Kelli Joy, today marks 13 years since you were taken from us, and even now, words feel too small to capture all that we miss. This year, I’ve spent time away from social media to find a bit of peace and strength, though no amount of time will fill the space you left.
One of the hardest things I did this year was organizing your room. It took two weeks to dust and sort through each item, and your clothes have now been donated to Catholic Charities. I pray they bring “JOY” to the young girls who receive them, just as you would have wanted. Though your room feels different, it’s still a place of beautiful memories and, in many ways, a haven where we can feel you close.
People say it gets easier, and perhaps in some ways it does. But the ache of missing you, the depth of our love—they are as present as ever. Thirteen years on, I am still navigating moments that feel both healing and heartbreaking. This year, I took a big step and attended two celebrations: a wedding shower for Melissa, a dear friend of yours, and a wedding for Joseph, a family friend. It was progress, though bittersweet, and I carried you with me through it all.
With such JOY in my heart, I am thrilled to share that the KJO Memorial Foundation has awarded 106 scholarships, totaling $827,100.00 in aid. We are currently working to send two young girls and two young boys to Camp Tecumseh next summer, during Week 8—the week you always looked forward to. The camp will be a chance for them to meet new friends, experience the beauty of nature, and just be kids, exactly as you loved.
And our Holiday Gift Giving continues! For the 12th year, we’ll be visiting Maryville Academy, and this tradition has grown thanks to the many Angels who share their time and hearts. It started as a small gesture in 2013 and has since blossomed, with Mary and her Angels spreading JOY to so many children in need.
Through the food drives for St. Cletus and our Pop Top collections for Ronald McDonald Houses, we’ve also found new ways to spread JOY in your memory. None of this would be possible without the generosity and love from the community over these past 13 years. With gratitude, I say *thank you* to each person who has helped us keep your memory alive. Your love for Kelli and the ways you’ve supported us have been a lifeline through the grief, inspiring us to give back and bring kindness into the world, even on the hardest days.
Kelli Joy, you have brought this community together, showing us the beauty in each day and the gift of service. I am so grateful to have had 14 precious years with you, and every day, your legacy lights our path forward. Thank you for all you taught me—for guiding me, for inspiring so many lives, and for teaching us all the meaning of JOY.
Forever loving and missing you,
**Mom**
