Recently, one of Kelli's best friends, Jessica, was given an English writing assignment.  The assignment involved writing a letter to a College Admission's Committee.  Jess chose to write of how Kelli had influenced her life.  Her completed assignment is a written testimony to the love, loyalty and compassion Kelli was so very full of.  Please read on ...


Dear Admissions Committee:


          " No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems."

                               ("No shoes, no shirt, no problems" Kenny Chesney)


          Think of yourself as a blonde hair blue eyed teenage girl. Imagine that you have just found out that your best-friend in the entire world has died in a car accident.  Think of the devastation and grief that this teenage girl has to go through.  The pain that she feels every time someone mentions her name.

          That same sullen teenage girl is me 6 months ago.  Kelli Marie Spaniel was my best friend.  She was a hard working, lovable, funky softball player, whose life was dedicated to making people better because of her.  Kelli's life was taken in a car accident on June 18, 2005.  Kelli was an inspiration to everyone around her.  She always kept you on your toes, striving to make sure you achieved your very best.  She worked hard to make the goals she set for herself to come true, then push herself for more.  She taught me the meaning of effort and actually working for what you want.   She pushed you to become the better person she knew you to be.  She never left you behind, but wouldn't take no for an answer.  Kelli wanted only the best for everyone she knew and didn't know.  Her everlasting impression has helped me become the person I am today.

          Since Kelli's death, my life has been a little bit more meaningful.  I've learned to accept the good with the bad that life throws my way.  She leaves me little reminders when she thinks I'm slipping.  Or I'll hear a song on the radio and be like, "Hey Kell."

          The constant reminder that she's always with me and looking out for me gives me comfort.  So I strive to make myself the person Kelli knew that I could be, someone I knew she could be proud of.  She knew when to tell me to stop blubbering and get a grip and when to just take things with a grain of salt.  She taught me to listen to myself and not try to be something I'm not.  Because of her I know what I want to do with my life and who I'm going to become.  No words can describe how grateful I am to have met and spent what little time I was able to with her.

          Kelli Marie Spaniel, an everlasting, driving force in my life.  I miss her dearly.

    The following is a letter from Kelli written and given to an administrator from her HS and his wife who had recently lost their infant daughter.  It has not been edited.  The letter is beautiful, and it speaks volumes about Kelli's faith.

Dear Mr. -- and Mrs. --  

     I'm sorry about your lost.  I know the pain your going through an how much it hurts to lose a loved one.  Just last year I had lost one of the most closet family member in my life.  I lost my Grandma.  But each day that goes by I wonder if she was still here would she be in more pain and maybe it's better for her this way because she's not in pain and she's with the lord.  I pray every day to the lord to help me get by each day.  To this day I am still in pain from loseing her but each day I pray to the lord to help me get by and to watch over my grandma in heaven.  Your little girl no longer suffers she's in a great place that she can play with all the other children and the lord watches out for her.  Pray to him to let him help heal you.  Pray to your daughter she can hear you.  Your prayers will be answered.  You will heal but it takes time.  Stick together and be strong.  When ever your sad just rem. your baby girl is watching over you with the lord.
                                            Sincerely
                                                 Kelli Spaniel
I wish you the best and may the lord be with you.

~  Kelli's favorite things  ~



Perfumes:    Curious, Lucky, Love Spell and Bath & Body Work's Sprays 
 
Colors:      Blue & Pink (Yes!)

Singers:     Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, Shania Twain, & Garth Brooks

Songs:          "In My Daughter's Eyes", "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy", and "Any Man of Mine"

Actors:       Will Smith and Vin Diesel 

Race Car Driver:          Jeff Gordon
                 
Movies:     Hitch, Elf, Fast & Furious, Grease, 8 Seconds

Favorite Games:        Christmas Monopoly, Uno Attack,  Clue, Life,  Rummy 500 (card game), Speed (card game)

Favorite Disney Characters:     Tinkerbell, Cinderella, & Winnie-the-Pooh

Favorite Stuffed Animals:     a dinosaur she named "Sonja", an elephant she named "Cinderella",  & her mom's Winnie-the Pooh bear

Shoes:      Western Boots

Accessories: Purse (she had many different ones, including a Tinkerbell one!) & Sunglasses

Sports:     Softball, Baseball (Cubs) & Football (Bears)

Meat:       Grilled pork chops

Seafood:     Shrimp & Crab Legs

Vegetable: Baked Potato, Baked Potato, Baked Potato!

Sandwiches:  Manwich Sloppy Joes & Marshmallow Creme sandwiches minus the crust

Vegetable/Dessert:  Ice cream and french fries together - either a vanilla shake and fries or a vanilla cone and fries - she loved this combo!

Dessert:   Apple Pie with sugar sprinkles baked onto the crust 

Ice Cream:   Vanilla with colored sugar sprinkles on the top

Cookie:      Homemade chocolate chip (only after eating the dough first!)

Candy:  sour gummy worms and gummy peach rings

Fruit:        Fresh strawberries with "a little bit" of sugar (ya right Kels -- just "a little bit"???), Sliced apples with caramel dip

Soda:       Jones Soda Root Beer (no doubt about it!)

Animal:     Horses & Dogs, especially hers, loved them both

Books:      Anything about dogs & horses and her teen Bible

Flowers:    Any and all bright ones