Kammerman Family: July 2014

Its hard to believe that Reesa died. Some days I think she'll just walk through the door and say hi. Sometimes I'll be walking in the store or an event and see someone that looks a bit like Reesa and I'll do a double-take. One girl we met at BBY this year could have been her twin. From her looks to her personality and smile. But music is the hardest! I can be in the middle of a store or in the car and a song will start playing that I listened to with Reesa or she played it on the guitar. I can remember the exact time and place we were at when I was with her.

But with all of the heartache I have found that there is a lot of things to be grateful for. (Or as Reesa said in her video-"I have a million reasons to live.")

I am so very grateful for all of the love and support our family has received. I am so happy for all of the memories we created with Reesa. I am thankful for all the times that Reesa played the guitar and sang for all of us. And for all the love she extended to all she met.

I am also happy to have found the video she made and how much it has already helped hundreds and thousands of people. Who would have thought that she would still be helping people after she died. I shouldn't have been surprised because that's what she did while she was alive as well.

A young lady approached me at Reesa's Celebration Service and let me know how Reesa had saved her life. This young lady said she was a fellow student of Reesa's and had her own struggles she was dealing with. In fact, she said she had planned to go home from school that day and end her life. But for some miraculous reason she had talked with Reesa that day and Reesa talked her out of it. She told me that she was alive today because of Reesa! How awesome is that?! And what an example for each of us! We never know how a simple smile and conversation can help lift somebody from despair to hope.

One of Reesa's counselors and friend texted me today with a message. I looked up the song she told me about. It has a great message. Thank you Sam! The song is entitled "The Sun is Rising" by Britt Nicole.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO36F--Vn1g

Today we went to the last place that Reesa had worked, Nickel Mania in Springville and played video games to remember her by. Then we came home to a bar-b-que that Missy put on. Then we had ice cream sundaes with all the toppings. (except I forgot whip cream!) Thanks to Brandee and Danial for the bueatiful flowers and to whoever went to her gravesite.
Yeasterday, Zacharias, Isaac and I went to mile marker 83 and put up a little memorial for her. Thanks to Grandma Jo for the flowers to put there. It was a long drive but we stopped to make sandwiches at a park in Meadow. Then on the way home we visited the twins in Nephi and played at the playground we used to play at with Reesa and visited our old house. It was quite a day.

A HUGE THANK YOU to Barbara Barrington Jones and all of the staff at this years BBY!
Barabara has made a perpetual scholarship in Reesa's name for every BBY, starting this year!
How awesome it is! And what a way to remember Reesa and have her message of love and hope be remembered!
The staff wore purple shirts and the necklaces they gave to the girls had a star on it. Even the girls' group names were "star" themed. (like Galaxy Gals)
After a tribute to Reesa we all went outside and everyone let a purple balloon float away and promised to try a little harder each day to be a better person and help others. What a sight to behold as over 250 balloons were released! We also sang "A Child's Prayer" and "God Be With You" while being accompanied by a beautiful guitar melody!
Thank you Barbara and Staff!!!!!!!