 Her legacy |
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Loving Spirit, Gentle Heart
Katie touched so many people's lives by her sweet, caring, and loving spirit. For me knowing Katie since I was young the memories go back quite a bit...from sneaking up to bucemis on our bikes to get pizza and playing baseball with the neighborhood boys to the most recent memories of our phone conversations or the memories of being with her at youth group & her graduation party. All I know is that throughout it all, she never gave up. No matter how sick she was...she fought it and did everything to the fullest and to her greatest strength. Katie stuck it out through the hard times which was most of the time but she never lost her faith which is tremoudously admirable. Katie impacted my life so much by showing me that although there are rough times...I am healthy and lucky to be alive each and every single day and that I should make the most of each day. Also, Katie never judged people and I pray that I would have a heart that big that would help me not to judge people and like Katie to be myself...she was never afraid to speak her mind or say the wrong thing...she was who she was and to me she was the greatest and most unique friend anyone could ask for. Fly High Katie and know you will be missed...If you get the chance to sit it out or dance...I hope you dance!...I know Katie is dancing up there in heaven with Jesus and the angels! :)
~Ash
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Everyone's friend
Everyone's friend
Always so trueful
Unselfish and kind
None in the world her equal you'll find
A beautiful young life came to an end
She left as she lived, everyone's friend
Sister Christina
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Dance
Katie is unquie, not like anyone else you know!!!!! If you were blessed to have known Katie you'll never forget her. If your not sure if you ever met her or not, you probably didn't.
Katie lived life to it's fullest, what she did, gave, experienced in only nineteen short years is more than alot do in a long lifetime. She didn't "set it out" she Danced"
Katie was born smiling and laughing. My giggle girl. No matter what she was doing she would find fun in it. Even eating dinner, doing homework, didn't matter what, she'd start laughing, getting everyone else to laugh, Katie's laugh is contagious
Think about her laughing....now your laughing....right?
Katie went to, participated and volunteered for anything and everything. Parties,going out with friends, painting, working homeless shelters, teaching VBS, tutoring, soup kitchens, babysitting, being a mentor, minstering, witnessing, picking weeds, hospice, sandcastles, nursing homes, donating, angel network, trying to fullfill the wishes/needs of chronically ill children, defending anyone who needed her, there's not room to write it all
If Katie knew you needed something she gladly gave it to you, over & over again, you didn't need to give anything in return
Katie danced to her own music, smiling, joyful, willingly!!!!!
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To give is divine ~
The youngest of three she was and is "our baby"
Christina and Daniel showered Katie with love, attention and gave her everything she wanted, she was the center of attention, with Mom & Jeff also and she loved it!!!!
Katie loved receiving gifts she would get so excited and always thankful & grateful but what she enjoyed most was giving.
Katie's family, friends and strangers were given to beyond belief.
She was great at knowing what you liked, wanted and needed, an extremly generous, creative giver. She gave away gifts and alot of what she owned.
Katie's only use for money was to give it away or use it to buy for others.
Katie bought toys & gifts for the other chonically ill children, hospice, angel tree, nursing homes, homeless, everyone who was blessed to have met her. She even gave money & a leash to a Mom of her roomate in the hospital to buy her little girl a dog, she so despretly wanted, but they couldn't afford.
Katie one of the many times she worked the homeless shelder for several days in a row.
One of the guest's, a young woman complimented Katie on what beautiful clothes she had and how lucky she was. Katie agreeded with her, that she was very blessed, then asked what was your favorite thing I've worn? The woman responded the top your wearing now.
The next break from working Katie asked one of the leaders if she could have a tee shirt from the donations, but didn't tell them why.
She put it on, then privately called the woman aside and gave her the brand new polo shirt with a matching jacket that she'd just complimented Katie on. It was only worn one other time.
We only know about this because the woman was so excited she told everyone.
Katie never braged, told, nor advertised her "giving" it was her pleasure, she found true joy in it, she gave for her, not for attention.
If you told her to buy something for herself, or don't you want it it's yours, her reply was "I don't need anything"
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I hope you dance....
I hope you dance (selected lyrics)
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
When life got challenging, Katie did not shut anyone or anything out; she always knew that there was light at the end of the tunnel and fought hard for what she wanted. She never let one failure or disappointment get her down but always found an opportunity to shine.
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
Faith is what kept Katie going...her amazing faith shined through everything she did, and kept her strong all the way to the end. She never once gave up her faith which is so admirable.
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance, I hope you dance
Katie, although she was sick, she never wanted sit anything out or miss out on anything. She often said, if you are healthy, live life to the fullest...don't just sit there on the sidelines of life, but get up and enjoy life. Katie pushed herself to do so much whether it was to be with friends, be with family, be involved with youth, be involved with school, or helping others...Katie was there, sick or not. When Katie passed away, I know that wasn't sitting out in heaven but dancing up in heaven with Jesus and the angels.
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Katie didn't fear any mountains...she took one day at a time but always had the courage to overcome any obstacles in her life whether it was her sickness or just general problems.
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Katie as sick as she was; she never took the easy way out...she did everything to the greatest of her strength.
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'
Katie took chances...she did everything no matter how sick she was...she was taking a very risky chance that she would get worse but she didn't care; she wanted to help people; she wanted to be around her friends and family and she knew that the chances she took were worth taking.
Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin'
She loved everyone and although it might have been hard to love some people she still loved back and made everyone she came in contact with feel loved and appreciated through her kind words and warm greeting "Hi my name is Katie; Jesus loves you and so do I!"
Don't let some hell-bent heart leave you bitter
Like mentioned before Katie didn't let grumpy, rude, or mean people get her down she would still talk to them and try her hardest to make them feel good.
When you come close to sellin' out, reconsider
Maybe Katie felt at times of giving up but she would always reconsider because she loved her family and friends and she had a tremendous faith that kept her going strong.
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
Katie sure did give heaven more than just a passing glance...I am sure she made her presence known and I am sure she is the most beautiful angel there. I bet shes talking the angel's ears off too. I can only imagine what its like for Katie to be singing and dancing with Jesus all day long!
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance, I hope you dance
I hope you dance, I hope you dance
Katie's hope for all of us is to dance...never sit it out or let life slip away before you live it to the fullest!
~Ash....friend
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