This is John. I just wanted to post a note on this, the first anniversary of Kate's passing. I am posting the same note on her Facebook page, so sorry to be redundant for those who see it both places.

Wow, it's hard to believe it has been a year now. In some ways it seems like yesterday and in others it seems like a lifetime ago. It's been a very busy, full year with school, sports, dance, piano and just normal-life stuff, then a very busy summer with swimming & travel and now getting ready for school again. We are all doing about as well as I could have hoped. The kids are amazing - their focus on happy memories and resilience have helped keep us all going. Kate is part of our lives every day. Not a day goes by that we don't talk about her - the girls remembering things or asking questions about their mommy and Jesse still likes to "pinch a cookie" and talks about riding on mommy's "magic bed". Kate wondered if they would remember her, so I know she is smiling down on us.

The love, care and support that we continue to receive is still so incredible. There are such good people in the world and we have been so fortunate to have so many of them taking care of us. Thank you to God and thank you to all the people He has put around us who take care of us and lift us up every day.

Kate believed that God has a plan and that everything happens for a reason. She helped me to come to believe it as well. I remind myself of it every day, especially the hard ones. I know she wants us to go on and have full, happy lives. Sometimes that doesn't seem possible, but then I look at these four angels that He entrusted into my care and press on.

Overall, I would say that we are all doing OK. There are good days and bad. We all think about and miss Kate every day. I am so glad that we can think & talk about her and smile & laugh -- what a blessing. I hope everyone who reads this can think of their own Kate story and have a smile and a laugh today, too. I know she would have liked that.