One of Missy's loves (and talents) was athletics: she excelled at skiing, played softball well, and set a school record in the triple jump!

Coaches remember Missy for her wonderful spirit of enthusiasm, coachability, and athleticism. I had the privilege of coaching Missy in junior high basketball (thank you, Lord!). She threw herself into it with abandon, even though it was obvious that this was not her sport!

But skiing was her sport. And oh, how we loved our ski trips through the years. Missy added a dimension to those trips that went far beyond her ability as a skier. The ski-diary that had been kept through the early years contained plenty of "Missy stories" - stories of high adventure and great comedy on the slopes, all a reflection of this personality, this child with a sense of wonder at life itself, never taking it too seriously and always being able to laugh at all manner of situations which presented themselves.

Will skiing ever be the same without Missy?

Will life ever be the same without Missy?

Lord, how do we understand this "secret thing" that has taken place - this loss of one so sweet, so tender, so adventuresome...