                                                           The day Kelsey came into our lives, a star dropped from the sky and lit a flame within our hearts.  Watching Kelsey grow that light burned brighter fueled by pride in each of her accomplishments and by the greatest love for all that she became.  We are grateful  for all the joy, love and memories.                                                        

This flame keeps us going today.  It comforts our souls knowing that we blessed the world with the most precious of gifts, the gift of you. No matter the time that passes between us, no matter the distance separating our hearts, our hearts are filled with the light that Kelsey sparked so many years ago.  And it will continue to burn bright so that Kelsey will always feel the love and comfort of home until we are together once again.

Happy Birthday Kelsey!  Reflecting and sharing memories of our beautiful girl.....

Kelsey's 1st Birthday

Kelsey's 4th Birthday

Kelsey's 16th Birthday

Can't help and wonder who Kelsey would be today and what she would be doing.  I imagine a confident, amazing young woman accomplishing incredible things and continuing to make her mark on this world.                                                                                            Kelsey loved her birthday, so I know she would have big plans for her 31st.  So, today, we celebrate Kelsey's life and all the joy, happiness, love and beautiful memories she brought to her family and to so many others whose lives she touched.  Kels loved balloons on her birthday so we hope she likes the balloons shared today.   We will be celebrating your day in style Kelsey.....   

We love you Kelsey!

Happy Birthday Kelsey!

 We love & miss you more with each passing day. Kelsey, you will forever be our pride, our joy, our love, our inspiration & our baby girl now and always.........

Happy Birthday!

Love, Mom, Dad &Kyle

       Remembering Kelsey today and everyday.  As I write this, I can't believe today marks fourteen years without my beautiful girl....it's all still inconceivable to me.  Feels like yesterday and yet an eternity. Each day without Kelsey is a challenge and today, a more painful reminder of the deep and profound loss.  Endless moments spent missing my girl, trying to understand why, searching for answers; knowing there are none... Trying to make sense of a life without Kels... And somehow moving forward while understanding the grief of losing your child is a timeless, lifetime journey to travel.   

      Forever missing Kelsey's presence, the joy and light she brought to our family and to so many others each and every day.  For the precious memories, for the lives Kels touched and continues to touch, for the imprint she's left on this world and continues to leave, we celebrate her today.  We are forever grateful for Kelsey and for the many gifts she gave us. 

    Although Kelsey left this world way too soon, she is always with us.  I will forever have her love, she will forever have my love, she's my daughter and will forever hold a place in my heart and soul. I feel her presence and love with me ....guiding and helping me through each and every day and for that I am comforted and blessed.
   
     Reflecting today and trying to hold on to all of the beautiful moments and memories that Kelsey shared with family and friends.   If you could please take a moment to remember our girl and watch these videos of Kelsey as they are a reflection of her wonderful  life and the spirit shared with so many of you......  Keep smiling beautiful.......We love and miss you Kelsey Lynn Kramer more today than yesterday and less than tomorrow .....

Videos to remember and reflect..........

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPjPdAMNiso&list=FL7kV8suIWWZXGnH5TrLd9DgR

https://vimeo.com/36878625

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9xzfYaCRL8

Forever Loved, Forever Remembered, Forever our Inspiration  & Forever in our Hearts Today and Everyday

We love & miss you so very much

Kelsey Lynn Kramer

Because of you, we are all 

FOREVER STRONG

 Remembering Kelsey today …….

    I'm sitting here reflecting as today marks 14 years since the day of the accident and the day that would forever change our lives. I remember the day as it was yesterday as every moment of the day is forever etched into my memory... for memories and the love of my beautiful Kelsey are what keep me going each and every day.  

I replay this day over and over in my mind, always praying for a different ending, that this freak accident had never happened, and the next thirty hours in the hospital would have turned out differently with Kelsey here with us today. 

  As I think about that day, it started out just like every other school day......Kelsey got up at 6:14 just like every other school day, She changed her outfit 3 times that morning, which was nothing unusual either, before landing on the perfect outfit to wear for school, a short blue print skirt and white tank top.  She looked great.  And I remember saying to her that morning, Kels, you look really really pretty today.  She just had a glow and radiance about her as she smiled at me that morning. I asked her to let me take a picture and she said it’s no big deal Mom, we will do it another time. Why didn't I take the picture....As I left for work, I wished Kelsey good luck on her test, good luck with her soccer game today, gave her a goodbye hug, told her I loved her and would see her at the game.    Thanks Mom.....Love you too!  would be the last words that I would ever hear Kelsey say to me.......   

Kelsey texted me from school several times throughout the day which was also nothing unusual. for her. She shared that she had a dream last night about her birthday party and reminded me that it's coming up so we needed to decide about things soon.  She always wanted a big celebration and I'm sure that would have happened. We decided we would talk about it when Kels got home from her soccer game that night. 

Then, Kels texted, asking me if I could take her shopping on Saturday for a dress for the Home Coming Dance.  I said of course and asked who she was going with and she said we’ll talk about it later.  

Then a text came that the soccer game start time was changed and that Varsity was playing at 4 pm at Pope John Paul HS instead of later.  Kelsey wanted to make sure I knew and was still coming since it was raining.  I told her that of course I'd be there.  It was a rainy and gloomy day but of course I went to the game just as I always did. I wouldn't miss the chance to watch Kels as I loved to see her play.  Kelsey started on Varsity that day and she looked great.  She played so well and you could see she was so proud and beaming with pride.  I could see by the expression on Kelsey's face, in her smile and in her eyes, just how very happy she was to be out there playing, playing well and playing with all of her good friends. She was thrilled and I couldn't have been happier for her... 

I did not get to talk with Kelsey after the game but sent her a text congratulating her on starting in the game and letting her know that she played really well and that she looked great out there.  I let Kelsey khow how very proud I am of her.  She thanked me and said love you mom …..see you later.  That would be Kelsey's last message to me............I then left for back to school night at OJR and said love you too....see you later.  

14 years ago today would be the last time that I would ever see Kelsey's smile, her sparkling eyes, hear her voice, hear her laughter and feel her touch and those great big hugs.....the last time that I would ever see my beautiful, vibrant girl so happy, smiling, having fun and so full of life.  If I had known, I would have never left Kelsey at the game that day.  If only I could turn back time and be with my girl......

Here is the video of Kelsey playing at the PJP game on that day 14 years ago today along with some other clips from other games.  I am so grateful that I have this video yet the images of Kelsey actually playing that day are forever imprinted in my mind and always will be.   I couldn't be more proud of my girl and only wish that she had the opportunity to see this video too.....     

 http://vimeo.com/37283336

We love you Kelsey and miss you more than you can ever imagine.  You are with us always, now and forever baby girl......Kelsey, you are forever loved, forever remembered, forever our inspiration, forever strong and forever in our hearts....

Love, Mom

 Memories of  Kelsey............

Remembering each of these moments and how much Kelsey loved the beach, summertime and being with  family and  friends .....Seems like it was only yesterday and yet most days it feels like a lifetime without our girl.  Wishing we could see that beautiful smile again.........see those sparkling eyes and hear that silly laugh just one more time.  Kelsey, we love & miss you more with each passing day.   You are Forever Loved, Forever Remembered & Forever Strong.....   Miss you baby girl.........

 Remembering Kelsey...........                                  Gone and yet never forgotten..... Always on our mind, forever in our hearts and always our inspiration. Sharing some beautiful memories of our girl.   Love and miss you so very much beautiful.........  

                    13 years & 10 months without our beautiful girl 
                          We love & miss you Kelsey......

  Remembering Kelsey.........

This quote couldn't be more true and reflective of the impact that Kelsey made on so many of our lives and the imprint that she continues to make on people each and every day.  For many of us, we have been forever changed by Kelsey...  

                                                                                                       We cherish the memories and times we had with Kels, and yet we long for her and want more of those moments and memories together.  Forever missing my girl...

.                    

 I've heard many share that time heals and yet that is the farthest from reality with losing a child.   Time continues to pass and the emptiness remains.   We will continue to love and miss our girl each and every day until we are together again.  Until that day, we will remember, honor and love our girl.  Kelsey, you are forever loved, forever remembered and forever in our hearts yesterday, today, tomorrow and always. We love and miss you baby girl........... Keep smiling beautiful........                                                                                                            

                                                                                      

 

                        Kelsey Kramer Scholarship Award 

                    2025 OJR High School Recipient

                                                        Fiona Sanders

 

                                                      Congratulations Fiona!