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Victoria Lynn Knight, Born: April 10th, 1980
Murdered June 5th, 2004
My beautiful Vicki. You will always live on in my heart!

I recently had the opportunity to write and article for Kops Corner Newsletter along with reading my article at the Tree of Honor Ceremony sponsored by the DA's office for victims of crime about coping with loss during the holidays. I thought I would share it with all of you.
Coping With The Loss Of A Loved One During The Holiday Season

Losing a child can be one of the hardest things that one will ever have to do. Losing one to violent crime is even harder. My daughter, Victoria Knight, was murdered in 2004. My heart was broken into a million pieces, never to be mended again. My life had changed forever. My baby who was only 24 years old was gone. What was I going to do?

Vicki left us on June 5th, 2004. It was summertime and I did my best to maintain some semblance of normalcy. I had good days and bad . It was my first year to suffer the loss of my beloved daughter for the holidays. Thanksgiving rolled around and I was in a fog. I kept asking myself, "How am I going to make it?" Then came Christmas and it was the same thing. Everything seemed to be focused around her death.

The second holiday season wasn't much better. I cried alot and missed my baby even more than the first holiday. I kept asking myself, "What am I going to do? I can't go on like this." I opened my bible and the pages looked blank. I was in a state of shock all over again. All I had left was to pray.



I got down on my knees and I prayed. I thanked God for giving me my beautiful Vicki. I thanked Him for giving her to me to call daughter. The more thankful I was for the life of my beloved Vicki, the less focused I was on her death. This was my prayer. It was a prayer of thanksgiving. That is when my healing began. I had a grateful heart for her life with me and her life with God in heaven. That doesn't mean that I don't miss her and that I don't cry. My tears are just a proclamation of love for my beloved Vicki. I now celebrate her life on the holiday's. She lives on in my younger daughter, for when she laughs, she sounds just like Vicki. She lives on in her brother for when he talks about hero's, Vicki is his hero. She lives on in me, for whenever I look at myself in the mirror, I see my beloved Vicki. She lives on in our hearts, our memories and our lives. We cope with her loss by celebrating her life.

My daughter Victoria Knight, Born: April 10th, 1980 - Murdered June 5th, 2004

I love you immensely and miss you the same. Love, Mama.