IN REMEMBRANCE

As given October 30, 2008 For Krista and family~

I’m Nancy - Jason, Krista and Jeffreys’s aunt & Kathie and Steve’s sister-in-law but I’ve always felt like a sister. We can see today that the miracle of love, especially Krista’s love, is that it can encompass so many hearts. The bond of family love is strong, full of hope, even in despair. The Thompson family has been rock solid - talk about an eternal family hug – Steve, Kathie, Jason, Krista and Jeff have been there for each other, and especially for Krista. They have built a strong foundation for the rest of their journey. They spent time with each other and with the Thompson and Leonard families. We are a bit of an unusual family because so many of us live near each other. Krista’s grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and good ol’ grandma shared in Krista’s life from the very first twinkle. We all fondly remember Krista and kiddies running and squealing after the ice cream truck in Maine, teaching Krista to sing her address, her delight in Thursday night spaghetti (well sometimes it got switched around because of the all the kids’ activities but it was still Thursday night spaghetti at heart), splashing pool parties on Anita drive, silly sing alongs, gingerbread houses, playing dress up, teasing Grandpa Francis & stealing his popsicles, homemade hot fudge sauce, Krista mowing the lawn for grandma when she was smaller than the lawnmower, all of us skiing at Bryce, Maine vacations-crashing waves & a lobster feast on the beach at Fortunes, collecting sanddollars after walking over to the island, Krista getting grandma to get a manicure, Krista sharing older cousins clothes and books, her love of her dog, Jenny, the excitement at the door or before Krista took Jenny for a walk, holidays at each other’s houses, Easter at the county club where the main attraction was the candy room, Christmas at Grandmas with corny gift exchanges and Steve on the accordion and all the kids playing pots and pans and everyone singing. Don’t get me wrong we have our fair share of family dysfunctional fun, but Krista loved every minute of our good family times together. A Christmas ago Krista and Kathie made the cuddliest soft blankets for each family member –they must have made 30 blankets! Krista knit our family together and reminded us of the importance of simple pleasures –like a brownie sundae, or a gutsy funny comment ~perfectly timed or a beautiful sunny day. Her special spirit lives on in each of us. Today we are all family. – Think of Krista often and share your smile with the world. Krista certainly did. Please join me in a round of applause and support for the Thompson family and their beautiful daughter & sister, Krista, who will be deeply missed but remembered always.