Hi all – happy Tuesday! I hope you’re having a great day. Today I wanted to recap an event I went to on Saturday called The Jessie Games to honor a friend, Jessie Smith, who sadly passed away a few months back.  The day was full of so much support for the friends & family of Jessie & the weather couldn’t have been more perfect.

The Jessie Games are a family-friendly day of fun and games to celebrate the life of Jessie Egan Smith. I met Jessie through my bittie, Sarah, since Sarah & Jessie have been best friends since they were young. Jessie was never short of energy & constant spunk – she could truly make anybody laugh. I feel lucky that I got a chance to get to know Jessie over the years & I know that she is truly missed, yet her spirit will forever live on.

The Jessie games are a way of sharing Jessie’s zest for life, her love of family and friends, and generosity in a way that will help children in need. Proceeds from the day supported children’s enrichment activities offered through Catholic Charities’ Summer Lunch Program. The Olympic-themed day will had races for children of all ages, as well as other activities for both young and old.

My cousins were in town over the weekend so it was nice to be able to bring them with me to support Sarah & Jessie’s family.

There were a bunch of games set up all around that we all got to play while waiting for the races to start.

Snow cones were super refreshing on this beautiful 90 degree summer day!

Time for the races for all age groups. My cousin Kyra ran in the 11 year old group and everyone did awesome. Sarah and her fiancé Dan ran the races & did awesome organizing everyone.

There was also a fun costume run where you had to run to one side of the field, put on a costume, & then run back. The “older kids” even got involved!

Sometimes if your medals are a bit small – you just make it work On top of all of the great booths set up, they had a special tent showcasing Jessie Stones.

Jessie stones were created by Jessie’s aunt and godmother, Micki Ansberry, who translated her name into the Ancient Celtic language using the Ogham alphabet, which is found inscribed on stone monuments throughout Ireland. There is no letter “J” in Ogham, so Jessie’s name becomes “Ieise” as seen in the Jessie Games logo. Micki selected the stones from the shores of Lake Erie & all of the carving is done by hand. So beautiful!

The day was full of love, fun, & support – exactly what I’m sure Jessie would want. The family & friends of Jessie have been so strong & their strength inspires many. Jessie is truly missed & her spirit will forever live on.

If you’re interested in helping support The Jessie Games – you can check out the website [here] or contact them [here].

Be true to you,

xo Kasey