If you knew her, you may recognize this stance.  When Kassandra was upset - she showed it (not many got to see this side!)  This picture was shared with me by her Grandma Deb - she said that she has it hanging on the wall because it is just too cute.  I have to agree...hands on hips, leg propped up onto the wall, head down and her pouty lips sticking out - I used to tell her "if you don't do something about your lips you are going to trip over them!"  I am not sure what she was upset about but maybe Deb can tell us the story and I will add it here.  This picture is so cute it makes me smile every time I look at it!

Some facts about a smile...

• A smile is a universal expression of happiness and recognized as such by all cultures
• A smile is the most frequently used facial expression It takes as few as five pairs of facial muscles and as many as all 53 to smile
• Regardless of the precise number of muscles used, smiling causes far fewer muscles to contract and expand than frowning
• Smiling releases endorphins and makes us feel better
• Even ‘faking’ a smile can lead to feeling happier
• People are born with the ability to smile (They don’t copy the expression, even babies who are born blind, smile)
• Babies reserve special smiles for their loved ones
• A newborn shows a preference for a smiling face over a non-smiling face
• Women smile more than men
• Younger people smile more than older American males with high testosterone smile least of all
• There are 18 different kinds of smile used in a variety of social situations
• Human beings can differentiate between the ‘felt’ smile (of joy and happiness) and the social smile – ‘it’s in the eyes’ (literally)
• A smiling person is judged to be more pleasant, attractive, sincere, sociable, and competent than a non-smiling person
• A person who studies laughter is called a ‘gelotologist’

There is a lot to be said about death, especially the death of a child.  Since Kassandra's death I have experienced wonderful blessings personally and from others.  God will have His hands in this for a long time.  Kassandra has a heart that is so full of love for others - family, friends and those she did not know.  It is that love, the love of God that resides in her and makes her so incredibly amazing.  She has touched so many lives and continues to touch them even after her death.  Her heart and love live on through so many. 

When a tragedy like this happens one has to wonder why?  I try not to wonder to long as I believe that only God knows but I realized that all the lives that have been touched by Kassandra's death have been altered in some way.  That is purpose. 

The boy that was driving the car will be in my thoughts and prayers every day - he will be a part of our lives forever.  I may never see him or have a chance to talk to him BUT, he will be in my heart, my mind and lifted to God every day as will the other kids in the car.  That is purpose.  I pray that each of them, or even one of them recognize the blessings around them and feed them, pass them on to others so they may continue to grow. 

Death is not a bad thing although it does hurt those of us left behind.  Kassandra is experiencing eternal life - in her tiny 17 years on this earth she was able to fulfill her purpose in life - imagine that!  FULFILL HER PURPOSE IN LIFE!  Now, when I thought of that I realized that she may have accomplished it with her life or with her death but either way - she is hand in hand with our Father and that is an awesome vision!

Don't forget to smile as she did, live life, love everyone and forgive ~ Love, Kassie's Mommy