Today my sister Jilly celebrates her 26th Birthday in Heaven. I remember so much the times when her birthday would be coming up and we would celebrate her birthday two weeks before, during and two weeks after her birthday. It meant so much to her turning one year older and being celebrated. She loved gifts and being with family and friends. We all wonder where Jilly would be right now, married, had children or living somewhere living her life. Our dreams where taken away for her on this earth but I hope that in Heaven she is with our sister Gina, all Grandparents, passed pets, and anyone we know that would be so happy to celebrate her birth on this earth. Words cannot explain how much we miss her and Gina. Our actions would seem hopeless and devastated to show how much we miss them. We can only hold them so close in our hearts and heads. We close our eyes and they are there. "If you want to know where your heart is, look where your mind goes when it wanders."
you're all in my thoughts and prayers thru out the year and especially during the holiday seasons.I can't imagine the pain you all are going thru each and everyday. But I pray that God Helps you all thru another holiday season and for you all to know that Gina and Jill will always be with you. they are ALWAYS with you each and everyday. God Bless you all.
Steve and Judy I hope you made it through yesterday with lots of love,strength,and memories! It was a hard day yesterday as I stared out the day by going to Jill's crash sight. As I told Jackie yesterday when I got there, there were about 25 wild turkeys in the field surrounding the spot where Jill was that awful morning, it made me smile cause I knew that was Jill saying hey Mel I'm here! It was an awesome sight to see! I miss Jill everyday and think of both her and Gina on a daily basis. Lots of thoughts and prayers were sent your way yesterday and they will continue in the days ahead! Stay strong and take care!
What a beautiful website. I have not been on here in some time. Praying that God will give you strength today and in the days to come. I think of you all very often!
Thinking of your family today...Jill was more than an amazing woman. She is truly missed more and more every day. Thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Jill was an amazing person. I am so lucky to have had her in my life, and be able to call her my friend. Gina was also an amazing person although very different than Jill they both had a heart of gold. They both touched so many peoples lives and will FOREVER be in peoples thoughts. My heart hurts today, wishing I could see my friend but I know one day I will see her again and hear her laugh. My thoughts and prayers go out to all that were touched by these two amazing women, whose hearts also hurt wishing they were still here.
Judy & Steve- I am so deeply sorry for the massive pain you carry around each day. I met Jackie at St. Paul Compassionate Friends when Alan & Denise were playing for us. She came all by herself and I was sitting across the table from her. When Alan was singing I looked over at her and depth of the grief was so apparent and I reached out her. That's when I heard the entire story of your girls. There are no words to say except I'm so very very sorry for Jill and Gina's deaths. It is so recent that putting one foot in front of the other is torture I'm sure. I remember the early years and wonder how and why I kept going. I too have had two children die- Kellie & Mitchell. It's been many years so the grief has softened and I've learned to live with it in my life. But let me assure you- the deep pain doesn't come as often but it does come. But more importantly the love grows deeper than anyone can imagine. And for me and I think yourselves- I know I'll be with them again. That brings peace and also that they are "together forever"! Please know that so many people think of your family often and pray for your peace.
I'm always available to you. Never feel alone- because you never will be!
Love & God's Peace- Joannie
3 years ago today our sister Jill passed away in a single car accident. She died alone as our sister Gina did too but I was told once that Jill's spirit found Gina, since she was still missing, and helped her to heaven. It sounds very beautiful that my two sisters could experience something so beautiful together. What is left behind though is the people who suffer as though the loss is as bad as what they experienced in their accidents but for us it's lifelong or as long as our greater God keeps us on this earth. The pain is always unsettling and lives in our hearts everyday without our Jilly and Gina. God help us today to realize and relive the day Jilly was taken from us. All while she died not knowing where her older sister Gina was. God knows their together now and looking down on what's left. Our hearts will beat a slower beat without them, the voids of not having them is overwhelming but we are making the best of what's left. Hold on to what you treasure the most, family, you never know when your last moment will be. God protect and love Jill and Gina as we did here on this earth. We love and miss you like crazy jilly. Till the day we meet again watch over us and know the love never dies.
Today, Oct. 23rd, marks the three year anniversary of my sister Gina's disappearance and presumably her death. We miss her with all of our heart and soul. Until we meet again Gina, we love and miss you very much. We hope you and Jilly are watching down on us and know that you are in our hearts and thoughts everyday. Until we meet again.
Two years ago today, Gina was found in her car submerged in the Red Lake River. So many memories come back on what it felt like that day and how things have never been the same since. So many emotions and hopes that were had, not of us will ever forget this day. Gina is resting in peace next to her sister Jill now. I keep going back to when Gina was missing and a spiritual healer told me that Jill found Gina after she passed and helped her to heaven. What a beautiful thought of two sisters reuniting like that but how painful it has been to be the ones left behind to live without them. God can only help us to understand which we probably wont until we see them again. Not a day goes by that we dont think of the girls and I know there never will be. A good quote "Never ignore a person that loves you, cares for you, and misses you. Because one day, you might wake up from your sleep and realize that you lost the moon while counting the stars." We lost two moons that shined so bright in our lives that when these anniversary days do come they are like we are reliving the tragedies and it feels really dark again. Until we meet again Gina and Jill, we love you now like we always did before, we care for you both and miss you like we never have before. We love you. XO
Today my parents celebrate their 40th Wedding Anniversary. I am so proud to have my parents as great examples of what love for each other and family can do. Their marriage has stood the test of some of the worst fears and tragedies that a couple can endure. They have shown that their love for each other is so strong and that with each other they can get through this life having endured such things. My sisters would be so proud and I know that they are looking down on them wishing they were here to be with them on this very special and important day. I love you mom and dad and am wishing I was there today to celebrate your day. Ill be there soon.
Still remembering Gina and Jilly through this life and always. Where ever we go we are taking you with us, you both are in our hearts and our souls till we meet again. We love you.
I have just stumbled across your site and wanted to tell you what an amazing family you are and that I am so sorry for your unimaginable loss of your beautiful Gina and Jilly. I can not conprehend the pain and overwhelming grief you have all suffered, and all with so much dignity and huge strength. I have also suffered a loss but to have gone through such much loss in such a short space of time is beyond belief. I pray you will all one day find peace, we all know that time does not ever heal ....and why would it?? who could ever forget your beautiful girls? Cherish the beautiful memories that you hold in your hearts of Gina and Jilly and know that although your family has been through such much sorrow....you are also very blessed to have had them both in your lives. Sending you all my love and prayers xxx
Happy 60th Birthday to our dad Steve. The girls would have made his day very special but I was lucky enough to have him here with me for at least a short while on his Birthday weekend. God Bless my dad and make his life in his 60's enjoyable and memorable. We love you dad and I know the girls are looking down today hoping you are happy.
Eric, Jackie and kids
Thinking of Gina today...I've been wishing you were here this week. I could use your sense of humor to lighten my mood. You always had a way of brightening ones day with some laughter. The tail end of this pregnancy is near...I'll never forget how many times you reminded me over & over again that we had to at least try once more for that girl! Well doesn't sound like that luck is going to come true. But, you would be so proud to be an auntie again to another nephew! ~ Love you & miss you always.
Thinking of Gina and Jill today. Gina was be so proud of her husband Jeremy for his road to a new life and new job. Jill would be so happy for him too, probably telling him to get his butt home every weekend so she could see him or she would be driving there. So many things that will never be and that we'll never know what it could have been like. We can only think and try to move on with this relentless life. Time does not stop for the grieving and our hearts do not stop loving or missing them. Always thinking of you Gina and Jilly. I love you both very much, my heart aches for you both but I know you are safe. xo
I always will remember St Patty's Day as Gina's Birthday!! We always had a good time celebrating her day back when we were teens and young adults. Whether it was a party at some pits or at their house or a movie in she loved today!!I'm sure she already has the day planned out for those that are up in heaven with her.
Thursday, March 17th, will be my sister Gina's Birthday. She loved her birthday because it was a day that she could celebrate herself since most of her days were not as bright as what she would have liked them to be. I know she is happy and going to be celebrating and shining in the heavens on that day. I find peace in knowing she no longer hurts and has the rest of eternity to share with my sister Jill, Grandpa Gordon and Grandma and Grandpa Lappegaard. The pain that we still feel is strong but we know they are all okay. Happy birthday Gina, you are missed so much.
I just want to thank everyone that still looks at Gina's web page. I am in the process of updating this site to a Memorial Site and I am hoping to find things that will help others that are grieving from the loss of someone they love. Any ideas, questions or comments please email that to helpfindgina@gmail.com.
Thank you and as always thank you for your support and god bless,
Happy 25th Birthday in the Heavens to my sweet Jilly. We hope she is celebrating along side my sister Gina and the rest of our loved ones that have passed. We miss you and think of you everyday. Life isnt the same without you but we will see each other again. We love you.
I encourage everyone who has been through loss to check out www.angelsacrosstheusa.com . They are starting their 2011 Angels Across the USA Tour in Jan.!!!
Hugs from Rice Lake WI as you go through this difficult time of anniversaries and holidays. I read your posts and can feel your pain through your words. So sad. Someday you will have your answers, in God's time. Until then, hold onto eachother, there is strength in numbers. Love one another, and know that others care and are thinking of you. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
This time of year was always happy one time in our lives, now it seems more of a reminder of the tragedies and the burdens we have to live with. Gina and Jill both loved the holidays, I was more of the scrooge type. Gina was always the one that sent out the long Christmas letter and wanted to say a speech before our gift openings. Jill just wanted presents and for everyone to be together. I miss the phone calls from Jill of when I was going to be home and if Ethan was still going to be awake. Or if I would stop by DigiKey so everyone could see Ethan. Amazing how life can change for the worse instead of the better. I am thankful for the things we have and for the people we still do have in our lives but at this moment in time the holidays are so hard. We miss Gina and Jill so much, nothing is the same without them. We hope and pray that their spirits live on where ever they are and that they are in some form a part of our family get together that we do have. Like I always say, till we meet again some day you are on our minds everyday for the rest of our lives. We love you.
Today, Oct. 23rd, 2010, marks the two year anniversary of my sister Gina's death. So many questions that will never be answered with both of my sisters deaths haunts us everyday. We are all so thankful that we found Gina and was able to put her to rest next to my sister Jill who also passed so tragically. If I could just have 5 minutes to talk to each of them I would have so much to say. I dream about them and always hope when I wake up that I had some type of talk with them that would make me feel at more peace. We miss them so much, time does not heal, at least not for us. This time of year with all the anniversary's and holidays is unfortunately going to be a bad time for us for the rest of our lives. I thank God for my two kids, Ethan and Khloe, because if it wasnt for them we probably all would be a lot worse off. They are our reason for going on and making sure we try in life. May Gina know that I always loved her and that I always cared. To have someone die unexpectedly and have a strained relationship in the first place is a very heavy burden to live with. Three sisters and now down to one surviving sister alone. One day when it is my judgment day maybe then I will have answer to the reason's my life and my family's turned out this way. For now I will always have Gina and Jill on my mind from the moment I wake till I sleep and even at that time I am still going to dream about them. We all love and miss you both, may God be wrapping his arms around you both on this anniversary day. We love you.
I just realized now as I sit here at work today...I was so emotional this morning as I got ready fo the day...thinking of Gina & Jill. I cried as I put on my makeup for the day. Thinking of the girls and how sad it is for them to no longer be in our lives....but curious how happy life may be for them in heaven. I was sad thinking back that Gina was never blessed on earth to be the mother she wanted to be so badly. But, thinking to myself...I bet there is all sorts of children in heaven that she is watching over and it put a smile to my face.
But, then it hit me again at work as I sat at my desk. I then realized that today 2 years ago was probably the last day my 8 year old son Brady spent the day with his auntie Gina. It was the last time they laughed, played and hugged there good byes at the Lappegaard hunting cabin. My heart aches today...the memories are never forgotten. Love you always.
Today, Oct. 14th, 2010 marks the one year anniversary of my sister Gina being found and recovered from the Red Lake River in TRF, MN. May her soul now be at peace and resting next to our beautiful sister Jill whose life was also taken so tragically not long after Gina's. God works in mysterious ways and we will never know why these accidents happened. Until we meet again we will think about them both everyday and try and live our lives because they lived and not because they died. Our heart aches for them everyday and the voids are hauntingly quiet. But our love for them has never died. Rest in peace my sisters, till we are able to embrace each other again. We love you.
Thank you so much for posting the pictures and article about Angels Across the USA. I am glad that it had such a great turn out, and was a such a moving experience for all involved. Jackie, you and your parents are never far from my mind. I love you all very much!
~Rachel
Thank you so much to all who came to the Angels Across the USA event in TRF, MN!! We had 125 people at the event, it was such a wonderful surprise. People were there to support but also needed support for themselves because of their losses. I will make this my mission to help others in this lifelong journey of grieving for our lost loved ones. It never goes away, you just learn to live with it. Thank you to the Angels Across the USA's Alan and Denise Pedersen and also Mitch Carmody. He surprised me by coming to TRF, it brought tears to my eyes. They are such wonderful people.
The event was a success and I hope that it helped everyone. Again thank you all and as always god bless you. I am here for anyone that needs help! Thank you, HelpFindGina.com
years ago , there where no railroad sings and lights at the tracks on hwy 32, a young man had to die before they put them up. on hwy 59 there where no red lights at the tracks until a young trucker died. now we have this spot, i know my car would go in without touching a thing, just like ginas. and now this, why can it not be fixed. or does the public have to do it themselves.
Still think of you and your family often, wishing you all peace, rest... The fact that TRF has done nothing about this obviously dangerous area is pure ignorance and you can bet that if one of the city officials lost their loved one there, they would've had a barricade up a.s.a.p.. Let us all know hat you need help with: petition or what ever...? Maybe a threat of a lawsuit would get them to bury some poles a put up a gaurdrail or something...? Have you spoke with the person who was rescued? Is he ok? He may be able to help. ? God bless you all. Hugs from Rice Lake, WI
That makes me so angry that NO ONE HAS DONE A THING to where Gina went in.....It TELLS ME LOUD AND CLEAR GINA could of still been here with us,,,had that done this long ago. What the hell is wrong with Thief River? I am soooo angry......Keep in the loop for a few hollers or screams at whoever is responsible for placing those barriers and has not done it....I will stand in line to complain if I have to??? I only only wish for the person who just went in, that a barrier was there to protect from harm....Our dear dear Gina lost her life---God Please Help Us!!!
Visited Gina and Jill's Grave on July 24th, 2010. It is amazing that that is my visiting place to see my sisters. We all miss them terribly and nothing is the same. Life has to offer so much but it all can be taken away so fast. Dont take for granted what you have when you have it. Do as much as you can and never hold grudges, it can leave you a life long guilty conscience which I myself live with daily. Love you loved ones as hard as you can and try not to be bitter. Take your blessings and losses and try to remember that we will all, hopefully, be together again. Hope is all we have.
Thanks to anyone and everyone that looks at Gina's site still to this day. Just a FYI to all, there was a man that went into the river at the same spot Gina went into the Red Lake River. There still is no barriers up at that location where GIna went in and now another man almost lost his life in the same fashion Gina did. Luckily a person in the area saw the car go in and the Police Dept. was able to rescue him and get him out of the car and to the hospital. I feel this is a very big deal since now this is the second person that went into the river in this location. Anyone feel the same? Please email me at helpfindgina@gmail.com. Thank you.
I think of you all often & I mean ":every day and eve before I sleep" I pray for your family and hope healing comes your way. I see that losing Gina's dogs is just as much of a hurt than losing her. Animals comfort one, as I lost my husband my 2 dogs are very very in tune with my emotions. If I just sniffle, but yellow retriever is in my face to see what is wrong with her "mom" & gently kisses my lips. I felt home sick for old days when things were not so hard, and she came right up to me & leaned into me as if she was saying "I understand and am here for you!" I would never wish Gina's dogs leave but simply stated--she may know that it is there time & brings them home to be with her and Jilly. I wish I had something inspiring to tell you, however I have been very very notified to write here. I have had dreams & cannot stop thinking about your loss. Then the papers bring up Jacob Wetterling again and soon Gina North. I live in FM area when Gina disappeared. I pray for those families and the hurt starting all over again. For me they all seem related. The hurt on the family-the wondering and waiting....Never would we wish that on anyone. Finding Gina for me was hard to be excited, as I truly believed and felt she was still alive. Never once did I think she would be found the way she was. My hope was so high, I could not stand hearing a different way. It is this I sobbed for you, for her and her husband, her parents, siblings. What more pain can one take?
Each year of the anniversary of my husbands death, I think I am going to be okay??? But the hurt is still there and the images of the day I lost him are still with me. The being all alone & feeling so cheated---where will my life go next. My faith is what brought me through it. I was told to not think of far into the future but get through each hour or minute first. One day at a time, and it does help. There are still days that I just turn up my hands to the Lord and tell him I know, you can handle this as I sure cannot, take the worry and pain away. I feel relief and things turn out no matter what, despite all my worrying.
I wish for you as a family to continue to live your lives, to surround each other with hope and praise. It helps you heal as a family. You need each other now, and I feel strong spirituality when I tell you this. God wants you to stick together and do not drift apart. You have each other and be ever so thankful for the family you are. Gina and Jilly are right here with us, open your ears and listen, a bird sing or a butterfly flys by you or a dragonfly lites on your arm. That is them telling you, we are stil here. Life is strange and I will always wonder why both girls. It is hard to believe it was meant to be. For some reason God saw that Gina needed help and Jilly was the answer. Despite our beliefs and hurt, they are right where they were meant to be. I wish them love and thanks for watching over your family. They cannot be anywhere else, as they loved you all so very much. I talk to my husband still, and it does help to know they are with you. Responses in life can come in different ways, so be aware of them when they come. Sometimes you will find there were more than you thought....you were just too busy to see.
May Peace find you and God surround you. Love you guys! Stand strong.....
Today another one of Gina and Jeremy's precious dogs had to be put down. Ellie their Elkhound had cancer in her jaw and was 14 years old. She lived a wonderful and happy life. She was rescued by GIna when she was just a puppy. May Ellie rest in peace along with Pepper, Jewel, and Asia, three of other dogs that have passed. So far since Gina passed, one dog each year since has passed. In some ways I wonder if Gina is calling on her dogs to be with her. Much love and support to Jeremy on his losses and also to my mom who has helped so much in the care of those dogs. The loss of the dogs are just like losing their children. Much love to the puppies.
Jackie
Happy Mothers Day to my mom Judy. I know I can also say that on behalf of GIna and Jill, all three of us love our mom very much. Her strength and love is amazing. We love you mom.
Jackie
Everyday brings a new memory and new realization that both Gina and Jill are gone. I look forward to the day that I can see them again but for now my dreams are all I have. I love you Jill and Gina, you are always on my mind.
Happy Easter to Gina and Jill. You are in our hearts today and always, we think of you both constantly and hope that you are looking down on us giving us strength today. We love you.
Mom, Dad, Jeremy, Eric, Jackie, Ethan and Khloe
Today is my daughter Khloe's 1st Birthday. It is amazing to think Gina and Jill never got to know they had a niece on the way or to be here for her birth. I wish Gina and Jill were here to celebrate with us today. To think a year of Khloe's life has went by already and never getting to know her auntie's hurts so much. I know Gina would have been so excited to have another little niece to spoil, she always wanted a little girl of her own. May we remember Gina and Jill on Khloe's 1st Birthday and hope they are watching us knowing we are thinking of them every second of the day.
Another summer is coming and memories and things that will never happen again pour in. Missing Gina and Jilly and hoping they are watching down on us guiding us to some sort of peace.
Happy 34th Birthday to my sister Gina. I will miss her always. I love you more then you will ever know. Rest in Peace and take care of our Jilly.
Jackie
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