A story, familiar memory, or quiet moment of reflection brings family to heart
This article is brought to you by Ivy Tech Community College Kokomo Region. At Ivy Tech, we understand that success takes more than a classroom. It’s about having a support system, access to resources, and people who are invested in helping you reach your goals. From academic advisors and faculty to student support services, we’re here to help students every step of the way.
We’re proud to introduce Crystal Ann Kennedy, who chose Ivy Tech!
“I chose Ivy Tech because this is where I started initially 14 years ago,” said Crystal. “Ivy Tech has always provided me with several resources to reach out to in times of need. I feel supported at Ivy Tech with my professors and academic advisors. Ivy Tech gives me the college experience without the financial burdens of a bigger college and that helps me in so many ways, especially with having two children to care for.”
Crystal’s story is a great reminder that the right support system can make all the difference. We’re proud to be part of her educational journey!
My grandmother, the matriarch of our family on my father’s side, passed away in December of 2025. She was a powerful figure in the history of our family. Born in 1940, she was the oldest of all her siblings and lived 85 good years. Since her passing, I’ve had the opportunity to go through old family photographs that had been tucked away for decades, and the experience has caused me to reflect on the people we love, the memories we hold, and the ways those memories continue to live with us.
As I look through these old pictures, I see how worn and tattered many of them have become over the years. The edges are bent, colors faded. Time has certainly taken its toll. Yet, in spite of their condition, these photographs still hold a powerful image of who our family members used to be. They remind us of the people who came before us, and the legacy they left behind. And if we don’t allow their spirit and influence to fade away, they can remain a powerful presence in our lives.
But something else came to mind as I looked at those worn and tattered pictures. As much as they capture the likeness of our loved ones, I believe we carry an even more vivid image of who they were in real life. A photograph can capture someone’s face, but it cannot fully capture their personality, their laughter, their voice, or the way they made us feel. Those are things we carry within us.
And though those images may fade a little bit after our loved ones pass away, it doesn’t take much to make them vivid again. Sometimes, all it takes is a story, a familiar memory, or a quiet moment of reflection to bring them right back into focus. We may not see them standing in front of us, but we can still remember them as though they were here yesterday.
And when we get to Heaven, what might we find? I don’t have all the answers in regard to Heaven, but I believe we will know them. How about when Peter asked Jesus on the mountain of transfiguration if it was good for them to be there when Moses and Elijah were present. He’d never even seen them before, and yet he knew who they were.
If I might use my imagination for a moment, perhaps we will find our loved ones whole again. Perhaps we will see them as lively and vibrant as we’ve ever known them, no longer confined to the fading images we have of them here on earth, but restored and present in the fullness of life with our God. I find comfort in that thought.
These photographs have reminded me that time may wear away the things we hold in our hands, but it doesn’t have to diminish what we carry in our hearts. Our loved ones are more than pictures tucked away in boxes. They are the stories we tell, the lessons we remember, and the love that continues to shape who we are.