As another spring dawns, here stands our wonderful tree, weathered, but alive with special memories, peace and solace!

One time during a SAR team training, one of the vehicles went down a road to nowhere. The road got narower and more angled. The vehicle would have rolled over if it ventured further. The people inside summoned help & who responded?...Well, it was this beautiful angel. She brought out equipment and worked with the team to do what she usually did. Help others with a great attitude, a smile and upbeat whit that brought some levity to the situation. In short order we had everyone back where they needed to be & went on to enjoy the bright day.

Christina & Justin at an awards ceremony in Pasadena.

This memorial plaque was placed to honor Christina's work as a Commissioner for the fire department. Throughout her years here in the Sierra, she came into contact with the department in various ways, from administering flu shots, Smallpox vaccinations and administering the AM Alert Radio housed at the station, to being part of joyous holiday events such as our department's Christmas parties and July 04 BBQs. I will always be grateful to the department for their valiant efforts to help Christina in her time of need. They acted as family doing the best they could for one of their own!

The caption on the bottom of the plaque "We can accomplish anything when we work together" is something Chris would say when a good challenge was encountered. It epitomizes the spirit of the fire department's volunteers from the community who always pull together to get the job done helping others.

This memorial is for the benefit of all who love Christina. Photos, memories, stories or just stopping by to reflect on our time with her are all welcome. Many family members and friends she touched are busy with life and spread out across the country/world. Christina loved technology and the internet and with it we can come to gether to share & celebrate her life!

I met my best friend Chris in 1998 while working at Cedar Sinai Medical Center while we worked at the same nursing station.

She was very quiet and fiercely private about herself, which of course, piqued my curiosity about her. As quiet as she was, her screen saver on her computer screamed so much, with pictures of dragons and mountains and wildlife and everything she loved in life. Slowly, over time, I figured out how to bring her out of her shell. She was the introvert, I was the extrovert and everyone who met us asked out we became such friends, I would love to tell them, "oh, I just forced myself on her!"

Chris was a very talented Medical Assistant and passed her techniques on to me. She was always in persuit of increasing her knowledge and building her resume in the medical field and computer programming. She was always showing me how to upload pictures to my computer and basic little tweeks you could do to make computers a little more fun. She was in constant persuit of making things better, whether it was computers or just making patients feel more comfortable and I realized how truly intelligent and giving she was.

Eventually, we both left Cedars and I kind of lost touch with her for a little while. When I heard from her again I found out that she had broken up with her boyfriend and even while she felt crushed and betrayed she was excited about getting a little apartment just for her and Max. She moved forward instead of dwelling on the past and at the same time forgave everything. I helped her clean the place and get moved in and she was happy and very proud of herself. It was at this time when I found out that she was estranged from her family at a young age and at that moment I understood her drive to be independent and successful as well as her absolute love of freedom and the outdoors.

She had bought a new camera, oh my gosh, it was so cool! It was digital and was like 1.5 megapixels! So she decided she wanted to go to Sequoia National Forest and invited me along.          Best trip of my life!          I was scared to death, thinking of bears and bugs and anything else that might get me in the night but she took it all in with gusto! We had dinner over a wood fire and again, I was taken by how smart she was, where had she learned how to do all of this? I was inspired by her fearless strength and she made me realise that I could be this strong!

After that trip she traveled a little further away and we found ourselves camping at Mt. Whitney and soon after that she had gone further on to Mammoth. I had never heard of the place but she couldn't stop talking about it and before I knew it she was moving there! When I finally got the chance to visit her, she was living with her room mate Bobby and as far as I was concerned, living the life! I remember how jealous I was that she was living in the mountains, working for the County and how many great things she had already accomplished.

While I was still struggling in an apartment in L A, trying to get my own business up and running,        all inspired by our friendship,         she called to tell me she had met this guy, a first responder, and thought he would be great for me.           Yes, Pete, in her infinite wisdom, after you had met, she thought you would be better suited to me.           I flat told her, "he likes you, I don't want him!"    

A few months later, she brought him down to meet me and to get "my approval".       From the looks of it, I knew he was perfect for her and gave my blessing. I knew when she met him that her life had truly begun for her. I began to look forward to seeing the things she was doing and how lucky she was to have someone open a world up to her that might never have happened. A new and more confident Chris emerged, she had finally found her happiness.

           Thank You so much Lenaya, for being part of Christinas' life!

I am so very grateful for all the wonderful times I had with Chris. She was there when Kayla was born. She got to hold her then and as you can see she is holding Kayla here. I knew she loved me and my little angel. I miss you, Chris!

Chris is enjoyng our wedding day! What a great day=) Spring is just sprung, fresh tropical surroundings, beautiful wife & pretty flowers surrounded by great friends & family.

Chris with some of the gear from Darrell's Trident group at June Lake, what a great time!

Thanks to the folks at June Marina for the hospitality!

Chris line tending for Lake Ice Diving.

This year's diving at the lake was surely warmer topside than a couple years ago. I think it was warmer under water than on the surface in this picture.

We thought we found some treasure in a tackle box in the depths of June Lake. I even dropped it on the way up & had to go back down to get it. The anticipation of neat stuff inside was entertaining ending the dive. When Chris opened it...it was full of rocks! She did think the two crayfish inside with the rocks looked pretty cute. Thanks Darrell=)

Here is Chris and the pups out for a walk down by Mammoth Creek. The area was nice even though the snow there persisted into spring. Walking along the creek, east of the cabins (Museum) there is a special place. Chris found it shortly after she moved here. It is an ancient pine tree. The top is very weathered, dry and twisted by years of wind and snow. Despite this, there are still live green needles up toward the top. It is a testement to life, as we grow in life, there are things that weather us, and mature us. Even though there are tough times, there is always the opportunity to learn and continue to grow from them.

This picture was taken at LuLu's in Waikiki. Both Pete's father and my father were great friends and it wasn't until Pete's wedding when I first met Pete and Nick. I was living in Hawaii at the time.  I obviously never met Christina, but I do remember the happy bride was absolutely beautiful and glowing! Happy Anniversary!

Love, Joann and Laz

You can see Chris laughing here. She is holding "The blue screw" and three diferent pearls from Hawaii. The pearls are what we got by choosing oysters from a pool, you could then mount them on a necklace. She just wanted three different type of pearls since it was cool to have white, gray and an off color pink one.

As for the blue screw...it was the source of the laughter and not just one laugh but ongoing through the whole trip. Instead of just going out and buying Hawaian Sling spears to fish with. Nick and I went to the hardware store to make our own spears. (Now...how many people go to the harware store when on vacation in Hawaii?) We spent a large amount of time getting the peices right to make them. After all we had to be sure they would at least sort of work. Then, we assembeld and dove them. The end result was- it was hard to get close to fish used to being chased and...the screw was sharp but never got a good hit and glanced off one of the fishes. What ever the case...it was all worth the laughs then....and the memories now=)

Hi my name is Jennifer and I work for UPS in Bishop.  I met Christina at UPS years ago and became friends with her.  I looked forward to her coming in and shipping packages.  I am shocked and saddened to hear of her passing.  My thoughts and prayers are going out to her family.

Over the years, we got to dive under the ice at Gull Lake. The training is always fun and conditions can be challenging. On this day, it was not a training. We were doing what we could to find a diver lost under the ice. The team we had there was great. Throughout the call, Chris had my back, like she always did despite the cold and rush.

The PPL/ LS convention. It was enjoyable to be there with so many diferent people from all over the country. Some folks had to scrape together what little they had to come. Some came on private jets. Everyone has so much energy, ambition and optimisim. There are millionaires up front, shining examples of hard work who made it from different backgrounds. There is no telling what you can accomplish if you venture out from your comfort zone.

Wood gathering is always work. And...it is not over when you get the wood from the forest, there is the cutting, splitting, stacking, bring some in to burn, tarp it from the snow, bring more in etcc.. We thought it was something like 3-5 times you handled a log prior to enjoying the heat. Central air is pretty constant but there is nothing like a hot wood fire! After all you can't help but enjoy it... as you can finally savor it, resting front of it together. The dogs sure like it.

Our big day! What a great day it was. A few close friends and family. A new chapter in life and who knows what life will bring. Doesn't really matter as long as we are together. Chris always said we could handle anything anywhere- together. What great memories of some of the projects and challenges we took on..but those are other stories... As for our big day, it was spent  with new places, photos, a little sun, wind, beautiful surroundings and great company. Tomorrow is # 7. Happy anniversary honey=)

Here is Chris at 45 feet in Grand Cayman. She never could get enough of warm water, warm air, beaches and ..turtles. It was quite a thrill to be together under water and find one then swim with it!

Gary, Chris and I helped the Crowley Fish Camp one season by moving the anchor for the SS Relief restroom. I dove on the  site where the 55 Gal. drum was thought to be, located it and raised it while talking to Chris, my trusty tender, the whole time. We were able to then tow it to a new place and drop anchor again. Chris enjoyed being out in the sun and as always, the technical goodies we got to play with. She definately took a pass on the large gray spiders on the side of the floating restroom. It was amazing the number of them around there despite being in the middle of the lake.