~ IN LOVING MEMORY OF
KRISTEN MICHELLE FRANK ~
OCTOBER 28, 1979 - JUNE 6, 1997




Remember that grief is not something you get over,
it is something that you walk through.
My shoes are worn and my feet hurt from this walk...




These are two beautiful gifts from my dear friend Carol, mom to Angel Michael.






WE DO NOT NEED A SPECIAL DAY

We do not need a special day
To bring you to our minds.
The days we do not think of you
Are very hard to find.

Each morning when we awake,
We know that you are gone.
And no one knows the heart ache
As we try to carry on.

Our hearts still ache with sadness
And secret tears still flow.
What it meant to lose you
No one will ever know.

Our thoughts are always with you,
Your place no one can fill.
In life we loved you dearly;
In death we love you still.

There will always be a heartache,
And often a silent tear.
But always a precious memory
Of the days when you were here.

If tears could make a staircase,
And heartaches make a lane,
We'd walk the path to heaven
And bring you home again.

We hold you close within our hearts;
And there you will remain,
To walk with us throughout our lives
Until we meet again.

Our family chain is broken now,
And nothing seems the same,
But as God calls us one by one,
The chain will link again.
~ Written by Connie Dyer, BP/USA, Springfield, IL


Our Christmas Angels



On Memory...

When you remember me, it means that you have carried something of who I am with you, that I have left some mark of who I am on who you are. It means that you can summon me back to your mind even though countless years and miles stand between us. It means that when we meet again, you will know me, and hear my voice and speak to me in your heart.
For as long as you remember me, I am never entirely lost.



This photo above is Krissy's school picture from her junior year of high school.



Kristen Michelle


Krissy…came into my life on October 28, 1979-truly a gift from God. I had a 4-year-old son, Jason, and had suffered through 3 miscarriages before Krissy blessed my life. She was a character from the day she was born. She was so quiet, so mellow at the hospital, that she was chosen to be the ‘demonstration baby’ for a massage class. Coming home was a different story! She proved over and over again that she had a mind of her own, and she had no problem letting everyone know about it! That trait continued, and I’m glad it did. It made Krissy who she was.




She was a very active girl. She was a straight A student, prided herself on never missing a day of school. She was also active in school activities. She was a member of the National Honor Society, high school concert choir, softball team (she had played since she was 5), school newspaper, and a part time waitress. She worked at that job only a year, but left such an impression on everyone she met. That was proven to me later.




It Crossed My Mind

I saw someone who looked like you
That beautiful smile and heart-stopping glance...
It crossed my mind.

Kind words were spoken and your warm voice filled the air...
It crossed my mind

Time has passed, thoughts still running
through my head...
Thinking how this year may have been different
if you were here...
It crossed my mind

It still doesn't made sense,
A lot of questions still remain,
Waving their uneasy hands in my face...
It crossed my mind.

Everytime there is something to remind me
They will be asked again
Even though I realize that
I won't receive an answer in return...
It crossed my mind.

I will hold close the many memories I am lucky to have
They bring happiness and sadness,
Flowing liquid tears from the eyes that have seen you
in your short days here...
You crossed my mind~
Written by Amanda Lynn Anderson ~ Krissy's great friend



Remembered Always

Throughout the times we shared together,
You always had a plan, you were so clever.
We need to go out and do something...have fun,
After all what were we waiting for-life's just begun.

There are so many memories that I will hold on tight to,
Because there are too many days that
otherwise wouldn't be gotten through.
They will make me smile in a time of pain,
I will try to be happy though my tears fall like rain.
For it is not only myself
but many others who will miss you dearly,
By the minute, by the second, by the day, not only yearly.

Life, we think, is long, having many different turns,
This time it's not the case as we've dolefully learned.
Confusion surrounds us, making understanding difficult and severe,
But I am almost certain that you would want us to persevere.

So as we carry on, though sometimes we might not know how,
We will try our best to always make you proud

But you and I both know in big and small ways,
That you, Kristen, will be loved and remembered always...
In loving memory of Kristen Frank
~ By Amanda Anderson ~


This photo above is Amanda.







The photo at the top is Krissy when she played on the church softball team.
The photo below is Krissy with softball 'buddies'...I just love that one
for some reason-she's in the middle. So cute I think.





On June 5, 1997-the last day of Krissy’s junior year-she left at 5:30 to attend a softball banquet at school, and a ‘year end party’ at a friend’s house. ‘Gag’ gifts were awarded, and she received a frog, symbolizing all the ‘frogs’ she had kissed, and that her ‘Prince Charming’ would come along soon! I was never able to see that frog in her hands, but I look at it every day, knowing that at one time it was. After losing a child, absolutely everything that child ever touched becomes so very special. That silly frog is.



As she was leaving, she asked what time she had to be home. Her dad said, ’10:00’. Her response was, ‘Daaaddd….’ He then said, ‘okay, be home by midnight.’ There was no school the next day, she had the entire summer ahead of her, why not have a great time. Krissy never made it to the party. She and a friend of hers, Kelly, were headed there when their lives were suddenly and tragically taken from all of us. It was an ‘accident’, but so many circumstances contributed to it. They were crossing a 2 lane highway, the sun was just setting making it harder to see, the other driver had set his cruise control (on a busy highway), he was over the speed limit, although not enough to be ‘cited’ for I was told, he turned around to talk to his kids just as Krissy pulled out…and my life stopped. It was 8:30 in the evening. I’ve been in the same position as those girls many times since then. I have come within inches of the same accident, but I’m still here. WHY? I will never understand.




This photo above is Kristen's prom picture, she is on the left in this photo.



I got the phone call that no parent ever wants to get at 10:30 that night. ‘Are you Kristen’s mom?” “There’s been an accident, you better come to the hospital.” Just as we were leaving the house, the police came to the door. I asked if Krissy had been alone, and she said ‘no, Kelly was with her.’ I had been told that Krissy had been airlifted to a major medical center, so I asked if Kelly had been taken there too. ‘No’ was all I was told. I was so ‘happy’…I was so sure that Kelly had either not been hurt, or had minor injuries which were being treated at a local hospital. I felt ‘better’. I didn’t find out until the next day-I don’t think I wanted to know at the time-that Kelly died at the scene. I knew that Krissy had been airlifted, I knew she had been hurt seriously, but I also knew that she would be okay. There was no doubt in my mind. That was Krissy…nothing that bad could happen to her. She had her whole life ahead of her. She was such a great kid-she had plans to become a doctor-a baby doctor! She loved kids, she loved babies, she wanted to help. Krissy would be fine. I knew it. It was almost an hour drive to the hospital, and I knew the entire time that she was ‘fine’. Oh, I knew she had a recovery ahead of her, but that was okay too…I’d be there for her, I’d do whatever I needed to do…she’d be fine. I was so very wrong. I won’t go into all the details of that time, but it was, and continues to be a nightmare for me. Krissy did ‘live’ a day and I will forever be grateful for that. I was able to be with her, talk to her, hold her hand, tell her how much I loved her, kiss her....all the things I can’t do now. Krissy died on June 6, 1997. It’s so hard for me to write those words. It’s hard for me to believe she’s still not going to walk through that door. All this is the reason that silly frog means the world to me. A friend of hers gave it to me the day of the wake at the funeral home. Since the girls were leaving the school, going to another girls house, there were alot of other kids in the area, and the word spread quickly. So many gathered at the site. Her friend told me that they had been told to stay away from the car, but that she had gone over and gotten the frog out-I’m so glad she did. That frog was one of the last places Krissy’s hands were. Only someone
who has lost a child can relate to that.



I saw the tears you cried last night,
At times they fell like rain.
If only I could be there,
I know it would ease your pain.

But Mom I'll always love you
and I know that this is true,
someday we'll be together,
holding hands just me and you.

I know you long to hold me
and I long to hold you too.
I know that there are days
when you don't know what to do.

But Mom, I'll always love you
and I know that this is true,
someday we'll walk those streets of gold,
holding hands...just me and you.


Kathy just wrote this poem above for Connie and me-I think of it all the time-it's what's getting me through the days. I know I can't leave Jason and Jamie and Matthew-not yet-but someday we will ALL walk those streets together.




How do you live without your child? I wish I knew. I struggle each and every day, missing her more and more each day. I have 2 other children, Jason and Jamie, Krissy’s younger sister. They-we-have all been through so much. Will it ever end? I don’t think so. We all struggle trying to learn to live with this awful tragedy and loss. Life has changed. Life will never be the same. Life will never be totally ‘happy’ for any of us again. We are all trying, we are all ‘living’, we are all ‘getting on’ as the world wants us to do, but the pain is still there. The incredible sadness is still there. The ‘bitter-sweet’ is still there. I have been so blessed with my first grandson! What should be an incredibly happy time in my life is mixed with the sadness that Krissy isn’t here to experience Matthew
with us.


These pictures of my grandson, Matthew-my 'angel' sent to show me that I CAN smile again,
there IS good in this life...



These are more recent pictures of Matthew. He is 3 years old already!



I am so sure that Krissy knows Matthew already. I’m so sure that she has held him already in her arms, and told him how much love he will be born into, what a blessing he has been in our lives already. Anyone who has lost a child knows the ‘bitter-sweet’ feelings we as parents face so often. Incredible joy and happiness will always be tempered somewhat with the sadness that someone so loved, so cherished, so needed is gone. It hurts...but at the same time, it’s a testament to her life, her personality,
her being here for those 17 short years.





The restaurant she worked for came to me 2 months after the accident. They asked if they could establish a scholarship fund in her name! Of course!! Anything to keep her ‘alive’ in the hearts of so many. A month after that, a fund-raiser was held, and we were able to raise over $18,000.00 in one day! It was incredible. Since then, we have held fund-raisers to keep the scholarships, and most importantly, Krissy ‘alive’. Each year, a golf tournament is held, and it’s been a huge success. Do I care about the money? No. Do I care about the scholarships themselves? No. I care that Krissy’s name is all over town. I care that at least for that day, she is remembered. She must never, ever be forgotten. I wish the world had known her, really, really known her. She was...IS...so incredibly special. Krissy...you are so loved, so missed, so cherished. Never forget that. We WILL see each other again,
and never, ever have to say good bye. I love you. Mom




This photo above is the 3 kids together for a Christmas picture-
Krissy, Jason, Jamie.



The loving words below were written by Krissy's younger sister, Jamie.


Dear God,
You know first hand what it's like to lose someone close to you. Unfortunately, I do, too. My heart is aching, oh so bad. I think it broke in two. I was lucky to have a sister, someone who came from you. I know that she is happy now, but why do I feel so blue? I know she wasn't mine to keep, but if I could only have one more day. One more day so that she could look at me, smile and tell me everything is going to be okay. My life without her is empty, sometimes I feel I can't go on. But when I look at her pictures,
I realize she still lives on.


This photo above is Krissy and Jason at Halloween-an 'angel'


This Is Not Good Bye

Kristen, where are you going? Why are you leaving me alone?
Jamie, I am going to go, God has called me home.
I hope you know I will miss you each and every day,
But I have finished my work here, and I just can't stay.
I am going to miss the times we had,
getting closer each and every day,
I know you may feel cheated, but you will see me again someday.

I will be there for you when a boy breaks your heart.
I will be there when he makes you smile
I will be there to wipe your tears away
I will be there to put that twinkle in your eyes
I will be in your thoughts and prayers
As you will be in mine.
Jamie, this isn't good bye. I will see you in a litle while
When you are finished with your work,
and it's time for you to leave,
I'll be waiting for you just beyond the trees.
Jamie Frank...Krissy's sister


This photo above is a younger one of Krissy and Jamie.



Hello Mom…
I see you crying. I am feeling your pain.
I had to call you, just to tell you that I’m doing fine.
I wish I could hold you mom, and love away all your hurts,
the way you did for me when I would fall down.
I am sorry, mom, that I can’t hold you
and bring the comfort that you need.
I know you are lonely and long to hold me,
feel the softness of my skin,
to smell the freshness of my clean, silk hair.
I know you are anguished that I am gone.
I am calling you, mom, so that I might help you.
I want to lessen your pain. I love you, mom.
In your heart, hear my laughter,
my eyes still twinkle, my tender smile lives on.
I am here beside you. Feel my presence.
Allow me to absorb your hurt.
Feel the lightness of my fingers as they brush away your tears.
My tender lips are kissing away your fears.
Know that I am cared for, mom. My innocence is preserved.
Everyone here is so kind.
There are no harsh words, no jealous anger, no pain or sorrow.
We all love each other. We are watching over you too.
I am safe here, free from the pain and the tears of your world.
Know my freedom. Release the greatness of your sorrow.
Know the gift of love that I have been given.
I am eternally pure.
Someday, mom, when the time is right, we’ll hold each other again.
Until that time, remember this phone call to you from heaven.
Let me help you. I’ll always love you, my precious mom.
God is calling. I must go now.
Till we meet again, I’ll say I love you and so long,
but never good bye.
Love always,
Krissy


This photo above is again a younger one, this time of Krissy with her mom.







"Krissy and Jamie were in the 4th and 6th grades when they sang this song, "Take These Wings" in a choir concert. Krissy was an organ donor-she donated her kidneys, liver and pancreas. This song has become even more special to me-I think it speaks of the giving person Krissy was in life and again in death."




Take These Wings

I found a sparrow lying on the ground…
Her life, I knew, would soon be at an end…
I knelt beside her as she made a sound…
And listened as she said,
My friend…

Take these wings…
And learn to fly…
To the highest mountain in the sky
Take these eyes..
And learn to see…
All the things so dear to me
Take this song…
And learn to sing…
Fill your voice with all the joys of spring
Take this heart
And set it free
Let it fly…beyond the sea…
I found another sparrow lying on the sand…
A tiny bird whose life had just begun…
I picked him up, and held him in my hand,
And smiled at him and said,
My son…
Take these wings…
And learn to fly…
To the highest mountain in the sky…
Take these eyes…
And learn to see…
All the things so dear to me…
Take this song…
And learn to sing…
Fill your voice with all the joys of spring
Take this heart…
And set it free…
Let it fly….beyond the sea…




This is a Montana picture we had taken. We used to go there for 2 weeks each summer, and had this picture taken. We all look so grumpy...they told us to!!! It's really the most recent family picture I have, even though Jason-my son wasn't with us at the time.


These two images below and also the song and poem are gifts for Krissy from my dear friend Pammi.


"I Believe"
Performed by Diamond Rio

Every now and then,
Soft as breath upon my skin,
I feel you come back again.

And it's like you haven't been,
Gone a moment from my side.
Like the tears were never cried,
Like the hands of time are holding you and me.

And with all my heart I'm sure,
We're closer than we ever were.
I don't have to hear or see,
I've got all the proof I need.
There are more than angels watching over me.
I believe, Ohhh I believe.

Now when you die your life goes on,
It doesn't end here when you're gone.
Every soul is filled with light,
It never ends and if I'm right.
Our love can even reach across eternity,
I believe, Ohhh I believe.

Forever, you're a part of me.
Forever, in the heart of me.
I will hold you even longer if I can.
Oh the people who don't see the most,
See that I believe in ghosts.
And if that makes me crazy, then I am...
'Cause I believe.......
Ohhhh, I believe...

There are more than angels watching over me.
I believe, Ohhh I believe.

Every now and then,
Soft as breath upon my skin,
I feel you come back again.
And I believe.


A Message From Heaven

I am not so far from you,
Just a little way beyond;
Past the cares and past the pain,
Far past my earthly bonds.
When you feel you miss me most,
As years go drifting by;
Each memory will prove to you,
That our love will never die.

For memories are but a touch,
From the Father's gentle hand;
To heal your pain and mend your hearts,
To help you understand...
That while I left you far too soon,
I did not leave alone;
For the Father sent His angels,
To gently take me home.

Take comfort when you think of me,
Keep my love alive in your heart;
And with the warmth of each memory,
We will never be apart.
Allison Chambers Coxsey, copyright 1996, used with permission


In Memory of Krissy
Dear Becky
Your Sweet Angel was so very beautiful. I could feel her personality so very alive and I can actually hear her laughter in my heart if that's possible. She still lives because I feel her spirit. One day there will be no more tears in our eyes. This is the promise we must hold on to.
God Bless You
Ann, Laurasmom





Dear Becky and ANGEL Krissy

This is one of many poems that my ANGEL Lee wrote, it is a very special poem,
I would love to share it with you.


CORE

Softness of the skin
Sweetness in the smell
Nectar of the fruit
Tender in the heart
Dancing in the eyes
Uplifting in the smile
Tickle of the touch
Joining in the love

Truth in the speech
Love in the laughter
Primal in the scream
Soft in the whisper
Quick in the mind
Fair in the sentence
Brave in the confrontation
Joining in the love

Graceful in the sleep
Careful in the search
Deep in the sorrow
Strength in the sickness
Giving of thy self
Rich in the health
Kind in the giving
Joining in the love

Written By Lee Henry Aguilera~~~Sue-Anne's ANGEL
MY LOVE TO YOU BECKY





In Loving Memory of Lee Henry Aguilera



A small gift from one grieving mother to another, to Krissy's mother. God bless you.
GEOFFREY P. EDWARDS


Jesus Wept



Please also visit this very special page ~
Dedicated to Krissy







A friend can hear a tear drop.



This webpage is created
In Loving Memory of Kristen Michelle Frank
on October 23, 2002
Last updated: October 25, 2008
© 2000 - 2008








Please visit Maria's Tribute to Christopher
Angel Christopher
Christopher's Song


Andrew... Our Miracle, Our Angel








Counter