(THIS LETTER WAS SENT TO OUR LUTHERAN SOUTH ACADEMY FAMILY IN HOUSTON)
Dear LSA Principals & Administration/Faculty,
Thank you for your love and support of our family over the past two months following the earthly death of Makenzie. We have an open ache, if you will, as we remember and cry and grieve not having her here with us. The past few weeks we have spent in MN have been refreshing and restful as we’ve had quiet time away. This is a place we are very familiar with yet at the same time our surroundings are new. This has been helpful.
We’ve prayed about where the Lord has been leading us. Some of this was already in process before Makenzie was killed. Todd was on inquiry lists, some which were here in MN. Before everything, we were only sure of one thing: Makenzie was going to graduate from LSA in December and that I was working for the University. After June 3rd, we became open to whatever and wherever the Lord would guide direct or close doors. As we prayed about Houston or another place we realized how hard it was for our kids and us to move on with all of us seeing Makenzie everywhere we went. We will never forget her but we know we have to allow the kids to live the rest of their lives. Things have fallen into place here for our family as we considered the idea of moving back to Minnesota. It is with that in mind of a fresh start for our family, that we’ve made the decision to move to Minnesota and Nathan and Maddie will not be returning to LSA.
Nathan is going to attend St. Paul Conservatory of the Performing Arts (9th grade). His You Tube guitar playing ended up being his audition to get in 
. Maddie will attend New Life Academy in Woodbury (7th grade). We’ve been given a home in Woodbury to live in of a friend that is living in Arizona for the year, so that worry has been taken care of as well. We don’t know yet what we will do in terms of jobs but we know that piece will come together for us.
We would have liked to talk with you on the phone or in person but realize this might be impossible these next few days as you and others minister to the Wiliams family at the loss of Pam. However, we knew you would need this information to open up their spots for other applicants.
Todd and I are returning to Houston August 27 and will be there for a couple of weeks to speak at different engagements at Gloria Dei and the Ballet Company. We are also looking forward to speaking to the senior class at LSA when they go on their retreat to Carolina Creek in September. The doors have also opened for us to go to Ecuador to complete the mission project Makenzie began and we’ll deliver some 2,000 shoes to orphanages, hospitals and minister to the poverty stricken areas of Quito, Ecuador. We hope to be able to share this in chapel on November 20th if it works out with the LSA chapel schedule. We also look forward to attending the graduation service of the 2010 class of LSA in May.
Again, we apologize for communicating this via email. We love our LSA family and although we are sad to leave, we know this is a fresh, new start for our family. We pray that the new school year brings blessings to all of LSA and the faculty. Your love is forever etched on our hearts.
All our love,
Todd & Kellie
Nathan & Madeline
HOW TO CONTACT US …
P.O. Box 251518
Woodbury, MN 55125
new emails:
- Kellie – kellieannestocker@gmail.com
- Todd – stockertodd@gmail.com
- Nathan – nathanstocker@gmail.com
- Maddie – horsegalracer@yahoo.com
Wow…Todd and Kel, I am so happy for you to be able make this decision and move forward. Everything you stated sounds like it was thought through, prayerfully considered, and a healthy decisions for all involved.
I pray for continued blessings, healing, and ever forward newness in your lives. Thank you for posting this on Todd’s blog…it has come to be a regular part of my morning coffee time and I look forward to reading further developments, rejoices, heartaches, healing and all that is inbetween.
Know that you are loved so dearly from your sister in Christ…in AZ!
Hugs comin’ your way…
Ruthie
Todd, Kelly and family,
It will be a blessing to have you back in Minnesota. Come and visit us at the Alley. I have followed your blog as you process the events of Makenzie’s passing and your feeling dealing with it. It has been hard at times to hear your pain and sorrow but never the less encouraging. As she is dancing on streets of gold, may the next chapter in your lives be one of blessing and peace.
Todd and Kellie-
It will be a wonderful blessing to have you back in Minnesota. I will pray that the move goes smoothly and everything works out. I also continue to pray for healing for all of you.
I hope that when you are back and settled in we can get together!
Blessings,
Elizabeth
Hi pastor stocker. I have so many questions about the night kenzie died. You said that she died instantly and that she was first looking at a text then the next thing u know she is looking at her savior. Did she know what happened when she got to heaven or did Jesus have to explain it to her? Howdis she know it was Jesus? I know you probably don’t know the answer to the questions I just needed to ask someone.
Ttyl!!!!
Lane,
great questions! Most likely, Makenzie doesn’t know what happened or how she ended up in Heaven (except that Jesus saved her of course!). We will know Jesus immediately when we see Him and He can hardly wait to have us see him face to face.
Blessings on this next year!
luv ya!
Pastor Todd
Okay. That’s cool! It reminds me of the mercyme sing “I can only imagine”!!!
How r y’all doing? Hope nathan likes school(if he started yet!) I hope y’all come down to visit!! EVERYOnE misses you as our bible teacher! U are awesome!!!!!!
Luv ya!,
Laneyzany!!!!
Hi, You don’t know me but I knew Makenzie and I know the Lord. My Dad got the privilege of seeing and talking to the Lord the first time he died. He shared this with my family and others before he went home again. From what my dad said, it does not matter how you got there, you know that is where you are. He did not have to ask Jesus who He was, my dad knew right away. He did say that heaven is just as it is described in the Bible, walls and doors and streets. My dad said something that I have not forgotten since he died the first time; it did not hurt to die. That has given me lots of comfort. Know that Jesus loves so very much and has your mansion ready for you!
In His love and mine, Sherry
I watched the trees dance all summer in Wisconsin. My brother’s farm(family homestead) is bordered by a woods which has been deemed a conservancy. There would be days the trees would barely move and then other times the wind would be so intense and the movement so exciting. The song of the leaves and the dance of the trees…a Mackenzie moment.
So blessed that you are back in Mn and that I was able to share time with Kellie. You mean the world to our family and we love you!!!!
Tha kampmeyer Girls!!!!!!!
Dear Todd and Kellie,
Dave and I continue to hold all of you close to our hearts and in our prayers. It was such a blessing to know you and beautiful Makenzie. Life is so brief, briefer for some, but how awesome to know that one day we’ll all be one big happy family in Heaven.
Love to all of you,
Lynn and Dave Hagerman
Hi,
Thank you for the great quality of your blog, every time i come here, i’m amazed.
black hattitude.
Stockers,
We’ve been praying for you since we saw you at the Alley in Oct. I know Brad & Sandi are taking care of you.
Ray & Dorothy
So glad to have been able to talk to you and Kellie at chapel. Alice and I want very much to visit the twin cities the first of the year and take in a hockey game or two. Its a grandparent thing. Maybe we can take in a game and have a cup of coffee which I think you owe me. Sounds good. I know we sure miss you guys especially on Fridays when we attend chapel with our girls. Many blessings to all of you.
Jerry