Please forgive me if I’m posting too much today. It’s the 8 month date of my Kaitlyn’s death, and all these ornaments are coming in in honor of her life’s loves and achievments and I’m overcome with memories, sadness, proudness, and love. Please indulge me.
I just got more ornaments in today for our special Kaitlyn memory Christmas tree. These are a set of wooden African safari animals from World Market. (We loved world Market). This is why I chose these:
Meaning of the Safari animal ornaments
Kaitlyn’s trip to Africa
5-24-10
“We are here in the Ngorongoro Crater, and it is breathtakingly beautiful. Today we went on safari through Lake Manyara, and it was absolutely gorgeous. We saw baboons, impalas, warthogs, lions, buffalo, hippos, egrets, and so many more that I’m forgetting about already. It was absolutely amazing. We are staying at the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, which is probably one of the finest hotels I have ever stayed in. I had lamb stew tonight, and we were serenaded by traditional African folk music. I watched the sunset over Ngorongoro, and I cannot describe how beautiful it was. I never expected it to be this gorgeous. It is just something you have to see to believe. Tomorrow we go into the crater, and then we set out through the Serengeti. After that, we head out to Ntagatcha village, then to Shirati.”—Kaitlyn Elkins
5-25-10
“Today we safaried down into the Ngorongoro Crater, and I must tell you that is the most breathtaking place I have ever seen in my life. It is absolutely gorgeous. We saw a lioness with three cubs, and it was almost reverent. We also saw two black rhinos, another pride of lions, a herd of elephants, along with zebras, impalas, gazelles, wildebeast, hyenas, dozens of exotic birds, and many more. After the crater, we journeyed into the Serengeti, and that is where we are staying tonight. My room overlooks the plain, and I watched the sun set tonight. It was absolutely beautiful. I cannot wait to tell you all about it. Tomorrow is the last day of our safari, and we are heading to Ntagatcha village to the orphanage.” –Kaitlyn Elkins
This is the meaning of the Chess Ornament
My Bright Shining Star 
I hope you post a picture of the tree after all your loving memories have been placed on it. You have been blessed by so many people who love and support you and who miss your beautiful daughter so much, God Bless you and your family on this day of a painful heartbreak.
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Thank you. I will post a pic after all the decorations have come in. I do believe this tree has saved me this Christmas. A time I could barely stand the thought of before the idea came. I feel Kaitlyn in this.
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Rhonda I admire your strength while you are in so much pain, when I lost Josh my pain got the best of me and I hid from life for so many years, you are giving the best of you to others while your heart breaks and I find that to be a amazing thing. And I agree I think Kaitlyn has her hands all over this Christmas Tree blessing that is being placed before you and your family.
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Thank you so much. I appreciate your saying that I have strength, but the fact is, I think all my strength that I manage to possess is coming from Kaitlyn and the beautiful people around me. I have still a long way to go. I have still not gone back to work, I still have very sad times when I’m in the floor crying with her clothes in my arms pretending it is her. But I do so want to help others because I want NO ONE to have to live through this kind of pain in losing a child especially to suicide which can be prevented if only given a chance. Thank you for helping me feel good about myself with your kind words. I am truly blessed to have been able to find this way to make it through Christmas. It did come from her…I know it. Thank you again.
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You do have many hard days before you and sobbing on the floor is part of the process, I see your strength in your writings, what you write helps others, Christmas is hard for me too, Joshua’s Birthday is in October and he died In January and for many years I had a hard time breathing through the months, having small children helped to keep me santa busy, but it was so very hard, It touches my heart to see you put this tree of memories together. Keep writing Rhonda I think its helping others more than you know
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Thank you so much. I hope it’s helping others. It helps me as well. Now if I can get through her birthday next month. She would have been 24…..
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This fine tree is with it’s memorable ornaments is a fine tribute that I am sure will be on display for all to recall the beauty of this very special woman.
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Thank you so much.
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