God sent us a beautiful gift on October 02, 1989. He loaned to us, our precious daughter Jessica. She was our blessing from God and the joy of our lives.

Jessie was born in Lincoln Nebraska and moved with us to Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1992. We relocated to a comfortable acreage in Garretson, South Dakota in 1993.

Jessica was called to her Bat Mitzvah on October 04, 2002 at Mt. Zion Congregation in Sioux Falls.

Jessica also took religion classes through St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Garretson. She saw herself as a person of all religions and traditions.

She was a student at Garretson Middle School. Jessica was also involved in basketball, track, choir, band, student council, TATU, and the Dare Program.

She achieved a 3rd degree black belt in Taekwondo in 2002. Jessica was a member of Girl Scouts for 8 years.

Jessica had many hobbies which included horseback riding, crafts, singing, writing poetry and stories, board games, and talking to her friends on the phone and online her computer. She also enjoyed volunteering at the Banquet in Sioux Falls.

Jessica had an incredible sense of humor, she was a caring and loving person.

She was known for fighting for the underdog, she had an exceptional Spirit and love for all living things.

Jessica loved life and loved to share her life with all who knew her, she gave a special gift to all with her incredible smile, she touched the lives of all she knew.

God called Jessica home on November 23, 2003.

Sometimes

Sometimes I stare into space
Sometimes I see her face
Sometimes I look at her pictures
Sometimes I see her in the sky
Sometimes she touches my soul
Always she touches my heart

Sometimes we laughed just for laughing
Sometimes we laughed at corny jokes
Why such a long face and the monkey in the tree
Sometimes the jokes were funny
Most times we just enjoyed each other's wit

Sometimes we cried over a movie
Sometimes we cried over a loss in the family
Sometimes we did nothing but listen to music
Most of the times hers, rarely mine
Sometimes I thought I gave in too much
She always smiled and said, "It's okay dad,
when I'm not in the car you can listen to your music!"

Now that she's gone, I listen to her music.
Now that's she's gone, I have no one to share my corny jokes with.
Now that she's gone, I wish I had given in more.
Now that she's gone, I don't even like "my music"
Now that she's gone, I have no child to guide, to teach to love.

Sometimes, I pretend she is still here, at school a friend's or outside
Sometimes I believe my pretend world
Sometimes I cry
Sometimes I want to die
Always I miss her
Always I cared

Sometimes she thought I didn't listen.
Sometimes she was right
Mostly she was wrong
I always listened to her in my heart
She was and still is always there

Sometimes she visits me in my truck
Sometimes she sings with her songs
Sometimes I want to change the channel
Oh, if only I could

Sometimes I eat eggs
I will never eat cheese eggs again
Sometimes I may make dessert
I will never make brownies without nuts again

Sometimes I think life is unfair
I am right

Sometimes I wish the way out was not taken
Sometimes I plan a plan
Sometimes I wish I had the courage of my daughter
But I am a coward and have responsibilities to my wife
Sometimes I wish we did not teach you courage, compassion and love
Then I realize that that was you and you were them
Sometimes I wish you weren't that good of a student
or your mother and I weren't that good of teachers
Sometimes

© Keith Haffer
January 27, 2004




When you were born,
you cried and the world rejoiced.
Live your life in a manner
so that when you die
the world cries and you rejoice.

- Native American Proverb -




Just Horsing Around

Jessie with her "bridle" headdress


A Native American Blessing

May the Great Spirit Bless you
with the knowledge of your inner
strength and wisdom.

May you have the strength of eagles' wings,

The faith and courage to fly to new heights,

And the wisdom of the universe
to carry you there.

We can only be what we give
ourselves the power to be.

Hold on to what is good even if it is a handful of earth.
Hold on to what you believe even if it is a tree which stands by itself.
Hold on to what you must do even if it is a long way from here.
Hold on to life even when it is easier letting go.
Hold on to my hand even when I have gone away from you.

- Pueblo Blessing -

When I am dead, cry for me a little. Think of me sometimes, but not too much. It is not good for you or your wife or your husband or your children to allow your thoughts to dwell too long on the dead. Think of me now and again as I was in life, at some moment which is pleasant to recall, but not for long. Leave me in peace as I shall leave you, too, in peace. While you live, let your thoughts be with the living.

Ishi - Yahi of California - (1862-1916)

                

                                    

"I am In The Light"

A shadow of joy flickered; it is me.
I told you I wouldn't leave you
My spirit is with you
My memories, my thoughts are imbedded deep in your heart.
I still love you.
Do not for one moment think that you have been abandoned.
I am in the Light
In the corner, in the hall, the car, the yard-these are the places I stay with you
My spirit rises every time you pray for me, but my energy comes closer to you
Love does not diminish, it grows stronger
I am the feather that finds you in the yard,
the dimmed light that grows brighter in your mind
I place our memories for you to see
We lived in our special way, a way that now has its focus changed
I still crave your understanding and long for the
many words of prayer and good fortune for my soul.
I am in the light.
As you struggle to adjust without me, I watch you silently
Sometimes I summon up all the strength of my new world to make you notice me
Impressed by your grief, I try to impress my love deeper into your consciousness
As you should, I call out to the Heavens for help
You should know that the fountain of youth does exist
My soul is now healthy.
Your love sends me new found energy
I am adjusting to this new world.
I am with you and I am in the Light
Please don't feel bad that you can't see me.
I am with you wherever you go
I protect you, just as you protected me so many times
Talk to me and some how I will find a way to answer you
When you feel despair, reach out to me. I will come
My love for you truly does transcend from Heaven to Earth
Finish your life with the enthusiasm and
zest you had when we were together in the physical sense.
You owe this to me, but more importantly, you owe it to yourself
Life continues for both of us
I am with you because I love you and I am in the Light.

Author Unknown

                             
                             



Music Performed By Don Conoscenti ~ "The Other Side"
Used With Permission

Personal Content copyright Keith & Jeralyn Haffer
Graphics copyright Enchantingly Beautiful Graphics
Created Exclusively For The Haffer's
All Rights Reserved
No copying or redistribution without expressed written permission.