Messages

We would like to thank all of our friends and family for the outpouring of love and support you have showed us during this difficult time. Your kind words meant so much... This is a collection of emails, and other messages we received during the week following Chrissy's death. We also received numerous phone calls, cards, and flowers, from everyone, offering words of sympathy. You took time out of your busy schedules to be with us. You cried with us when we were sad, laughed with us when we reminisced, and helped us remember the good times we had with Chrissy. And for that, we are so very grateful. _____________________________________________ May 29, 2007 I have wanted to take a few minutes and write you a note for days now and have just nowfound time to do it. You have been on my mind a great deal and I wanted you to know how much I love you. It was wonderful to see you in Oklahoma. I have really missed the family getting together and opportunities to share and make memories, and although this gathering was one that none of us would have wanted, I felt honored and grateful to witness the abundant outpouring of love and support you received at Chrissy’s passing. I wrote a note to Lacey telling her a little about my feelings after my mother died and wanted to share that with you as well. After my mother’s funeral and all of the other “events” that surround a death were over, I remember feeling stunned that everyone could just go back to living their normal lives. My life had changed so much that it felt like there was nothing normal about it. I specifically remember driving down the street one day, with tears streaming down my face and this vast hole of emptiness, looking around at everyone. They were all laughing and talking and hurriedly rushing to their next destinations. I realized that nothing had changed in their lives while felt like I was stuck in slow motion, unable to go anywhere. I wanted to shout at the top of my lungs, “Don’t you get it? The world is not the same as it was! Everything has changed! How can you go on with your lives when I feel as though my life has stopped?” I also felt resentful that no one even seemed to notice or care about the state I was in (even though they shouldn’t have – they were all strangers!!) It was such an odd, desperate feeling. I realized that the world has this awesome forward momentum that you cannot escape even when your world seems to be at a standstill. Since then, I have often wondered how many people are out there driving around who feel the same way I felt at that moment. I have discussed this experience with friends who have also lost loved ones over the years and have found that it is a rather common experience. But, I want you to know that my life has changed since Chrissy’s passing. I think of her beautiful smile and her amazing children every day. My heart breaks as I think of you and your family, and Steve and the kids and wonder how you can find the strength to make it through to the next day, yet I know you are doing just that, and I marvel at your ability to press forward. I remember each day how short life is and that it can change in an instant. I work harder to make each moment count, to say “I love you” more, to laugh more, to create positive memories and to not take any breath for granted. I pray for you each day and hold you deep in my heart. I really don’t know what more to say than I am so sorry. I can only imagine the sadness you feel or how much you miss Chrissy. I expect you will have many hard days ahead, but I also believe that they will become shorter in duration and frequency, and I know there is great healing power in the mercy and goodness of a loving God. Please know that I love you and will continue to pray for all of you to feel the love and support of those who surround you, and to feel the peace that comes through our Savior, Jesus Christ. With love, Kamian ______________________________________________ May 31, 2007 I am so sorry for your loss. You are taking in stride what has to be one of the most difficult challenges in life. I respect you for your strength. I wasn't fortune it enough to have met your sister, but the blog sure showed how beautiful she was. I am still wiping away the tears! I am sorry that we are so far away and cannot give you a big loving hug!! You are a beautiful, caring, compassionate person and Chrissy will continue to shine through you! Please send our deepest sympathy to your family, we love you! Thinking of you, Tanya, Andy, and Asher _______________________________________ May 22, 2007 Your family is in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time in your lives. Keep the faith. Love, Stacy Parish _____________________________________________ May 21, 2007 My heart aches for you. I love you. Terri McKay ______________________________________________________ May 19, 2007 I just wanted to let you know how sorry I was to hear about your sister. I'm not sure what happened, but I can't imagine how difficult it would be to lose someone so special at such a young age. I firmly believe that in times of great sorrow, sometimes the only thing that can sustain us is the peace that God promises us. I will be praying for that peace in your life during the difficult days ahead. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help. I am so proud of you and your family for handling this so gracefully and honestly. That says so much about your character. I am praying daily for your family. Kelly Stocksen ____________________________________________ May 19, 2007 I'm so sorry for your loss. When Andre told me all I couldthink about was you and how upset you had to be. I'm so sorry. Luiz Salles ____________________________________________

May 18, 2007 Farewell Chrissy! Such a sweet kind person, you will be missed.... I am very sorry for your loss, keep the memories close and cherish the children Renee Teague(Hughlett) ________________________________________________ May 18, 2007 FARE THEE WELL, Mademoiselle! HAMBA KAHLE, Nkosazane! GO WELL, CHRISSY! From DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA, Louise & Kharoline MKHIZE, John-Paul's sisters and JP's nephew, Khalipha, e-mailed a message in which they express their deepest condolences to:- RYAN, JP's wonderful friend, Chrissy's little ones, her husband and to Chrissy's family & friends. Those who live no more, Whom we loved, Echo still within our thoughts, Our words, Our hearts, And what they did, And who they were, Becomes a part of all that we are, F O R E V E R ! FARE THEE WELL, Mademoiselle! HAMBA KAHLE, Nkosazane! GO WELL, CHRISSY! John MKHIZE _________________________________________________ May 16, 2007 I cannot put into words my sorrow over Chrissy’s passing. My thoughts are with Steve, Keller, Kamryn, and the entire Gille and Willis Family. Chrissy was a beautiful girl but her inner beauty is what I loved the most about her. Her great sense of humor always kept me laughing, her sense of adventure was contagious, and her creativity always amazed me. Since 4th grade, I have been lucky to be her friend. She will always hold a special place in my heart. Jennifer Hale Chopelas _________________________________________________ May 16, 2007 My thoughts and prayers are with Chrissy's family during this difficult time of loss. "What we have loved once we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us forever." --Helen Keller Lesa Fisher _________________________________________________ May 16, 2007 I am so sorry for your great loss. My son nathan is in kamryns class and he absolutely adores her. I never had the chance to meet chrissy but did speak with her on the phone a couple of times. She was very sweet. You are all in our prayers. nathan's mom (keely vaughn) keely vaughn _________________________________________________ May 16, 2007 I am sorry to hear of this loss. Chrissy was definitely a great contribution to this world and you are blessed if you knew her. I know she will be truly missed- but let her live through your memories and hearts. Her children will need all of the memories they can to attempt to fill the missing piece of their hearts. Hold them and cherish them and remember Chrissy's warm heart and beautiful smile-she is your guardian angel. Sebrina Singleton(Stevenson) ______________________________________________ May 16, 2007 Beloved Sisters and Brothers: Twoscore and 19 years ago, our parents brought forth on this continent a new family, conceived in love and dedicated to the proposition that families can be together forever. Now we are engaged in a great spiritual war, testing whether this family, or any family so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. This earth is a great battlefield of that war. We have all come together to Oklahoma City to dedicate a small portion of this field as a final resting place for one who has become a casualty of that war. Chrissy may have seemed one of the least likely of all this large family, to accomplish what many others have attempted, over many years – to build bridges where the Adversary has succeeded in creating division among us, bringing us all together, in clear and unmistakable evidence and witness of the underlying love we have for one another. Many have tried, with letters and emails, visits and phone calls, missionary farewells and returns, marriages, and family reunions, but without success. Who would have suspected that Chrissy could and would accomplish what so many others could not and did not. We have come together. Her passing is truly a tragedy. But is that all there is to it? Must it end there? It is for us the living, then, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work that she who lies here has, by her sacrifice, advanced at so great a cost. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from this honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which, for all we know, her life was taken – that we here highly resolve that this death shall not have been in vain – that this family, under God, shall have a new birth of love and unity, and that what she has achieved by bringing together a family that has struggled for so long to overcome divisions, shall not again fall away from what she has accomplished and achieved. Love, Charles Gille _______________________________________________ May 15, 2007 May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. I am Keri Collins' Mother. My deepest sympathy to all of you. Pat Collins Goetz (Thayer) _______________________________________________ May 15, 2007 I've known Chrissy since she was in 4th grade. Chrissy had an outgoing personality. Even in her youth, she was courageous - daring to try new things. She traveled to distant states and countries to meet new people. Like the rest of her family, Chrissy was creative - helping to garner neighborhood Halloween awards. Chrissy was a beautiful young woman and had many assets, but her best asset was her constant smile. She will be missed. Lana Hale ___________________________________________ May 15, 2007 I'm so sorry for you and your family. I hope that you can continue to remember the good times and how much you love her. Tara Carpenter

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You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Please let us know if we can do anything! We love you guys very much!
With all our love,
John, Pam, Corey, Andy, Tanya, Brittany, and Asher Timmons
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May 13, 2007

Dear Afton, Tina and family,

It absolutely breaks my heart to hear yesterday of Chrissy’s death.
Although my heartbreak is profound for Chrissy, much of my sadness is for you, Tina,
Lacey, Grant, Ryan and Mindy and of course my sorrow is added to yours for Keller,
Kamryn and Steve… especially today, Mothers day. I feel like the scripture that says
"Oh that I were an angel..." so that I could assuage theirs and your grief.

Immediately upon hearing of this sadness my thoughts rushed back to the last time that
I saw her, which was here with us for Julies wedding. That wedding was a time of so
much activity, so much confusion and busyness that it seems odd that in the rush of it
all I have such clear and specific memories of your beautiful daughter. She was such a
bright spot in the clutter of that day. I have had occasion to speak of her being here
and being such a fun and welcome friend, not to mention comments I
received from friends who asked me "who is that beautiful girl"? I was so proud to say,
"that’s Julie's cousin", and then referring to her and all the Oklahoma cousins that were
there that day, I'd add "don't they do it right in Oklahoma?”

I didn't see her again after that but we have followed with interest and love the
occasional "Chrissy" stories since. Her blossoming spirituality, her renewal with Steve
and of course the stories of your selfless grand parenting of Keller and Kamryn.

It seems that I have always felt a special affection for you and Tina and I have so
enjoyed your visits with the boys. Your amazing spirits have very often (and I'm
sure you haven’t been aware of this) filled me with pride and wonder. Tina is such a
fun, witty and smart woman... often bringing light and happiness into my life by the way
that she makes Claudia happy and laugh. And you Afton, work harder than anyone I
know to take care of your grandkids, to bring joy to others during the holidays, to play
with your kids creating powerful family bonds and to work so hard to help your kids with
huge projects like home renovations and other needs...these are just some of what I
know about from 1000 miles away, surely there is so much more.

Your combined families strengths are truly to be tested now but you have been blessed
with and have gained such a compassionate and loving nature that this great challenge
will, I'm sure, be confronted as bravely and with all the courage, love and compassion
that God has blessed you and Tina with.

Claudia and I are most sincere in wanting to help, and will do anything we can. We are with you in every way, our love and our prayers, our strongest 'intentions' and our most
heart felt wishes for peace and acceptance. I pray you will be enveloped in a comforting warm blanket of God’s pure love.

My deepest sympathy and fond respects,
Dave


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May 13, 2007

Afton & Tina – Lacey, Grant, Ryan, Steve, Kamryn, Keller, Mindy, Brian, Abbey

I first want to say how much I love you – and how I am always here if ever you need me, or if I can help in any way.

Second, I want to say how much I loved Chrissy too. She is so very beautiful. I believe with all of my heart that she is surrounded and filled with more love than she has ever been able to imagine. That her Father in Heaven loves her deeply – and that he knows of her desires, pains, of her depression and of all of the myriad of thoughts and feelings that have been circling around in her, as well as her physical state. Just as Christ said “your thoughts are not my thoughts”, so also, I don’t think we can begin to understand Chrissy’s thoughts in her condition. However, Christ does understand everything she was experiencing like we cannot. I have no doubt she is feeling truly understood – and fully loved – and her brightness and beauty are able to shine once again.

Now my dear family, it is you I am concerned about. No doubt your loss is inconceivable by anyone else. You will of course have so many questions, so many feelings of loss, pain, emptiness, longing – and for that I am so very, very sorry.

Just please know that you are loved… by so very many. That our hearts are with you and longing to ease your pain. My heart will be with you the rest of our lives, sending you thoughts of goodness and love – and hoping you can feel them. I hope that you will feel loved, that you will remember the good times with Chrissy – and honor them – and be able to build yourselves lives filled with the happiness, peace and assurance that she is surely wishing for you.

I love you,
Claudia