....why does the lord work like this.
On Monday, Memorial day, my friend Kolleen who I was pretty close with in my child hood but grew apart in highschool had a jek ski accident. I cant sleepbecause i cant stop thinking about how great she was and how she accomplished more at 18 than some people do in a lifetime...tomorrrow i have to go see her at the funeral home...i cant do this...to give you an idea on how i feel here are the tributes i left at www.kolleenroberts.com
Kolleen,
From the first day I met you in Kindergarten I knew you were such a bright spirit. You made my child hood so memorable from middle school band class, to hanging out at my house in the summer. Although we grew apart when highschool came, we still kept very much in touch. I was blessed for having you be part of my life. May God bless you, you will always be in my prayers.
To Kolleen’s family, may God be with you. I am very sorry for your tragic loss. Your daughter was an amazing girl with many talents. She will be missed dearly.
God Bless,
John A. Strika
John Strika(continued) Says:
May 31st, 2006 at 5:19 am
My mother called me this morning to break the news to me, and I tried to find out details asap. My comment on here was written early in the day, and as the day grew longer, I thought about Kolleen more and more. While thinking, so many memories went through my mind about Kolleen, especially as I went through old photos. I thought about how when we were at Ottawa in the “lower L” she would always have such bright clothes, and I would always tell her how cool I thought they were! I remembered how we had 2nd grade together and she and I made a mess in Ms. Archer’s room at the “Pie Party”. Kolleen and I were in the same class almsot all the way through elementary school at Ottawa. She befriended me right when we met and I always idolized her…Not to mention how jelous I would get because I was a boy and she could play sports so well and I couldent at all. In middle school Kolleen always would enlighten everyone with her lovely stories, especially about her insane family trips…The most memorable story she would tell me was about her family vacation to Africa. At the end of 6th grade, Kolleen and I had developed a special bond. I was always to shy to come to her house when she would invite me for her birthday or anything, but I always would wish her happy birthday because I knew she cared about me. On the last day of school she made me promise to call her over the summer…Of course I did! She would cross the creek behind Ottawa to come over my house and hang out with me. No one befriended me with honest friendship in my pre teen years like Kolleen! She would always push me to talk to people and make friends. Because of her I am the out going person I am today. In 7th grade we sat next to eachother in Band, and we would always get in trouble by Ms. Casteel because her, Alex Tores and I would always be chatting away. Usually it would be Kolleen telling me about the lastest shoes from Australia, or her making me laugh to loud at her jokes. In 8th grade art class I had a chair to paint, and Kolleen wanted so much to help me with it! I let her help me do the whole thing! She would always tell me “I am going to buy this chair! I love it! We did such a good job that I have to have it!” Then what do you know? SOLD! Mr. Roberts bought it, it was the highest bid chair at that auction in 8th grade. I felt so good to know I made something that someone else liked and wanted! Kolleen was my back bone through my tough middleschool years at Algonquin. She always had my back, stuck up for me, and even one day when I was feeling just so down, she made it her goal to cheer me up all day!! I loved that girl so much. It was a shame that after middleschool we grew apart. We were into different activities, me being more into fine arts and her being into athletics. We always talked still though. I really do wish she was still here to talk to, and maybe hang out again like old times. Just the other day I was thinking about sending her a message to hang out and talk about how our lives were going…..Since it is to late now, I know she knows now how she has impacted me life in so many ways. My childhood would have not been as Brightly colored and lovely without Kolleen being apart of it!! Thank you Kolleen for showing me that it’s ok to voice your own opinion, be original, and not care what people think when you stand up for yourself!! You have taught me some of the greatest lessons in life!
Love and Miss You Always
John A. Strika
“It well may be, that we will never meet again, in this life time. So let me say before we part, so much of me is made of what I learned from you. You’ll be with me like a hand print on my heart. And now which ever way our stories end, I know you have re-written mine, by being my friend.”
Again to the Roberts family,
Our family pray’s for you! As everyone else, we are all here to support you through this tough time. May God bless each and everyone of your soul’s every day.
Kolleen,
From the first day I met you in Kindergarten I knew you were such a bright spirit. You made my child hood so memorable from middle school band class, to hanging out at my house in the summer. Although we grew apart when highschool came, we still kept very much in touch. I was blessed for having you be part of my life. May God bless you, you will always be in my prayers.
To Kolleen’s family, may God be with you. I am very sorry for your tragic loss. Your daughter was an amazing girl with many talents. She will be missed dearly.
God Bless,
John A. Strika
John Strika(continued) Says:
May 31st, 2006 at 5:19 am
My mother called me this morning to break the news to me, and I tried to find out details asap. My comment on here was written early in the day, and as the day grew longer, I thought about Kolleen more and more. While thinking, so many memories went through my mind about Kolleen, especially as I went through old photos. I thought about how when we were at Ottawa in the “lower L” she would always have such bright clothes, and I would always tell her how cool I thought they were! I remembered how we had 2nd grade together and she and I made a mess in Ms. Archer’s room at the “Pie Party”. Kolleen and I were in the same class almsot all the way through elementary school at Ottawa. She befriended me right when we met and I always idolized her…Not to mention how jelous I would get because I was a boy and she could play sports so well and I couldent at all. In middle school Kolleen always would enlighten everyone with her lovely stories, especially about her insane family trips…The most memorable story she would tell me was about her family vacation to Africa. At the end of 6th grade, Kolleen and I had developed a special bond. I was always to shy to come to her house when she would invite me for her birthday or anything, but I always would wish her happy birthday because I knew she cared about me. On the last day of school she made me promise to call her over the summer…Of course I did! She would cross the creek behind Ottawa to come over my house and hang out with me. No one befriended me with honest friendship in my pre teen years like Kolleen! She would always push me to talk to people and make friends. Because of her I am the out going person I am today. In 7th grade we sat next to eachother in Band, and we would always get in trouble by Ms. Casteel because her, Alex Tores and I would always be chatting away. Usually it would be Kolleen telling me about the lastest shoes from Australia, or her making me laugh to loud at her jokes. In 8th grade art class I had a chair to paint, and Kolleen wanted so much to help me with it! I let her help me do the whole thing! She would always tell me “I am going to buy this chair! I love it! We did such a good job that I have to have it!” Then what do you know? SOLD! Mr. Roberts bought it, it was the highest bid chair at that auction in 8th grade. I felt so good to know I made something that someone else liked and wanted! Kolleen was my back bone through my tough middleschool years at Algonquin. She always had my back, stuck up for me, and even one day when I was feeling just so down, she made it her goal to cheer me up all day!! I loved that girl so much. It was a shame that after middleschool we grew apart. We were into different activities, me being more into fine arts and her being into athletics. We always talked still though. I really do wish she was still here to talk to, and maybe hang out again like old times. Just the other day I was thinking about sending her a message to hang out and talk about how our lives were going…..Since it is to late now, I know she knows now how she has impacted me life in so many ways. My childhood would have not been as Brightly colored and lovely without Kolleen being apart of it!! Thank you Kolleen for showing me that it’s ok to voice your own opinion, be original, and not care what people think when you stand up for yourself!! You have taught me some of the greatest lessons in life!
Love and Miss You Always
John A. Strika
“It well may be, that we will never meet again, in this life time. So let me say before we part, so much of me is made of what I learned from you. You’ll be with me like a hand print on my heart. And now which ever way our stories end, I know you have re-written mine, by being my friend.”
Again to the Roberts family,
Our family pray’s for you! As everyone else, we are all here to support you through this tough time. May God bless each and everyone of your soul’s every day.