This drawing is done by Ryan, Nikki's good friend. He is an unbelievably talented artist. He drew this with so much love and I am so grateful to him. This is a piece of art that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I cannot even explain how beautiful this is to me and how much it means. It touches my heart so deeply. Thank you so much Ryan!

Happy Birthday Nikki!

Our house in Aurora (Close to Chicago)

We each had 2 balloons and wrote messages on them to Nikki and let them go.

This is Jackson's balloon with his special message to Aunt Nikki

John's messages were secret so he turned them around when I took pictures of him.

We gave the last balloon lots and lots of kisses and hugs!

Jack with his special onesie and his favorite slippers from Aunt Nikki from Christmas

We cuddled with my blankey that Nikki made me for my birthday and ate Salt and Vinegar chips and a V8 Fusion and watched The Sound of Music(Nikki's faves).

Mommy and Jackson fighting over chips

Okay, we'll share!

After pigging out we just cuddled and talked about our dear sister and aunt. This is the froggy that goes with the slippers.

Nikki bought this for me for my birthday 2 years ago. She didn't have much money at all but she went and spent $30 on this DVD for me.

Some family and friends have been asking to see my Nikki Room. When you walk into my house there is a room on the left and on the right. This is the room on the right. It's all about Nikki!

I do realize my desk and bookshelf are very busy right now. I need to get some shelves to mount to the wall and get it all organized. I just wanted to get it all up now and will reorganize it soon.

Click on picture to enlarge and read descriptions

You Are My Reason
This is amazing how I found this frame. I was just looking online at some Sister frames. I clicked on this one to see what the engraving looked like and it said "Love, Nikki". I said "Ok Nikki, I'm getting it. I hear you loud and clear sis" :-)

I haven't finished the room yet. I want to get a nice rug to go in the middle of the room. I want to put some special quotes on the walls and I need to get some more pictures for 2 of the sister frames I have.

Nikki, just as you did while you were here with us, you are still showing us your love while you are away. We have over and over again experienced so many little things that we know and feel are your little gestures of love and letting us know that you are with us. I am so honored to be the sister of such an amazing person! I struggle so much lately with the adversary wanting to make me angry and depressed, but please know that my heart desires differently and I just need to find the strength to overcome this weakness, and to continue doing all that I have promised to do. Please continue to help me, please continue to let me help you!

Kelli

I want to make a memory book of Nikki. Please leave as a comment any memories, thoughts, feelings, or things you loved about Nikki. This is really important to our family and we appreciate you taking the time to remember our sweet Nikums.

Elwood- Nikki Grove 23, returned home to her Heavenly Father January 27, 2009. She was born May 7, 1985 in Cedar City, Utah to Jan and Robert. Nikki enjoyed working in the garden, crocheting, sewing, swimming and watching movies. When she got the chance she loved to go horseback riding at Grandpa Fenn’s Ranch. Nikki graduated from Bingham High School in 2003. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and was involved and loved serving with many Singles Ward activities and Institute Classes. Nikki loved her friends so much; they served her with much compassion. She is survived by her parents Jan (Seth) Sorensen; Elwood, Robert Duane Grove; South Jordan, survived by Siblings Kelli Donna (Jeff) Conger; Saratoga Springs, Jami (John) West; Lehi, Thomas Robert Grove; Elwood, Craig Michael Grove; Elwood, Michele Grove; Elwood, Grandparents Boyd and Della Fenn; New Harmony, Charles and Judy Grove; Hurricane. She is preceded in death by her Grandmother Donna Vanbeber Grove. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday January 31, 2009 at 1:00 pm in the Elwood LDS Church 4865 West 9600 North Tremonton, Utah. A Viewing will be held on Friday January 30, 2009 from 6-8 pm and also Saturday at 11-12:30 am at the Elwood LDS Church. Interment at the East

Nikki, you have always been so special to me. I've always had such a soft spot in my heart for you. I love you more than I can ever say and miss you more than anyone will ever know. You are the best sister anyone could ever have. You have always been there for me. I loved being the two redheads :-) We had a special bond that I know we will always have. I will always remember the many wonderful things about you and cherish the memories. I especially felt extra close to you just the last couple of years. I'm so proud of all that you accomplished and the beautiful woman you had become. I will miss getting those phone calls at 11 pm when I had just had Jackson and you just wanted to tell me about a cute boy! You had no clue sometimes and I loved that about you. I remember so many times getting those late night phone calls and when we'd hang up John and I would look at each other and shake our heads and laugh because it was just so Nikki. I miss the many text messages that were so full of love. I can't even tell you how many times your special messages brought me to tears. I felt so lucky to have sister who cared so deeply and loved so much. I miss asking you if all you're really going to eat is chips and carrot cake for the day! I also will always remember how grateful you were if I bought you something. There was a time in Walmart when you couldn't decide what to get because you only had a few dollars with you and I told you I wanted to just buy it for you and you were so appreciative. I wanted to buy it for you because you were always buying things and giving to everyone else. I cannot even begin to tell you what I felt when you gave me my blanket on my birthday. I saw how excited you were. I knew it was going to be special because you had been working on it for a couple months! When I opened it I was overwhelmed with love. I couldn't believe my sister just made me a blanket for my birthday. That will forever be so special to me. I miss so much how loving and gentle you were with Jackson. There were so many tender moments. I would look over and through all the noise of the family you would quietly be rocking him in your arms, looking down at him smiling. I miss hearing you sing to your music. I miss listening to your stories about your next drawing you were planning. I miss hearing you tell me the same story like 5 times because you forgot that you had already told me. I miss so badly "Ummm.... Question!" Or "Jami, do you think there's any way that perhaps if you had time, if it would be ok, only if it would work out, that maybe, if you're not doing anything....".
You taught me so much Nikki. You taught me not to be the victim in life. That everyone deserves a second chance. You taught me that anyone can do what they are most afraid of. You strengthened my testimony and made me see that I want to be better and live my life in your footsteps. I love you Nikki. I love everything about you. I know I didn't use to show that all the time but I am so happy we became such good friends in the last part of your life. Thank you for always being my friend and for always being strong. I don't know if you ever knew how truly beautiful you were both inside and out. Thank you for comforting me when I need it most. I have had some really neat experiences lately that I will never forget and I am so grateful to you for that. I am also so grateful to have the most beautiful caring guardian angel.

Why?

Last night was really hard, it was one of those hit you in gut, break your heart, cry til it hurts moments of "She is really gone...I can't and don't want to believe it! Please tell me that she is just down in her room, snuggling with her blanky, listening to music, eating her chips and writing in her journal. Please tell me this is a a bad dream Please!"
But it isn't a bad dream. It is real and I just didn't know what I was going to do...I just wanted to cry myself to sleep and be sad...

I read "The Message" in about 3 hours one day and it has given me comfort and knowledge that I would not have had without this amazing book, so I decided to go pick it up and re-read a few pages that might be of comfort and IMMEDIATLEY I came to this:

"I remember when I left to come here," Randy continued. "I had suffered so long that it was a welcomed rest to leave my bodily pain, but, oh how I missed my family at first. I wondered if it was right for me to have died. Then I was shown what is about to happen in your world. And it was explained to me that certain members of each family chose, long ago, before this life, to die and come to this realm that they might better help their families endure the challenges to come."Randy's expression changed to one of reverence. "There are many powerful, wonderful spirits who are being called home right now, that they can better help their families prepare for that which is about to take place in your world. One of the major reasons many of us are here is to serve and help those in mortality. Remember that word "serve" for it is a vital part of our world, and can change yours." His eyes did not move from mine. I knew what he was saying was deeply important.I was deeply moved. I had never understood nor thought of how God delivers assistance to us. With billions of children, what more perfect plan could he use than through righteous family members? It made me think about how often I may have been given inspiration from God through ministering "family" servants of God. I could believe it was truth. Once again I felt the burning warmth inside, testifying to me that it was.

Thank you Nikki for choosing long ago to die for our family. To help us prepare and endure.I love you so much and I am eternally grateful.