Tommie Barfield Elementary Chorus members sweetly sang these words in loving memory of Amanda Buddemeyer during an emotional presentation in the school's Media Center on May 20. The crowd of more than 40 relatives, teachers and friends of the 9-year-old student who passed away last year stood amid a half-dozen helium-filled balloons shaped like hearts and dolphins that family and friends had signed with hugs and kisses.

Principal Dr. Jory Westberry and Amanda's teachers presented the Buddemeyer family with one of Amanda's original works, a colorful clown that she had painted in art class. Each one of Amanda's teachers, Donna Condee (kindergarten), Diane Jerrett (first-grade), Gail Keegan (second-grade) and Kathy Anderson (art), recalled their fondest memories of Amanda before the presentation.

Keegan produced a small drawing of three smiling girls standing in a grassy field with balloons, clouds and rainbows that fellow classmate Kristi West had designed as part of a fund-raising project on Amanda's behalf last year. She noted that the curly hair on the girl standing in the middle of the photo left no doubt that it was Amanda. Father John "Pat" Boyhan, of San Marco Catholic Church, blessed the painting.

The children's chorus, including Amanda's elder sister, Samantha, sang for the crowd. Attendees wrote about fond remembrances of Amanda and offered words of encouragement to her family in a special book designed for the occasion.

A replica of the priceless clown painting, as well as a plaque bearing a picture of Amanda with her pet dog, Rosie, now hangs in the Media Center.