How much I miss you. There isn't a minute that goes by that I don't think of you. And I can feel you all around me. Nothing or no one can ever hurt you again. You are safe in the Father's arms. I wish you were here to enjoy the fall leaves with me. That's something that we didn't get to see in Florida. And I remember the time you were driving home to Florida in the winter and you called me up and said "Mom it's snowing, what do I do?". I told you to find a hotel to stop and spend the night but you didn't. You kept driving. I just prayed you safely all the way home. You were always the most adventurous person. Braver than I'll ever be. I miss you telling me to make sure I wear socks that match my shoes :-). Even to this day when I put my shoes on I check my socks. You were and are so beautiful. God created you so special and now his special creation is with him. I love you my sweet angel. Keep sending me strength.
Love Mom
My Sweet Melissa / Mom Today is 10 months since you were taken from us. Still so hard to believe that you are not here. That I can't pick up the phone and call you or send you an email. My life is lonely with you gone. God will give me the strength every day until the day comes and we are together again. I long for that day. What a glorious day that will be. Dance a beautiful dance for me and all your family and friends. We all miss you very much.
Love forever, Mom
Thank God for the memories / Mom Melissa, I thank God so much for giving me 28 wonderful years with you. My life is truly blessed that he allowed me to be your mother. You are and forever will be my baby girl. When I think of you growing up and how much motivation you had. It was all I could do to keep up with you. You wanted to do it all. Dance, modeling, cheerleading, pageants. It thrilled my heart to see all the things that you accomplished. I know you had more that you wanted to do. I'm sorry that chance was taken away.
We always had so much fun together. We would laugh about anything. I miss your teasing me. We had some rough times too but those we're the times that we trusted God even more to get us through. Now you are with Nana and Papa. And they are taking care of you. My heart is still broken and there will always be that empty spot that only you can fill. But God is with me and every day lets me know that you are with him and you are at peace. I can picture you even more beautiful dancing around. I miss you so much.
All my love, Mom
Always missing you / Maura (Mom) Melissa,
Here it is already one year since we laid you to rest. I miss you so very much but I know that you are so happy and free. You are in heaven preparing for our arrival when that time comes. I know you are teaching dance like never before. I know that you are even more beautiful in heaven and are affecting everyone with your charm and your wit. I long for the day when I will put my arms around you and give you the biggest hug and kiss. How wonderful and awesome that you are worshipping with the angels around the throne of God!!! So sweetie until it is my time to be with you I will spend my time here reaching out and helping others and sharing the love of God. What a mighty God we serve. Have a marvelous birthday in heaven as I know how much you love birthdays. I will be lighting candles for you precious girl. I love you.
Mom
Missing you / Maura (Mom) Melissa,
Gabe and I were coming home from church tonight and we were talking about how much we miss you. He said he wishes you were here. We all miss you so much. We miss that beautiful smile and the way you can make us laugh. You always brought so much life to everything. What will we ever do without you? Sometimes I just stare at your picture in amazement of how beautiful God created you, all the way down to those beautiful toes. Your talent was amazing. And even though I was the mother, you taught me so much. I thank God that he blessed me for 28 years with you. Thank you for giving me the courage to get on that stage and dance, even though I begged you to take my place. You told me how proud you were of me that I went out there and did it. I thank you for that. I can't wait until we see each other face to face again. In the meantime I know you are praying for all of us and we will be strong because that is what you would want us to do. It won't stop the pain and the hurt but one day God will bring healing. I love you so much and I know how much you love me. God bless you sweetie!!
Love Mom
our birthday! / Alisa Spivey (friend) Melissa its march. we loved this month it is ours, the weather always starts getting pretty and its time to go sit @ spinniker for lunch and eat blackened grilled grouper which by the way i can not get without you ! The waves and water is always so beatiful this time of year I am sure where you are they are even more beautiful. I will always remember our last lunch and how nice it was! Happy birthday Melissa Love alisa
Maura/ Stuart Your an awesome mommy .... just wanted to let you know that... sorry for your loss and just remember there is no suffering where your daughter is right now.... just peace and happiness... keep that next to your heart always..... god bless
I miss you so much! / Samantha A. (Friend) Melissa, Not a day passes when you aren't in my thoughts. I miss you so much everyday, a feeling of loneliness that will never leave resides in my heart. How I wish we could have one more long talk or one more day shopping, I miss it all so much. Kaytlyn is growing up so fast, and I know that you are with her every day watching her and guiding her. She's such a beautiful dancer! I know you are proud, I wish we could all see you teaching her and dancing with her. This past weekend I stayed in a hotel on the beach, and I felt so close to you. Then in the lobby downstairs they had some different flyers, one of them was Alvin's Island, and there you were, walking down the beach in the photo. You were so proud of that picture, and when they put it on a bill board, I remember the day we rode out there to see it! Things have been so different without you, I wish you were here. I love you Mickey, and Ill see you soon someday.. Keep on dancing and teaching... Love~ Samantha P.S Happy Late Valentines, I love you!
Justice for Melissa!!!! / Maura (Mom)
Shall the throne of iniquity which devises evil by law, Have fellowship with you? They gather together against the life of the righteous, And condemn innocent blood. But the Lord has been my defense, And my God the rock of my refuge. He has brought on them their own iniquity, And shall cut them off in their own wickedness; The Lord our God shall cut them off.
Psalm 94:20-23
Hi my girl!!! / Maura (Mom) Melissa,
I am missing you so much tonight. I long to hear you tell me one more time "I love you mom." You are my angel. My heart is so lonely for you. Send me strength to make it thru until we are together again. I love you. Mom
Dancing Angels / Alisa/Jessica Spivey (friend)
As time passes I miss you more and more. It is recital time and as I watch Jess dance across the floor I think of you, missing you, wishing you where here to teach her and then she will glance over at me and I see you standing there helping her guiding her and I just smile knowing you are still with her, Then saddness over fills my heart for I wish I could hear you, talk to you ask you how she is doing. She misses her Miss. Melissa you can see it when she gets aggravated. You believed in her so much, and she loved you so much. As she grows and becomes a beautiful ballerina I will always thank you for instilling that belief in herself and I know if I look hard enough I will see you there watching her and guiding her as you did for so many years. So go dance with the angels now and learn some new dances for I pray I will see them when jess dances. And thank you for being not only a great teacher but a great friend. Love Alisa
Peter 4:12-19 Keep faith in God! / Samantha Dear Friends, do not be suprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rest on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgement to begin with that family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who did not obey the Gospel of God? And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"
So then, those who suffer accordingly to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
Melissa I love and miss you darlin! I hope your watching over us all and dancing with all your heart!
Missing You / Maura (Mom) Melissa, I am missing you so very much. I miss hearing you laugh. I miss your voice on the phone. I had a dream of you last night. We hugged each other. It brought me comfort. I'll never forget all the happy times we've had together. I miss them. It's lonely with you gone. Now another family member is there with you. Aunt Helen went home on Dec. 30. I'm sure you are dancing for her. I love you!
Mom
God was there and is here / Maura (Mom)
Sometimes bad things happen that we don't understand. When we trust God with our lives. sometimes His plan for us is not our plan. God knows what is best for us. In Hebrews it says that "God will never leave us, God will never forsake us".
God was always right there with Melissa, just as he is right here with all of us. Why this happened to Melissa we may never know but our faith in our God must never waiver for He is our strength and our comfort. He is our salvation no matter what we face in our life. Good or bad.
In the Psalms it says "God is close to the brokenhearted". God send His son to suffer and to die for us. So we will receive salvation. Melissa also suffered and she died and we can only pray that good will come out of this. That God will use this tragedy to help someone else or touch another life. And I thank God that just that is happening.
Sadness may still surround our hearts but we always have to remember that Melissa is with Jesus and all the loved ones that have gone on before. We have to embrace the memories that we have of her and the wonderful way she touched all our lives. We all miss her terribly and sometimes the pain seems more than we can bear but when we just whisper the name of Jesus he is right here to bring his healing touch.
Sorry/ Christian Kidd (none) I'm so sorry for your loss. I know that there's a God up there, but I wonder where he was @ when Melissa was getting killed.
A poem for Maura / Kellie Luck (Deepest Condolences ) Child of Mine
"I'll lend you for a little time a child of Mine," He said, "For you to love while she lives and mourn for when she's dead."
"It may be six or seven years or twenty-two or three, But will you, till I call her back, take care of her for Me?"
"She'll bring her charms to gladden you, and shall her stay be brief, You'll have her lovely memories as solace for your grief."
"I cannot promise she will stay, since all from Earth return, But there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn."
"I've looked the wide world over in my search for teachers true. And from the throngs that crowd life's lanes, I have selected you."
"Now will you give her all your love, not think the labor vain, Nor hate Me when I come to call to take her back again?"
I fancied that I heard them say: "Dear Lord, thy will be done!" For all the joy Thy child shall bring, the risk of grief we'll run.
We'll shelter her with tenderness, we'll love her while we may. And for the happiness we've known, forever grateful stay.
But shall the angels call for her much sooner than we've planned, We'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand.
Thanks to all / Maura (Mom) Thanks to all who have paid a tribute and lit a candle for Melissa. It really has touched my heart and all who love Melissa.
God Bless you, Maura James
Melissa/ Maura (Mom)
I imagine you dancing around with the angels happy as can be. I miss you so much. I cherish the memories I have of you. You always made me laugh. You were my best critic and my best advisor. What will I ever do without you?
Love Mom
Warmest Thoughts and Deepest Condolences / Travis Young (Christian Brother ) My warmest thoughts and deepest condolences go out to you and your family. Melissa though I have never met you, you sound like a truly wonderful person with a great spirit. I look forward to meeting you one day in heaven, for you have been granted eternal life with GOD. I will look for you and your Mom, she too is an amazing person and I wish her great strength.
Take care dear and God bless, ~Travis
A Poem Dedicated To Melissa / Hope (Friend) Dance, my Mar, Dance Embrace the music as it flows Wave your arms and kick your legs And point your lovely toes.
Dance, my Mar, Dance Befriend the moving air Let it caress your every curve And stroke your silky hair.
Dance, my Mar, Dance Pirouette amongst the clouds You've shown us all what you can do Show the angels now.
You've moved on from this imperfect world Gone further and advanced But forever you'll live inside our hearts And forever in heaven you'll dance.
This poem was written by my daughter the day she was told about Melissa's death. She and Melissa were great friends. Melissa taught her to love dance. She made her laugh and they had lots of fun. She loves and misses her "Mar" very much.
Tributes and Condolences
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