My Sister.

Melissa Ann (Carey) Jensen 

  

1980 ~ 2012
Missy passed peacefully in her sleep after struggling with failing health on May 18, 2012.
She was born March 23rd 1980 in Provo, Utah the oldest of four siblings born to Ken and Pam Carey. She grew up in the majestic beauty of Northern California and Montana. Being active in the outdoors was a great passion. She graduated from Dixie College and developed an enduring bond to the red cliffs of St. George, where she married Scott Jensen in 2004. Their beautiful daughter AnnDee Mae was born in 2005, becoming the joy of her life. She later divorced, but remained in St George to be close to her daughter.
It is most disheartening when a mother and father lay their daughter to rest before her time…leaving a daughter without her mother and a brother and sisters without their sibling. Missy was our "organization" in a disorganized world, our energy when reserves were low, and our positive ray of hope despite an often cloudy day.
She is preceded in death by her grandparents Ivan Kocherhans, Ralph and Pat Carey. She is survived by her grandmother Lorraine Kocherhans; parents Ken and Pam Carey; twin sister Shanna (Coleman) Richmond, sister Leslie (Ryan) Hemming; and brother Justin (Bria) Carey. She is also survived by many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and especially loved by her nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at Lindquist's Bountiful Mortuary 727 S. 400 E. Bountiful. Friends may visit with the family from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. prior to the services. Condolences may be shared at www.lindquistmortuary.com

My sister Missy Moon.  This is probably my most favorite picture of her.  It depicts her easy going, fun loving personality, and it is taken at one of the places she loved most, Glacier Park Montana.

I will always remember Melissa this way too, holding her pride and joy in her arms.  AnnDee truly meant everything to her.

 Here are some old pictures I scanned to have in my blog book.  These days seemed to be so care free and happy for her.  She was fun, loving, thoughtful, and full of life.

 Us girls would always stick together.  Oh the fun we would all have together.

 We caught a lizard together in Zions.  I remember this day so well, we hiked Angels Landing and Missy was the leader the whole way, so thrilled to be in the outdoors in such a beautiful place.

 Here we are at the the Bigfork Inn, eating dinner during one of our trips to Montana.  Missy had just had AnnDee, she was only 2 months old, and the only grandkid at the time.  We were all obsessed with her, and Melissa was beyond thrilled at the new concept of motherhood.

This was the last picture taken of Missy and I.  This was a good happy moment over our Christmas vacation.  I remember she was squeezing me so tight with her one arm around me...hence the face I am making.

 We all got to spend some time with little AnnDee Mae in St. George when we traveled down there to collect what little was left of her things.  It was a hard day, but so great to see her beautiful smiling face that reminded me so much of my sister.

 Her funeral was Wednesday, and her ashes were buried on Friday.  Part of her ashes have been saved in a separate earn, and we will take a trip to Montana this summer and spread them across one of her favorite lakes there, just like she would have wanted.

 There definitely was an empty feeling at the cemetery that day.  Just a feeling that there was really no part of Melissa here on this earth any longer.  I left feeling very numb.

Dad gave a beautiful dedicatory prayer, and we said our final little goodbyes.  

I really don't know how to express the sadness in my heart of loosing my sister.  No matter how many times I hear people say, "she is in a better place", or "she is happier now", it doesn't fill the empty void in my heart, or make her "forever" absence here on earth any easier.  It is just hard, and it's not fair.  I don't think I could have ever comprehended how hard loosing her would really be.  I have a moment just about every day, that my thoughts turn to her and I cry.  It's usually a moment when I am kid free, doing something where my thoughts can wander, weather that be while folding laundry, driving in my car, doing dishes, laying in bed before falling asleep, what ever...she is constantly there in my thoughts, and the tears suddenly appear again.  I wonder how long this will go on for, how will missing her so much get any easier?  I pray that Heavenly Father can continue to help me, and my family, especially my heart broken mother, through this tough time.  It's been 3 weeks today since that awful phone call came.  I know it will get easier, it's still so raw.  I love my sister very much.  I will never forget all the good she did in her short life time.

End of the year Chaos...

Noah graduated from his Lehi Preschool Program.  He really loved going to preschool this year.  Mrs. Kerri was so sweet and good to him.  She told me on a few occasions that Noah was the mellowest, easy going, sweetest kid in the class.  It made me happy to hear that he was always such a good boy.  He didn’t get too into the singing during his program, not like Paisley, but he sure was cute.  I am loving the stage he is at right now, he just learned to ride his spider man bike, and loves it so much.  He loves legos, and is still completely obsessed with every super hero.

 HI MOM!

 Mrs. Kerri, sweet sweet teacher.

 Paisley had a cute kindergarten performance where she sang a song called, “I Like Being Me”, where they did sign language as they sang the song.  She of course sang her little heart out and loved being on stage.  She is quite the performer.  She also had her end of the year recital, and danced the best I have ever seen her dance.  Tomorrow she competes at Lagoon, and then she is done with dancing for the year.  We are going to take a break next year from dance, so I was soaking up every moment of her performances!  She unfortunately had to miss her gymnastics performance because if things with Missy, but she will continue to do gymnastics through the summer and next year.  She is one of the top readers in her class, and got mostly all “4’s” in her report card.  She is very smart, and I can’t believe all she has learned in one year of school!  She is my little shining star!

 Paisley with her teacher Mrs. Petersen.  She was a great teacher! 

 Grandma and Grandpa Carey were able to come to her performance!  Dang my blurry pictures!!

 Cutest pic all year I get here of my little graduate!  Ohh I love it!

 The final recital...

Then in June came the last competition of the year, the one most looked forward to because it was at Lagoon!  The girls had so much fun and the rest of the family was able to enjoy it too and go on all the rides. It was such a fun day, and the best part...the little Rockstars took first in a tough competition!  Good job girls!  What a great way to end the year.  Here they are with their Teacher/Jazz n' Place owner Chelsea.

 Getting their trophy...

 Riding the rides!!!

 I think it will be hard not doing dance with all of her little friends next year, but we are going to take a break and see how things go.  Bye bye to dance for now...

May Miscellaneous...

There was so much that went down in May.  End of school year stuff, recitals, performances, yadi yadi yadi.  We will get to that in my next post, but here are a few random pics. that Paisley took.  Pretty cute of little RoRo, and not bad picture taking skills either from Paisley! Here we are messing around in the kitchen...

 We always love a spring day at the Thanksgiving Point Farm Country!  This was Rowans first ride on the pony's!  She loved it, as did all the other cute kiddos.

I purposely had Rowan wear this outfit to the farm.  I remember Paisley wearing it to the farm when she was little.  She looked like a little Paisley mini me...but with more hair of course...oh and a bit chubbier. :)